News
Waterford Wetland Survey - August Site Visits
At the end of August site surveys were conducted in Waterford with Wetland Surveys Ireland. Field work turned up some important wetlands and some interesting fauna and flora finds on a range of wetlands habitats in the county.
Ferrypoint shingle bar, Youghal.
Crambe maritima, Ferry Point, Youghal, Co. Waterford.
Lygocoris sp. (possibly Common Green Capsid) on bindweed. Villierstown, Co. Waterford.
Indian Balsam is a major problem within sites on the Blackwater River (Cork/Waterford).
Coolahest, reed swamp at edge of Blackwater River.
Wet Heath community on the Knockmealdown Mountains
River valley in the Knockmealdown Mountains
Ballyheeny on the Blackwater River
Camphire Island in the Blackwater River, alluvial woodland and reed swamps.
Fistulina hepatica - Beef Steak Fungus, Strancally Demesne, Co. Waterford.
#MapofIrishWetlands
Kerry Wetland Survey 2015
During August field surveys were undertaken on a range of sites as part of the Kerry Wetland Survey II. Field work turned up some nationally important wetlands and some interesting fauna and flora finds on a wide range of wetlands habitats in the county.
Montbrettia hedgerows were in full bloom during the survey.
Nostoc alga at Ballyheabought.
Common carpet (Epirrhoe alternata). Ballyheabought.
Swamp and wet willow scrub at Murreagh Bog
Kerry Slug Geomalacus maculosus. Sillahertane
Ruppia maritima. Brackish water lake, Coornagillagh
Nursery Web spider (Pisaura mirabilis). Coornagillagh
Epipactis palustris, Doonard Upper Fen near Tarbert
Doonard Upper Fen near Tarbert
Secondary raised bog communities on Kilfallinga cutover
High bog dome at Ballinvariscal Bog
Hawker Dragonfly (female laying eggs) Aeshna juncea at Ballinvariscal Bog
Peacock butterfly at Ballinvariscal Bog
#MapofIrishWetlands
Wild Atlantic Way
In August I spent 8 days surveying sites along the Wild Atlantic Way in Cork, Kerry and Clare. Here are some images of interesting finds made along the way.
Limax cineroniger, Blaskets View, Co. Kerry.
Angelica sylvestris on costal grassland, Blaskets View, Co. Kerry.
Stunning Mizen Head Cliffs, Co. Cork.
Cytisus scoparius subsp. maritimus (Prostrate Broom). Mizen Head, Co. Cork.
Cetonia aurata (Rose chafer). Mizen Head, Co. Cork.
Chough. Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax. Old Head of Kinsale, Co. Cork.
Dursey Island cable car - unforgettable experience !. Co. Cork.
Dry stone wall, Loop Head, Co. Clare.
Cliffs at Loop Head, Co. Clare.
Sea Stack with Armeria maritima cushions, Loop Head, Co. Clare.
Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare.
Visitor impacts on northern coastal walk Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare.
African Harvestman spreads in Ireland
Dicranopalpus ramosus, a species of harvestman introduced to Ireland that appears to be making its way northwards. Recorded during recent survey work in Clonakilty, Cork and Mount Mellery, Waterford, where it seems to like the walls of B&Bs ... post full Irish breakfast records ! (Distribution map courtesy of NBDC).
The species has a characteristic way of sunning itself on walls with legs held together, and what looks like a pair of pincers (actually modified pedipalps) that help distinguish it from Irish harvestman species. (Originally the species originates from Morocco, from where it spread to Europe. It reached Britain by 1957 and Scotland by 2000.
