PFAS are linked to cancer and contaminate our water and food - yet chemical giants are lobbying to weaken protections to our health. Europe can still act. I just signed. Will you? action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-01...

Record shot of a Great Spotted Woodpecker in east Cork today. No location given in case of a breeding attempt. Seem to be at a number of locations now anyway.

Plenty of Gadwall in east Cork today, many at Lough Aderra but this pair nearer to Castlemartyr.

Glorious light today, some photos of the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull and the 2nd-winter Ring-billed Gull at the Cork Lough.

Tell me a photo was taken in the 70s without telling me a photo was taken in the 70s.

Really beautiful field sketches from Rob as usual.

Various Common Gulls from the Cork Lough today.

Also at the Cork Lough, as well as the 2nd-winter Ring-billed Gull, was this adult Ring-billed Gull found and ringed there the day before.

The 2nd-winter Ring-billed Gull at Fitzgerald's Park showed really well today. It was later seen at the Cork Lough also.

A Robin is not just for Christmas...

A nicer photo from today, of a Redpoll at Castlemartyr Wood.

About time I posted some poor photos here to remind everyone that I am a birder with a camera rather than a photographer. Caught up with this wintering juv Marsh Harrier today in east Cork. Due to its distinct head markings, it can be seen to also have been seen across the border in Co. Waterford.

More gull photos from Cork city today.

Adult presumed Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull at Kennedy Quay, Cork city today. This bird has been around, on and off, for a while now.

Some stabilised video of the Ring-billed Gull from Fitzgerald's Park yesterday.

Some photos from today, all at Inchigaggin bar the Ring-billed Gull, which was at Fitzgerald's Park.

Some gulls at the Cork Lough yesterday.

Some photos of the Harlequin Duck yesterday. With thanks to @robertvaughani.bsky.social for finding it in the first place.

Made the pilgrimage yesterday to see the long-staying 1st-winter male Harlequin Duck at Meenaclady, Co. Donegal before it died of old age or something. Amazing little thing, feeding away quite happily among the breakers.

Apparent Bonapartes × Blackheaded Gull I found in Cork City 31/12/25

Despite the weather being a bit milder, there was still some ice at the Cork Lough, but still plenty of birds to be seen.

At this stage, an 'approach' by United is like that utter train wreck and drama magnet at a bar, they've been mouthing off, spilling their drinks, and you then realise that they're checking *you* out...

Grim, grey, cold and rainy(!) at Blackrock Castle this afternoon, and not many gulls were present before the tide became too high, but 2 Yellow-legged Gulls included this new 1st-cycle bird, always an age class I love to come across.

Nice views of a Grey Wagtail along the Tramore River today too.

No Siberian Chiffchaffs today along the Tramore River in Cork city, but still lots of Common Chiffchaffs, with low double figures present again.

Went to see this interesting gull found in Cork city yesterday by Alex Lynch. It seems most likely to be an adult Black-headed x Bonaparte's Gull, a very rare pairing and not conclusively proven anywhere as yet, as far as I can see, but with two strong candidates from Spain and France.

This Dunnock showed well today at Inchigaggin. Three or more Chiffchaffs kept more in the shade, so no decent photos were obtained.

And some more photos from Christmas Day.

Happy Christmas. Good light yesterday, here are a few of the better photos.

A few bird photos from the Cork Lough today.

Also present at the Cork Lough was the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull, by now well accustomed to people feeding the birds and quite dominant in the melee.

Caught up with the 2nd cycle Ring-billed Gull at the Cork Lough today. Possibly last winter's 1st cycle returning.

Nice light after work this afternoon, came across this male Eurasian Sparrowhawk just sitting in a tree.

Nice views of a Goldcrest this afternoon not too far from home in Cork city.

Another attempt for Cetti's Warblers in likely habitat today, still none and the species may not have reached the area yet. Still, nice to get out, even if shade affected my attempts at bird photography.

Little Egret from Inchigaggin today. Still don't take these for granted, despite them having colonised Ireland over 25 years ago. It helps that they are elegantly beautiful.

More passerine photos from yesterday.

It's a wet morning here, but yesterday was a beautiful calm sunny day, excellent for seeing and photographing birds.

Some birds from Cork city yesterday.

Some passerine photos locally over the weekend.

Only getting around to uploading video from earlier in the month. Two Chough at Garrettstown on 8th November. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Co...

Lovely light yesterday at Clogheenmilcon Fen, but most of the birds I saw were against the light. This Long-tailed Tit wasn't on full view when I took the photo, but I like the colours.

A few sketches from the weekend. Goosander is generally a scarce and shy species in Ireland, always distant at a few regular sites, so I was delighted with one showing well with mallards in Ramelton town on Saturday. The Coal Tit was one of a few birds during some surveying yesterday.

Darvic-ringed Yellow-legged Gull on the quays in Cork city, Ireland today. Ringed as a pullus in the south of France back in 2020. I found it interesting that, despite now being in its sixth calendar year, the primary coverts still have extensive black centres. Nice white head already, though.

Had almost no late season migrants last weekend, but a flock of around 8 Chough showed well, in poor light, as they fed without much concern on a sand cliff at Garrettstown.

Lovely finished piece from Rob. Almost Lewington-esque, but still with his own style showing.

Some birds from the Cork Lough yesterday.

Another recent pipit photo, this time a Rock Pipit at Knockadoon Head on Wednesday 22nd.

Meadow Pipit at Toe Head on 13th October. Nice to even see the incredibly long hind claw of this species here.