Well done to everyone at the Irish National Archives for their work on the publication of the 1926 Census. It's a great public resource (and a great way to lose a few hours without realizing it!) - nationalarchives.ie/collections/... #1926census #Ireland
The suggestion that Ireland should reverse the ban on drilling for oil and gas has popped up again.
I made a programme looking at this from every imaginable angle.
Listen: 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Spoiler alert: The arguments for drilling don’t add up.
Sand Martins are fast and maneuverable flyers. I look forward to watching them raise new broods along Nimmo's Pier before they head south back to Africa on another huge journey. #SandMartin
They will need to build their energy back after a long journey, by catching hundreds of insects per day. In this sequence of 3 images (all within the same second of time), a Sand Martin sees an insect and alters course to swallow it in flight. #SandMartin
The Sand Martins are back in Galway, after migrating thousands of kilometers from Africa. Their journeys took them across the Sahara and the Mediterranean all the way to Nimmo Pier where they will nest in gaps in the pier wall. #SandMartin #Ripariariparia
Techspeak for 'someone else's fault'
Yep - spotted a flock heading home from Galway on Thursday.
There was a guy in Galway that used to ride one in South Park- only one I’ve ever seen
Thank you to RTE Countrywide this morning (and Treasa Bhreathnach for her reporting) for their piece (www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...) on our February Mountain Meitheal West volunteer day on the Carran Loop. We'll be back in the Burren next Saturday working on the Blackhead Loop. @philipb-h.bsky.social
Great episode. Would be great if there was an incentive for owners of other commonage to do likewise -there are a lot of them about, and it would incentivize the people who live there. I'd love to know how they managed to get 120 owners to come to an agreement !
I was meant to be making a couple of raised beds at the meadow today (for spud-planting later this month) but I kept getting distracted by the antics of a couple of buzzards overhead #CommonBuzzard #Rahugh #Westmeath #Ireland
A group of nine White-tailed Sea Eagles hanging out together last week in Connemara (eight in this video). 8 were tagged birds released on Lough Corrib in 24 & 25. Intriguingly one was untagged, potentially from an undiscovered nest somewhere?
Incredible sight.
This sounds lovely- roasting the garlic beforehand is also an option. Also, using capers instead of garlic - great in a coleslaw
The Barn Owl continues to rule the night in the meadow (despite the rain), but last week, it had to share the perch with another predator. First appearance of a Long Eared Owl this year. #BarnOwl #LongEaredOwl #Rahugh #Westmeath #Ireland @birdwatchireland.bsky.social
I feel the same way about wine!
Finally, the Common Snipe is back - it's been calling to this flooded part of the meadow at around the same time every night for the last 2 weeks. Those are willow saplings in the background that I planted over the winter. #Rahugh #CommonSnipe @birdwatchireland.bsky.social
The last Magdalen Laundry only closed in late 1996!
There was no sign of frogspawn in the mountain pools in the Maumturk mountains in Connemara yesterday, but I did spot a frog swimming for cover in one pool, so they are getting ready to spawn soon. It was hard to spot frogspawn since many of the pools were covered in melting snow/hail
The frogs began spawning in the wildlife pond a week later than last year (it was Feb 5th in 2025 and Feb 12th this year), but this is the first time I got to witness the froggy lovefest in person, and just in time for Valentine's Day. #Galway #wildlifePond #frogspawn #Ireland #ValentinesDay
I was wondering when the first frogspawn might appear in the meadow drain, and it looks like it might be a while longer... @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #barnowl #frog #Rahugh #Westmeath #Ireland
You would need to be a Navy SEAL to survive a stag weekend in Carrick on Shannon
First hike of the year yesterday, to Ben Gorm and Ben Creggan (South Top) near Leenaun. The cloud parted briefly for a view of Doo Lough and the Sheeffries, and we also spotted a Common Snipe, a pair of Ravens and an Irish Hare #hiking #GalwayWalkingclub #Ireland #Connemara
Relax, Ian - they are not channeling Nazis , just the Crusaders who were completely diff… oh, I see.
Yellowhammers chilling on the 'Pea Perch' in the meadow in Rahugh earlier this winter. #yellowhammer #perch #Rahugh #Westmeath
Xmas lights in the Claddagh looked great this morning as the holiday period draws to a close #Xmas #Galway #Claddagh #Ireland
After a bit of an absence, the barn owl has returned to using the high perch in the meadow, and has been hunting from it over the Xmas period. #BarnOwl #Rahugh #Westmeath #wildlife @birdwatchireland.bsky.social
14th century painting of St. Margaret of Antioch attacking a devil woman in a virid dress hitting a demon with a hammer
Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over
As usual, the most interesting birds visit the garden when I don't have my main camera near at hand. I don't have big enough trees in my garden to attract treecreepers but this one paid no attention to me as it foraged on the tree outside my house on the street (iPhone, from 2 meters away)
