blog

December 1st 2023.
A male Siskin.

Brown Long Eared Bat hunting mosquitoes.

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November 15th 2023.
A female Sparrowhawk can catch larger prey than the smaller male.
In this photograph a wood pigeon was the victim.

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November 12th 2023.
Wet, mild nights in Autumn encourage Earthworms to the soil surface to collect and consume
leaves and other dead plant material. The resulting worm cast will nourish growth of Spring plants.

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November 10th 2023.
Ring Necked Pheasant (a non native species introduced to Ireland in the 16th century).

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November 6th 2023.
The Moon's impact craters can be easily viewed with regular binoculars.

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November 5th 2023.
A Red Fox can catch and eat approximately 3000 mice and rats every year,
making the fox a very useful animal on farms that grow produce like grain,
potatoes, apples and other food.

Pipistrelle Bats in flight (5 exposures)

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October 29th 2023.
A Little Grebe makes his way across a lake on a misty Autumn morning.

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October 28th 2023.
Even during the shorter, cooler days of Autumn, there are still hedgerow insects
for the macro photographer to focus on.

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October 27th 2023.
The Rowan tree or Mountain Ash provides abundant blossoms for pollinators in Spring and
berries for birds and mammals in Autumn.

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October 21st 2023.
Smooth Newts leave their ponds and drainage ditches in Autumn to seek out
secure places to hibernate over Winter. Usually this will be under decaying,
fallen tree limbs or branch piles.

Male Smooth Newt on his way to a breeding pond.

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October 11th 2023.
A small group of Curlew flying over farmland is an increasingly rare sight these days.

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September 27th 2023.
A juvenile Wolf Spider seeks shelter from heavy rain in a blade of grass.

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September 25th 2023.
Early morning and a Common Darter dragonfly waits for some
sunshine to get warmed up before it can fly.

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September 20th 2023.
A study of Swallows in flight. Five images were blended into one.

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September 19th 2023.
Swallows fatten up on midge and other insects before the long flight south.

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September 18th 2023.
Reed Buntings like this female are found in habitats like wetlands and damp meadows.

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September 17th 2023.
The large compound eyes of a Fly serve as motion detectors to help escape predators,
the tiny simple eyes (in the middle of the head) are sensitve to light levels.

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September 16h 2023.
South facing walls on sunny days attract the tiny Zebra Jumping Spider.

Red Admiral Butterfly on rotten windfall apples.

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September 10th 2023.
Spotted Flycatchers will return to Africa over the next week or two and are known to
travel as far south as Namibia.

Female Wolf Spider protecting her young.

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August 30th 2023
Flowering Ivy in early Autumn provides many insects with a crucial supply of nectar before Winter.
Here, a Red Admiral butterfly is the beneficiary.

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August 12th 2023
A female Brown Hawker Dragonfly laying her eggs in the soft mud on a lake shore.

Brown Hawker Dragonfly laying her eggs in damp soil.

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August 6th 2023
Meadow Pipit, descending part of territorial flight.
(this image is a series of 8 photographs blended together).

Meadow Pipit descending flight sequence. (8 images blended together)

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July 30th 2023
The hairs on this caterpillar serve to deter predators like ants and birds.

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July 27th 2023
Ichneumon Wasp, a solitary, parasitic wasp that lays
it's eggs inside caterpillars and other larva.

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July 22nd 2023
A Red Fox can catch 3000 or so rats and mice every year, a very useful
ally to any landowner/farmer who grows fruit and vegetables.

Bumblebees in flight. (multi layered image).

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July 15th 2023
Swallows will rear a second and third brood over the Summer and early
Autumn if their insect food is still plentiful.

Feathered Thorn Moth (Colotois pennaria) and a mighty Oak Tree.

Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly in mid flight.

Mute Swan Family, County Cavan, Ireland.

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July 1st 2023
Narrow Bordered Five Spot Burnet Moth, a day flying moth species
that frequents wildlflower meadows.

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June 30th 2023
An Ichneumon Wasp sizes up a Sawfly larvae. The wasp will attack the sawfly larvae
and lay her eggs inside it. When these eggs hatch they will eat the sawfly larvae inside out.

Ichneumon Wasp sizing up a sawfly larvae.

Horse Fly or Cleg biting into human skin.

Caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor)

Four Spotted Dragonfly just after emerging from Nymph skin.

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May 31st 2023
Meadows left unmowed until July offer plenty of cover for ground nesting birds and
mammals like this Irish Hare on her way to suckle her young leveret hiding nearby
in the long grass.

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May 30th 2023
Buttercups provide large quantities of protein rich pollen which bees and other
insects use to feed their young.

Blue Tit feeding young at the nest (under NPWS permit)

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May 22nd 2023
A Starling's iridescent plumage, it's superb ability to mimic other birds and ambient sounds,
and it's murmurations during Autumn, easily make it our most fascinating bird to observe
and photograph.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly in flight.

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May 15th 2023
Maybugs are attracted to flourescent lighting at this time of year. Their noisy,
whirring flight is common to hear on warmer nights.

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May 13th 2023
The Hairy Dragonfly earns it's name from the hair coverd thorax on it's body,
probably an evolutionary adaptation which allows it to emerge in cooler Spring
weather, a month or two before Summer dragonfly species. This prevents
similar species from competing for the same food supply and breeding ponds.

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May 9th 2023
Hooded Crows play a crucial role in the countryside, by scavenging on dead animals
and afterbirths they keep the spread of diseases in check.

Great Tit feeding chicks at the nest (under NPWS permit)

Blackbird feeding chicks at the nest. (under NPWS permit)

Blue Tits feeding chicks at the nest (under NPWS permit)

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April 29th 2023
An article in the Guardian newspaper by Brian May, featuring one of my Badger photographs.

Badger Protection Article

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April 28th 2023
Female Blackbird feeding young on the nest.
(Photographed under a NPWS permit)

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April 24th 2023
Pine Marten can easily climb up to the nests of Magpies and Hooded Crows
under cover of darkness to eat the eggs.

Drinker Moth Caterpillar on a Cuckoo Flower

A woodland trail in Spring, County Cavan, Ireland.

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April 3rd 2023
Many bird species contribute to the dawn and dusk choruses, including the male Blackcap,
sometimes known as the northern Nightingale.

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April 1st 2023
Standing on top of other people's expensive vehicles makes for
an ideal raised viewing platform. Mercedes and Teslas in particular
have a good solid roof.

March 31st 2023
One of Ireland's largest dung beetles called The Dor Beetle can be found flying
around on warm Spring nights.

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March 30th 2023
There are around 1500 species of Moth to be found in Ireland.
This one was attracted to the light from a tv screen.

Red Squirrel collecting nesting material

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March 27th 2023
A wedge shaped tail and larger size distinguish the Raven from other
members of the crow family.

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March 26th 2023
Hover flies like this Drone Fly, maintain territories in mid air by hovering in one spot,
then darting off to drive away any competitors and then returning to the exact same
position as before.

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March 24th 2023
Ivy berries are a crucial food source for many bird species in Spring,
including this male Blackcap.

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March 23rd 2023
Lesser Celandine flowers are an important pollen and nectar source for the
insects emerging from their Winter hibernation.

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March 21st 2023
Whooper Swans fly in a V formation to reduce drag and conserve fat reserves
on long migration flights.

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March 19th 2023
Winter visiting birds to Ireland like the Fieldfare and Redwing start their return
migration, around now, to Scandinavia for the breeding season.

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March 17th 2023
Lesser Celandine dazzle damp and shaded areas with their intense
yellow in Spring. Easily more vibrant than any variety of primrose or daffodil.

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March 16th 2023
The small, acrobatic Treecreeper is a woodland specialist.
It's curved beak is the perfect tool for winkling out tiny larvae from
tree bark crevices.

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March 14th 2023
Canada Geese were first introduced to wild fowl collections in Ireland in
the early 19th century. Escapees eventually established a breeding population.

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March 13th 2023
Ring Necked Pheasants were first introduced to Ireland in the 16th century.
This male has his full breeding plumage on display.

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March 11th 2023
Ivy produces berries in Spring and nectar filled flowers in Autumn.
At this time of year these ripening berries are a crucial food source
for many birds and mammals.

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March 9th 2023
This photograph was taken on a snowy day a few Winters ago. As well as being a
highly effective controller of rodent populations, the Red Fox is a fine looking animal
especially when it has it's full Winter coat of fur.

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March 8th 2023
Irish Hares start competing for the right to mate in early Spring, this is when
they can be commonly seen. Once the growth of Summer conceals their
movements, they are more difficult to observe and photograph.

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March 7th 2023
Usually 2 or 3 hours after nightfall at this time of year, the courtship
calls of Long Eared Owls can be heard.

Kingfisher after catching a small perch.

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March 5th 2023
Animals die from a variety of natural causes, scavenging birds like
the Hooded Crow play a crucial role in disposing of the remains.
Otherwise diseases of many kinds would effect animal populations
in a bad way.

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March 4th 2023
A male Reed Bunting. Reed Buntings like wetland habitats and also areas
of farmland that have rough grazing with Rush and other long grassy cover.

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March 3rd 2023
A Red Fox can catch approximately 3,500 rats and mice every year.
A very useful animal to anybody who grows food or stores food commercially.

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February 27th 2023
Pipistrelle Bats photographed in my backyard.
This is a multiple exposure image, meaning there's 5 photographs blended into one.

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February 24th 2023
Hoverflies like Eristalis tenax are the first pollinaters to emerge in Spring.
Hoverflies are widely regarded by entomologists as being more important
for food production than bees.

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February 21st 2023
Wildlife ponds not only attract Common Frogs, Smooth Newts also rely on them
for breeding sites. They emerge from their over wintering cover during the first
warming days of Spring. The spotted skin pattern on this particular Newt means
it's a male.

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February 20th 2023
Skin pigmentation changes during spawning time in Common Frogs mean that
green, yellow, brown, red and bronze coloured individuals are regularly found.

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February 19th 2023
The mating frenzy of Common Frogs continues, it usually lasts a week or so
if it's not interrupted by sub zero temperatures.

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February 18th 2023
A chaotic scrum of Common Frogs at breeding time. The competition to mate is so fierce
that fatalities are common for both males and females.

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February 14th 2023
Frogs are currently making their way from their hibernating cover to ponds and
ditches to breed.

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February 13th 2023
Rooks in flight. Along with Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Raven, Hooded Crow and Carrion Crow
and Chough, the Corvids, have proven to be the most intelligent and adaptive of all birds.

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February 7th 2023
The largest impact crater on the Moon is The South Pole–Aitken basin.
It is 2500km in diameter and 8.3 km deep.

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February 5th 2023
Photographing into the Sun can give interesting lighting effects like this
gilt edged Kingfisher.

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February 1st 2023
When a Puffball Fungus first emerges it is snow white in colour.
As it matures it turns brown and the outer skin breaks down, releasing
millions of spores into the air.

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January 27th 2023
Equal to the Red Fox in expertise at catching rodents is the Pine Marten.
In this image a Brown rat is the prey.

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January 26th 2023
The last days of a once mighty Ash tree. Rotten roots infected by
the Chalara fungus eventually gave way in a wind storm.

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January 24th 2023
A typical Red Fox can catch between 3000 and 4000 rats and mice every year, a useful predator to
any food grower who has stores of grain, fruit or vegetables to protect.

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January 22nd 2023
Winter is a good season to observe the Treecreeper. They can
be found in most deciduous woodlands, large and small.

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January 1st 2023
A single Red Fox can catch THREE THOUSAND rats and mice
on average farmland habitats. A really valuable animal to food
growers everywhere.

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December 19th 2022
A Treecreeper ascends tree trunks in a spiral pattern in a never ending
search for grubs and tiny bugs.

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December 17th 2022
A typical Red Fox can kill THREE THOUSAND rats and mice every year.
A very valuable animal to food growers everywhere.

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December 11th 2022
A Robins fluffed up feathers produces a trapped layer of warm air
allowing it to survive chilly Winter days and nights.

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December 10th 2022
When lighting conditions aren't good enough for full colour photographs,
silhouettes are a saleable compromise.

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December 6th 2022
A typical Red Fox can kill around 3000 rats and mice every year.

As they are a useful ally to food growers, there is no need to hunt foxes in Ireland.

Also modern fencing technology can easily protect poultry and rare wild bird nesting areas.

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November 27th 2022
A pair of Badgers foraging in woodland at night. These particular
Badgers have been vaccinated against bTB, a measure that's proving
effective with co-operative livestock owners.

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November 25th 2022
Invertebrate animals like this Black Snake Millipede are at work all year round in
woodlands, hedgerows and herbicide free fields, breaking down organic matter
into a natural fertilizer.

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November 20th 2022
A keen swimmer and teacher of swimming for most of her life and always
in our thoughts and happy memories. Happy Birthday Mam.

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November 19th 2022
As a keen game shooter my Father also enjoyed rearing and releasing
pheasants to keep their numbers stable. Happy 89th Birthday Dad.

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November 18th 2022
Modern digital cameras make night sky photography a lot easier
than it used to be. The Plough constellation

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November 14th 2022
The Goldcrest, being a small fast moving bird, is a challenge for nature photographers
of all skill levels.

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November 10th 2022
Hooded Crow in Autumn mist. Crows and other scavengers are important
in the countryside. By consuming carrion they help prevent the spread of disease.

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November 8th 2022
Fields and meadows that are free from herbicides and chemical fertilizers
attract many bird species. Among them is the Meadow Pipit. The thick tangle of
Summer grass is perfect for nest building and rearing their young, while the
abundance of fallen seeds feeds them in Winter.

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November 6th 2022
To attract Hedgehogs to your garden, build a pile of branches,
twigs, and leaves in a hidden cornor. Hedgehogs are great at
controlling slugs and snails.

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November 4th 2022
Grey Heron in mid flight.

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November 3rd 2022
Pipistrelle Bat on the wing.

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November 2nd 2022
Wet, warm Autumns encourage a wide variety of fungi to flourish
like this Orange Spot Fungus.

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October 31st 2022
Red Ant using its antennae to detect the air for pheromones of fellow ants
or the scent of food.

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October 28th 2022
Initial trials in vaccinating Badgers against Bovine TB have proven successful,
hopefully it can be targeted in bTB prone areas of the country.

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October 26th 2022
Mild and wet Autumn weather is perfect for Frogs to move around and find the
perfect place to hibernate.

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October 21st 2022
Acute senses of hearing and smell allow a typical Red Fox to catch approximately
3000 rats and mice every year. An important ally for anybody who grows and stores
food on a commercial scale.

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October 18th 2022
A Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on a decaying orchard apple. Spoiled and windfall
fruit shouldn't get tidied away as it is an important food source for many animals
over late Autumn and early Winter.

Red Admiral butterfly on a rotten windfall apple.

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October 17th 2022
Woodlands in Autumn have a definite aroma of decomposition.. As leaves
descend onto the forest floor, earth worms wait for them in their burrows.

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October 14th 2022
Common Frogs seek out safe places to hibernate at this time of year.
Log piles, compost heaps, tussocks of grass and dry stone walls are
all favourite places.

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October 11th 2022
An intricate Spider's web, made useless by morning dew. Once the dew drys off,
then it becomes an invisible trap for any unwary flying insect.

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October 10th 2022
Acute senses of hearing and smell allow a typical Red Fox to catch approximately
3000 rats and mice every year. An important ally for anybody who grows and stores
food on a commercial scale.

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October 2nd 2022
Our last few Swallows fatten up on swarms of Midges before heading
south to warmer climes where insects are abundant.

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September 13th 2022
Matured Puffball Fungus. When it first emerges, it is pure white and grows to
12 inches in diameter. Once it turns brown it sheds billions of spores.

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September 12th 2022
Green Leafhoppers are a crucial food source for many animals.
Herbicide free pastures and meadows are needed for this tiny
insect to flourish.

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September 4th 2022
Birch and Alder trees produce large quantities of seed every year which
attract a variety of finches like this Lesser Redpoll.

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August 30th 2022
Swifts usually leave Ireland from mid to late August for Africa, where insects
will be much more plentiful over the coming months.

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August 29th 2022
The compound eyes of a fly serve as motion sensors to detect
the movements of potential predators.

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August 16th 2022
On average a Red Fox can catch between 2500 and 4000 mice and rats every year, a useful ally
to commercial food growers and gardeners.

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July 24th 2022
A Red Ant searches the air with antennae for the scent of food and scent trails
laid down by other ants from the colony.

Honey Bee collecting nectar from bramble

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July 19th 2022
A Red Fox can catch between 2500 and 4000 mice and rats every year,
a useful ally to commercial food growers and gardeners.

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July 14th 2022
A Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly just after hatching into the adult stage
of it's life cycle. The previous two years of it's life were spent under water.

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July 12th 2022
A Water Rail chick emerges from a reed bed. Large feet help spread
it's weight when walking on aquatic plants in the shallows.

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July 2nd 2022
A female Reed Bunting (a species of finch) is perfectly camouflaged for nesting in
reed beds and hay meadows that are left unmowed until after mid Summer.
Many landowners don't realise how many nests get destroyed by early season mowing.
Pheasant, Snipe, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and even Mallard duck all use
meadows to nest in.

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June 15th 2022
An Ichneumon Wasp, one of a host of insects that are very useful to both
commercial growers and small scale gardeners.

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June1st 2022
Hairy Dragonflies mate to complete a 2 year life cycle. Most of the 2 years is spent
as a nymph under water. The adults are on the wing for just 3 or 4 weeks before they
die after mating.

Rival Swallows compete for a feather to use for nesting.

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May 29th 2022
Spotted Flycatcher with a Wasp, This little bird along with the Warblers are the less well known
Summer visitors to Ireland from Africa every year.

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May 27th 2022
5-Spot Burnet Moth on Vetch. One of many day flying moths to see in late Spring
on natural grassland.

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May 26th 2022
Common Snipe nesting on natural grassland, which is then mowed for hay in late Summer
when ground nesting birds have completed rearing their young.

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May 25th 2022
Some insects have both Simple eyes and Compound eyes. On this Damselfly,
the smaller simple eyes are located in the middle of the head and are used mainly
to detect light levels. The larger, bulbous compound eyes located on the both sides
of the head are motion detectors used to track the movements of smaller insects
for food, other damselflies to breed with and to avoid predators. The compound
eyes in particular are an evolutionary marvel.

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May 24th 2022
A female Wolf Spider carries her eggs/young in a silken sack which is
both waterproof and durable.

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May 23rd 2022
Natural grasslands are bursting with life, from fungi, insects, arachnids, frogs,
birds, and small mammlas to larger, more familiar animals like the Irish Hare.

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May 16th 2022
Male Cuckoo using an electricity wire as a broadcasting perch for his familiar
"coook oooo!" call.

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May 13th 2022
A newly hatched Mayfly prepares for its maiden flight. At this vulnerable
stage they become food for many animals both in the river and along
the riverbank.

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May 11th 2022
The Maybug is one of our more eye catching beetles. The large antennae of the male
are used to detect the pheremonal signals of the females.

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May 9th 2022
St. Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly at rest. This is a fly much mimiced by trout fishermen
who like to catch fish from the lake or river surface in late April and early May.

Green Veined White Butterfly in mid flight.

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May 6th 2022
A hands off approach to pasture management can result in easy to grow
nectar sources like Cuckoo Flower (pictured), Creeping Buttercup, Chickweed,
Red and White Clover, Knapweed, Red Dead Nettle, Self Heal, Shepherds Purse
and several species of Vetches. All these can flourish at no cost to the landowner.

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May 5th 2022
A small or large wildlife pond is a precious resource for many animals,
like frogs, newts, ducks, warblers, herons, reed buntings, damselflies,
alder flies, water beetles, pond skaters, water dividers, dragonflies, house
martins, swallows (pictured), badgers, voles, shrews, foxes, kingfishers,
diving beetles, reed beetles, ..........

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April 27th 2022
Bluebells, along with lesser celandine, blackthorn blossom, dandelion, violets
and other Spring blooms are a crucial source of nectar for Bumblebee queens
to start new colonies every year.

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April 26th 2022
Parallel swimming, head bobbing, and gift giving are just a few parts of the
pair bonding and courtship displays of Great Crested Grebes.

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April 25th 2022
The virtuoso of the dawn chorus is the Song Thrush. It has over 100 different
phrases and melodies in it's repertoire.

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April 24th 2022
One of my canvas wraps of The Kingfisher. Our most colourful bird makes an
interesting decor choice in any room.

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April 22nd 2022
A focal length shift using a zoom lens during a long exposure,
gives an exploding bluebell effect.

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April 16th 2022
Robin feeding chicks. (Photographed under a permit from
the National Parks and Wildlife Service).

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April 15th 2022
Blackbird feeding chicks. (Photographed under a permit from
the National Parks and Wildlife Service).

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April 12th 2022
A Red Fox searches the forest floor for the scent of wood mice. A typical fox can
catch between 3000 and 4000 rats and mice every year, a useful predator to
any grower who has stores of grain, fruit or vegetables to protect.

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April 10th 2022
A Jay searches the forest floor for cached acorns. Any acorns left unfound will gerninate
into saplings.

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April 5th 2022
Badger foraging at night. Vaccinating Badgers against bovine Tuberculosis has proven
successful in recent trials.

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April 1st 2022
Standing on top of other people's expensive vehicles makes for
an ideal raised viewing platform. Mercedes and Teslas in particular
have a good solid roof.

March 31st 2022
A Blackcap, also know as the northern nightingale, has a lovely melodious song.
Usually heard anywhere hedgerows and woodlands are allowed to flourish.

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March 29th 2022
7-Spot Ladybird on Dandelion. Both species are important, the Ladybird for aphid control
in the garden and the flowers and young leaves of dandelion can be used in salads.

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March 18th 2022
Rough grazing areas provide excellent cover for Irish Hares to conceal themselves
and to rear young.

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March 17th 2022
The Willow Warbler and the Chiffchaff are the first Spring migrant birds to arrive
in Ireland from Africa. The song of the Chiffchaff is particularly distinctive.

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March 15th 2022
A Common Buzzard scans the farmland below for a feeding opportunity.
Both live prey and carrion are sought out.

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March 11th 2022
A Wood Mouse takes advantage of dropped seeds at a bird feeding station.
Nothing goes to waste in Nature.

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March 10th 2022
The Treecreeper is a true woodland specialist. It's curved beak is perfect
for probing into tree bark crevices for grubs.

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March 9th 2022
A sad reminder of short sighted Forest Service forestry policies is the loss of our once
mighty Ash trees. Imported saplings from Europe brought the Chalara fungus now
manifesting itself as Ash Dieback in our hedgerows and native woodlands.

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March 8th 2022
Along with other scavenging birds the Hooded Crow provides a
crucial dead animal waste disposal service in the countryside,
without which, animal diseases would be much more common.

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March 7th 2022
A Grey Heron flying between frog spawning areas where the feeding
is easy compared to the usual diet of fish.

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March 1st 2022
A wildlife pond heaving with mating frogs, there are approximately 300 frogs
at this purpose built pond.

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February 27th 2022
Macro photography (photographing timy subjects) provides infinite possibilites
for photographs without having to travel far. Even here in Ireland there are hundreds
of insect species to photograph like this Green Leafhopper.

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February 18th 2022
The Goldcrest and it's close relative the Firecrest are Europe's smallest breeding birds,
weighing between 5 and 7 grams.

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February 17th 2022
Dull, overcast days are perfect for experimenting with slow camera shutter settings
and birds in flight. This method produced a blurred abstract representation of a
Rook's flight.

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February 15th 2022
Once Frogs emerge from hibernation, they make their way to a pond
or drainage ditch for the breeding season. The males (pictured) arrive first.

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February 14th 2022
Rooks circle over the nests they used last year. This particular rookery
had 37 nests with 109 chicks successfully reared.

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February 9th 2022
The humble Wood Mouse is a crucial link in the food chain for woodland and
farmland wildlife. Owls, Hawks, Buzzard, Fox, Pine Marten, Irish Stoat, and Badger
all rely on it.

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February 8th 2022
Rooks fly past last years nesting trees, deciding whether to re-use
old nests or move to another rookery site.

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February 4th 2022
A male Bullfinch feeding on the last of the haw berries for this season.
Hedgerows away from roads should be allowed to mature and spread
out some 4 meters each side from thier base. This provides a wildlife
corridor within farmland which is crucial if we want to restore bio diversity
in this part of the world.

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February 2nd 2022
A Harvestman can use hooks on the end of it's legs to prey on smaller invertebrates
than itself.

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January 30th 2022
Europe's smallest breeding birds are The Firecrest and The Goldcrest (pictured).
The Goldcrest weighs between 5g and 7g.

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January 29th 2022
On farms where Nature is valued, Meadow Pipits can flourish if herbicides
are not used and mowing of meadows for fodder is restricted to late July /August.

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January 24th 2022
A settled spell of weather and lengthening days are a catalyst for birds
like these Grey Wagtails to compete for territory.

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January 23rd 2022
A canvas wall hanging lends itself well to natural history subjects as there is no reflective glass
between the picture and the viewer. A custom made size of any image on this site can be made
to suit all requirements.

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January 21st 2022
A Dipper waits on one of her favourite rocks before diving underwater
to search the river bed for caddis and mayfly larvae.

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January 20th 2022
A Fieldfare Thrush forages around crab apple trees for fruit in a native
woodland plantation.

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January 19th 2022
Famous for it's murmuration flights over Winter roosting sites, the Starling
is also a master mimic. Car alarms, mobile phone ring tones and also the
calls of other animals like Buzzards, Foxes, and song birds are all perfectly
vocalized . It's plumage is also intricately detailed with speckles and iridescence.

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January 13th 2022
At this time of year the male Long Eared Owl can be heard after dark. He uses
a single soft "hoot" repeated many times to attract the attention of a female.

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January 11th 2022
A female Kingfisher waits in the Winter sunshine for a fish to pass by in the lake shallows below.

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January 6th 2022
By sitting at ground level and staying still, Irish Hares will approach my camera
and me to within 3 meters.

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January 5th 2022
One of the cleverest of all birds, a Hooded Crow surveys her territory
for any feeding opportunities.

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January 3rd 2022
The cycles of Nature continue, oblivious to the constraints of clocks, calendars. and
the other whims and follies of human beings.

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December 28th 2021
A slow camera shutter speed turns a Rook in flight into a blurry abstract image, a
favourite of some picture buyers.

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December 23rd 2021
A Badger explores a rotten hollow log for grubs. In both natural and commercial woodlands
it's crucially important to leave piles of logs and branches here and there to provide nesting
opportunities for birds and hibernating shelter for mammals, amphibians and insects.

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December 22nd 2021
The Curlew has one of the most enigmatic bird calls in the countryside. Worryingly
it's getting rarer to hear it every year.

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December 19th 2021
When the weather is mild on long Winter nights, Pipistrelle Bats
emerge to find any midges, moths or mosquitoes that are still active.

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December 17th 2021
The non-native American Mink is still common and widespread causing an imbalance
in the food chain on lake shores and river banks.

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December 16th 2021
A male Ring Necked Pheasant, scarce on intensively managed farms, plentiful on farms
that work in harmony with nature.

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December 15th 2021
Absent from this part of Ireland for many many years, the return of the Common Buzzard
(pictured), Raven, Pine Marten and Red Squirrel is solid proof of how Bio-diversity can be restored
if the right habitats are provided by land owners.

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December 11th 2021
Ireland's humid, damp, and relatively warm climate means fungi, moulds,
mosses and algae thrive all year round. Pictured is a Orange Spot Fungus.

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December 9th 2021
As a Winter storm passes through, a break in the clouds allows rays of sunlight to
illuminate a drumlin.

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December 3rd 2021
A regular find on the damp forest floor and in compost heaps, the Black Snake
Millipede feeds on decaying organic matter. To protect itself it forms a defensive spiral.

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December 2nd 2021
Wood Mouse foraging in the leaf litter on the forest floor. Small mammals like rats, mice,
voles and shrews are vital links in the food chain. They are especially important food for
foxes, badgers, stoats, pine martens, owls, falcons, hawks and buzzards.

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December 1st 2021
Even in early Winter the meager warmth from the mid day sun can coax insects like this Sunfly
to fly around.

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November 28th 2021
Female Sparrowhawks are large enough to tackle prey like this wood pigeon. the male
Sparrowhawk's smaller size means he is restricted to smaller bird species for a meal.

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November 26th 2021
A Red Squirrel in silhouette. When the light isn't favourable. dialing in 2 stops of under exposure
on the camera means you go home with some publishable images. Under-exposing, darkens
shadow areas to black against a background of overcast sky.

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November 21st 2021
Whooper Swans flying in a V formation to reduce drag and prolong
their fat reserves. A very important strategy on their Winter migration
south from Iceland to Ireland.

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November 20th 2021
The low angle of the Sun in Autumn provides perfect back lighting or side lighting
for birds that have translucent feathers like this Mute Swan.

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November 18th 2021
Low stocking rates of hardy breeds of cattle are a perfect tool for creating rough tussocky pasture
which is ideal nesting habitat for ground nesting birds like Snipe (pictured), Skylark, Meadow Pipit,
Lapwing, Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Corncrake and Curlew. Intensive farming techniques like slurry
spreading,land rolling, pasture topping and mowing in Spring and early Summer have devastated
populations of these particular bird species over the last 60 years in Ireland.

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November 17th 2021
During the colder months of the year, Bees (both wild and commercial colonies) keep warm
by huddling together, sometimes vibrating their wings to generate heat.

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November 16th 2021
Long nights of mild Autumn weather provide an opportunity for Pipistrelle Bats
to feed on insects like Midge, Mosquitoes and Moths.

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November 13th 2021
Piles of logs and branches left in woodlands and field and garden edges provide
ideal hibernating cover for Frogs, Newts, Hedgehogs and dozens of insect species.

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November 8th 2021
The foundation of every farm is healthy soil. Earth worms are the architects of this soil structure.
Applying slurry, chemical fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and the residues of endo-parasite
control cattle doses found in manure all decimate earthworm populations. Regenerative
farming techniques, on the other hand, require no damaging inputs, build soils, sequester
carbon, increases earth worm numbers and increases soil fertility, productivity, and farm profits.

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November 6th 2021
Pheasant numbers are currently decreasing due to slurry spreading, pasture topping and mowing during
the nesting season. Natural predation only has a negligible effect on numbers. In locations where
habitats are being restored all ground nesting bird species are increasing.

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November 1st 2021
A Smooth Newt leaves it's breeding pond in search of a damp, hidden
place to hibernate. Usually under a log or decaying vegetation in a hedgerow
or woodland.

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October 30th 2021
The Hooded Crow plays an important waste disposal role in the countryside.
It will consume carrion, preventing the spread of diseases.

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October 29th 2021
This Autumn the hedgerows are heavily laden with haws, hazel nuts, blackberries, crab apples, sloes,
guelder rose berries and rose hips (pictured). Hedge cutting along roads for traffic safety issues should
be delayed until this harvest of berries has been eaten by birds and mammals. Hedgerows away from
roads should be left Uncut as there is no profitable reason for doing so.

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October 20th 2021
Ivy flowers in Autumn which provides a crucial source of nectar for pollinators
like this Red Admiral Butterfly. The Ivy then produces it's berries in late Spring,
a crucial food source for birds and mammals.

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October 18th 2021
Around now, Hedgehogs will be searching for a secure place to make a
Winter nest. Piles of branches and prunings placed in a heap are ideal for
this. A hibernaculum like will also attract Frogs and Newts to over-winter
in too.

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October 2nd 2021
Wet Autumn nights make foraging for worms easy for Badgers..
Their powerful claws and ultra sensitive nose and whiskers make
it easy to find food in complete darkness.

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September 27th 2021
Forest Shield Bugs feed mainly on the sap of Oak, Hazel and Alder trees and
occasionally prey on on other small woodland insects.

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September 23rd 2021
A Bolete Fungus. For most of the year woodland fungi and trees work together unseen
in the humus layer and deeper in the soil on the forest floor. The filaments and mycelia
of the fungi provide a huge surface area for tree roots to absorb nutrients, while the trees
provide the fungi with dead leaves, twigs, branches and trunks for their food.

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September 14th 2021
A Kingfisher usually waits around 10 minutes on a favourite fishing perch
before moving on to the next one if no fish are around.

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September 5th 2021
Another ally of the gardener and farmer is the Common Garden Ant or Red Ant.
The ant colony requires thousands of grubs and eggs of garden pests to maintain
itself from one season to the next.

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September 4th 2021
Swallows prepare for their arduous migration south. Juveniles in particular
need to have fully developed wing and chest muscles for the long, testing flight.

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September 3rd 2021
Wasps are useful to gardeners and farmers as they prey on caterpillars that may
damage fruit or vegetables. They also control other larvae that may carry livestock
diseases.

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August 28th 2021
While the adult Poplar Hawk Moth does not feed, the caterpillars depend on trees
like Poplar, Willow and Sallow for nourishment.to eventually metamorphose into
one of Ireland's most impressive insects.

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August 27th 2021
A Swallow in flight image is always a good test for any wildlife photographer.
Flight path patterns need careful study. Usually a focal length between 150mm
and 400mm is needed if the flight path is 5m away.

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August 26th 2021
Leaf hoppers like this juvenile are the main food source for frogs and newts
in natural grasslands. Herbicides, chemical fertilizers and slurry spreading all
disrupt this food chain and ultimately reduce bio diversity on farmland.

Compound eyes of the Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly

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August 21st 2021
One species of finch, the Reed Bunting nests in rushes that are found on many fields.
Late Summer/Autumn mowing of these rushes will provide good nesting habitat for
Buntings, Snipe, Pheasant, Meadow Pipit, Mallard Duck, Curlew and Skylark next Spring
when the rushes will have regrown.

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August 17th 2021
Common Frog on a decomposing log. Leaving piles of branches and logs in woodlands
and hedgerows is a simple way of providing places of refuge for small animals. These
log piles are also ideal for hibernating animals over Winter.

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August 13th 2021
The large compound eyes of a Damselfly are mainly used for sensing the motion
of their small insect prey. The much smaller "simple" eyes, located on the middle
of the head, are thought to be used for detecting ultra violet light, landmarks and
sun position.

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August 5th 2021
Swallows will try and rear a third brood before flying south in October.
A plentiful supply of flying insects for another 6 weeks is crucial for success.

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August 4th 2021
The Ichneumon Wasp lays it's eggs on or near other insects.Once they hatch
they feed on the insect. The adult stage (seen here) feeds on nectar.

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August 1st 2021
An Irish Hare falls prey to a Common Buzzard.
This particular food chain has just 3 links: Grasses/Herbs < Irish Hare < Common Buzzard
Other food chains are a lot more complex. Allowing these processes to flourish, by protecting
and restoring habitats, is of utmost importance here in Ireland and globally.

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July 25th 2021
Hot Summer weather triggers dragonflies (in this case Four Spotted Chasers) to court
and breed in the reed bed margins of a purpose built wildlife pond.

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July 21st 2021
By rubbing it's outer wing and a comb like structure on it's leg together, the Grasshopper
produces one of the quintessential sounds of Summer.

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July 18th 2021
The large forward facing eyes of the Zebra Jumping Spider are finely tuned motion
detectors, ideal for capturing the fast moving prey the spider hunts.

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July 17th 2021
The Horse Fly or Cleg is well known for it's painful bite. The patterns on the eyes
allow the fly to sense different wavelengths of light.

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July 15th 2021
A Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly adult just after hatching out from it's larval stage.
Note the larval skin left behind on the lower stem.

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July 7th 2021
The Ringlet Butterfly is similar to the Speckled Wood butterfly except its eye spots
are more subtle and sometimes the antennae has a red tip.

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July 5th 2021
An American Mink uses reed beds as cover to ambush prey. They are a constant threat
to waterfowl populations since they escaped or were irresponsibly released from fur farms
in the 1960s.

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July 2nd 2021
Spotted Orchids photographed at night fall in a hay meadow. Mowing for hay
should be delayed until mid July to allow flowers like these to set seed and
also to avoid destroying the nests and eggs of any late ground nesting birds.

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June 29th 2021
Brown hawker Dragonflies are relentless hunters on warm sunny days. Their main prey are midge flies,
mosquitoes, damselflies etc. When they catch a large insect they'll land somewhere to process the meal.
This is the observers chance to get a close up view of them.

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June 21st 2021
On the longest day and the shortest night, a Hedgehog forages in woodland.
Leaving large piles of branches and twigs here and there in woodlands and large
gardens will provide sanctuary for Hedgehogs and other animal to rear their young
and to hibernate in, in Winter.

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June 11th 2021
The Irish Stoat (Mustela erminea hibernica). A determined, hyper active little predator, native to
Ireland and very successful at controlling rodent numbers.

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June 8th 2021
Numerous species of beetles (like this Dock Leaf Beetle) have iridescent colours.
probably used as a camouflage against predators.

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June 5th 2021
A Spotted Flycatcher has lightning fast reflexes, allowing it to snatch insects
from mid air. Here, this female has caught a Wasp.

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June 1st 2021
Swifts are supreme fliers, they can feed, sleep and mate while flying. Nesting time
forces them to land at a wall cavity, usually on an old building. Here they form a shallow
nest and rear their young. This is the only stage of their lives they use their short legs
to shuffle around the nest.

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May 31st 2021
An Irish Hare uses the increasingly widespread Soft Rush as cover from birds of prey.
While this cover is also used by ground nesting birds, a cover of Soft Rush exceeding
30%, or there abouts, has negative effects on plant diversity in meadows and pasture.
Control measures using herbicide should be avoided. Instead a combination of grazing
and multiple mowings (between late Summer and late Winter) should be used to reduce
the density of the Soft Rush, thereby allowing other meadow/pasture plants to flourish.

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May 30th 2021

The first of the larger hawker dragonflies to be on the wing in early summer, it follows they are
also the first to breed, here a female lays her eggs on vegetation in the shallows of a small lake.

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May 29th 2021
Carder Bees nectar feeding on Vetch flowers.

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May 28th 2021
A Red Fox fixes its gaze on a Wood Mouse in the undergrowth. It has been estimated
that a Red Fox eats between 2000 and 4000 mice and rats every year on average
farmland habitat.

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May 27th 2021
Mayfly hatching out. Watercourses passing through farmland are crucial
to all aquatic life. For this reason agri-schemes like GLAS, AEOS and REPS
are essential to keep lakes, rivers and streams healthy. This approach to
growing our food needs to expand exponentially by subsidizing farmers
to produce meat and crops in harmony with Nature, using techniques
like Permaculture, Agro-Forestry, Organics and large scale composting.

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May 16th 2021
Ivy berries, the only fruit available to birds in Spring. In Autumn, the Ivy flowers
are a crucial nectar source for insects like Butterflies and Bees before Winter.

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May 16th 2021
A shoal of Perch fry in the shallows of a lake enjoy some warm Spring sunshine.

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May 15th 2021
Red Squirrel upward bound.

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May 14th 2021
A male Cuckoo uses an electricity supply cable as a prominent calling perch.

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May 13th 2021
The Maybug or Cockchafer Beetle belongs to the Scarab family of beetles. On warm
May nights their noisy flight is easily heard as they are attracted to gardens by house
lights.

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May 12th 2021
The Speckled Wood Butterfly is one of the more common brown butterflies,
seen here in mid flight.

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May 11th 2021
A new born Irish Hare (or Leveret) stays hidden in the grass, awaiting the return
of its mother to suckle.

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May 10th 2021
A woodland trail in Spring.

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May 9th 2021
A Starling returns with food for her young.

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May 8th 2021
Spring sunshine shows off the fresh greens and blues of a small woodland.

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May 7th 2021
A Stonechat on May blossom in bottomland habitat.

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May 6th 2021
A male Cuckoo uses its distinctive call to attract females and to claim
a territory for the Summer.

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May 5th 2021
Red Fox foraging in the middle of the night.

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May 4th 2021
The Red Ant, commonly found in gardens is another natural ally for the
fruit & veg grower. They regularly prey on small caterpillars, aphids and
other grubs.

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May 2nd 2021
An Irish Hare keeps low, as it travels through fresh Spring pasture.

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May 1st 2021
Hedgehog out and about at dusk searching for snails and earthworms
in the garden.

April 29th 2021
Bluebells are in full bloom at the moment, always a joy to see a display
of them in deciduous woodland bathed in Spring light.

April 28th 2021
Badger having a rest and a scratch while out foraging in woodland.
Recent vaccination programs on Badgers against bovine Tb have
proved successful, which means there is now no reason to cull Badgers
for a disease which is mostly spread by the agriculture sector itself.

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April 27th 2021
A Carder Bee visiting woodland Bluebells to sip nectar. Dandelion, Vetches,
Hedge Parsley, Daisies and the other common Spring flowers are all vital
for insect and bird populations and should not be mowed or sprayed with
herbicide.

April 26th 2021
Always on the move, and the smallest bird in Europe, the Goldcrest
is always a good test of skill at small bird photography.

April 25th 2021
The caterpillar of the Drinker moth climbs a Cuckoo flower aka Lady's Smock.
These particular kinds of caterpillars are a favourite food of Cuckoos once they
arrive back in Ireland on their Spring migration

April 24th 2021
The Hawthorn Fly aka St. Mark's Fly, only found on the wing at this time of year.

April 23rd 2021
This particular Swallow likes to dive bomb me anytime i'm doing chores
around the hay barn.

April 22nd 2021
A Bumblebee zeros in on a Bluebell to sip nectar.

April 20th 2021
As the season gets a little warmer, emerging moths provide food
for Pipistrelle Bats to feast on.

April 19th 2021
A Kingfisher waits to dive onto an unsuspecting fish on Derryhoo Lake.

April 18th 2021
This photography business is powered by renewable means.
A micro Wind and Solar station powers the cameras, printer and
computer via a power bank. Old car batteries store power from the
wind/solar setup to supplement the power bank on dull, calm days.

300 Watt Wind Turbine and 335 Watt Solar Panel

April 18th 2021
With climbing agility second only to the Red Squirrel, the Pine Marten
will raid the nests of Hooded Crows and Magpies, thereby
controlling their numbers.

April 17th 2021
Zebra Jumping Spiders prefer south facing walls that get plenty of sunshine.

April 16th 2021
Bluebell in soft Spring light.

April 15th 2021
The Plough constellation of stars (the streak is a shooting star).

April 14th 2021
Seen the first Swallow of the year on the holding, always noteworthy.

April 13th 2021
Starling returning with in mid flight.

April 12th 2021
A recent waxing crescent moon.

April 11th 2021
An Orb Web Spider rests on a Lesser Celandine flower.

April 10th 2021
Collared Dove surrounded by emerging leaves.

April 8th 2021
Irish Hare patrolling it's territory.

April 6th 2021
The Blackcap aka the northern nightingale is another warbler with a lovely
melodious song. This one is a male, the female has a reddish brown cap

April 4th 2021
The Warblers are the first migrant birds to return from warmer countries to
Ireland in early Spring. Here, a Willow Warbler sings its territorial song to
attract a mate.

April 2nd 2021
Broad Nosed Weevil resting on a lawn daisy.

March 31st 2021
Pine Marten out on a nocturnal forage for food.

March 29th 2021
A pair of Great Crested Grebes participate in a parallel swimming ritual as part
of their courtship in the lead up to breeding.

March 27th 2021
A slow shutter speed on the camera transforms a Rook in flight into...... something else.

March 25th 2021

Male and Female House Sparrows quenching their thirst from a farmyard puddle.

March 23rd 2021

A Badger relaxing in woodland during a nocturnal forage.

March 21st 2021

Goldcrests battle over territory in a frenzied urge to breed and build a nest.

March 19th 2021

Bumblebee approaching Lesser Celandine to feed on nectar and pollen.

March 17th 2021

Irish Hares chase one another, competing for mates and territory.

March 15th 2021
During the Frog breeding season in ponds, finding a mate can turn into
a wrestling match involving dozens of individuals.

March 13th 2021
Some customers prefer canvas over gloss/lustre prints because of the
non- reflective natural texture of cotton canvas.

Kingfisher on canvas.

March 11th 2021
Rooks circle over a rookery of 35 nests. The forest floor below has a thick layer
of nesting material dropped by the Rooks which will eventually decompose and
nourish the surrounding trees and undergrowth.

Woodland Rookery

March 9th 2021
The Lesser Celandine is the first crucial nectar source for Bees in Spring.

Bumblebee approach flight to Lesser Celandine.

March 7th 2021
Red Deer stags shed their antlers in early Spring. Antlers can then regrow
at a rate of 1 inch per day in readiness for the Autumn rut.

Red Deer Stag

March 5th 2021
The Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) is a honey bee mimic. It is usually the first
of the buzzing insects to be seen in Spring. It's flying abilities are second to
none, being able to fly not only forwards at great speed, but also backwards
and upside down to defend it's airspace territory. Drone flies are also
crucially important pollinators.

Drone Flies in mid flight.

March 3rd 2021

Smooth Newt on it's way to a breeding pond.

March 1st 2021

Female Sparrowhawk after a successful hunt.
On the menu today? Wood Pigeon.

February 26th 2021
Breeding season is in full swing for Common Frogs in ponds and drainage ditches.
At this pond they numbered 250-300 individuals.

Common Frogs (Rana temporaria)

February 24th 2021
Territorial birdsong in late Winter / early Spring fills the dawn air, none more so than
the shrill penetrating vocal attack of the Wren.

Wren singing at full volume.

February 22nd 2021

Male pheasant in his breeding plumage.

February 19th 2021
During mild spells of weather in Winter (10°C +) Hedgehogs emerge from
hibernation nests to forage for earth worms and slugs.

Hedgehog in it's defensive ball of spines pose.

February 16th 2021
Common Frog on it's way to a purpose built wildlife pond to breed.

Leaping Frog

February 14th 2021
Blackbirds are approachable to within 3 meters when temperatures drop below freezing,
a good opportunity to scatter some food and observe just how much leaf litter on
the forest floor they can turn over in a few hours.

Male Blackbird

February 8th 2021
Badgers love play-fighting with each other. The vocal sounds they make while doing so are
raccoon-like.

Badgers having a wrestle.

February 5th 2021
The wedge-shaped tail and larger size distinguish the Raven from other crow species.
Even though the crow family of birds occasionally predate other birds, their role as scavengers
and consumers of carrion is crucial to all the different habitats they live in. Scientific researchers
also report that crows are highly intelligent and are adept at problem solving experiments.

Under no circumstances should crows be considered vermin. For gamekeepers and bird
conservationists who wish to increase numbers of ground nesting birds or endangered birds,
an exponential increase of ground cover, trees and shrubs on farmland is the solution.

Raven

February 3rd 2021
A male Wolf Spider takes shelter from the rain among blades of grass.

Wolf Spider (Lycosa pullata)

January 31st 2021
The flight call of a Raven is one of the most enigmatic Winter sounds. Rival male birds
can be seen competing for mates and territories high in the sky.

January 29th 2021
A typical Winter's day in Ireland, 76% humidity, 10°C with a light breeze
and intermittent rainfall.

January 26th 2021

The ever colourful Goldfinch puts in an appearance at the bird feeders.

January 23th 2021

Badger out foraging at night in falling snow.

January 20th 2021

Irish Hare keeping watch for danger and for other hares.

January 17th 2021

Male Siskin in attack mode at the bird feeders.

January 13th 2021
Noticed the first Snowdrops in flower in the garden.

Snowdrop

January 11th 2021
While doing the annual pruning and shaping of the 50,000+ native deciduous trees,
i've found hundreds of 7 Spot Ladybirds and caterpillars of the Drinker Moth taking
shelter on the trunks/main stems of the trees.

7 Spot Ladybird

Caterpillar of the Drinker Moth (photo taken last Spring)

January 8th 2021
With the ground hardened by frost, feeding birds daily with household scraps, fat left
over from cooking, sunflower seeds, peanuts and WATER etc. is a welcome distraction
during these days of pandemic travel and movement restrictions.

Robin

January 5th 2021
Fantastic sunrises and sunsets during this frosty spell of weather.

January 2nd 2021

A Common Frog surfaces on a wildlife pond, subsequent sightings revealed female
frogs laden with eggs, a sure sign of the promise of renewal.

December 30th 2020
Fieldfare foraging on windfall apples in an orchard. These bruised fruit were especially left
on the ground after the apple harvest for birds to feed on.
Redwing, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Jay and Mistle Thrush also benefit.

Fieldfare

December 27th 2020
A male Bullfinch punctuates a leafless hedgerow with colour on a grey Winter's day.

December 24th 2020

Red Fox during some proper Winter weather from a few years ago.

December 21st 2020
The Winter Solstice is the starting point for the unfurling of longer days and the promise of
renewal in Spring. Logic would say that it should be regarded as New Years day, instead we
seem content to persist with the perpetual burden that is the gregorian calendar.

Buckler Fern

December 18th 2020
With the mild weather we get over Winter, earth worms are an easy bird food to collect to
add to a bird table or window box. A compost heap in particular will provide easy picking.

Robin doing battle with an earth worm.

December 15th 2020

Mosses are the foundation plants of our Bog lands. Our Bogs are just as important as native Oak
woodlands or wildflower meadows. They provide breeding habitat for many threatened birds and
invertebrates, they are a very effective carbon sink and prevent flooding by releasing their surplus
water slowly during periods of heavy rainfall.

A Bogland Moss

December 12th 2020
The pheasant isn't a native bird to Ireland, having been introduced by the Normans in the 1500s
as a game/prey bird for falconers. It is now a familiar sight in areas where they aren't over hunted.

A male Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

December 9th 2020
Beekeepers around Ireland have been reporting that the Summer of 2020 has been one of the
worst in living memory. Honey Bee colonies struggled to store away enough honey to feed
themselves over the Winter. My bee hives have followed this trend, so i'm feeding them a
syrup (2 cups of water plus 1kg of caster sugar mix per hive once weekly).

Honey Bees

December 6th 2020
A nice frosty morning makes a nice backdrop for small bird photography.

Robin

December 4th 2020
Decent light and a close encounter with Sciurus vulgaris.

Red Squirrel portrait.

December 2nd 2020

Some lovely sky colour at sunrise and sunset at his time of year.

November 28th 2020
No decent light to capture colour today so opted for silhouetting this Red Squirrel instead.

Red Squirrel feeding on Spruce cones

November 26th 2020
A male Sparrowhawk lands on the forest floor after a failed attack on a flock
of Siskins. The male is considerably smaller then the female Sparrowhawk.
The largest bird he can hunt is a Blackbird whereas the female can tackle
a large wood pigeon.

Male Sparrowhawk.

November 23rd 2020
Spider's silk is another marvel of Nature. It has a higher tensile strength than steel,
is also waterproof and is anti microbial.

Web belonging to the Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)

November 20th 2020
Pine Martens can give birth during any season, even though breeding takes place in Spring,
a process known as delayed implantation means development of fertilized eggs in the female
can be timed to coincide with an abundance of food.

A pair of Pine Martens

November 17th 2020
Despite our technological advances over the last few centuries, self propelled flight is a
uniquely true marvel of nature.

Grey Heron in flight.

Brown Hawker Dragonfly in flight

Pipistrelle Bat in flight

November 15th 2020
The absence of any significant frost so far this late Autumn/early Winter means there are plenty of
insects like midge and hoverfly still around for birds to feed on, just watch either Pied Wagtail or
Grey Wagtail in your garden or local park to observe them hunting.

Pied Wagtail hunting insects over a typical garden lawn.

November 12th 2020
As the abundance of hedgerow fruit starts to disappear, Badgers turn their attention back
to the forest floor in search of earth worms, slugs, snails, centipedes, wood lice, millipedes,
ground beetles, acorns, beech nuts.....

Badger foraging on a mild November night.

November 9th 2020
River specialist the Dipper can be found on flowing water, constantly diving
under the surface to find the larvae of caddis fly, mayfly and damselfly.

The Dipper

November 6th 2020

Red Squirrel feasting on Beech nuts.

November 3rd 2020
Autumn's palette is impossible to ignore. Each tree species has a week or 10 days of peak colour.
It's just a case of waiting for the right light before tripping the shutter.

Maple Leaves

Cherry Leaves

Beech Leaves

October 31st 2020
Winter visitors to Cavan include the Whooper Swans which arrive from their main breeding grounds in Iceland.
They can be distinguished from Bewick's Swans by having less black and more yellow colouration on the beak.

Whooper Swans in flight

October 28th 2020
Nature photography in Ireland offers many lighting challenges to anybody trying to make a decent picture.
Our maritime climate means we get plenty of low cloud cover shading our subjects. Fill flash is an
option but most animals will disappear after the first frame is exposed. A more passive option is to shoot
silhouettes. You have to isolate your subject against the sky, water body or distant hillside for best results.

Parus caeruleus silhouetted.

October 25th 2020
A juvenile Kestrel waits in a Scots Pine tree, patiently scanning an area of long grass for
an unsuspecting Wood Mouse or Shrew to pounce on.

October 22nd 2020
The Fieldfare Thrush is a Winter visitor from Scandinavia. The milder climate in Ireland,
combined with the availability of hedgerow fruit and orchard fruit, attracts large flocks.
Redwing Thrushes can also be seen along side Fieldfares.

Fieldfare foraging for Orchard fruit.

October 19th 2020
The territorial song of the Wren can be heard all year round. The distinctive high pitched "trilling"
sound has evolved so it can be easily heard by rivals and potential mates among dense vegetation.

Wren

October 16th 2020
Many Butterfly species rely on decaying windfall apples for food just before they hibernate for
Winter. A good reason not to tidy away fallen fruits, leaves and plants in our gardens
and orchards. Instead we should focus on picking up plastics and other man-made litter.

Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on a rotten windfall apple.

October 13th 2020
Apodemus sylvaticus aka The Wood Mouse is the main food source for Owls and Kestrels in this area.
Leaving areas of grass uncut for long periods of time attracts these mice,along with other small mammals
like Pygmy Shrews, to set up home. The seeds from mature grasses and "weeds" helps to boost their
numbers to a level where a healthy population of birds of prey can be sustained.

The Wood Mouse.

Long Eared Owl

Kestrel

October 10th 2020
Female Sparrowhawks can tackle birds as large as a wood pigeon. Once caught the prey
is plucked of all the feathers and is occasionally decapitated.

Female Sparrowhawk after a successful hunt.

October 7th 2020
Silken cobweb traps are easy to find at the moment, they seem to be everywhere. There are
many spider species that use silk to catch prey. One of the largest in Ireland is the European
Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) which can grow up to 20mm long.

Garden Spider in her silken web.

October 4th 2020
The omnivorous diet of Badgers means they can easily put on some Winter weight by gorging on
berries, nuts, invertebrates, carrion and any unsuspecting mouse or rat.

Badger out and about foraging at dusk.

October 1st 2020
Nectar from Ivy flowers is the last reliable food source of the year for Honey Bees,and many species
of Hover flies, Butterflies and Moths. The Ivy's unusual life cycle (flowers in Autumn, berries in Spring)
also make it a life saver for birds after a long Winter.

Red Admiral Butterfly approaching Ivy flowers to sip nectar.

September 28th 2020
The dampness of Autumn is producing a good flush of fungi of all varieties at the moment. Fungi
work in partnership with trees to complete the nutrient cycle which produces a rich humus layer
on the forest floor. Nothing goes to waste in woodlands, a lesson for our consumerist society to
learn from.

Woodland fungi.

September 25th 2020
Buzzards are now a fairly common sight in this area, just 15 years ago there were none whatsoever.
If we de-intensify our impact on Nature it will repay our good will with both bio-diversity and food
abundance (if we use Permaculture principles like composting and mulching to grow grass and crops).

Common Buzzards.

September 22nd 2020
Light and darkness are in equilibrium today as the point of Autumn Equinox (4:30pm approximately)
occurs. A distinct shift in animal and plant behaviour can be observed over the next few weeks, testament
to the fact that Nature is in a constant state of fluctuation.

Autumn light on a Mute Swan.

September 20th 2020
Wild animals provide services most of us take for granted. Bats consume large quantities
of mosquitoes and midges which reduce the risk of blood borne infections and pathogens
being transmitted to humans.

Brown Long Eared Bat hunting a Mosquito

September 18th 2020
Most of the Swallows here around the barns and farmyard have departed for their migration south.
Just 3 days ago there were still well developed chicks in a nest, these too have taken flight.

Swallows play-fighting in mid air.

September 15th 2020
Great Crested Grebes are found all year round on Cavan lakes. Their success rate at
catching fish in this lake is approximately 1 catch in 3 attempts. This good sized Roach
will be swallowed whole.

Great Crested Grebe just after surfacing with a Roach.

September 12th 2020
Planting native trees like Birch and Alder can provide a huge cache of seeds for birds like
Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Chaffinch, and Bullfinch to feed on
over the Winter. This is much more sustainable than importing Peanuts and Nyger seed
from abroad.

Today there were 250 to 300 Siskins and Lesser Redpolls feeding on Birch trees planted
just 5 years ago.

Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll feeding on Birch seed.

September 9th 2020
Irish Hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) out in the Autumn rain. Contrary to popular belief
Irish Hares have been known to breed in all seasons.

Irish Hare

September 6th 2020
Although hedge cutting is legal between September 1st and February 28th there is still
the matter of protecting the huge volume of berries and nuts that many animals depend on
for Winter fattening and caching. Something to think about before phoning the hedge cutting
contractor.

Blackbird feeding on berries.

September 3rd 2020
Fungi and mushrooms are plentiful in early autumn.
The Funeral Bell fungus is definitely NOT for eating!

Funeral Bell fungus (Galerina marginata)

August 31st 2020
Swallow numbers are high this time of year now that this year's chicks are flying around with the same
skill and confidence as their parents. Their upcoming migration to Africa takes approximately 6 weeks
to complete so they're fueling up on insects now for the first stages of this journey.

Swallow hunting insects over a wildlife pond.

August 28th 2020
Red Squirrels rely on a wide variety of nuts to fuel their manic arboreal life style. Pine nuts, Acorns,
Beech nuts, Hazel Nuts etc. In this image, Walnuts are the nut of the day. Fungi, berries and eggs are
also eaten when opportunities arise.

Red Squirrel in a Walnut tree planted by the forester Justin Good in County Cavan.

August 25th 2020
The current wet spell of weather makes for ideal foraging conditions for Badgers. The soft moist
soil makes it easy for them to locate and snaffle up earthworms, slugs and snails etc.

Badger out foraging on a wet night.

August 22nd 2020
In Ireland pollinators add €53,000,000 to the economy every year by visiting crops like apple trees,
clover in pasture, strawberries, oilseed rape etc.

On a global scale they contribute €154 billion euro!!

Bumblebees are one of our most familiar pollinators but there are hundreds of other species in Ireland too.
September/October is the best time sow wildflowers or other insect friendly plants for next Spring.

Bumblebees

August 19th 2020
The Emerald Green Damselfly is a smaller relative of the more familiar Dragonflies. Their metallic
colours and delicate anatomy make them very photogenic. To photograph them in flight took many
attempts over the last few weeks, resulting in the image below.

Emerald Green Damselfly in flight.

August 18th 2020
The Brown Hawker Dragonfly is quite common to see in late Summer. Their habit of flying
at speed along hedgerows, field margins, lake shores and river banks trying to flush out other
insects is fascinating to watch.

Brown Hawker Dragonfly

August 15th 2020
Newly established deciduous woodlands are providing sanctuary for all kinds of animals.
Here, a Long Eared Owl sub-adult settles down in a new territory of Alder and Birch trees.
This kind of habitat will provide plenty of prey like, Wood Mice, Frogs, Earthworms, and
Pygmy Shrews.

Juvenile Long Eared Owl.

August 12th 2020
Smooth Newts can be seen surfacing on ponds on warm Summer days when water oxygen levels
are low. The Newt is one three amphibians to be found in ireland, the others being the Common Frog
and the less common Natterjack Toad.

Smooth Newt

August 9th 2020
One of seven species of Corvid to be found in Ireland the Jay is a woodland specialist. They are responsible
for establishing new generations of Oak trees by caching acorns throughout the countryside. Any acorns that
don't get eaten during the Winter will germinate the following Spring.

Jay on the forest floor.

August 6th 2020
Honey Bees establish new colonies when a new Queen leaves the old hive or tree cavity, bringing an
entourage of worker bees with her, and explores a new location for a home to lay her own eggs and
produce the next generation of pollinators. This happens during the Summer months.

A Honey Bee returns to the protection of the swarm

August 3rd 2020
Badgers have an omnivorous diet, they'll try carrion, eggs, earthworms, slugs and snails, berries, nuts,
bumblebee honeycomb and grubs, ants, rats and mice and the occasional hedgehog.

Badger exploring a hollow log for grubs

July 31st 2020
Macro photography has infinite potential for images regardless of location, weather conditions, lighting,
or subject availability. There are details, colours and textures to observe at high magnifications which
can always make an interesting photograph.

Dew drops on a blade of grass

July 28th 2020
Like all the Hawk Moth species the Poplar Haw Moth is an impressive insect. It's caterpillars feed on the
leaves of Poplar, Willow, and Sallow trees. The adults can be seen from May to August and have a wing
span of 65-90mm.

Poplar Hawk Moth.

Poplar Hawk Moth in mid-flight.

July 25th 2020
Nature photography spans many photographic disciplines, from long exposure captures minutes long
to high speed action shots that last a mere 1/40,000th of a second, to macro photography, to blurry abstracts,
to behavioural documentary style photos, to name a few. The common denominators between all these are
practice and perseverance.
"Why bother?" people frequently ask. The reason is this: spending time in the company of wild creatures
offers contentment and freedom from the trappings of modernity, and occasionally a satisfying picture gets made.

Grey Wagtail on a fast flowing river

July 22nd 2020
If insects are plentiful enough Swallows can rear 2 or 3 broods over the course of one Summer.
The increasing use of herbicides and pesticides in mono-cultural intensive farming is putting
populations of insects, birds and wild plants at enormous risk. Once one link in the relationship
between plants, insects and larger animals is broken, the food producing sector in this country
will be on it's knees.

Swallow returning to the nest with food for her second brood of chicks.

July 20th 2020
One of the more impressive butterflies to see in late Summer is the Silver Washed Fritillary.
With a wingspan of 70-75mm it's the largest of the fritillaries to be found in Ireland. They are
mostly associated with woodlands.The eggs are laid in bark crevices on trees in August.
The caterpillars depend on Violets to thrive and reach the metamorphosis stage.

Silver Washed Fritillary Butterfly

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