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Toby Moran Mylett

@tobymoranmylett.bsky.social
246 followers 752 following 75 posts

Ornithologist/bird ringer/zookeeper. Waterbird fanatic 🦆🪿🦢. Opinions=mine (regrettably). All birds ringed under license.

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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Google plans to bulldoze a wildlife haven in Essex – home to rare species – for a data centre. Sign the petition now to help save it before it’s gone forever 🐝🦋 you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Save Arena Essex- Tell Google to search elsewhere!
  Wedged between the Mar Dyke Valley and Lakeside Retail Park, the former Arena Essex Raceway is not your usual wildlife haven. Where once stock cars and speedway bikes lined up to cross the fini...
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Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
When I was a kid we were taught that emissions were warming up the atmosphere, increasing the probability of things like wild fires, even in chilly old Britain. We drew pictures. We wrote to MPs. This was my neighbourhood yesterday My anger at the deniers, obstructionists & shills knows no bounds
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
In the absence of a full round-up, I was honoured to be asked to manage this summer's goose ringing efforts at @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social Walthamstow Wetlands. A nice selection of geese and other wildfowl, including a Barnacle!
Adult (EUring age code 4) Barnacle Goose2nd year (EUring age code 5) Greylag Goose.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
This summer has been a blur so far, but what a privilege to be back again with the team on Skokholm, ringing seabirds and passerines of all kinds. #birdringing #birdbanding
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Massively hampered by heatwaves and droughts, the wildfowl ringing season has still managed to get underway for my ongoing study in and around Buckinghamshire. A nice spread of species so far, looking forward to more!
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Phil Woollen @philwoollen.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The whole reason for our trip to Sumatra! Something we’ve been looking forward to but with a bit of trepidation as they hadn’t been seen for a few days. Sumatran Ground Cuckoo. Thought extinct for 89 yrs & rediscovered 20 yrs ago. Absolutely crazy views
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Yesterday's work visit to @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social Hutchinson's Bank and environs yielded 2 Butterfly lifers in the form of Green Hairstreak and Duke of Burgandy. Other highlights were a gynandromorph Orange Tip, an almost luminescent Crab Spider and a chatty pair of Bullfinch.
Mating pair of Duke of Bergandy.Crab Spider
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
There's herons, then there's Night Herons 😍
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Today I caught one of the largest female Mute Swans I've ever seen in the hand, with a 600mm wing - that's essentially adult male size. Thankfully she is in a well-established breeding pair, and thus could be correctly sexed (her mate is even bigger!). #birdringing #birdbanding #ornithology
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
This week I've been ringing the last few Canada Geese on my study sites before breeding season kicks off in earnest. There's much to be said for their understated plumage - you can see why wildfowl collectors were so taken with them years ago, before they became commonplace as a feral species.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
1977. A small colony of Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) are introduced to a pocket of brownfield in Eltham, SE3. 2026, 49yrs later, the population is still present, and self-sustaining. Today, I was given access to the site, and thankfully the lizards got the memo! #London
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Another great pre-work ringing session @theparkstrust.bsky.social Furzton Lake this morning with 14 birds of 4 species caught, including 5 Greylag and a charming female Mallard #birdringing #birdbanding
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Been a wicked first 3 weeks working for @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social. Highlights include learning to scythe, planting trees in Dulwich Wood (a genuine ancient woodland in zone 3), marvelling at urban fungi, and watching a Blue Tit mob a Kestrel - and win. Can't wait for more! #KeepingItWild.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
I've had a fantastic month ringing for my Buckinghamshire Wildfowl Study. 74 birds of 6 species caught across the county, and there's still 2 months before fieldwork season ends (and I get a bit of a break! 😴). Huge thanks to all that have supported. #birdringing
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Lowndes Park on usual form this morning with a small but quality catch of waterbirds, including a Black-headed Gull and a Leucistic Canada Goose. #birdringing #birdbanding
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Has it ever been said that Coots are like buses? Following the first Coot to be ringed for my wildfowl study 2weeks back, I was very happy to catch and ring a 2nd today at @theparkstrust.bsky.social Furzton Lake. Pic including those iconic lobate claws for @marthaharbison.bsky.social . #CootStudy
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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
1/2 How old? 😮 Discover bird longevity records up to 2024 in our newly released BTO Ringing and Nest Recording Report! ⬇️ #Ornithology 🪶 📖 www.bto.org/ringing-...
A Honey-buzzard flies through the sky. Wording below reads: Honey-buzzard Longevity record: 18 years, 10 days. Average lifespan: 9 years.A Great Black-backed Gull is standing on a rock. Wording below reads: Great Black-backed Gull. Longevity record: 30 years, 4 days. Average lifespan: 14 years.A Greylag Goose alongside the wording: Greylag Goose. Longevity record: 20 years, 1 month, 28 days. Average lifespan: 8 years.A headshot of a Woodpigeon. Wording below reads: Woodpigeon. Longevity record: 19 years, 8 months, 16 days. Average lifespan: 3 years.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Finally! Whilst out Swan-ringing this morning, I managed to catch and colour-mark the first Coot for my Bucks Wildfowl Study. Compared to London, where I have caught countless Coots for @bh-wlbirding.bsky.social, Bucks birds have proven (almost) impossible to hand-catch! #CootStudy
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Frosty but beautiful first ringing session of 2026 for my Bucks Wildfowl Study. Thanks to @mangobirdy.bsky.social for scribing!
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Over the Christmas holidays I began ringing Passerines in my old stomping ground of Mid Devon. I believe these birds are the first to have been ringed in the area for 5 years or more, since the passing of the late John Haigh. Fingers crossed for some good recoveries.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
Potentially helpful (phone-scoped) size comparison between Great Black-backed (left) and Herring Gull (right) yesterday at my old birding stomping ground, Shobrooke Park. #birding
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Xmas Eve called for the annual trip to @rspb.bsky.social Bowling Green Marsh, via Topsham. Wigeon, Redshank and Lapwing in abundance; a Raven buzzing the fowl, the BHGooseXCanada lives on (perhaps 7 years old at this point), and a Norwegian-ringed BHGull coming to pasty crumbs. Happy Christmas.
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Kane Brides 🦆 @kanebrides.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Latest Greenland White-fronted Goose population estimate: 13,303. Now 13,302 (that we know of). I dread every ringing recovery that lands in my inbox - another bird lost to illegal shooting in Iceland. We can’t afford to lose any more. 📸David Dinsley
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Starling murmuration this evening at Marsworth Reservoir. #birding
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
The results are in! This year, I've spent a lot of time ringing wildfowl for my county-wide study. As a result, during summer '25 alone, 100 waterbirds have been ringed/controlled across Buckinghamshire. Totals: CANGO: 42 new, 1 retrap GREGO: 16 new MALLA: 29 new MUTSW: 9 new, 3 controls
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
It's been a pretty poor year for Barn Owls here in the South-East, but it was excellent to find this ringed female on one of my recent box visits with the @borgowl.bsky.social crew.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Only just recovered (from lack of sleep) after an awesome week's ringing on @skokholmisland.bsky.social, targeting Manx Shearwater but also doing some dazzling and passerine trapping when conditions allowed. There's a reason they call it 'Dream Island'!
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
A pretty good ornithological day - Canada Goose ringing first thing, a wildfowl survey mid morning, nest box checks mid afternoon then ring reading more geese before sunset. Via a cuppa, of course.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Last week I visited one of my best sites for Greylag, which are very localised birds here in Bucks. Current ringing totals for the site so far in summer '25 stand at 20 birds caught: 7 Mallard, 6 Canada Goose (1 retrap), 7 Greylag. #birdringing #ukbirding #birdbanding
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Quality over quantity this morning while ringing at Lowndes Park - few birds on site, but several Chesham ringing firsts: Canada Goose pulli, Mallard pulli and Greylag Goose (a difficult species to catch here in the Chilterns). Big thanks to @mangobirdy.bsky.social for scribing and taking photos!
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Cracking day down in Walthamstow for the annual goose-roundup. Big thanks as always to @whiteleggdan.bsky.social and Phil Belman for organising. Great to finally ring a Barnacle Goose, too! #birdringing #ukbirding #londonbirds
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Ringed some more Mallard this morning including 2 females, which are far harder to catch than drakes (here in Bucks, at least). The deep purple-blue of a Mallard's speculum is easily one of the most astonishing examples of 'common' British bird plumage. #birdringing #birdbanding #ukbirding
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Wildfowl ringing season started nicely again the other morning with some hand-caught Mallard. #birdringing #birdbanding
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
During the last 2 months I've been all over the south east getting more ringing experience with species I've had fewer opportunities to work with. A great way to learn more, meet new folks and catch up with others!
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
utterly scandalous and frankly quite terrifying
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
Lovely morning at Lowndes Park hand-catching/re-sighting wildfowl for my ringing study. I was only expecting Canada Geese, but (after months of evading me on site) I also caught a stonking male Mallard. I'm recording max tarsus of Mallard atm as I've noticed some variability between local birds.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Sunday was a good re-sighting day, travelling around the county keeping tabs on my ringed wildfowl (and seeing some other birds, too!). #birding #ornithology #birdringing
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Shobrooke Park: #birds #birding m Wigeon [site-1st], m Tufted Duck, the usual 2 Domestic Mallard drakes, 3 Nuthatch incl pr, Green Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest incl 1 singing, c3 singing Chaffinch, singing Linnet, Song Thrush, 2 lingering Black-headed Gull, 4 Herring Gull 3ad imm, nest-building Rooks.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Lowndes Park: #birds 1st post about my beloved local patch... this pm, singing Blackbird and Great Tit and 6 Robin. Single 'sneering' Greenfinch on 22nd and 23rd. Returning intersex Mallard on 23rd. 'Scruff', probably the oldest of the geese in my ringing study, is doing okay.
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
British Antarctic Survey From the new Private Eye, out now.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Beautiful re-sighting trip yesterday in Aylesbury. A good number of colour-ringed Mute Swan recorded. #birdringing #ornithology #birdbanding #birds
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Cracking ringing day today. Started off with mist netting some Blue and Great Tits, then checked on 3 of my wildfowl sites ahead of upcoming visits. Blessedly, despite the spread in other parts of the UK, I've found no signs of bird flu - long may this continue. #birdringing #birds #ornithology
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
today: read a review for a production of Caryl Churchill's 'What if if only' which complained that - within the play - not enough happens. I despair. #playwriting
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
a lot of my summer ringing work is for @borgowl.bsky.social - a fantastic local organisation. owl season is always great fun - working with landowners, monitoring barnies county-wide, and driving round in a classic defender. not much could be better!
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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
⚠️ A reminder to please report all sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza. In England, Wales & Scotland, contact Defra, in Northern Ireland contact @daera-ni.gov.uk & in Republic of Ireland gov.ie. Please ALSO report them to @birdtrack.bsky.social. Thank you. #UKBirding
Image of a dead Oysteratcher on the sand alongside the wording: Please report sightings of dead birds. Image credit: Dawn Balmer/BTO.
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
*insert Northern Exposure theme tune here*
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
awesome recovery!
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
aside from all the birds I also help with local cat re-homing schemes - here's some recent friends... #adoptdontshop #housecats #cats
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
haven't put anything about my writing here yet, so... Jan25 saw the longest ever run of one of my plays - a fragmented & quite silly piece named Missing Lane Markers on the A47. 2 4 star reviews. very meaningful after 10+ years of writing nonsense and hoping some of it finds reality. #playwriting
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Toby Moran Mylett @tobymoranmylett.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Rook. Peterborough Service area.
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