Mike Toms
@miketoms.bsky.social
Science Comms and ornithology. New Naturalist author. Wildlife. Books. Alternative Music. (He/him).
I always appreciate late Common Darters. One of the joys of October here in Norfolk.
October 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I always appreciate late Common Darters. One of the joys of October here in Norfolk.
Reposted by Mike Toms
September 24, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reposted by Mike Toms
Dawn raids arresting peaceful protestors… 👀
There is a crime that arrests should be made for: Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
‼️UPDATE: Seven arrests have now been made
There is a crime that arrests should be made for: Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
‼️UPDATE: Seven arrests have now been made
September 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Dawn raids arresting peaceful protestors… 👀
There is a crime that arrests should be made for: Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
‼️UPDATE: Seven arrests have now been made
There is a crime that arrests should be made for: Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
‼️UPDATE: Seven arrests have now been made
The most genius thing I have seen in a long while www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Protester arrested over ‘Plasticine Action’ T-shirt: ‘How ridiculous is this?’
Miles Pickering says crowd at protest over Palestine Action ban was laughing at ‘silliness’ of scene as he was detained
www.theguardian.com
August 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The most genius thing I have seen in a long while www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Reposted by Mike Toms
Clearwings are just the coolest moths. These two (the slightly dumpier Red-tipped and the slimmer Red-belted) were attracted to their respective pheromone lures in our rural Norfolk garden today.
June 28, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Clearwings are just the coolest moths. These two (the slightly dumpier Red-tipped and the slimmer Red-belted) were attracted to their respective pheromone lures in our rural Norfolk garden today.
You can’t beat a fresh Green Pug, a smart little moth. This one was new for the garden, flushed from a Dogwood hedge. There’s a canine joke lurking in here somewhere - one for @levparikian.bsky.social perhaps?
June 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
You can’t beat a fresh Green Pug, a smart little moth. This one was new for the garden, flushed from a Dogwood hedge. There’s a canine joke lurking in here somewhere - one for @levparikian.bsky.social perhaps?
Four species of hawk-moth in the trap this morning, including an absolute beast of a Privet Hawk-moth. Such a joy to have them
visiting the garden.
visiting the garden.
May 18, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Four species of hawk-moth in the trap this morning, including an absolute beast of a Privet Hawk-moth. Such a joy to have them
visiting the garden.
visiting the garden.
Two good days of biological recording and citizen science. Training new nest recorders to monitor nests (this is a Blackcap) yesterday then moth trap and passive acoustic bat monitoring last night (Barbastelle among the species recorded). Checked nest boxes today - eggs mostly hatched.
May 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Two good days of biological recording and citizen science. Training new nest recorders to monitor nests (this is a Blackcap) yesterday then moth trap and passive acoustic bat monitoring last night (Barbastelle among the species recorded). Checked nest boxes today - eggs mostly hatched.
Always nice to find and monitor a Dunnock nest. This one is being incubated and will be followed through to what I hope will be a successful outcome. At 1.42 m, this is quite high off the ground for the Dunnocks I find (probably because the other species I am looking for nest low down).
May 8, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Always nice to find and monitor a Dunnock nest. This one is being incubated and will be followed through to what I hope will be a successful outcome. At 1.42 m, this is quite high off the ground for the Dunnocks I find (probably because the other species I am looking for nest low down).
A new insect for the garden. Incredible to think Box Bug was restricted to a small area in Surrey but now occurs as far north as Yorkshire and as far west as Devon. The range expansion was aided by a shift onto other foodplants; now most frequently found on hawthorn and buckthorn.
April 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
A new insect for the garden. Incredible to think Box Bug was restricted to a small area in Surrey but now occurs as far north as Yorkshire and as far west as Devon. The range expansion was aided by a shift onto other foodplants; now most frequently found on hawthorn and buckthorn.
34 moths of 11 species last night, including this Cinnabar, which is the earliest I’ve seen. Also rather dashing V-pug and March Moth, not to mention two Black Sexton Beetles (one with mites, one without). Hebrew Character the most common moth in the MV trap here in mid-Norfolk.
April 13, 2025 at 5:50 PM
34 moths of 11 species last night, including this Cinnabar, which is the earliest I’ve seen. Also rather dashing V-pug and March Moth, not to mention two Black Sexton Beetles (one with mites, one without). Hebrew Character the most common moth in the MV trap here in mid-Norfolk.
Eighteen moths of six species in the trap this morning, including this beautiful Chocolate-top. Such a smart little moth.
April 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Eighteen moths of six species in the trap this morning, including this beautiful Chocolate-top. Such a smart little moth.
Reposted by Mike Toms
Join us for a talk from author James Parry about The Reverend Bird: the Gilbert White of the Broads at 6pm on Wednesday 23 April at our BTO HQ. £5 per person, please book in advance. ➡️ bit.ly/RevBirdTalk
April 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Join us for a talk from author James Parry about The Reverend Bird: the Gilbert White of the Broads at 6pm on Wednesday 23 April at our BTO HQ. £5 per person, please book in advance. ➡️ bit.ly/RevBirdTalk
The stage is set. Nice to be out and talking about owls. Tonight it is a mix of science, conservation and cultural history. From the cutting marks on bones from 12,000 years BP, via South American human sacrifice, to Eagle Owls in the north of England and conservation challenges and opportunities.
March 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The stage is set. Nice to be out and talking about owls. Tonight it is a mix of science, conservation and cultural history. From the cutting marks on bones from 12,000 years BP, via South American human sacrifice, to Eagle Owls in the north of England and conservation challenges and opportunities.
Another brilliant introduction to bird identification by the very talented Will Rose. Accessible and fun - what’s not to like. #ornithology
After your tea, why not learn about what makes #woodpeckers so darned cool!
Watch my brand new animated bird guide episode here youtu.be/GEQBrT-587Q?...
Watch my brand new animated bird guide episode here youtu.be/GEQBrT-587Q?...
February 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Another brilliant introduction to bird identification by the very talented Will Rose. Accessible and fun - what’s not to like. #ornithology
Light in the darkness. A Tremellales fungus on a fallen branch. Such vivid colour in a drab winter landscape. Possibly Tremella mesenterica or Naematelia aurantia. #mycology
January 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Light in the darkness. A Tremellales fungus on a fallen branch. Such vivid colour in a drab winter landscape. Possibly Tremella mesenterica or Naematelia aurantia. #mycology
January Rain brings out the best in Ivy-leaved Toadflax -don’t you think? This one in flower on a Norfolk wall.
January 6, 2025 at 1:26 PM
January Rain brings out the best in Ivy-leaved Toadflax -don’t you think? This one in flower on a Norfolk wall.
Reposted by Mike Toms
If you're enjoying my #alphabetbirds posts, you'd LOVE @btobirds.bsky.social books 'Red Sixty Seven' & 'Into the Red' 🪶
Raising funds to support conservation of threatened #birds. #Art & prose curated by @miketoms.bsky.social & Kit Jewitt 👇
www.bto.org/our-science/...
www.bto.org/our-science/...
Raising funds to support conservation of threatened #birds. #Art & prose curated by @miketoms.bsky.social & Kit Jewitt 👇
www.bto.org/our-science/...
www.bto.org/our-science/...
December 22, 2024 at 9:44 AM
If you're enjoying my #alphabetbirds posts, you'd LOVE @btobirds.bsky.social books 'Red Sixty Seven' & 'Into the Red' 🪶
Raising funds to support conservation of threatened #birds. #Art & prose curated by @miketoms.bsky.social & Kit Jewitt 👇
www.bto.org/our-science/...
www.bto.org/our-science/...
Raising funds to support conservation of threatened #birds. #Art & prose curated by @miketoms.bsky.social & Kit Jewitt 👇
www.bto.org/our-science/...
www.bto.org/our-science/...
Reposted by Mike Toms
Enjoy £5 off select BTO books with code BTORBFL2024 at our shop. ➡️ british-trust-for-ornithology.myshopify.com/discount/BTO... These books make the perfect Christmas gift for birders and nature enthusiasts! 🐦
November 30, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Enjoy £5 off select BTO books with code BTORBFL2024 at our shop. ➡️ british-trust-for-ornithology.myshopify.com/discount/BTO... These books make the perfect Christmas gift for birders and nature enthusiasts! 🐦
This #BlackFlyDay get two for the price of one. Dune Robberfly (Winterton Dunes, Norfolk) and prey (id welcome).
November 29, 2024 at 8:37 PM
This #BlackFlyDay get two for the price of one. Dune Robberfly (Winterton Dunes, Norfolk) and prey (id welcome).
Plenty of these inkcaps in the grassy margins of one of our local arable fields. Most freshly emerged but a few at the black and dripping stage.
October 27, 2024 at 7:37 PM
Plenty of these inkcaps in the grassy margins of one of our local arable fields. Most freshly emerged but a few at the black and dripping stage.
As you would expect from @thelabandfield.bsky.social & @seabirdsentinel.bsky.social, a thoughtful and thought provoking piece on the naming of species. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #Ornithology
A feathered past: Colonial influences on bird naming practices, and a new common name for Ardenna carneipes (Gould 1844)
Recently, there has been increased focus on the origins and history of common names for organisms, especially birds. Of particular interest are eponymous common names that reflect our colonial past. ....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 5, 2024 at 10:57 AM
As you would expect from @thelabandfield.bsky.social & @seabirdsentinel.bsky.social, a thoughtful and thought provoking piece on the naming of species. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #Ornithology