Nice mixture of botanising in March. Exploring Rostrevor Oakwood for old toothwort records (no luck) but met some wych elms in the rocky/mossy woodland Peatlands Park, Co. Armagh is home (unfortunately) to the pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea), although it is very cool and they were full of bugs!

Both Hymenophyllum species growing together on Sliabh gCuillinn summit, Co. Armagh (H37) in the scree. Associated with liverwort Plagiochila spinulosa, the 1st rec for the mountain. Nice to see some fir clubmosses too. #botany #ireland #filmyferns

Yesterday our Botanical Skills Northern Ireland Team practiced how to use underwater drones to collect under-recorded aquatic plant specimens! The drone will also be used for our @bsbiireland.bsky.social #AquaticPlantProject & we hope to raise money for a 2nd drone to survey Scottish lochs.

The moss Dicranum scottianum is endemic to high rainfall regions of Europe & Macaronesia. In this Welsh temperate rainforest it is growing as an epiphyte on Oak. This example also has its own epiphytes - little colonies of cyanobacteria or algae. Plants on plants on plants @bbsbryology.bsky.social

Marchesinia mackaii from south Co. Down growing on the ancient tropical seabed geology - new site record and the 1st record for the county since the 1930s it seems! Neckera complanata in association and a new hectad for that too, more used to seeing it on trees @bbsbryology.bsky.social #bryology

Now found in 5 Irish counties as of yesterday from Cos. Louth/Armagh and this marks the first for the east coast! Phenologically has been recorded In July, September, October and March #fungifriends #ireland #bryology #liverwort

**BREAKING NEWS** - Marsh Clubmoss refound in Dunbartonshire, at a site where it was last recorded in 1854! Being more-or-less evergreen, clubmosses make great botanical targets all year round. With that in mind, I set out to hunt for Marsh Clubmoss near Inveraran on the shore of Loch Lomond 🧵

Asplenium ceterach recorded from an old mortared wall in north Co. Louth (H32) - last recorded in this vicinity in 1966!

Find out more about Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia - including where it has been recorded in Ireland - on its #PlantAtlas2020 page: plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9... This subspecies of Round-leaved Wintergreen has seen an overall "marked decline" since 1930 but we're not entirely sure why.

Plenty of Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia from a wet woodland of this west Monaghan lake - last years flowering spikes can still be seen. A very scarce species in Ireland!

Today’s lunchtime walk: Butterbur, spindle, young giant hogweed and Carex pendula tufts Things are starting to stir, botanically!

This week as part of the NI Botanical Skills Project we had three days of Conifer ID with Charles Shier at Castlewellan Arboretum. We covered 20 species likely to be seen as either a native, naturalised or ornamental. A lot of homework to do! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiireland.bsky.social

Happy to see my two unis Aberystwyth and Queen’s Belfast got through the first round of BUC!

The latest issue of #BritishandIrishBotany is out! It's our Open Access, online scientific journal. 6 papers inc @bsbiscience.bsky.social on garden escapes, a new hybrid grass, @floodplainmead.bsky.social on Scotland's wet grasslands, a hawkweed, drift seeds & sea bindweed: bsbi.org/about/news/l...

Porella platyphylla from the mortared walls of the promenade in Co. Louth. Appears to be a first for the Cooley Peninsula and the first record of the liverwort from the county in a few decades! @bbsbryology.bsky.social

Slime mold on moss. NWT, Canada. #myxomycete #fungifriends #moss

Colura calyptrifolia on rowan and plentiful Hyocomium armoricum on granite boulders at Yellow Water, Rostrevor, Co. Down How amazing would this place be if it had some native woodland? Missed opportunity for restoration

Thug mé cuairt Uaimh Thalún na Fionnaise agus Liagán Áine, Co. An Dúin inniú Tá an uaimh 29m ar fhad - iontach suntasach Bhí na radharcanna ó Liagán Áine dochreidte, agus na Beanna Boirche ó dheas. Ainmníodh é i ndéidh Bandia an tSamhraidh, Áine

This is an amazing record if this rare fungi that is closely linked to temperate rainforest. Not before observed in the SE of Ireland!! Wow

Scapania ornithopoides. Céad uair agam an speiceas seo a fheiceail agus an chéad suíomh dhó sna Mám Toirce cé go bhfuil roinnt maith cuntais dhó ó na beanna beola. Rud aláinn a bhfaca mé fhéin agus @timoceallaigh.bsky.social lá oíche nollaig

New site record of Hymenophyllum tunbrigense for Co. Louth (H31) growing in a rocky woodland on a minor hill. Happy to find this one today. A very scarce species in the county. @bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #ferns #botany #filmyferns

Likely Rhabdoweisia crenulata growing at high altitude on a NE rock face. Another first for me and the maamturks/Mám toirce records it seems. Thanks @nimbosaecology.bsky.social for ID help

Dryopteris affinis s.s on my St Stephen’s Day walk yesterday. Every day is a good day for some fernology I am pretty confident with this one @bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #ferns #botany

Fontinalis squamosa from Bavan, Cooley Mountains, Co. Louth in upland boulder stream Doesn’t seem to be previously recorded from this region @bbsbryology.bsky.social

Mosses love to decorate with slime molds. Northwest Territories, Canada. #slime #fungifriends #myxo #moss #bryophyte #botany

To round up my year of biological recording, here are my favourite finds from each month of 2025! January - Jubula hutchinsiae I re-found this colony recorded in 2004 in the Glen Stream, co. Down. A v interesting & unmistakable oceanic liverwort of humid wooded stream valleys

Greenan Lough, Newry, Co. Down These drumlin valleys contain lakes, fen and transition mire. Important habitats for scarce spp like Marsh St John’s Wort, Sphagnum contortum and many wetland birds. Main issue = no public accessibility - I have not explored any of these wetlands properly

"This is the first time we can say with certainty that European wildcats lived in prehistoric Ireland" A stunning discovery and more evidence that there's a lot left to discover about Ireland's ecology! www.rte.ie/news/munster...

This woodland site on the Armagh/louth border SW of Newry is begging for restoration. Bounded by forestry on both sides with a deep gorge between, supporting a nice array of species. Also an area brimming in local history, being one of the last Gaeltachtaí on east coast c. early 20th Century

First record of Daltonia splachnoides for Co. Armagh (H37) from plantation on Camlough Mountain. Epiphytic on willow, associates were Lejeunea patens & Metzgeria consanguinea. Algal gloop a big issue though. @bbsbryology.bsky.social #bryophytes #moss #Ireland

Other cool Fermanagh/Cavan finds included Saxifraga hypnoides, Sticta limbata and slime mould Badhamia utricularis. Also visited Shannon Pot, the source of the River Shannon in west Cavan #botany #lichens #slimemould #ireland

Neckera crispa growing as an epiphyte in a hazel temperate rainforest north of Cuilcagh, Co. Fermanagh. Other niceties include Ctenidium molluscum and Breutelia chrysocoma

A new site for Neckera pumila from willow on edge of Gortin Lakes, co. Tyrone This colony was particularly robust #bryophytes #moss

First time seeing Tunbridge filmy fern (Hymenophyllum tunbrigens) in Omagh yesterday thanks to @dmac00.bsky.social. Such a beautiful fern!

Some more habitat photos from Ness Country Park, Derry Very impressed with this site and an unexpected hyper-humid microclimate. The Burntollet River was powerful

First record of large leafy liverwort Bazzania trilobata for co Derry (H40) since 1834! Also growing alongside it was Hymenophyllum tunbrigense which is a new county site too. Ness Country Park, Co. Derry. @bsbiireland.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social #bryophytes #ferns #botany

These fragments of hazel woodlands around South Armagh are common enough, and always severely overgrazed. I’ve noted several scarce species from them but they are entirely unprotected. The hilly topography and hard porphyritic granophyre are the only things keeping them alive.

Not my usual post type but my friends sister is currently battling cancer, if you can afford to give at all or share. I appreciate there are so many good causes to give your money to at the moment but just in case. Duine álainn í agus maithir go triúr. Grma! www.gofundme.com/f/cunamh-do-...

Lovely lichens from Ards Forest Park, Donegal Lobaria pulmonaria & Pannaria rubiginosa was locally abundant, even on young trees. Pyrenula macrospora was the dominant crustose lichen on ash Other lichens included Pectenia atlantica, Lobarina scrobiculata & Ricasolia virens #lichens #fungifriends

March in Warrenpoint County Down today with Carlingford Lough Keepers demanding for clean fresh air and an end to industrial malpractice! People and Planet before Profit!!

4th Irish record of Endoantria benetecta and 2nd for Co. Fermanagh (H33) - Sliabh Beatha region Little fragments of temperate rainforest on border between east Fermanagh and south Tyrone along the Colebrook River #bryophytes #fungifriends #ireland #temperaterainforest #woodland

Moody blues over Loch Cairlinn today and a strong high tide. Made Rostrevor Oakwood extra atmospheric

Storm Amy illustrated why the marshy lowlands of Abhainn Ghleann Rí to the north of Newry are floodplains! I have spotted lapwing in the past along the towpath - now the fields are drained and electric green from slurry. The river and canal are eutrophic as a result. Nice to see corr éisc still.

First record of tiny hyper-oceanic liverwort Drepanolejeunea hamatifolia for co. Cavan (VC H30) from Tullydermot Falls on Salix sp. One of the oceanic liverworts appearing to increasing as an epiphyte #Bryophytes #bryology #liverwort #temperaterainforest #Ireland #Cavan

Tullydermot Waterfall, West Cavan A nice selection of rainforest species at this modest waterfall just south of Cuilcagh. Fragments of woodland cling on to the banks of the CLADAGH River. Plagiochila spinulosa and Protopannaria pezizoides were welcome finds. #bryophyte #lichen #ireland

Some more oceanic plants from Glenariff Forest - Harpalejeunea molleri - Hymenophyllum wilsonii - Jubula hutchinsiae - Plagiochila bifaria Really nice assortment of bryophytes #bryophyte #ireland

First record of Daltonia splachnoides for co. Antrim (VC H39) and the most NE Irish record so far. Closest known site (my record from Monaghan the other week) is 100km SW of here. Found on a willow in Glenariff Forest. Very happy. #bryophytes #moss #temperaterainforest #botany #ireland

New site for Daltonia splachnoides from Co. Fermanagh (VC H33) at Poll na gColm in the southwest of the county. Plus an obligatory picture of Trichocolea tomentella. Finished the day off with a trip to the Magho cliffs with a stunning view of lower Loch Erne towards south Donegal.

Agóid Náisiúnta na nGael i mBaile Áth Cliath inné Tionól iontach mór ann agus bus lán go béal ón dheisceart an Dúin! #cearta #mórshiúl #agóid #dearglefearg #gael #gaeilge

First record of oceanic liverwort Plagiochila bifaria for co. Armagh (VC H37) from near St Moninna’s Well, Sliabh gCuillinn Hanging out above a rock face with a small waterfall below some rowans. Associates included Metzgeria conjugata. #bryophytes #bryology #ireland #liverwort