Get closer to the wild side of Ireland
June in Ireland is a month of long days, with sunny periods interspersed with showers and longer bouts of rain. In early June spring is giving way to summer, temperatures are rising and the Irish countryside comes alive with a kaleidoscope of wildflowers and the industrious hum of pollinating insects. It’s a fantastic time of [...]
Against all odds a mini-heatwave seemed to have descended on Ireland. The sun blazed out of a sky for once devoid of cloud as we met up in the car park at Barleycove beach in West Cork. It was early June and we were looking for butterflies. Our target species for the day was the [...]
In general Ireland’s local authorities seem to see roadside verges and hedgerows as areas to be trimmed and tamed. You see evidence of verge cutting and the decimation of hedgerows everywhere as you drive around the country. Neatly side-stepping the law in the name of health and safety, local authorities relentlessly slash hedges, ripping them [...]
The recent “State of Nature” report published in the UK highlights the staggering and shocking decline of some of our nearest neighbour’s most iconic wildlife species. The figures from the report — compiled by 25 of the UK’s top wildlife organisations — make for a sobering read. 60% of the species surveyed have declined over recent [...]
“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. Basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) are the largest fish in the North Atlantic, and second largest in the [...]
Keen birder and Ireland’s Wildlife contributor Colin Barton puts the Meopta MeoStar 8×32 through its paces, and is suitably impressed. Pros: Great image quality — can rival the best optics on the market today. Very sharp and crisp, with great low light performance and a good wide field of view. Binoculars feel very sturdy and [...]
In true “lastminute.com” style, the IWDG is offering Ireland’s Wildlife readers a special one-off discount of €10 off the normal €90 course fee for this weekend’s Summer Whale Watching Course on Cape Clear Island off the West Cork coast. Hey… that’s MORE THAN 10% OFF! The course offers a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the [...]
The team of volunteer experts at Colebrooke Estate in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland were crowned “All Ireland BioBlitz Champions” for 2013 over the weekend with an impressive closing tally of 1,086 species in 24 hours. Colebrooke beat Lough Key Forest Park, Co. Rosscommon (959 species); The Burren National Park, Co. Clare (947 species) and Wicklow National [...]
The Secret Life of the Shannon is a brand new two-part documentary exploring the amazing life on Ireland’s iconic River Shannon. It airs this coming Sunday the 26 May at 6:30pm on RTÉ One as part of RTÉ Goes Wild season. The second episode will air the following week, same time, same place. Credit where [...]
Watching Wildlife in May May 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 [...]
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