Sign the petition to protect the laws that protect us - our health, nature, and water. Don't let polluters and opportunistic politicians speak for you. Give nature a voice! #HandsOffNature birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/adv...

Getting behind with photos as is the case at this time of year. Safe to say this White-winged Scoter showed well yesterday at Kirkcaldy. Still thinks its an Eider despite the grief it gets from them @rarebirder.bsky.social #birdsseenin2026 @fifebirdnews.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social

More photos this evening of a territorial male Reed Bunting at the Tramore Valley Park in Cork city. Nice return to sound recording after an absence too, even if one could hardly call this species a virtuoso singer.

The dilemma of a birder with a camera. After a long vigil on Monday, a Cetti's Warbler in east Cork blessed me with very good views under 10m away in a small leafless tree. For about 7-8 seconds. Birders will know how hard it can be to see this species well, so I plumped for binocular views. No pics

Willow Warbler in song and two Barn Swallows at the Tramore Valley Park yesterday evening. No photos of those, but some common passerines showed well in excellent light.

A powerful US spy-tech company linked to genocide in Gaza, ICE deportations, and Trump’s war with Iran is now expanding across Europe into our hospitals, police and data systems. We must expose it and stop its expansion action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-03...

Hopefully this simple yet promising project can turn around the fortunes of Skylarks in Ireland. www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Something 'modern'? Why not. This old dog can, if not quite learn new tricks, still find quirky music amidst FM radio staples. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc3L...

Some more oddball sounds. Not Willie Nelson, but former Be Bop Deluxe frontman Bill Nelson, solo, with a song that I can't find a studio version of (maybe there isn't one). www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AiJ...

You know you're getting old when your go-to reference for a young person who should sample a song is Calvin Harris, and he's 42 now. Anyway, Calvin Harris should sample the guitar on this, an upbeat number from the often overlooked Yellow Magic Orchestra. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJSr...

I know it's one of those albums that people trot out to seem cool, or at least it was...does anyone under 25 listen to music with guitars in now...but there are some good songs on Marquee Moon. Including this one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVAo...

New species of leaf warbler from Japan, the Tokara leaf warbler (Phylloscopus tokaraensis): academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar... 🪶🧪 (📷 @peralstrom.bsky.social in Saitoh et al.)

This should be well worth buying, given that there is to be a lot of new content. The first edition got a lot of people thinking about bird sounds far more, and in more detail, a real game changer.

Europe's Common Buzzards may be losing their remarkable variation in plumage colour, according to a new study:

Some Tufted Ducks from the Cork Lough today.

It's always a treat to get to see a European Stonechat well, this singing male just appeared near where I was standing at the Tramore Valley Park today.

Some gull photos from the Cork Lough today. 1-2 Sand Martins also present there.

The 2nd cycle Ring-billed Gull was still at the Cork Lough today. Still favours the northern end, even if the gulls were disturbed regularly today.

Still digging out Senegal photos even now.

The 2nd cycle Ring-billed Gull was still present at the Cork Lough today, showing extremely well at times. It remains to be seen if it will stay much longer, now that spring is upon us.

Some canus Common Gulls from the Cork Lough today.

Quick check of the Cork Lough after work today. No sign of the recently reported Glaucous Gull, or the long-staying Ring-billed, but this 1st cycle Mediterranean Gull showed quite well for a while before disappearing.

Non-passerines from Senegal.

Yet more bird photos from Senegal.

Some more bird photos from my recent trip to Senegal.

Some mammals from Senegal.

Yet more photos from Senegal.

More photos from Senegal. If I ever sort out my ongoing Photoshop issues, I'll hopefully edit more than five or six photos a day!

Birds tended to show very well when we were on the river at Wassadou, drifting and the engine shut off, so there were opportunities for nice photos.

Sign the petition to protect the laws that protect us - our health, nature, and water. Don't let polluters and opportunistic politicians speak for you. Give nature a voice! #HandsOffNature birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/adv...

Some photos from two weeks in Senegal recently.

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.