FAQ page on BTO website has answers for the relevant surveys. www.bto.org/learn/helpin...

There’s a sweet spot in the joke that brings together Bill Oddie, Spoonbills and the double-entendres of Frankie Howerd.

Venn diagram showing The Goodies; Frankie Howard; Formerly rare ‘herons’ #NotAHeron

Personally, i think the Oddie joke hits a sweet spot. 😉

4AD record label.

Monochrome class. Sits well with its true peers.

Hairy-footed Flower Bee photographed on a windowsill.

A totally unexpected year tick! This Hairy-footed Flower Bee was buzzing around the lounge. It is usually Chocolate Mining Bees that we see inside thanks to our shallow foundations. My earliest ever record. 08.02.2026. Norfolk, England.

That award was a glaring omission from your job application. #EssentialSkills

Arum maculatum leaves emerging on a mid-January day in Norfolk, England.

Spring may be a few weeks away but things - such as this Lords-and-Ladies - are beginning to stir. Overhead is a chattering flock of Siskins feeding on Alder cones.

Common Darter basking on a fallen fence post at Winterton Dunes National Nature Reserve. By mike toms

I always appreciate late Common Darters. One of the joys of October here in Norfolk.

That would be great thanks. Hope you’re well.

Global Sumud Flotilla – urgent support.

#GlobalSumudFlotilla #GlobalMovementToGaza #SailToGaza

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

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

The most genius thing I have seen in a long while www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

I’d pay good money (I say good money) to see @willrose.bsky.social in a Golden Grenades balaclava.

The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ... Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...

Ouch!

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Would moving the table closer help? 😉

Red-tipped Clearwing. Norfolk UK 28.06

Red-belted Clearwing. Norfolk UK. 28.06

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.

If you’re going to spend the time watching it inflate and dry out, then my money would be on a Large Yellow Underwing 😉

Green Pug (a type of moth)

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?

Pine Hawk-moth

Privet Hawk-moth

Elephant Hawk-moth

Poplar Hawk-moth

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.

Blackcap nest with four eggs. Photographed in Norfolk, England in May 2025

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.

A Dunnock nest in ivy, containing three bright blue eggs.

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).

Rather a lot of it, it would seem.

Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus Norfolk UK April 2025

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.

Cinnabar moth from moth trap set in mid-norfolk April 2025, by Mike Toms

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.

Chocolate-tip moth.

Eighteen moths of six species in the trap this morning, including this beautiful Chocolate-top. Such a smart little moth.

Image of the Reverend Bird sitting on a bench writing in his notebook. Wording alongside reads: The Reverend Bird, the Gilbert White of the Broads. A talk by James Parry. Wednesday 23 April. Doors open 6pm, talk at 7pm. BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford. £5 per person. Find out more and book: https://bit.ly/RevBirdTalk

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

A stage set for a talk about the cultural history of owls.

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.

That’s a lovely idea - duly ordered and very much looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing.

18 moths of seven species in the MV trap overnight, including two Twin-spot Quakers and this Oak Beauty. #ukmoths