Jill Orme
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ormejks.bsky.social
Jill Orme
@ormejks.bsky.social
3.5K followers 6.8K following 1.2K posts
Photographer, blogger, family historian and low-grade choral singer. Passionate about wildlife.
Feminist. Humanist. Centrist.
Pro-EU. Pro-PR. #FBPE #FBPPR
https://jillorme.org.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/jillorme/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Jill Orme
davidleakenney.bsky.social
Ah why not? Here's another Barn Owl picture I have taken. This beauty was flying right towards me.

#birds #birdphotography #photography #wildlifephotography #wildlife
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
thomaswpenny.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Old fishing nets from France become vital protection against Russian drones in Ukraine
Fishers from the Brittany coast are sending horse-hair nets to catch weapons and shield civilians and soldiers
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
bestforbritain.org
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.

"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
fascinatorfun.bsky.social
The signs from Australia (their worst flu season on record), Japan (where they’ve had to close schools) and India indicate that this could be a long, drawn out flu season here with hospitals at capacity

If you haven’t had your flu vax get it

Covid as well if possible

inews.co.uk/news/doctors...
Why doctors fear this winter's flu crisis will be the worst in years
An aggressive strain of flu causing record-breaking cases in Australia has been an early warning sign for the UK
inews.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
irishrainforest.bsky.social
Catastrophic nature loss is at least as serious a problem as climate breakdown, but only gets a fraction of the (woefully inadequate) attention.

THE most critical tasks of our time are:
• Protect what remains of wild ecosystems
• Mass rewilding where damaged or lost
www.earth.com/news/africas...
Africa's natural wildlife 'power' has nearly collapsed
Scientists warn that losing Africa’s large animals is draining ecosystem energy and reshaping the continent’s biodiversity.
www.earth.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
btobirds.bsky.social
If you're out doing your @webs-gsmp.bsky.social counts this weekend, remember to record & report any dead or sick birds you find (info in the link). Bird flu cases are rising.

www.bto.org/our-work/new...

📷 Dead Whooper Swan, by Kane Brides

#UKbirding
Dead Whooper Swan on the bank of a watercourse. Photo by Kane Brides.
November 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Even 2,500 years ago, people loved a novelty cup! 🦞 🍷 😄

It’s suggested this Ancient Greek terracotta vessel in the shape of a lobster claw was used as a drinking horn at parties!

The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

📷 by me

#Archaeology
My photo shows an ancient Greek red-figure terracotta vase with a body in the shape of a lobster claw. The vase is painted with black glaze. On one side are five knobly bumps or ‘spines’, on the other side is painted a red donkey (not shown). The vessel has a vertical neck with funnel-shaped mouth and outsplayed rim. There is a strap handle from the bottom of the neck across the length of the vase which attaches just before the claw’s pincers. The inner side of the pincers is warm red terracotta. Around the handle base there is a decorative red pattern. The vessel is displayed on a pale beige fabric. Dimensions: 7 x 7.3 x 15.9 cm. On display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Met label reads: Greek, Attic, red-figure, ca. 460 BC. Attributed to the Class of the Seven Lobster-Claws Donkey; keras (drinking horn). Because so many aspects of Greek life depended on the sea, a vase in the shape of a lobster claw is not surprising. It is, however, exceptional and may be a variant of the askos— a bag-shaped oil container provided with a vertical mouth and strap handle. The Dionysiac iconography of the lobster claw suggests that it was a novelty item used at symposia (drinking parties).
November 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
ottoenglish.bsky.social
It's that moment again for National Trust members to vote to keep the entryists out.

Quick and easy to vote and please do so by 31st of October

Quick Vote link keeps the AstroTurfers out.

Then share. Thank you.

secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...
Log In
Welcome to the National Trust 2025 voting website, hosted by independent voting service provider Civica Election Services.
secure.cesvotes.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
ormejks.bsky.social
A Little Egret in flight at NT Charlecote.
#birds #flight #heron #LittleEgret #EgrettaGarzetta #Charlecote #NationalTrust #NTCharlecote #UKBirds #BritishBirds #birding #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography 🪶
A Little Egret in profile, flying left to right against a diffused background of autumnal trees. It's a small heron with snow-white plumage, black legs and bill, and yellow feet. It flies with its legs and feet stretched out behind it.
October 23, 2025 at 9:37 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
Cryptic:
www.blipfoto.com/entry/342779...

#birds #bittern #BotaurusStellaris #heron #Slimbridge #WildfowlAndWetlandsTrust #UKBirds #BritishBirds #birding #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #NatureWriting 🪶
A Eurasian Bittern stands among thick reeds, only its head, neck and breast visible. This is a medium-sized, thick set heron with pale, buff-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. The crown of its head is black and it has a black moustache. It's standing very still in a typical pose, with its neck extended and its head lifted so its bill is at about 45° to the horizontal. This, and its cryptic colouring, help it to remain camouflaged among the reeds where it's usually found.
October 23, 2025 at 11:06 AM
ormejks.bsky.social
Being descended from a Waterloo heavy cavalry veteran, I find this fascinating. You can get a lot of logistical information from the old regimental muster rolls, and there are some really good books about Waterloo, but none of them give you much of a feel of what life in the army was really like.
London museum identifies black Waterloo veteran in rare 1821 painting
‘Honourable’ bandsman Thomas James will feature in display at National Army Museum highlighting service of black soldiers in Napoleonic wars
www.theguardian.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:11 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
A Nuthatch in the churchyard of Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon.
#birds #nuthatch #SittaEuropaea #UKBirds #BritishBirds #birding #ChurchyardBirding #StratfordUponAvon #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography 🪶
A European Nuthatch stands on the horizontal edge of a monument in a dark churchyard. The left hand side of the monument, the bird itself, and the yew fronds behind it, are all angled diagonally across the frame, top left to bottom right. The Nuthatch is a small bird with a grey-blue back and wings, and orange underparts. Its face is white and it has a black stripe running horizontally from the top of its bill, through its eye and along onto the top of its shoulder. Its legs are pale and its narrow, pointed beak is black.
October 19, 2025 at 5:54 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
Magpie, Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon, 10/10/25. As the invertebrate season draws towards its close, we're heading back into the season of churchyard birding.
#birds #magpie #PicaPica #UKBirds #BritishBirds #birding #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #ChurchyardBirding #StratfordUponAvon 🪶
A Magpie perches on top of an old, mossy monument in a dark churchyard, with three other gravestones also in the shot. The Magpie is facing away from the camera, its head turned to the left. It's a mainly black and white bird, with a black head and neck and a white breast, but its flight feathers are a spectacular iridescent blue, shading into green, and its long, slender tail is green, shading through purple to blue and finally teal.
October 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
Wren, Warwickshire, 08/10/25.
#birds #wren #TroglodytesTroglodytes #UKBirds #BritishBirds #birding #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography 🪶
A Wren in half profile, perched on the sloping edge of a cut post, looking towards the left of frame, and shot against a pale, diffused background. It's a small mid-brown bird, with a short tail that it's holding up at a sharp angle. It has a paler patch of feathers above its eye, and its tail and flight feathers are a deeper chestnut brown colour than its back and breast, and are barred in even deeper brown. There is also some pale barring on the wings.
October 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
A Garden Spider with her packed lunch.

#arachtober #invertebrates #arachnids #spider #GardenSpider #AraneusDiadematus #predation #CommonWasp #VespulaVulgaris #GardenWildlife #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #StingsNWings #SmallWonders
A Garden Spider on her web, holding the partly wrapped body of a Common Wasp she has caught. She is a large orange-brown spider with small white patches on her back forming a kind of cross shape, and legs ringed in brown and fawn.
October 8, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
doctorwaffle.substack.com
In honor of National Poetry Day, the greatest parody rewrite of all time:
Screen cap of parodic version of William Blake's "The Tyger" that begins: Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright (Not sure if I spelled that right) What immortal hand or eye Could fashion such a stripy guy? What the hammer that hath hewn it Into such a chonky unit? Did who made the lamb make thee, Or an external franchisee?
October 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Jill Orme
jonnelledge.bsky.social
would this go with my silk scarf, Y/N
snig.bsky.social Snigdha @snig.bsky.social · Oct 6
Hi Guys! I'm sure you're looking forward to wearing this easy to wear, comfy, practical outfit next Spring designed by Duran Lantink for Jean Paul Gaultier. It's not gonna chafe at all!
A man in a long-sleeve V-neck bodysuit with shoulder pads and sandals. It doesn't look comfortable. Or warm. Or practical. I bet it isn't cheap either.
October 7, 2025 at 10:52 AM
ormejks.bsky.social
A Grey Heron in flight at NT Croome. @midsandeastnt.bsky.social
#birds #UKBirds #BritishBirds #birding #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #Croome #NationalTrust 🪶
A Grey Heron in flight over a misty scrub field, with an autumn-leafed tree in the upper background, and a reed bed with bulrushes below. The bird is a large predatory wader, with an ash-grey back, tail, neck and wing coverts, dark blue-grey flight feathers, a white face, a blue-black crown, and streaky black and white markings on the front of its neck. Its long, sharp bill is orange, and its legs are brown.
October 5, 2025 at 9:03 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
Beauty spot:
www.blipfoto.com/entry/341654...

#insects #invertebrates #odonata #dragonfly #SouthernHawker #AeshnaCyanea #GardenWildlife #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #NatureWriting #MacroPhotography #StingsNWings #SmallWonders
A male Southern Hawker clings to a quince tree leaf. He is a large dragonfly, and here he is shot in close-up, with only his head and thorax, his right-hand legs, and the tops of his wings in the frame. His face is yellow, with some dark markings that are unique to individual dragonflies. His eyes are bright blue in the centre, with brown along their forward edges, yellow below and behind, and green above. His thorax is brown, with two thick green-yellow stripes running down the front (colloquially known as "headlights", and unique to this species among UK dragonflies), and two running diagonally along each side. There are also a series of green-yellow markings on the top of his thorax, and around the insertions of his wings.
September 21, 2025 at 9:43 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
Predation:
www.blipfoto.com/entry/341602...

#birds #UKBirds #BritishBirds #GreyHeron #ArdeaCinerea #birding #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography 🪶 #predation #StratfordUponAvon #insects #invertebrates #odonata #dragonfly #MigrantHawker #AeshnaMixta #UKWildlife #NatureWriting #StingsNWings #SmallWonders
A juvenile Grey Heron, photographed in right profile, with only its head and neck and the top of its back and wings in shot. It's a large blue-grey bird with black and white markings on its breast, a white chin, and the beginnings of black plumes beginning to grow from the back of its head. Its bill is black above and orange below, and in it the Heron is holding a Migrant Hawker dragonfly it has caught. The dragonfly's wings are sticking out on either side of the bird's bill, and its head, with blue eyes, one foreleg and part of its body can just be seen in the narrow opening between the jaws.
September 20, 2025 at 11:04 AM
ormejks.bsky.social
Batesian mimickry: a European Hornet, heavily armed at both ends, and its doppelgänger, the entirely harmless Hornet Hoverfly.
#insects #invertebrates #hornet #VespaCrabro #HornetHoverfly #VolucellaZonaria #ivy #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #MacroPhotography #StingsNWings #SmallWonders
A European Hornet feeding on ivy. This is a fresh queen, feeding up before winter hibernation. She's about 3cm long, with a yellow head, read forehead, red C-shaped eyes, a red-brown thorax and waist, and a mainly yellow abdomen, patterned in brown. Her wings are brown, her antennae are pinkish-red, and her legs are red-brown. A female Hornet Hoverfly, feeding on ivy. Like the Hornet she mimics, this hoverfly has a yellow face, red eyes, a red-brown thorax and scutellum, and a yellow abdomen striped in brown black. Her wings are brown, and she has red-brown legs. She's smaller than the Hornet, at about 2cm long, but she's still an impressive insect.
September 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
Spirit animal:
www.blipfoto.com/entry/341438...

#insects #invertebrates #odonata #dragonfly #MigrantHawker #AeshnaMixta #StratfordUponAvon #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #MacroPhotography #StingsNWings #SmallWonders
A male Migrant Hawker in flight, shot in profile against a dark background, the dragonfly angled from the top right of the frame towards the bottom left. He is a medium-sized dragonfly with a white face, blue eyes, a brown thorax with two broad diagonal yellow stripes on the side, and a mosaic patterned blue and black abdomen.
September 15, 2025 at 10:09 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
Black Tern, Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon., 11/09/25.
www.blipfoto.com/entry/341429...

#birds #UKBirds #BritishBirds #birding #BlackTern #ChlidoniasNiger #Farmoor #FarmoorReservoir #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #NatureWriting 🪶
A Black Tern in flight over a UK reservoir. In winter plumage, this small tern has grey upperparts, white underparts, a black cap, a white forehead, and a white collar with a dark smudge at the level of its eye. Its beak and legs are black. A Black Tern in flight over a UK reservoir. In winter plumage, this small tern has grey upperparts, white underparts, a black cap, a white forehead, and a white collar with a dark smudge at the level of its eye. Its beak and legs are black. A Black Tern in flight over a UK reservoir. In winter plumage, this small tern has grey upperparts, white underparts, a black cap, a white forehead, and a white collar with a dark smudge at the level of its eye. Its beak and legs are black. In this image it is just beginning to tip into a dive towards the water. A Black Tern in flight over a UK reservoir. In winter plumage, this small tern has grey upperparts, white underparts, a black cap, a white forehead, and a white collar with a dark smudge at the level of its eye. Its beak and legs are black.
September 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
A Hummingbird Hawkmoth on red valerian in my Worcestershire garden.
#insects #invertebrates #moth #HummingbirdHawkmoth #MacroglossumStellatarum #GardenWildlife #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #MacroPhotography #StingsNWings #SmallWonders
A Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding from a patch of red valerian. This is a fairly large brown moth, with a white chin, pale underparts, and mosaic patches of cream, white, and black towards the rear of its body. Its forewings are brown with wavy black lines across them, and its hind wings are vivid orange. It has long black antennae, and an extremely long, black tongue, which allows it to feed from tube-shaped flowers while hovering above them.
September 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
ormejks.bsky.social
A male Migrant Hawker over a reed bed in the River Avon at Stratford.
#insects #invertebrates #odonata #dragonfly #MigrantHawker #AeshnaMixta #StratfordUponAvon #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #MacroPhotography #StingsNWings #SmallWonders
A male Migrant Hawker in flight, shot in profile, the dragonfly angled from the top right of the frame towards the bottom left. He is a medium-sized dragonfly with a white face, blue eyes, a brown thorax with two broad diagonal yellow stripes on the side, and a mosaic patterned blue and black abdomen.
September 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM