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 visitors, like waders, ducks, winter thrushes and the occasional exotic visitor like the bohemian waxwing, depart for their breeding grounds further north, and we … [Read more...] about Making the most of Spring Migration
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Wishing you all a WILD St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick's Day is, naturally, a special day here in Ireland... and is celebrated by Irish people and people of Irish descent all over the world. And while St. Patrick is perhaps best known for reducing Ireland's biodiversity (thanks to him we have no snakes in Ireland, after all), let's not forget that St. Patrick's Day marks a pivotal time in the Irish wildlife … [Read more...] about Wishing you all a WILD St. Patrick’s Day
Whales and eagles star on wild West Cork weekend
I'd been afraid to look at the forecast all week.The weather is the bane of anyone organising an outdoor-based activity in Ireland, and the last few weeks had been dreadful. There was no real sense things were going to improve either... but with a Discover Wildlife Weekend planned I simply had to bite the bullet and check.I fired up two different weather apps on the … [Read more...] about Whales and eagles star on wild West Cork weekend
Hoopoe invasion of Ireland’s south coast
Headlands and coastlines in Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Wexford have been invaded by a rather colourful continental interloper this spring.The striking hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a rare visitor to these shores, with very small numbers (less than 10 birds in total most years) reported in Ireland during spring and autumn as migrating birds stray off course and end up making … [Read more...] about Hoopoe invasion of Ireland’s south coast
Ireland’s first basking sharks of 2015 spotted off West Cork
The first reported Irish basking shark sighting of 2015 was logged on Monday 09 March. The sharks, one large and one smaller animal, were spotted from shore by observer Bridget Healy, just off the coast near Ardfield in West Cork.Basking sharks, the second largest fish in the sea after the whale shark, are annual spring / summer visitors to Irish coastal waters. The first … [Read more...] about Ireland’s first basking sharks of 2015 spotted off West Cork
Watch out for hibernating hedgehogs
This weekend, while out in the garden clearing a build-up of dead leaves and layers of last-season's montbretia foliage, I uncovered a prickly, but very welcome surprise.A hibernating hedgehog!Its spines flexed involuntarily, once... twice... and then it was still again. I whipped out the smartphone and took one quick photograph (above), before replacing the … [Read more...] about Watch out for hibernating hedgehogs
A wonderfully wild weekend
Like it or not... when you're watching wildlife in Ireland you're inevitably watching the weather.With our Discover Wildlife Weekend looming I'd spent the last week watching the weather forecasts with growing trepidation. Would the weather gremlins play ball? West Cork is a truly spectacular wildlife location, but so much depends on what the weather decides to do on the day. … [Read more...] about A wonderfully wild weekend
Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
The butter-yellow wings of the male brimstone are a true herald of spring, and are credited by some as the inspiration behind the word “butterfly”. These pretty yellow butterflies are quite common, especially around open woodland, and are often the first butterflies to be seen in spring. Brimstones emerge from their winter hibernation as soon as weather conditions start to … [Read more...] about Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
The Calendar Road: April 2014
It’s April 30th, 2014 and Sinéad reflects on the month by remembering some of the day to day details of the warmest month so far this year.Brought to you in association with... … [Read more...] about The Calendar Road: April 2014
The Calendar Road: March 2014
Spring is in the air, an evening stroll on The Calendar Road, after the clocks have gone forward and the brighter evenings are full of birdsong. Sinéad talks about the signs of spring on this months podcast.Brought to you in association with... … [Read more...] about The Calendar Road: March 2014
How to watch Basking Sharks
"Shark infested waters" isn't a term you normally associate with the Irish coastline, yet in late spring and early summer the Irish coast is one of the best places in Europe to see one of the world's largest sharks.The basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) is the largest fish in the North Atlantic, and second largest in the world (beaten only by its slightly … [Read more...] about How to watch Basking Sharks
The Calendar Road: May 2013
It's late May on The Calendar Road, the month of Bealtine.Sinéad gets a rare opportunity to stop in the warmth of the sun and reflect on the Festival of Bealtine, and the changes in May along this rural byway.Click play in the audio player below to listen to April's Calendar Road podcast here -- or follow this link to The Calendar Road archives on the Podcast.ie … [Read more...] about The Calendar Road: May 2013
Ireland’s Wildlife Calendar: May
Watching Wildlife in MayMay is a month when spring should be well under way -- although it's still unpredictable. We're on the cusp of summer, and days are lengthening, but they can also be unseasonably cold and wet. Resident birds and animals are getting on with the business of breeding and rearing young, spring migration continues as later arrivals join the vanguard … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Wildlife Calendar: May
The Calendar Road: April 2013
Ireland's Wildlife is delighted to feature The Calendar Road on the site in collaboration with Podcasts.ie.In this delightful monthly podcast your guide Sinéad McClure takes you on a stroll along the "Calendar Road" , a typical rural Irish byway to explore the seasonal changes and introduce you to the wildlife she encounters along the way.Podcasts are released at the … [Read more...] about The Calendar Road: April 2013
Ireland’s Wildlife Calendar: April
In this first of a new series we'll be exploring Ireland's Wildlife Calendar... looking at the wildlife events and milestones that occur each month on and around the Island of Ireland. Over time we hope they'll grow into a valuable monthly reference to Ireland's wildlife year. Enjoy... and let us know what you think in the comments below. Watching Wildlife in April Weather … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Wildlife Calendar: April
