The Wren - the most accomplished sampler of the invertebrates that are present in a garden. Here's just a tiny selection of the food items that she gathered to bring 5 wrenlets to fledging day. #birds 🦉 @markavery.bsky.social @vannabartlett.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social

A brave Ukrainian poet, a hero whose story must be known and honoured.

Another really interesting report from the Kyiv Literature Festival. May be of interest to @strategywoman.bsky.social

Never thought of it that way but @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social has "For the broadcast media that likes to think of itself as impartial, this disconnect between [migration] reality and what voters perceive, for an issue which is politically crucial, should be keeping those who work in it awake at night."

Amid all these attacks, it may go unnoticed that Kyiv hosted a literary festival with 27,000 visitors. But it speaks volumes about us. I wrote about what I took from it in my new members’ letter: www.patreon.com/posts/159802...

Lovely story, what an exceptional young man.

💔 Ukrainian soldiers unexpectedly arrived from the front for their daughters' graduation ceremonies.

The reactions to this are mainly focused on the move to the right, but what's really striking in reading Blair's essay in full, is how little Labour's most electorally successful politician understands the current electorate. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Is this the Tony Blair show or the Today Programme? BBC Radio 4

Lilac-Breasted Roller native to Africa and is is a national bird of Kenya 📷: Praveen Siddannavar #birds

You definitely need to read Robin Robertson's "Mortification: Writers’ Stories of their Public Shame" with such luminaries as Margaret Atwood, Irvine Welsh, and Julian Barnes. My favourite is poet Simon Armitage's:

An ever-expanding catastrophe over Iran is not inevitable. Trump can and must be stopped | Simon Tisdall

Whoever is in charge, Labour needs a new immigration strategy. Me in @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...

If journalists were doing their job properly, it would simply not be possible for the public to be labouring under this degree of ignorance when it comes to immigration. inews.co.uk/opinion/immi...

It was never my intent to grow old enough for aching bones, but here I am. My years passed by. A map of lines that show I am not immune to smiles. Memories hoarded of how things were. I am growing smaller but my heart still encompasses the world. Magic can still find me. #vss365 intent

thought for the day, a propos de rien: if you read and enjoy someone's writing, or painting, or creative work of any sort, or just how they make toast, consider telling them so.

What happened to politicians who lead with conviction? Who stick to their principles, explaining their position to take people with them? Leaders need to lead with honesty and integrity, both political and fiscal. We need leaders who lead not follow, and we need stronger codes of conduct.

“Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and representatives of other nations went through the Soviet machine of terror. The absolute majority of them — simply for being themselves.” Olena and Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored the memory of victims of political repression.

We’re appointing a writer-in-residence! Join us to respond to our holdings related to the Bloomsbury Group (including the archives of Leonard and Virginia Woolf’s Hogarth Press) ahead of a major exhibition in 2027. Applications close 19 May. Best of luck! collections.reading.ac.uk/news-and-vie...

⚡ Rescue workers in Kyiv have ended search operations after a massive Russian drone and missile assault killed 24 people, including three children. united24media.com/war-in-ukrai...

Life is fragile. Especially here. So I want to use every day of it to tell you more about Ukraine. No added music today. Just ink, brush, and paper. 🇺🇦 Andrii Chebykin (b. 1946)

Naz Shah mocks Reform UK's MPs and the far right, "(I am) the first ever Muslim to propose the loyal address in this chamber" "I must assure them, this is not a takeover" "But if seeing black and brown people on TV makes you feel sick, my speech is going to make you vomit"

The Conservative party’s “Alternative King’s Speech” claims unemployment has risen “every month” that Labour have been in government. We’ve fact checked this claim several times over the past year—it isn’t correct.

Pie in the sky hopes get dashed. #7syllablesentence #pie

BBC News so obsessed with the local elections today that they haven’t even mentioned VE Day.

Labour is losing votes to GREEN progressive voters. It’s the Tories that are losing to ReFuk. So when Labour seems to be losing SEATS to ReFuk it is mostly because they have lost VOTES to Greens and ReFuk have GAINED votes from the Tories. PREDICTABLE and PREDICTED 🤷🏻‍♀️

#7syllablesentence #snail A #snail climbed up my window Slimy #snail trails smeared the glass More #snail trails when it turned back

Mesmerised by lambent flames. #7syllablesentence #lambent

summer breeze a day of nothing much matters #haiku #DailyHaikuPrompt (breeze)

If you feel like you’re a better writer and student with a pen in your hand instead of a keyboard, you could be onto something. In 2024, a study at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology recruited 36 students in their early 20s - true digital natives at home with modern devices... 1/

Hubble found more galaxies (Beyond our own milky way) #7syllablesentence #galaxies

Galaxies of distant time #7syllablesentence #galaxies

This is the offence of "undue influence" under the 1983 Representation of the People Act. Its potential applicability to these electoral communications may depend on the scope of the prohibition to "intimidate in any other way"

Your Sunday Poem 🤌🏼✨️ • Mary Oliver •

An amazing story of 🇺🇦courage @strategywoman.bsky.social

Every day at 9am, Ukraine honors those killed by Russian aggression with a minute of silence.

🌳Vast areas of our most vital habitat are at risk of being lost forever. Will you join Dame Judi Dench and @wildcard.land in calling for DEFRA to fund the restoration of our publicly owned ancient woodlands? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/br...

Still waiting for the BBC to even mention this…

Her name is Dr. Hadiyah-Nichole Green.

astonishing story. This is not about a donation to a party but to an individual.

First bird of my day: a very poorly greenfinch sitting in the grass with Trichomonosis symptoms, reminding anyone who has bird feeders, not to be lazy and actually clean them every week. #firstbirdofmyday #whatsyours

#7syllablesentence #pulse Pulse rises with frustration. (I hate child-proof containers)

In a popular courtyard in Kyiv. I saw this little figure. The Voices of Children Foundation and the 🇺🇦 band Hyphen Dash launched a charity initiative to draw attention to children affected by the war and raise funds for them. I’ll share a link to read more and support the initiative.

Clouds are clearing, sun at last. #7syllablesentence #clearing

Deer graze the forest clearing #7syllablesentence #clearing

Claude Monet by Thomas Bossard

Seen in Kyiv today. A car rally called “Our People Are Still Not Home.” Held in support of Ukrainian prisoners of war and missing soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

All out can lead to burn out. #7syllablesentence #out

Great news for swifts! Well done everyone and thank you for responding @networkrail.bsky.social