Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) at a site in Co. Limerick. This species is listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. Once driven close to extinction across much of Europe, Peregrine Falcons have made an extraordinary recovery.
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Long-distance video of two White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in the River Little Brosna Callows SPA last month.
NPWS confirmed that the bird in flight is a female released on the Shannon Estuary in 2022 as part of the reintroduction programme. The other bird's tag was not visible.
Grey Herons preying on River Lampreys on the River Mulkear at Annacotty Weir, Co. Limerick. The presence of this weir blocks upstream lamprey migration, resulting in increased vulnerability to predation at this location. However, the problem here is the weir, not native natural predators.
Arterial drainage maintenance works on the River Morningstar at Athlacca, Co. Limerick, this week. The works had already been completed when I visited the site; however, their impacts are likely to affect the river for months to come.
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The fatal flaw in the Proposed Water Supply Project for the Eastern and Midlands Region.
Read my report which supports the submission from Friends of the Irish Environment at this link tinyurl.com/mu654dah
Thermal imaging video of Otters at Annacotty weir on the River Mulkear, Co Limerick, last night.
More footage of Light-bellied Brent Geese (Branta bernicla hrota) on the Shannon Estuary last week. They migrate over 3,000 km from the Canadian High Arctic to spend the winter in Ireland. Almost the entire global population of this subspecies winters here.
River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick.
Lampreys are poor swimmers and cannot jump like salmonids or climb like eels. As a result, even relatively small barriers in rivers can block their migration.
River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick. They are attracted to the old sluice gate at the weir and attempt to enter crevices where water flows through cracks in the stonework.
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Dippers (Cinclus cinclus) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, last week.
Light-bellied Brent Geese (Branta bernicla hrota) on the Shannon Estuary yesterday morning. They are winter visitors from high Arctic Canada, and almost the entire global population of this subspecies winters in Ireland.
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This week I recorded Common Frogs (Rana temporaria) spawning in shallow forestry drains at a site in Co. Clare.
Read the full post here about the implications of last night's cold weather on these frogs:-
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Current trail camera footage of a Badger (Meles meles) and a Fox (Vulpes vulpes) at a site in north Co. Tipperary.
Common Frogs (Rana temporaria) spawning at a site in Co. Clare yesterday morning.
Sculpture of Caimin, the White-tailed Eagle, at Mountshannon, Co. Clare, yesterday. Caimin was one of Ireland’s oldest breeding White-tailed Eagles, but he died in May 2025 from suspected poisoning.
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Long-distance video of two White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in the River Little Brosna Callows Special Protection Area last weekend.
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Current trail camera footage of a Pine Marten (Martes martes) at a site in north Co. Tipperary. The Irish name for the Pine Marten is 'Cat Crainn', meaning 'tree cat'.
This native Irish species provides many ecological benefits, including helping to control the non-native invasive Grey Squirrel.
More footage of Otters (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, from the current winter season. This shows a mother and a juvenile feeding on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis).
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Recent footage of an Otter (Lutra lutra) family on the River Mulkear downstream of Annacotty Weir, Co. Limerick.
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Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) preying on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, last week. These lampreys are on their spawning migration, but this weir blocks their upstream passage.
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Today is #WorldWetlandsDay, and to mark it I visited the site of the lost Cloonkeen Lough.
Cloonkeen Lough was once a large permanent lake and turlough system on the River Clare, upstream of Corofin, Co. Galway.
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River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) attempting to pass Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick. Lamprey migration is blocked by this weir, which serves no functional purpose.
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Yes they don't seem to be too bothered by it - but I am sure there is avoidance. But yes it could be seen easier with the flash.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) feeding on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) downstream of Annacotty weir, River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning. The presence of this ornamental weir blocks upstream lamprey migration, resulting in increased vulnerability to predation at this location.
Current “white flash” trail camera footage of Otters (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick. The River Mulkear forms part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and the Otter is a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
Infrared trail camera footage of wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Stags and Prickets at a site in east Co. Clare. At this time of the year the males form bachelor herds until the next rut. Unlike the Killarney herd, these deer are descendants of more recent introductions and are not considered native.
Fallow Deer (Dama dama) in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, last week. These deer live close to the city centre and are accustomed to seeing people, but they are wild. There has been a deer herd here since the park was established as a Royal Deer Park in 1662.
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Current trail camera footage of wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) at a site in east Co. Clare.
Current trail camera footage of wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), a Fox (Vulpes vulpes), and a Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) from a site in east Co. Clare.
This photograph shows the last native Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Alps. It was shot in the Aosta Valley, Italy, in 1913.
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