The Irish Wildlife Collection: Volume Two is the latest in a series of books featuring work by West Cork based nature writer Calvin Jones, founder of Ireland’s Wildlife (www.irelandswildlife.com).Like it’s predecessor, “The Irish Wildlife Collection: Volume Two” features articles, species profiles and features that put the spotlight firmly on Irish wildlife and the … [Read more...] about New book celebrates Ireland’s wildlife
books
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 about the animals, plants and other organisms they share the world with. I see it all the time when I visit primary schools under Ireland's fabulous Heritage in Schools … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife Through the Seasons
Exploring Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way, stretching from Donegal in the North to the coast of West Cork in the south, is the world's longest defined coastal touring route. It takes in the entire length of Ireland's western seaboard. Ireland's Wildlife is based on the stunning West Cork stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, and our Discover Wildlife Experiences, wildlife holidays and birding breaks … [Read more...] about Exploring Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
Book Review: Whittled Away — Ireland’s vanishing nature
While in many ways it's fair to say we have more today than we've ever had, if you're more than about thirty years old a short walk in the Irish countryside will quickly reveal that we also have much less.It's an irrefutable fact that there's simply less wildlife around today than there was just a few decades ago. Birds provide the most obvious example of this... simply … [Read more...] about Book Review: Whittled Away — Ireland’s vanishing nature
New collection of wildlife and nature writing published
Regular readers will know that I've been publishing articles profiling Irish wildlife on the back page of one of Ireland's most popular weekly magazine, Ireland's Own, since way back in 2001. Over the years I've had many letters from readers of the magazine asking if there was anywhere they could buy a collection of these articles in book form.Unfortunately the answer was … [Read more...] about New collection of wildlife and nature writing published
Book Review: Ireland’s Birds; Myths, Legends and Folklore
Birds have always held a special draw for me.It was a a fascination with birds that first kindled my interest in wildlife as a youngster. I guess you could say that they were my first wildlife love, and while I'm interested in all sorts of wildlife today, birds will always hold a special significance. I suspect many wildlife enthusiasts have a similar story to tell.I'm … [Read more...] about Book Review: Ireland’s Birds; Myths, Legends and Folklore
Book Review: Britain’s Habitats: A Guide to the Wildlife Habitats of Britain and Ireland
Understanding habitats is an important part of wildlife watching. Whether you're targeting a particular species or looking to find as much wildlife as you can on a trip to a particular location, knowledge about the various habitats you're likely to encounter, and the species they support, is a key part of a successful wildlife watching expedition."Britain's Habitats -- A … [Read more...] about Book Review: Britain’s Habitats: A Guide to the Wildlife Habitats of Britain and Ireland
Book review: Finding Birds in Ireland: The Complete Guide, 2nd Edition
Published in 2007, the first edition of "Finding Birds in Ireland: The Complete Guide" by Eric Dempsey and Michael O'Clery soon became the definitive guide to the best birdwatching locations in Ireland. Intelligently laid out, and impressively comprehensive, this widely praised book set a new benchmark for this type of "where to watch" field guide.You'll find my review of … [Read more...] about Book review: Finding Birds in Ireland: The Complete Guide, 2nd Edition
Book Review: Insects of Ireland
I've always had a fascination with minibeasts.As a child I used to lie in the long grass for what seemed hours at a time, watching the drama of the miniature ecosystem unfold in front of me. What I was seeing, quite literally under my nose, was every bit as dynamic, exciting and unpredictable as the natural history programmes on the telly. But this was live in my back … [Read more...] about Book Review: Insects of Ireland
New book project to help Irish children engage with wildlife
Kildare nature writer and author Juanita Brown has teamed up with Wicklow artist Aoife Quinn to create a captivating large-format picture-book that aims to help Irish children discover the wonder of our native wildlife. But she needs your help to get her project off the ground."My First Book of Irish Animals" is a picture-book designed to introduce young Irish children to … [Read more...] about New book project to help Irish children engage with wildlife
Book Review: Britain’s Day Flying Moths
Moths are brilliant.Here in Ireland we have only 34 butterfly species -- including residents and frequently encountered migrants. We have, to date, more than 1,330 recorded moth species on the island. They come in all sorts of shapes colour and sizes and are a fascinating group of oft-overlooked insects that play a crucial role in the maintenance of a healthy, functioning … [Read more...] about Book Review: Britain’s Day Flying Moths
The Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey: how you can help monitor Ireland’s garden birds
This post is part of the Crossley ID Guide Britain & Ireland Blog Tour -- yesterday the tour was over at Mark Avery's blog here -- tomorrow it moves on to BirdWords... the official site of Dominic Couzens... who's one of the book's authors. You'll find the full tour schedule here.NB. I'll be posting a full review of the guide to the book review section of the site in … [Read more...] about The Birdwatch Ireland Garden Bird Survey: how you can help monitor Ireland’s garden birds
All aboard for the Crossley ID Guide Britain and Ireland Blog Tour
I'm delighted to be taking part in the upcoming "Blog Tour" to celebrate the launch of the brand new bird field guide the Crossley ID Guide Britain & Ireland. I'll be reviewing a copy of the guide in the Book Review section of the site in due course... but the blog tour is something a bit different.Basically the publisher, Princeton University Press, has teamed up with … [Read more...] about All aboard for the Crossley ID Guide Britain and Ireland Blog Tour
Book Review: The Birds of Ireland, A Field Guide
For many people a desire to identify the birds they see visiting their garden, or when they're out and about, is the first step to an enduring fascination with nature and wildlife. It was birds that infected me with the nature bug way back when, and I still remember my first bird field guide... a small hardback copy of "The Observer's Book of Birds" that I got as a birthday … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Birds of Ireland, A Field Guide
Book Review: Secrets of the Irish Landscape
Ireland's landscape is unique.Moulded by incredible geological forces, carved out by millions of tonnes of ice and, comparatively recently, shaped by the equally inexorable influence of man, our landscape is the foundation on which all of our wildlife and biodiversity sits."Secrets of the Irish Landscape" is an RTÉ book to accompany the television series of the same … [Read more...] about Book Review: Secrets of the Irish Landscape
Book Review: Finding Birds in Ireland
One of the biggest problems faced by bird watchers visiting Ireland -- or indeed resident birders travelling to other parts of the country -- is finding the best places to look for birds and other wildlife. Sure, you can pick a likely looking piece of habitat and spend time exploring it, and discovering wild places for yourself is all part of the fun, but it can be a bit of a … [Read more...] about Book Review: Finding Birds in Ireland
Book Review: Ireland’s Wild Orchids, A Field Guide
Ireland's orchids are a fascinating group of plants, and are among our most beautiful and evocative wildflowers. There's always a thrill when you spot the flower spike of an orchid thrusting skyward through the grass or pushing through the surface of a bog.Then comes the tricky part. You know it's an orchid... but which orchid is it?That's exactly when you should reach … [Read more...] about Book Review: Ireland’s Wild Orchids, A Field Guide
Bird Atlas 2007-2011 — save 33% before 31 July
If you're a birder in Britain or Ireland then chances are you already know about the upcoming publication of "Bird Atlas 2007-2011".The culmination of one of the most ambitious citizen science projects ever undertaken, Bird Atlas brings together data on bird populations collected by tens of thousands of dedicated volunteers across the British Isles. It has been described … [Read more...] about Bird Atlas 2007-2011 — save 33% before 31 July
Book Review: Birds Through Irish Eyes
When "Birds Through Irish Eyes" by Anthony McGeehan with Julian Wyllie arrived at IWHQ the first thing that struck me was its size. It is a monster of a tome. The next thing I noticed was it's shape... an unusual, almost square aspect ratio makes for a very attractive layout of text and images on the inside, but is perhaps a tad unwieldy for extended reading.And this is a … [Read more...] about Book Review: Birds Through Irish Eyes
Book Review: Fighting for Birds
Mark Avery has been fighting for birds for most of his adult life.As Conservation Director with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Europe’s largest conservation NGO, Mark has been at the forefront of some of the most iconic conservation issues to emerge over recent decades. Naturally the book has a UK focus, but the issues Mark tackles – things like … [Read more...] about Book Review: Fighting for Birds
Book Review: Ireland’s Butterflies, A Review
Butterflies have always intrigued me. The splash of animated colour they add to garden and hedgerow, their fascinating life cycles and the spectacular metamorphosis into their adult form has always been captivating. As a young child I remember being awestruck as I watched a peacock butterfly emerge from a chrysalis I'd collected in the garden.It was a defining moment that … [Read more...] about Book Review: Ireland’s Butterflies, A Review
Book Review: Bird Habitats in Ireland
Birds are perhaps the most accessible and obvious of all our Irish wildlife. They're relatively large, active, sometimes brightly coloured and, because they can fly to escape danger, they tend to be less elusive than many other wild creatures.Once you're tuned in to bird activity seeing birds in your garden or the local park is relatively easy. But if you want to really get … [Read more...] about Book Review: Bird Habitats in Ireland
Book Review: Where to watch birds in Ireland
Whenever I visit a new part of Ireland I’m charged with anticipation. What wildlife surprises will my destination have in store, and where are the best places to look for them.While I’m a firm believer in the concept that, if you look, you can and will find wildlife anywhere, it’s an inescapable fact that some places are better than others. Every location has it’s own … [Read more...] about Book Review: Where to watch birds in Ireland
Book Review: Lichens of Ireland
How often do you think about lichens?Most people rarely give them a second thought, even though they encounter them every day. Lichens are everywhere -- encrusting growths on rocks, walls and tree trunks, more leafy or feathery forms clinging to rocky outcrops and dangling from branches -- lichens are among the most fascinating life forms on the planet.Not one organism … [Read more...] about Book Review: Lichens of Ireland
Wild about wildflowers
It’s an incontrovertible fact that when wildlife flies, jumps, crawls, slithers, swims, grunts or shrieks it is generally a lot more noticeable than when it doesn’t. Things that just sit there, by and large, go unnoticed. As a survival strategy that’s probably no bad thing, but it’s also a shame, because some of the wildlife we routinely overlook is every bit as fascinating, … [Read more...] about Wild about wildflowers
