Will O'Connor
@entosphenus.bsky.social
đ€ 218
đ„ 474
đ 305
Ecologist and wildlife photographer.
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:-
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2 days ago
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Current trail camera footage of a Badger (Meles meles) and a Fox (Vulpes vulpes) at a site in north Co. Tipperary.
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3 days ago
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Common Frogs (Rana temporaria) spawning at a site in Co. Clare yesterday morning.
4 days ago
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Sculpture of Caimin, the White-tailed Eagle, at Mountshannon, Co. Clare, yesterday. Caimin was one of Irelandâs oldest breeding White-tailed Eagles, but he died in May 2025 from suspected poisoning. Read the full post here:-
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4 days ago
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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:-
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5 days ago
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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.
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7 days ago
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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:-
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10 days ago
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Recent footage of an Otter (Lutra lutra) family on the River Mulkear downstream of Annacotty Weir, Co. Limerick. Read the full post here:-
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11 days ago
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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:-
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12 days ago
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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:-
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14 days ago
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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:-
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14 days ago
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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.
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16 days ago
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Current âwhite flashâ 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.
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17 days ago
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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.
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17 days ago
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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:-
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18 days ago
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Current trail camera footage of wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) at a site in east Co. Clare.
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19 days ago
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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.
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20 days ago
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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:-
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21 days ago
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Europeâs 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.
23 days ago
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Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Catalan pre-Pyrenees. This is Europeâs 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:-
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24 days ago
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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:-
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25 days ago
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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.
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26 days ago
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Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) at Vejer de la Frontera, CĂĄdiz, 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:
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27 days ago
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Wild Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Sierra de AndĂșjar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain. Read the full post here:-
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27 days ago
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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.
29 days ago
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Wild female Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) with a Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Sierra de AndĂșjar 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.
30 days ago
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Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) in Sierra de AndĂșjar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain, October 2025. The Presa de JĂĄndula dam also features in the video. This dam was completed in 1932 and was one of the earliest large hydroelectric dams constructed in Spain.
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about 1 month ago
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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.
about 1 month ago
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Interpretative sign on the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) at El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain. Read the full post here:-
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about 1 month ago
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Very nice footage of young Otters (Lutra lutra) playing downstream of Encinarejo dam, on the JĂĄndula River, Sierra de AndĂșjar, Andalusia, Spain. Read the full post here:-
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about 1 month ago
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Booted Eagles (Hieraaetus pennatus) at El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, December 2025. Read the full post here:-
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about 1 month ago
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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 fĂrĂ©n, and this species was once native across upland parts of Ireland. Read the full post here:-
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about 1 month ago
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Male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) on the Lower River Shannon at Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. Read the full post here:-
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about 1 month ago
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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.
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about 1 month ago
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Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) at a site in Co. Offaly last week.
about 1 month ago
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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:-
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about 1 month ago
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Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in the River Little Brosna Callows Special Protection Area (SPA) this week.
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about 1 month ago
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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.
about 1 month ago
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Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) at site beside the Shannon estuary, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
about 1 month ago
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New Yearâs Day glass eel â all the way from the Sargasso Sea! Fresh-run, critically endangered juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla) âglass eelâ in a tributary of the Shannon Estuary, Co. Limerick, earlier today.
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about 2 months ago
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Dunlin (Calidris alpina) at Salinas de San Pedro, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. The Spanish name for these birds is âcorrelimosâ which means âsilt runnerâ.
about 2 months ago
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Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in the abandoned campsite beside the Rambla de las Moreras, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. Read the full post here:-
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about 2 months ago
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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:-
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about 2 months ago
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Black Wheatears (Oenanthe leucura) at Minas de MazarrĂłn, Murcia, Spain, December 2025. A male and female were present at this site. Read the full post here:-
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about 2 months ago
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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:-
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about 2 months ago
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Marbled Ducks (Marmaronetta angustirostris) in El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, last week. This species is listed by the IUCN as âNear Threatenedâ and ut is classified as âCritically Endangeredâ in Spain. It is also listed under Annex I of the EU Birds Directive.
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about 2 months ago
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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.
about 2 months ago
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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.
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about 2 months ago
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Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) near El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, yesterday morning.
about 2 months ago
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Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) in El Hondo Natural Park, Alicante, Spain, this morning. El Hondo / El Fondo dâElx-Crevillent is designated as a Site of Community Importance (SCI), a Special Protection Area (SPA), and is also a Ramsar wetland.
about 2 months ago
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