toddbox
@toddzbox.bsky.social
Failed photographer of birds in flight, patch birder North of E. Cheshire. Enthusiastic grandfather. Wistfully not a paleoanthropologist.
Reposted by toddbox
Does anyone happen to have photos of the Newhaven Woodchat Shrike and the Humpback Whale (when it was off Beachy Head) from last year that I could use in some talks about my book please?
February 8, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Does anyone happen to have photos of the Newhaven Woodchat Shrike and the Humpback Whale (when it was off Beachy Head) from last year that I could use in some talks about my book please?
Reposted by toddbox
This fabulous book arrived yesterday and I’ve already read it pretty much from cover to cover. I normally prefer audio books and can’t think of another physical book I’ve read so comprehensively for literally decades. Congrats @graemelyons.bsky.social: a fantastic achievement.
February 6, 2026 at 2:40 PM
This fabulous book arrived yesterday and I’ve already read it pretty much from cover to cover. I normally prefer audio books and can’t think of another physical book I’ve read so comprehensively for literally decades. Congrats @graemelyons.bsky.social: a fantastic achievement.
Bird's of Spath Lane :
February 8, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Bird's of Spath Lane :
Spath Lane is ancient and runs behind us. It's Sunday's walk and it was 20 species this glorious morning. Best bird was seeing a Goldcrest in two distinct places.
February 8, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Spath Lane is ancient and runs behind us. It's Sunday's walk and it was 20 species this glorious morning. Best bird was seeing a Goldcrest in two distinct places.
Reposted by toddbox
I was reading something the other day about how AI slop is affecting architecture the other day and this seems like the perfect example
Absolutely tremendous work here, no notes.
(Apart from to say that this proposal is by the actual president of RIBA)
(Apart from to say that this proposal is by the actual president of RIBA)
February 7, 2026 at 10:08 AM
I was reading something the other day about how AI slop is affecting architecture the other day and this seems like the perfect example
Saturday is Blossoms Lane Woodford. Cormorant, 3 Ravens, 6 Redwing, Redpoll!, Greenfinch etc. The Rookery was noisy today (Ravens?) and on our Lane dozens of Redwing flying from tree to tree 🙂
February 7, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Saturday is Blossoms Lane Woodford. Cormorant, 3 Ravens, 6 Redwing, Redpoll!, Greenfinch etc. The Rookery was noisy today (Ravens?) and on our Lane dozens of Redwing flying from tree to tree 🙂
In the hide with Stuart at Marbury (Coward's Hide) OTD 2019 🙂
February 6, 2026 at 11:14 AM
In the hide with Stuart at Marbury (Coward's Hide) OTD 2019 🙂
Some 'on this day' reminiscing illustrating Robin's activities about now.
Several trios of Robin's bickering in hedgerows this week. And singing, of course.
Several trios of Robin's bickering in hedgerows this week. And singing, of course.
February 6, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Some 'on this day' reminiscing illustrating Robin's activities about now.
Several trios of Robin's bickering in hedgerows this week. And singing, of course.
Several trios of Robin's bickering in hedgerows this week. And singing, of course.
“Volkswagen’s structure is more akin to that of a Chinese state-owned enterprise.” VW declined to comment.
So often the story told of China's industrial success is one of state directed overthrow of the west.
There's a completely different one of entrepreneurs trying to find their spaces in crowded but growing markets.
This latter story is largely being ignored. www.ft.com/content/15e2...
There's a completely different one of entrepreneurs trying to find their spaces in crowded but growing markets.
This latter story is largely being ignored. www.ft.com/content/15e2...
Leapmotor: China’s no-frills EV maker aiming to become the next BYD
Low-cost carmaker harbours ambitions to go global and rank among world’s top 10 auto groups
www.ft.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:16 AM
“Volkswagen’s structure is more akin to that of a Chinese state-owned enterprise.” VW declined to comment.
Reposted by toddbox
There are few Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa 花脸鸭 Huāliǎn yā) wintering at the Yellow River estuary in Shandong Province. Photo by "菜小hua". #birds #china #yellowriver
January 30, 2026 at 6:35 AM
There are few Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa 花脸鸭 Huāliǎn yā) wintering at the Yellow River estuary in Shandong Province. Photo by "菜小hua". #birds #china #yellowriver
I wish Cheshire East would read this.
Cut blackthorn hedges less often = boost brown hairstreak butterflies. Really simple, cost-free (or even money-saving) measures can massively benefit wildlife. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Rare butterflies bounce back after landowners in Wales cut back on flailing hedges
More than 300 brown hairstreak butterfly eggs were recorded in hedgerows near Llandeilo this winter after decade of decline
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:31 AM
I wish Cheshire East would read this.
Reposted by toddbox
Wonderful stuff
My guess is most of us have a poor mental model of settlements over time - we make inference from what we currently see
And don't realise just how *busy* and cultural, not natural, the rural landscape is
Archaeology literally surfaces this :-)
My guess is most of us have a poor mental model of settlements over time - we make inference from what we currently see
And don't realise just how *busy* and cultural, not natural, the rural landscape is
Archaeology literally surfaces this :-)
I really like how major developments come with an assessment by archeologists in the UK.
Good read on finds along the HS2 route.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Good read on finds along the HS2 route.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
January 30, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Wonderful stuff
My guess is most of us have a poor mental model of settlements over time - we make inference from what we currently see
And don't realise just how *busy* and cultural, not natural, the rural landscape is
Archaeology literally surfaces this :-)
My guess is most of us have a poor mental model of settlements over time - we make inference from what we currently see
And don't realise just how *busy* and cultural, not natural, the rural landscape is
Archaeology literally surfaces this :-)
Reposted by toddbox
We're looking at setting up the Society for Hopeful Technologists as a co-operative society and I'd love to speak with folks or find examples of folks who have experience of running membership orgs that are also coops societyforhopefultechnologists.org
Society for Hopeful Technologists
For everyone who wants technologies to work for people and planet.
societyforhopefultechnologists.org
January 29, 2026 at 12:36 PM
We're looking at setting up the Society for Hopeful Technologists as a co-operative society and I'd love to speak with folks or find examples of folks who have experience of running membership orgs that are also coops societyforhopefultechnologists.org
Reposted by toddbox
January 29, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Siskin on a whatsname tree!
January 28, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Siskin on a whatsname tree!
IPhone 17 Small Rig with a clip on telephoto lens videoing a heron!
January 27, 2026 at 4:33 PM
IPhone 17 Small Rig with a clip on telephoto lens videoing a heron!
Reposted by toddbox
Parking in Hospitals :
Visits to Manchester Royal Infirmary many hundreds of times, fines =0
Visits to Stockport dozens and dozens, fines =0
Visits to Macclesfield General Hospital about 6, fines 2.
Is it really me?
Visits to Manchester Royal Infirmary many hundreds of times, fines =0
Visits to Stockport dozens and dozens, fines =0
Visits to Macclesfield General Hospital about 6, fines 2.
Is it really me?
January 24, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Parking in Hospitals :
Visits to Manchester Royal Infirmary many hundreds of times, fines =0
Visits to Stockport dozens and dozens, fines =0
Visits to Macclesfield General Hospital about 6, fines 2.
Is it really me?
Visits to Manchester Royal Infirmary many hundreds of times, fines =0
Visits to Stockport dozens and dozens, fines =0
Visits to Macclesfield General Hospital about 6, fines 2.
Is it really me?
Fed up with @marburybirds.bsky.social patch: Fieldfare, Redwing and a solo Raven paid Blossoms Lane Woodford a visit today. I usually see my first Ravens when the Rooks are nesting.
There was also a flock of Finches including one unmistakable Redpoll - again unusual. +Yellowhammer & other finch!
There was also a flock of Finches including one unmistakable Redpoll - again unusual. +Yellowhammer & other finch!
January 24, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Fed up with @marburybirds.bsky.social patch: Fieldfare, Redwing and a solo Raven paid Blossoms Lane Woodford a visit today. I usually see my first Ravens when the Rooks are nesting.
There was also a flock of Finches including one unmistakable Redpoll - again unusual. +Yellowhammer & other finch!
There was also a flock of Finches including one unmistakable Redpoll - again unusual. +Yellowhammer & other finch!
Bringing us all down to earth,
Henry examines a #Molehill bigger than himself. It's rich dark soil. Probably one of the best I've ever seen.
Henry examines a #Molehill bigger than himself. It's rich dark soil. Probably one of the best I've ever seen.
January 23, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Bringing us all down to earth,
Henry examines a #Molehill bigger than himself. It's rich dark soil. Probably one of the best I've ever seen.
Henry examines a #Molehill bigger than himself. It's rich dark soil. Probably one of the best I've ever seen.
Reposted by toddbox
Looks like everyone turns up when democracy needs defending
There are indications that Pectoral Sandpiper may be establishing a population in north-east Greenland, suggesting a possible eastward extension of its breeding range and raising intriguing questions about future vagrancy to Europe and Britain:
Pectoral Sandpiper may be establishing in north-east Greenland
Recent observations of nesting Pectoral Sandpipers in north-east Greenland suggest a potential extension of the species' breeding range, with implications for future European and British records.
bit.ly
January 23, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Looks like everyone turns up when democracy needs defending
Reposted by toddbox
💡 I've been awarded a #BES Small #Research Grant to develop my work on the #RingNeckedParakeet. Alongside #EcologicalMonitoring, I'm running a #ParakeetWorkshop to bring together scientists & stakeholders. Interested? Get in touch to learn more! @britishecologicalsociety.org @salforduni.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 2:16 PM
💡 I've been awarded a #BES Small #Research Grant to develop my work on the #RingNeckedParakeet. Alongside #EcologicalMonitoring, I'm running a #ParakeetWorkshop to bring together scientists & stakeholders. Interested? Get in touch to learn more! @britishecologicalsociety.org @salforduni.bsky.social
Reposted by toddbox
Thanks everyone who responded to this. Sadly the answer seems to be: be famous, or be connected, or pay a middleman, or self-publish with Amazon. I'll never be the first two, I can't afford the third, and I'm reluctant to use Amazon.
I've recently completed a first draft of a book about birding, a Big Year and mental health. I've approached a number of publishers (with no acknowledgement from any so far) but am wondering about self-publishing. Anyone got any experience with either form? #naturewriting #birds
January 22, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Thanks everyone who responded to this. Sadly the answer seems to be: be famous, or be connected, or pay a middleman, or self-publish with Amazon. I'll never be the first two, I can't afford the third, and I'm reluctant to use Amazon.
Reposted by toddbox
Actually, I'm not sure it is staining?, this one was in the exact same puddle at Cut End three years ago. #lincsbirding
January 22, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Actually, I'm not sure it is staining?, this one was in the exact same puddle at Cut End three years ago. #lincsbirding