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Simon Tucker

@simonrtucker.bsky.social
434 followers 100 following 1.1K posts

7 years in farming. Went to Uni, 2:1 in Zoology, 31 years working as an IT consultant then 10 years as my own boss doing IT and eco-consultancy. Keen birder & conservationist, bird ringer & ringing trainer & blogger. Politically left wing.

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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 20h
My Facebook account has been restricted because, apparently, saying judges and magistrates in rural area courts throw out evidence and hand out pathetic sentences to wildlife criminals because they belong to or aspire to being members of the same peer group is "bullying and harassment"!
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A quite astonishing couple of days! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/10/04/f...
braydonforestringing.uk
From the Pits to the Peak: 1st to 4th October 2026
On Thursday of this week, Wednesday having been far too wet and windy, we went to Ravensroost Meadows. I was joined by Miranda, Laura and Ellie at 6:30, and we set the usual nets. It was very dark …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
#BigTech's data centres use as much power as millions of homes and guzzle our water. We need basic rules: ⚡ 100% clean power 💧 Zero water waste 🗣️ Local community consent Sign Foxglove's petition to stop data centres harming our utilities and environment now. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ba...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Ban data centres that harm our communities and climate
Big Tech’s giant data centres swallow as much power as millions of homes, guzzle our water, and risk driving up our energy bills - all with zero limits. We need basic rules: ⚡ 100% clean power 💧 Ze...
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
A decent September - but it does seem that the weather has definitely impacted on our usually commonest resident species: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/10/02/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
West Wilts Ringing Group Results: September 2026
Not as many as this time last year, but still decent. I think that the key issue with the numbers are down to the dearth of birds in my woodland sites. Plenty of food but no water in the ponds and …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Indeed, but I was referring to a round in Richard Osman's quiz show. Mark got the jocular reference
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Someone has been watching "House of Games" 😁
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Petrol has just hit £1.75 at BP etc, £1.73 at supermarkets in north Wiltshire
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Reposted by Simon Tucker
This Many Years Ago @thismanyyearsago.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
64 years ago, on the 27th of September 1962, Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring was published. It handled the environmental harm caused by the pesticide DDT and the disinformation spread by the chemical industry. Carson managed to sway public opinion and even policy. #otd #history 🗃️
Rachel Carson photo credit: Science History Images / Alamy
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Nice to have a ringing demonstration go so well: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/26/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Ringing Demo @ Blakehill Farm: Saturday, 26th September 2026
We do a couple of ringing demonstrations for the Swindon Wildlife Group each year: usually autumn and late winter. Today was our second of the year: and the most popular to date. Robin Griffiths, n…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Nice to see at least one cabinet minister isn't a racist
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
If they don't want to be a part of the Union and work within the boundaries set they should just leave. What right do they have to try to overturn the Union's legal rules and conditions? It should never have been allowed to go to court.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Oh dear, how sad! www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
bbc.co.uk
Watch: UN delegates walk out of Benjamin Netanyahu's speech
The Israeli delegation could be be seen cheering in support during Netanyahu's speech.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Which is why for the past two years we have had someone from ZSL come to take feather and blood samples from birds we ringed to investigate the parasites / infectious organisms coming from Africa, like West Nile Disease.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Politics isn't working. It's time to call time on the broken culture in Westminster and have a fresh start with a fair voting system. Add your name to @electoralreform.bsky.social‬'s call to #MakeSeatsMatchVotes action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/3782/pe...
action.electoral-reform.org.uk
First Past the Post means millions of our votes make no difference to parliament. Add your name now to demand a fairer voting system
It only takes 30 seconds
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Another quiet session: I moan enough in the intro, so I will leave it at that for now: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/24/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
Webb’s Wood: Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
I have to be honest, I am seriously thinking that I will have to either abandon my woodland sites for the time being or else set up my feeding stations much earlier than I would normally do so. Aft…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Thanks Ian
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
After our previous end of year check, we completed the set yesterday. It has been a fantastic year, although we did encounter one tragedy on this session. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/18/l...
braydonforestringing.uk
Last of the Barn Owl Box Checks: Thursday, 17th September 2026
I was joined by Claire and Miranda at 10:00 this morning to check on the boxes we didn’t do last week. We started at Lower Pavenhill Farm. Back in May we ringed seven chicks and left the eigh…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I suppose it was just about worth it! Better than the Firs any way! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/17/l...
braydonforestringing.uk
Lower Moor Farm: Wednesday, 16th September 2026
I was joined this morning by Laura, Miranda and Ellie. We met at 6:30, set the usual nets and had them open by 7:20: quite quick for us. Unfortunately, the session was as quiet as most recent ones.…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Can they get any more dumb?
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Is that real or AI?
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I prefer the one I saw flying free in the Ecuadorian rain forest, even though my photos were rubbish.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Another quietish morning but it's hard to complain when your first round delivers a lovely first for the site: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/12/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Ravensroost Meadows: Saturday, 12th September 2026
We were hoping to work the plateau at Blakehill Farm this morning but, unfortunately, the wind forecast changed, with much higher base wind speeds and gusting up to 28mph. Working on the basis that…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Not sure why BlueSky insists on rotating the image but what a lovely bird to start a ringing session!
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
An absolutely cracking year for Barn Owls. I was worried about the heatwave but it doesn't seem to have had a negative impact, if the number of pellets and dead rodents we found on this round are anything to go by! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/11/b...
braydonforestringing.uk
Barn Owl Boxes: Follow Up. Thursday, 10th September 2026
I spent Thursday with Ellie, and her sister Milly, doing the first round of follow ups on our successful early season Barn Owl ringing sessions. We ringed 43 youngsters this early season in eight n…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Another smallish session but pleasant. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/11/b...
braydonforestringing.uk
Blakehill Farm West: Wednesday, 9th September 2026
Following the disappointment of Saturday I was hoping for better at Blakehill Farm this morning. I was joined by Miranda, Laura and Ellie. Because of the projected forecast, with the breeze coming …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
🚨 An undercover investigation shown on Channel 4 exposed Reform figures allegedly breaking the law over foreign funding. Now demand a full criminal investigation. Sign the petition. 🔥 you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/in...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Sign the petition to hold politicians to account
Together, we can make sure no one - however rich or powerful they may be - is allowed to take us or our democracy for a ride.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
The impact of the heatwave writ large! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/07/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
The Firs: Saturday, 5th September 2026
If any of my sites has displayed the negative impacts of the heatwave it is the Firs. In June and July we averaged 80 birds per session: a high of 120, a low of 51. Today was just 14 birds! This is…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
To be fair, unfortunately their hands were tied. Because the referendum was only advisory they did not have the statutory powers to throw it out. They did say at the time that had it been binding they could and would have disallowed it because of criminal activity by the Brexit brigade.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
A decent August with some very nice birds: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/02/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
West Wilts Ringing Group Results: August 2026
An excellent month as usual in August. Despite the heatwave causing disruption: I went 10 days with no sessions, the team managed to get some excellent catches and good numbers. So fewer birds proc…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
A lovely solo session this morning: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/30/g...
braydonforestringing.uk
Going Solo: Lower Moor Farm, Sunday, 30th August 2026
As a trainer, I spend most of my sessions advising, supervising and scribing for the team. If it is just me and one other, then we might share the processing but, even then, biased in their favour,…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A small but varied catch this morning: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/26/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Red Lodge: Wednesday, 26th August 2026
I was joined this morning by Miranda, Steph, Ellie and Pete, and the morning’s entertainment, 7 year old Bea. We met at 6:00 and set about putting up our nets. Our last trip to Red Lodge was …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
We have recently had the same problem with bikes and boy / girl racers at night. Ours is a narrow road that HGVs regularly use illegally but the most common issue is that tooting your horn seems to be the new obsession any time of day or night 40 or so times every day.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
We are having a bit of a weird time of it: not many birds, but some lovely catches for our sites. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/23/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
Three First for Year: Blakehill Farm East, Sunday, 23rd August 2026
That title is not too surprising: it is our first visit to this part of the reserve this year, having had to abort the previous attempt due to a seized padlock. I resolved that issue on Friday and …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
It isn't often that we catch only 26 birds - but to do so from 13 species is certainly unusual. To add to that two species, that we catch rarely, making their first appearance at the site this morning, was the icing on the cake. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/19/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
Two Firsts for Ravensroost Meadows: Wednesday, 19th August 2026
With the extremely dry conditions after the heatwave, and our small catch on Saturday at Somerford Common, I thought that I would try to organise sessions at sites where we can catch autumn migrant…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Awesome!
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
No - he needs to keep it down and out 😁
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
8 grams and they fly all that way. Some Phylloscopus warblers are amongst the most astonishing of migrating birds.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Managed to get out for the first time in a week: the heat far too stressful for birds or humans! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/16/s...
braydonforestringing.uk
Somerford Common: Saturday, 15th August 2026
We haven’t been out at all during the last week, because of the heatwave: I didn’t want to add any stress on the birds, or my team, come to that. I was joined for the morning by David a…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Fabulous aren't they. I saw one years ago at Portland Bill Observatory. The funniest thing was watching the twitchers with their huge lenses trying to get far enough away in the obs kitchen to get a photo.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Hen Harrier persecution on UK grouse moors - new research suggests only 0.5 - 10% incidents are detected raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/08/12/h...
raptorpersecutionuk.org
Hen Harrier persecution on UK grouse moors – new research suggests only 0.5 – 10% incidents are detected
The ‘tip of the iceberg’ is a phrase often used by researchers and conservationists when describing the scale and extent of illegal raptor persecution in the UK, meaning that what is kn…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
That's insane!
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
The title says it all! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/09/s...
braydonforestringing.uk
Started Badly, Finished Nicely! Saturday, 8th August 2026
This morning we were scheduled for a session on the plateau area and its surrounding hedgerow adjacent to the Chelworth Industrial Estate which, we refer to as Blakehill Farm East. We had a good tu…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Mexico: Ban Shark Finning! actions.eko.org/a/mexico-ban...
actions.eko.org
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
A massive plastic pellet spill is threatening North Sea wildlife 🌊 Coastal communities are stepping up, but we need action. Join us and ask @andyburnham.bsky.social to launch an emergency response & hold polluters accountable! #NurdleSpill #StopPollution action.friendsoftheearth.uk/petition/tyn...
action.friendsoftheearth.uk
Tell Andy Burnham: Save the North Sea from plastic pellet disaster
One of the UK's biggest spills of plastic pellets (or “nurdles”) is flooding the North East’s coastline. It could harm wildlife in the North Sea for decades. Thousands of volunteers – including Friend...
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Our best July so far, with a notable first braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/04/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
West Wilts Ringing Group Results: July 2026
A quite exhilarating month in so many ways: starting with our highest ever July catch and the highest average per session.  Last July was our previous largest catch, so it is a year-on-year im…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
c.org/zrKb76FVwS
c.org
Sign the Petition
Save Our Reds: Protect Britain's native red squirrels before it's too late
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
A quiet session or, let me out it another way, plenty of opportunity for having a doze! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/02/a...
braydonforestringing.uk
A small catch: Ravensroost Wood, Saturday, 1st August 2026
I have spent the last couple of years working in the southernmost end of Ravensroost Wood, as there has been a fair amount of forestry management going on in the north end of the wood. I have decid…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Israel still listens to them, because they write their scripts and want to make sure they get it "right"
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
38d.gs/mexd
38d.gs
We pay our dues. They should too.
Amazon made £555 MILLION in profit in the UK last year, but only paid a fraction of what they should in tax. Jeff Bezos is rubbing his hands together, avoiding tax, while we pay our dues. Don't think ...
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
A lovely session in the Firs this morning: our best site for Spotted Flycatcher (n0t that we catch many) delivered again: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/29/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
The Firs Delivers Again! Wednesday, 29th July 2026
I was joined this morning by quite a large cohort from my team: Miranda, Ellie and Pete. as well as Sarah and young Dorothy. Dorothy has only been out for four sessions where she actually got to pr…
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