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
Ireland's Own
Ireland’s Wildlife: Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
The fieldfare is a large, attractive thrush that is a widespread and abundant winter visitor to these shores. Most of the birds that overwinter here originate in Scandinavia and the number of birds and the time of their arrival varies from year to year depending on the severity of the winter and the state of the berry crop in their homeland. In milder years or if the berry crop … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Wildlife: Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
They say familiarity breeds contempt... and, in the case of the chaffinch that's probably true. The male chaffinch in its full breeding regalia is one of our most colourful and striking birds. If it wasn't for the fact that we see them so often we'd marvel at these colourful little finches.The chaffinch is found all over Ireland in woodlands, parks, gardens, fields, scrub … [Read more...] about Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Bumblebees
The slow, lazy buzz of the bumblebee is a fundamental part of the Irish summer. These fat, furry, ponderous bees trundle from flower to flower, collecting pollen and nectar to support their growing colony. They liven up the summer garden, and provide an invaluable pollination service to the plants they visit.We have 18 species of bumblebee in Ireland, all of which have … [Read more...] about Bumblebees
