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Wally the Walrus stops off in West Cork
On the most recent leg of his remarkable journey, Wally the wandering walrus who was first spotted off Valentia Island in Co. Kerry back in March 2021, was seen lounging aboard a moored motorboat in a small cove near Clonakilty on the West Cork coast.Wally, a young male walrus, has travelled extensively on his journey south. After that first sighting in Kerry he's spent time in south Wales, Cornwall, the Atlantic coast of France and as far south as Bilbao in northern Spain before working his … [Read more...]
Wildlife News & Events
Wally the Walrus stops off in West Cork
On the most recent leg of his remarkable journey, Wally the wandering walrus who was first spotted off Valentia Island in Co. Kerry back in March … [Read more...]
Rare Marsh Harrier breeds successfully in Ireland again
For the first time in more than a century, not one, but two pairs of Marsh Harrier have bred successfully in the Republic of Ireland.The … [Read more...]
Wildlife features
Making the most of Spring Migration
Spring migration is an exciting time of year for birding in Ireland.During this relatively brief window from early April until the end of May birds are on the move. There's a changing of the guard as our winter … [Read more...]
New threats facing Ireland’s seals
To the untrained eye, a grey seal and a common seal may look the same, yet there are key differences. Grey seals are huge. Males can weigh up to 300kg and grow to 2.5 metres long, whereas common seals are almost a … [Read more...]
Irish wildflower favourites
Early summer sees our wildflowers resplendent and is a great time of year to search for a wide range of species blooming in our meadows, verges and woodland. Here, guest contributor Rosie Jones (no relation) shares … [Read more...]
Wildlife Blog
Garden Bird Nestbox Resources
After feeding our garden birds, the next best way we can help them is to provide them with safe sites to nest and bring up their young.On this page we've gathered some links and resources to help you provide … [Read more...]
Make your garden bird-friendly
In this guest post Tony Manhart, founder and editor-in-chief at Gardening Dream, shares his tips for making your garden more bird-friendly.Whether young or old, many people enjoy birdwatching. It can be a … [Read more...]
The hidden life of rivers
Earlier this year, in the midst of lockdown, Ireland's Wildlife Contributor Albert Nolan took his children to a river near his home to explore its hidden wildlife.We took the short trip to Toorenbrien … [Read more...]
Species Profiles
Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)
The adult emperor moth is a truly spectacular insect. On the wing in April and May, the male of this large, day-flying moth species is a particularly striking sight, and can easily be mistaken for a butterfly due to … [Read more...]
Raven (Corvus corax)
Seen close up the raven is a truly magnificent bird. The largest member of the crow family, it is the biggest passerine (perching) bird in Europe, and occurs all over Ireland.Size is the raven's most … [Read more...]
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
The hooded crow, grey crow or “hoodie” as it's sometimes called, is almost identical to the closely related carrion crow (Corvus corone) except for its distinctive grey and black plumage. The two birds are so … [Read more...]
Wildlife Gear Reviews
Sofirn SC31 Pro LED Torch Review
Pros: High-performance compact rechargeable LED torch. Variable light output and versatile functions. Convenient integrated USB C charging of 18650 Lithium Ion battery (included).Cons: Can get hot in Turbo mode. … [Read more...]
Doogee S96 Pro: an ideal rugged smartphone for outdoor enthusiasts
Pros: great spec, performance and battery life for the money in a phone that's built to survive more extreme conditions than you can. The Doogee S96 Pro will take all the punishment you throw at it and emerge … [Read more...]
Regatta Rivington Mens Wellington Review
Pros: Great all-round wellington boot that's comfortable and functional. Adjustable girth via quick-release buckle is convenient and effective. Roomy enough for decent welly socks. Heavy duty, grippy soles great … [Read more...]
Wildlife Book Reviews
Book Review: Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe
The Odonata, dragonflies and damselflies, is one of our most fascinating groups of insects. As adults, they're comparatively large and highly active, which makes them one of the most noticeable and easiest insect … [Read more...]
RSPB ID Spotlight Series: Birds
Nothing beats a good field-guide when you're trying to identify a bird you don't recognise (or a field-guide app perhaps these days). But sometimes a traditional field-guide can feel unwieldy and a little … [Read more...]
Book Review: Ireland Through Birds
If a lifetime of watching wildlife has taught me anything it's that searching for specific species can be a pretty hit-or-miss affair.That uncertainty is one of the great joys of the natural world: the sense of … [Read more...]
Featured Wildlife Websites
The World Land Trust
World Land Trust (WLT) is an international conservation charity, which protects the world’s most biologically important and threatened habitats acre by acre. Since its foundation in 1989, WLT has funded partner … [Read more...]
Wildside.ie — exploring the nature and wildlife of Wexford
Wildlide.ie is a site dedicated to the wildlife and natural history of County Wexford. It's run by a trio of contributors: wildlife artist Don Conroy, Environmentalist and Broadcaster Chris Wilson and radio … [Read more...]
Spring Alive: help track spring’s progress through Europe
With the early arrival of spring making headlines it looks like the Spring Alive website is back in action again.Every year Spring Alive tracks the progress of spring across Europe by asking people from across … [Read more...]
