flash – Jill Orme Photography

27 May 2025

Damp

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

Today we finally received at least some of the rain we so badly needed, along with some fierce winds – a combination that kept me at my desk, crunching digital files, until mid-afternoon. As soon as I was sure the … Continued

26 May 2025

Pollen mining

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

With the unusually warm April and May we’ve experienced, it seems as though my spring solitary bees have lived fast and died young: there are plenty of bumblebees in the garden right now, but for the past week or so … Continued

22 May 2025

Hoverfly-friendly

by JDO | posted in: Hoverflies, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

Artistically, I’m not a fan of feet, though I concede that practically they’re extremely useful, so I’m very much in two minds about posting this. But it was mildly amusing to have this Narcissus Fly (Merodon equestris) turn the tables … Continued

21 May 2025

Mimic

by JDO | posted in: Hoverflies, Invertebrates, Worcestershire | 0

I was walking into the clearing at Cleeve Prior Mill this afternoon, between high banks of bramble and wild flowers, when I half noticed a yellow and black bumblebee with a white tail, nectaring on cow parsley. In my defence, … Continued

17 May 2025

Spiffy

by JDO | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

There’s something absolutely luscious, I think, about a very fresh male Early Bumblebee. We have a lot of these Bombus pratorum boys in the garden at the moment, so at least one nearby nest has just released its ‘crop’. Their … Continued

16 May 2025

Mature

by JDO | posted in: Damselflies, Invertebrates, My garden, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

I was rattling around the garden this afternoon, trying to capture a few inverts on camera before R’s sister and brother-in-law arrived for a long-overdue visit, when I inadvertently scared this male Large Red Damselfly into flight. Luckily he just … Continued

15 May 2025

Smiley face

by JDO | posted in: Damselflies, Invertebrates, My garden, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

Tired after yesterday’s surfeit of fun, I didn’t put in much effort today, and more or less pottered the day away. Because it was rather dark and cold I wasn’t expecting much insect activity either, so I was surprised when … Continued

14 May 2025

Catty

by JDO | posted in: Invertebrates, Moths, Yorkshire | 0

This morning I drove up to RSPB Old Moor in South Yorkshire, where I’d arranged to meet Mr D. Pritchard, respected Odonatologist of that parish. After a ritual exchange of dragonfly exuviae in the car park, D showed me around … Continued

13 May 2025

Anniversary surprise

by JDO | posted in: Damselflies, Invertebrates, My garden, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

R and I went out for lunch today to celebrate our wedding anniversary (I’d tell you which one but I doubt you’d believe me, as I’m clearly not old enough to have been married this long), and when we got … Continued

8 May 2025

Red-letter hoverfly

by JDO | posted in: Hoverflies, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

If this was a bird I’d be calling it a lifer, I expect, but it’s just a hoverfly so I won’t go all triumphalist about it, even though it’s a species I’ve never seen before. Well… maybe a bit triumphalist. … Continued