The Wood Sandpiper at the Slob Bank, Youghal today - a scarce migrant #Birds #Scarce #BirdsSeenIn2026 #phonescoped

The very rare and very striking Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Co. Kilkenny today. (With thanks to @harryhussey.bsky.social) #dragonflies #odonata

Greater White-toothed Shrew in our garden.

Chough on the clifftop, Ballycotton. #Birds #BirdsSeenInz2026

Emerald Damselfly with its beautiful metallic hues. The Gearagh, Co. Cork, July 2026. #Dragonflies #Odonata @johncreedon.bsky.social

Female Clouded Yellow, Ballycotton - a migratory butterfly from N. Africa and mainland Europe. This summer has seen an unusually large influx of these beauties. #Butterflies #Ballycotton

Blue Tit fledgling #Birds

A fledgling Robin in our garden #Birds

Raven feathers are revealed to have a beautiful iridescence when seen in the right light and at the right angle. #Birds #Corvids

Some fancy footwork from the young Rook. #Birds

Silver Y moth on Valerian at Harper's Island Wetlands today - with a faceful of pollen! #Moths #Pollinators @harpersisland.bsky.social

Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on valerian, Ballycotton. #Moths

"Maybe if I just sit here with my mouth open, the insects will fly in ..." #Birds #Ballycotton #BarnSwallow

Coal Tit chick #Birds

Yellow-legged Gull, Cork Lough - a scarce visitor, all the way from its breeding grounds in Southern Europe. Quite possibly last year's bird returning as it seems to have settled in well, waiting on the unoccupied crib to fight off the other birds for any food. #Birds #Gulls #BirdsSeenIn2026

Common Sandpipers at Harper's Island Wetlands, Cork @harpersisland.bsky.social #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Buzzard, East Cork. Irish for buzzard is "Clamhán" - thought to derive from the word for "mangy". #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

The appropriately named Beautiful Demoiselle, East Cork. #Dragonflies #Damselflies @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Common Whitethroat at Ballycotton, early on a summer's morning #Birds

And the video … #Hedgehogs

Great to see that the gap we left under our gate is being utilised! 🦔 #Hedgehogs

Red-veined Darter at Loughaderra, Co. Cork - a rare migrant dragonfly. (With thanks to @alexlynchwildlife.bsky.social) #Dragonflies

Female Emperor dragonfly ovipositing at Loughaderra, East Cork. (Hard to believe that Emperor dragonflies were only first recorded in Ireland in 2000.) #Dragonflies #NaturePhotography @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Sedge Warbler, Ballycotton. #Birds

Cheeky Chaffinch Chappie #Birds

East Cork Dragonflies - Emperor and Four-spotted Chaser #Dragonflies

Starlings as pollinators? Looking like a rare exotic species, this Starling has pollen staining from feeding on nectar from our NZ Flax! #Birds

It's lovely to see fledglings appearing in our garden #Birds #GardeningForNature

Obverse and Reverse ... Barn Swallow #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Juvenile male Common Eider at Ballycotton today - found by @dennisballyc yesterday. A very rare summer record for Co. Cork! #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026