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

Some lovely tree-scapes from Ravensdale Forest, Cooley, Co. Louth. A very unnatural woodland but there are some lovely patches of native trees and temperate rainforest cryptogam biodiversity - but could do with serious ecological restoration. #woodland #ireland #temperaterainforest

Very pleased to have found Daltonia splachnoides from Poll an Aifrinn, the 1st record for co. Monaghan I have been wanting to see this species for a while. Very typical Irish habitat of willow thickets in an upland plantation. Associated included Colura calyptrifolia & Lejeunea patens #bryophytes

2nd Irish record of this fungus this time from Altadaven Wood in south Tyrone - awful photos included Very pleased

Altadaven Wood, east Tyrone I was so pleasantly surprised at the variety of temperate rainforest cryptogams here. Several new regional and a few county firsts. Some intact ancient oak woodland clings on but it is mostly a larch plantation. Pseudomarsupidium decipiens was the find of the day!

Some old oaks in the rain Dearclaigh Forest

Bog Bothy at Girley Bog, Co. Meath A great series of events for Heritage Week and we had the weather for it too. @irisharchitecturef.bsky.social

I’ve a particular f(r)ondness for Dryopteris aemula/Hay-scented buckler fern. It’s very attractive with its characteristic crispy fronds & contrast between a dark blue rachis & almost lime green pinnae This is the 1st record from Co. Louth in a long time - likely v. under-recorded across Cooley

@dmac00.bsky.social took me to this neutral grassland today in South Armagh. We saw a Silver-washed Fritillary!

1st Irish record of the newly described bryophilous ascomycete Endoantria benetecta on its host Lejeunea patens from the temperate rainforest at Correl Glen, West Fermanagh Known only from Scotland & Wales; this marks the first for Ireland - our rainforests support untold diversity #fungifriends

Sloughan Glen, West Tyrone A very under-recorded site. Found several county 1sts from this temperate rainforest: Plagiochila bifaria & Drepanolejeunea hamatifolia. Jubula hutchinsiae growing in abundance near the waterfalls. Not the best woodland condition but definitely worth more exploration!

Correl Glen, Fermanagh Selection of oceanic cryptogams. 1st time seeing all of these species. The strange Bunodophoron melanocarpum was great to see. Tiny Plagiochila exigua was growing in profusion on holly (1st Fermanagh record). & Killarney Fern sporophyte in a deep cove was a highlight!

Some more temperate rainforest action from Correl Glen, west Fermanagh An amazing site full of bryophyte, lichen and fern diversity. Special finds include Plagiochila punctata, Lepidozia cupressina and Nephroma laevigatum All three species of filmy fern are found here too!

First time visiting Banagher Glen and I was thoroughly impressed. Plenty of temperate rainforest species - the lichens of particular note. Woodland is very healthy. More acidic areas dominated by oak had a lovely understory of bilberry and cow-wheat. More basic ash-hazel wood was also amazing!

Reed-marsh along Newry Towpath productive for insects, especially Hoverflies Helophilus hybridus, Anasimyia lineata, Parhelophilus consimilis and the delicate butterfly Leptidea juvernica Fen/marsh habitat is extremely rare in this part of Ireland, but is essential for these species

Killard Point, east Co. Down - the best grassland site in the county. First time seeing both Spring Squill & Green-winged Orchid. Na Beanna Boirche in the distance as a nice reminder of home

Lá Buí Bealtaine fá mhaise daoibh uilig | happy May Day Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo aríst

@ceanncait.bsky.social An magairlín meidhreach - bit early but can confirm they are still there along the Moygannon Path. Only this one nearly in flower

Shores of Camloch today Never seen so many Nomada before and nice to refind N. goodeniana. N. fabriciana found too Hovers Cheilosia pagana and Chrysotoxum arcuatum were really positive finds

Things are really picking up for pollinators now. How could you not love these creatures?

Join me on behalf of Buglife for City Nature Challenge 2025 in Belfast for hoverfly surveying Lagan Meadows, 25th April, 12-2pm I will be joined by Jen Farrar from BSBI who will be discussing all things trees! @bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social www.buglife.org.uk/events/surve...

Selection of Bombus out yesterday including B. sylvestris, B. terrestris, B. hortorum and B. lucorum agg. Anecdotal, but bumblebees having a much better year already compared to last year. Same for butterflies and solitary bees too.

Wowww! Scéal iontach agus tionchar dearfach atá ann

Another lovely Irish Bryophyte Group meeting - Oak woodland, Glendollagh, Connemara, Apr 25. Lots of oceanic woodland species, but with calcareous rock species too. Nice to see Sphagnum platyphyllum and of course lots of Trichcocolea tomentella. Thanks to @cianoceallaigh.bsky.social for organising.

Green Hairstreak, Cheilosia grossa, oceanic hazel woodland and snakelocks anemone - a taste of Newry’s wildlife.

We had a great (wet) day with the BBS Irish Bryophyte Group on Saturday. The morning in Ravensdale Forest where Jubula hutchinsiae is abundant in the gorge and afternoon at Long Woman's Grave, with Braunia imberbis on nearly every gabro boulder and occasional cushions of Glyphomitrium daviesii.