Just in time for Halloween, the Devil's Fingers fungi are out at Murlough, Co Down. Some proving very attractive to flies (3rd pic) #fungi #mushrooms #autumn #naturephotography #nature #uknature #NTmurlough

I was lucky to spot a ringtail Hen Harrier from the Blackhead Path, Co Antrim, this afternoon and even managed to get the camera out of the bag in time for a flypast! #birds #nibirds #belfast #northernireland #ireland #ukwildlife #nature #🪶

Another chance to see Comet Lemmon C/2025 A6 last night (21 Oct 2025) from Belfast. This time I used a longer lens (300mm, cropped) and stacked 20 x 10sec exposures to get a better view.

At last a clear evening to have a look for Comet Lemmon, C/2025 A6, here in light polluted Belfast. Still it was easily visible with binoculars although looking very small in the 100mm lens as it set over the rooftop. (19 Oct 2025)

Shaggy parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) at Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast, this afternoon 🍄

More fungi - from a wooded area of Lagan Meadows, Belfast. Identifications are educated guesses at best! Corrections welcomed! Weeping Widow fungi, Fairy Inkcaps?, Honey Fungus and Oysterlings (Latin names in 'ALT')

Some fungi from a walk in Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast. Not my area of expertise but maybe Collared Earthstar, Shaggy Inkcaps, Rosy Bonnets and ???

Can now add Aughrim Hill, Attical (Mourne Mountains) to the Common Lizard map for N Ireland. First sign was a shed skin and then 2 juveniles spotted on a sunny bank 26 Sep 2025 @argroupsuk.bsky.social #woodlandtrust #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

A few of today's Common Lizard sightings, during a couple of brighter spells, at Peatlands Park, Co Armagh @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Into Autumn and running out of time to find new Common Lizard locations, so was pleased today to find this one at Slieve Gallion, near Magherafelt (previous visits in June & July turned up nothing) @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Belfast Hills Partnership are delighted to be the recipients of a £1.1 million investment from @daera-ni.gov.uk for nature recovery. Read the full story on our website. belfasthills.org/newsroom/one...

The Rumble Hole waterfall, at Colin Glen/Glenside in the #BelfastHills, looking spectacular this afternoon (12 September 2025) Nice little rainbow at the bottom. @belfasthills.bsky.social #northernireland #ireland

Cool today with sunshine & showers at Whitehead, Co Antrim but lots of common lizard sightings! My favourite pic was this trio of juvenile lizards in the grass beside the Blackhead Path @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Contrasting views of Lambay Island from Portmarnock Beach yesterday #ireland #weather #showers

Still in the Dublin area today and this time a Common Lizard sighting on the path to the beach at Portmarnock Beach South. #HSI #reptile #Ireland

Visited the fantastic Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin, Dublin this afternoon but wasn't expecting any #reptile encounters. What a surprise then to see a terrapin (Yellow-bellied Slider?) at the edge of one of the ponds! Looks like it may be a long term resident (very tame). #HSI

Great to find a new lizard site in the Belfast Hills at Glas-na-Bradan (acquired by the #WoodlandTrust in 2021). 3 juveniles seen this afternoon. @belfasthills.bsky.social @argroupsuk.bsky.social #woodlandtrust #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Migrant Hawker dragonfly seen today at Ballyhornan coastal path, Co Down, N Ireland. Obligingly settled on a Gorse bush in front of me @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #dragonfly #ukwildlife

Still had time yesterday for one more potential Common Lizard site - Hen Mountain trail in the Mournes. This turned out to be the best of the 3 sites visited with a total of 17 lizards seen on the lower path. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Two more new Common Lizard sites yesterday (6th Aug). An old quarry at Spelga in the Mournes (after several visits in recent years) and along the road verges at Kinnahalla Road. #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

At the end of the Ballykinler Path you reach the dunes & beach - accessible when the military firing range is not active! Here, again, Common Lizards are plentiful but you can't wander too far into the dunes. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Yet another new site for Common Lizards in N Ireland - Ballykinler Coastal Path (1 Aug). Not the most exciting or well known path but a perfect lizard corridor (even if not intended) on the left. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

Not the most comfortable basking spot but this old broken fence post was just high enough to catch the late afternoon sun at Slievenacloy, Co Antrim today. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

A bit of a break from the lizards, today I visited the RSPB reserve at Belfast Harbour and was delighted to see a Spoonbill. It has been there for 7 weeks and I'm only getting to see it now (heavily cropped/distant photo) #birds #nibirds #belfast #northernireland #ireland #ukwildlife #nature #🪶

Two more new Common Lizard locations today in Co Antrim. Collin Road verge - a shed skin on a fence was the first sign. Then more sightings at Wolf Bog Windfarm. 9 adult and 16 neonates in total. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

Found another new site for Common Lizards today at Tornaroy, Co Antrim #BelfastHills. Not far from the Divis mountain, so unsurprising but I'd been checking this lane for 4/5 years without success @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

Yes, baby lizards are out in the Belfast Hills too (photos 16 July 2025). Always love this time of year - seeing the new generation of Common Lizards arrive🦎🦎🦎 @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

Please don’t start any fires deliberately. Even if you haven’t got malicious intentions fire can get out of hand quickly. Don’t ever tackle a wildfire yourself; leave the scene of the fire as quickly & safely as possible as flames can spread incredibly quickly & call 999 ASAP.

First baby lizards of 2025 at Blackhead Path, Co Antrim. Very early again this year (same date as 2023) thanks to a sunny May/June incubation period. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland

Four-spotted Chaser and several Common Lizards at Divis Mountain, Belfast, yesterday. One of the lizards was quite close to the Long Barn.

One of my failed target sites for Common Lizards in 2024 was Flagstaff Viewpoint in Co Armagh. Same result on a revisit today (18 June) in perfect conditions ...but I did see 2 on verge of the nearby Flagstaff Road, including this beauty! . @argroupsuk.bsky.social #DragonInHills #HSI #reptiles

Glad to report that Common Lizard sightings are picking up at Slievenacloy, in the Belfast Hills. Well into double figures on this visit - mostly juveniles and gravid females. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #HSI #reptiles

The Red Mason bees in my garden much prefer the bamboo tubes to the plastic ones but they did partially fill a few of them and I can see some bee larvae have hatched and are busy eating the pollen 🐝

In South Belfast the Ash trees that have have not been killed by dieback are under attack from hundreds of little green Ash Sawfly caterpillars! Many already making their way down the trunks to pupate in the soil. Maybe a food source for some birds? (Like this Jay - pic 4)

Very few Common Lizard sightings at Slievenacloy, Co Antrim, recently and despite ideal weather it was the same today. I'm hoping it's just that the sunny/warm spring has altered their basking habits. Anyway here's one that was making use of a hedgerow stump. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #HSI #reptiles

Now 4 years in a row that I've had one of these non-native "fleecy" jumping spiders, Pseudeuophrys lanigera, in my garden! Lifespan supposedly 1-3 years so maybe not the same one? When it disappeared from sight, I realised it might be hiding in this cable clip! @britishspiders.bsky.social

Among the Beetles seen at Murlough yesterday, Garden Chafers (Phyllopertha horticola) were the most active! Agrypnus murinus, a large click beetle is new to me. Just one Marram Weevil (Philopedon plagiatum) and a very small brown weevil that I can't identify - any idea @markgurn.bsky.social ?

A mostly cloudy day at Murlough NNR, Co Down, yesterday but some late brightness brought a few Common Lizards out to bask @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @iolowilliams.bsky.social @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland

An unusual sight on the Ormeau Embankment, Belfast, this morning! A White Stork! Had to stop the car (safely) to get these pics. #birds #nibirds #belfast #northernireland #ireland #ukwildlife #nature #🪶

Also at Murlough NNR, Co Down, there were quite a lot of these mining bees, possibly Andrena barbilabris . If correct, then the Blood Bees seen in the same area are likely to be Sphecodes pellucidus. @obeckett98.bsky.social @microwild.bsky.social

Another spider hunting wasp I think (not great photos) - this time at Murlough NNR. Nearest match I can find is Episyron rufipes. What do you think? @obeckett98.bsky.social @microwild.bsky.social

Working in the garden I suddenly felt a buzzing under my shirt collar and a slight sting. Quickly removed the shirt and found this little bee (phone camera pic)! I think it's a Leafcutter but it's out a bit early - don't usually see them until June/July. Maybe the warm weather has brought them out?

First Cuckoo I have heard this year - at Murlough, Co Down. Just about able to see it in the middle of a gorse bush, using full zoom (400mm equiv). Sorry about the camera noise. #birds #nibirds #🪶#belfast #northernireland #ireland #ukwildlife #nature #nationaltrust #murlough

A farm holiday in Devon with the grandchildren provided few opportunities but I did manage to fit in one morning visit to Dawlish Warren and was thrilled to see some Sand Lizards - including one male in full breeding colours 🦎@argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #sandlizard

Bee hotel is buzzing today! Red Mason bees very active in today's heat.

Some of the of bees/wasps seen around Camlough Lake yesterday. Spider hunting wasp? (Pompilidae) Andrena sp, Halictus rubicundus and Nomada sp. More precise ids welcomed! @entospace.bsky.social @dmac00.bsky.social

A nice green-coloured Common Lizard seen yesterday (24 April) at Slieve Gullion, Co Armagh @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland

A brief visit today to a little quarry near Camlough Lake, Co Armagh, produced 4 Common Lizard sightings - all of them in this one photo! (Find the 2 hidden ones!) @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland

At Slievenacloy, Co Antrim, this afternoon only juvenile Common Lizards were out basking (3 seen). Willow Warblers, Ruby Tiger moths and loads of Orange Tip butterflies all added to the Spring feeling #UKwildlife @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social @argroupsuk.bsky.social

Cirrus radiatus? clouds over Belfast at lunchtime today @barrabest.bsky.social #weather #clouds