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Featured:
New threats facing Ireland’s seals
An adult grey seal bull is an impressive beast — reaching up 2.5 metres long and weighing up to 300kg 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 third of the size. Grey seal pups are distinctly covered in white fur. Common seal pups, on the other hand, are born with a brown, waterproof coat, making them instantly adapted to … [Read more...]
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Wildlife News & Events
David Lindo (AKA The Urban Birder) to open Cape Clear Wildlife Festival
Birdwatch Ireland's Cape Clear Bird Observatory celebrates its 60th birthday this year, and to mark the occasion the island is hosting a nearly … [Read more...]
Minister halts plans to allow hedge-cutting in August
Minister for Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD has announced that she will not exercise her discretionary powers under the … [Read more...]
Wildlife features
New threats facing Ireland’s seals
An adult grey seal bull is an impressive beast — reaching up 2.5 metres long and weighing up to 300kg To the untrained eye, a grey seal and a common seal may look the same, yet there are key differences. Grey … [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...]
12 Expert tips on choosing binoculars for birding and wildlife observation
Binoculars are perhaps your most indispensable piece of wildlife watching equipment (with the possible exception, here in Ireland at least, of good waterproof gear). The right pair of binoculars can enhance your … [Read more...]
Wildlife Blog
“Be Planet Positive!” Tree Council of Ireland urges Irish Primary Schools
The Tree Council of Ireland, supported by Tetra Pak, is calling on primary schools across the country to get involved in Tetra Pak Tree Day and plant a tree on Thursday, 3rd October 2019. The theme … [Read more...]
How Planting a Wildflower Bed Can Boost Local Wildlife
Over the past hundred years or so, as farming practices have changed and urban sprawl has extended, the number of areas of wild grasses and wildflowers in Ireland and the UK has significantly dropped. Some … [Read more...]
Thanks Josepha Madigan, you made the right decision.
In the wake of yesterday's decision by Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, TD not to proceed with plans to extend hedgerow cutting into August, a newsletter landed in my … [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
Hawke Frontier HDX 8×32 Binocular Review
Pros: Outstanding build quality, excellent optics and superb ergonomics in a very affordable package. Image is crisp, bright and clear in the centre of the field, with plenty of detail and good contrast. Cons: … [Read more...]
XP Pen Deco 03 Graphics Tablet Review
A graphics tablet may seem like an odd thing to be reviewing on a wildlife and nature site, but in today's increasingly connected online world the content we create plays an incredibly important role in helping us … [Read more...]
Hawke Frontier EDX 8×42 Binocular Review
Pros: Superb image quality and premium build quality deliver excellent all-around performance. Contemporary design looks great, is ergonomic, lightweight and a delight to carry and use for extended periods in the … [Read more...]
Wildlife Book Reviews
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...]
Book Review: How to Be an Urban Birder
Birdwatching in the city: a beginner's guide One of the best things about birding is that you can do it wherever you happen to find yourself. Whether you're in your own back garden, travelling to the remotest … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife Through the Seasons
When it comes to conservation there is nothing more important than reconnecting our children with the natural world around them. Young children are fascinated by living things and have an innate curiosity … [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...]
