This week I recorded Common Frogs (Rana temporaria) spawning in shallow forestry drains at a site in Co. Clare. Read the full post here about the implications of last night's cold weather on these frogs:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Current trail camera footage of a Badger (Meles meles) and a Fox (Vulpes vulpes) at a site in north Co. Tipperary.

Common Frogs (Rana temporaria) spawning at a site in Co. Clare yesterday morning.

Sculpture of Caimin, the White-tailed Eagle, at Mountshannon, Co. Clare, yesterday. Caimin was one of Ireland’s oldest breeding White-tailed Eagles, but he died in May 2025 from suspected poisoning. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Long-distance video of two White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in the River Little Brosna Callows Special Protection Area last weekend. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Current trail camera footage of a Pine Marten (Martes martes) at a site in north Co. Tipperary. The Irish name for the Pine Marten is 'Cat Crainn', meaning 'tree cat'. This native Irish species provides many ecological benefits, including helping to control the non-native invasive Grey Squirrel.

More footage of Otters (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, from the current winter season. This shows a mother and a juvenile feeding on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis). Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Recent footage of an Otter (Lutra lutra) family on the River Mulkear downstream of Annacotty Weir, Co. Limerick. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) preying on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, last week. These lampreys are on their spawning migration, but this weir blocks their upstream passage. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Today is #WorldWetlandsDay, and to mark it I visited the site of the lost Cloonkeen Lough. Cloonkeen Lough was once a large permanent lake and turlough system on the River Clare, upstream of Corofin, Co. Galway. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) attempting to pass Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick. Lamprey migration is blocked by this weir, which serves no functional purpose. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) feeding on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) downstream of Annacotty weir, River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning. The presence of this ornamental weir blocks upstream lamprey migration, resulting in increased vulnerability to predation at this location.

Current “white flash” trail camera footage of Otters (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick. The River Mulkear forms part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and the Otter is a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.

Infrared trail camera footage of wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Stags and Prickets at a site in east Co. Clare. At this time of the year the males form bachelor herds until the next rut. Unlike the Killarney herd, these deer are descendants of more recent introductions and are not considered native.

Fallow Deer (Dama dama) in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, last week. These deer live close to the city centre and are accustomed to seeing people, but they are wild. There has been a deer herd here since the park was established as a Royal Deer Park in 1662. Full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Current trail camera footage of wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) at a site in east Co. Clare.

Current trail camera footage of wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), a Fox (Vulpes vulpes), and a Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) from a site in east Co. Clare.

This photograph shows the last native Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Alps. It was shot in the Aosta Valley, Italy, in 1913. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Europe’s most endangered vulture species, the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). I took this photo from a licenced hide in the Spanish pre-Pyrenees in October 2024. It was incredible to see these magnificent birds up close.

Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Catalan pre-Pyrenees. This is Europe’s rarest vulture species, yet despite strict legal protection and more than four decades of conservation and awareness efforts, persecution remains a real threat. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Golden Eagle in Sierra Espuña Natural Park. I took this video from a licenced hide in December 2025. It is understood that this individual is a young adult male that has recently formed a pair bond with an older female, estimated to be around 20 years old. Full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) in Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park, Ciudad Real, Spain, October 2025. This is a groundwater-dependent wetland located at the headwaters of the Guadiana River. It is designated as both a SPA and SAC but has many problems due to groundwater abstraction.

Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) at Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain. This species became extinct in Europe by the 17th century and is now being re-established through a long-term reintroduction programme. Read the full post here: x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Wild Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Sierra Espuña Natural Park, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. This species had almost disappeared from this area but is now breeding here again thanks to conservation efforts.

Wild female Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) with a Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain. I took this photo from a hide after dusk during October 2025. The hide features subtle lighting to facilitate night photography without disturbing wildlife.

Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) in Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain, October 2025. The Presa de Jándula dam also features in the video. This dam was completed in 1932 and was one of the earliest large hydroelectric dams constructed in Spain.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), and Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), all recorded in one morning at El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, December 2025.

Interpretative sign on the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) at El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Very nice footage of young Otters (Lutra lutra) playing downstream of Encinarejo dam, on the Jándula River, Sierra de Andújar, Andalusia, Spain. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Booted Eagles (Hieraaetus pennatus) at El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, December 2025. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Early morning video of a Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri) in Sierra Espuña Natural Park, Murcia, Spain. The Irish name for the Golden Eagle is Iolar fírén, and this species was once native across upland parts of Ireland. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) on the Lower River Shannon at Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Otter versus Salmon. An Otter (Lutra lutra) battles it out with an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) on the bank of the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick.

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) at a site in Co. Offaly last week.

Long-distance footage of Greenland white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons flavirostris) at a site in Co. Roscommon last week. A total of n = 60 geese were present in this field, and these are members of the River Suck flock. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in the River Little Brosna Callows Special Protection Area (SPA) this week.

Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) in the Middle Shannon Callows Special Protection Area (SPA) earlier this week. This species is listed under Annex I of the EU Birds Directive and is a Qualifying Interest of this SPA.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) at site beside the Shannon estuary, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.

New Year’s Day glass eel – all the way from the Sargasso Sea! Fresh-run, critically endangered juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla) “glass eel” in a tributary of the Shannon Estuary, Co. Limerick, earlier today.

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) at Salinas de San Pedro, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. The Spanish name for these birds is “correlimos” which means “silt runner”.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in the abandoned campsite beside the Rambla de las Moreras, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri) in Sierra Espuña Natural Park, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. This area is designated as a SPa under the EU Birds Directive, and Golden Eagle is a key Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Black Wheatears (Oenanthe leucura) at Minas de Mazarrón, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. A male and female were present at this site. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Pied Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) at Salinas de San Pedro, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. This species is listed under Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. Read the full post here:- x.com/EcofactEcolo...

Marbled Ducks (Marmaronetta angustirostris) in El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, last week. This species is listed by the IUCN as ‘Near Threatened’ and ut is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ in Spain. It is also listed under Annex I of the EU Birds Directive.

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) in El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, last week. This species is listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive and is classified as Critically Endangered on the national Red Lists of both Spain and Portugal.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri) in Sierra Espuña Natural Park, Murcia, Spain, last week. Sierra Espuña Natural Park is a mountainous Mediterranean protected area of high ecological value. The site is designated as a SPA under the EU Birds Directive.

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) near El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, yesterday morning.

Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) in El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, this morning. El Hondo / El Fondo d’Elx-Crevillent is designated as a Site of Community Importance (SCI), a Special Protection Area (SPA), and is also a Ramsar wetland.