Mouse-ear Hawkweed , in flower today, Co Cavan . Google tells me it’s allelopathic , chemicals inhibiting root growth of other plants. #Wildflowerhour

Psychoides filicivora (Common Fern Moth) - North Antrim. One of the species still appearing in the garden. #moths #mothsofinstagram #mothsmatter #teammoth #gcampbellphoto @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @europebutterfly.bsky.social

The Bishop's Stone • Fermanagh This unusual stone sculpture was first recorded by Dorothy Lowry Corry in the graveyard at Killadeas in the 1930s. He holds a crozier and bell, indicating his status as a bishop or abbot. It is thought to date to some time around the 8th - 10th century AD.

Bulgaria inquinans , I suspect . Jelly like inside , soft . On old oak branch that was ripped off by storm Eowyn back in January. #deadwood #fungi

From Gartnanoul , Co Cavan, Broad-leaved Helleborine 15 plants along section of the path . @bsbiireland.bsky.social Do they appear after disturbance ? Or is the light? #helleborineChallenge #wildflowerhour some insect casualties in the flower, maybe something else is predatory on site

Utricularia vulgaris possibly? , Longford canal @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiireland.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #canivourousplants

From Co Cavan today . I’m wondering is it Greater butterfly orchid please? Not quite certain of these angles inside! It was about 18 cm high from base leaves to top of spike . @bsbiireland.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #orchids

Co Leitrim rocks near waterfall is this Pellia endiviifolia ?, basic type deposits. Maybe more several liverwort sp!

Wonder is this Gymnostomum aeruginosum ? From wet cliffs near waterfall south Co. Leitrim, probably on basic tufa type deposits Ireland #bryophytes @bbsbryology.bsky.social

Spotted Flycatcher! 😍 Did you know they spend our winter months in Africa? BTO research has shown that some head as far south as Namibia, around 7,000km from their breeding location. 🌍 Sadly, @bbs-birds.bsky.social‬ report shows a 67% decline in population of this species over the last 28 years. 🪶

Guttation of field horsetail this morning

Not quite sure how he’s managed it , so many spotted orchids on one area of farm. 2025 How should be managing fields? devils bit scabious. Marsh fritillary, mother shipton moth on site this May . Our Sheep sold , and lots of lousewort made barer patches, some strong grass areas, use cattle in Oct?

Eyelash fungi of some type

Appeal To Keep Dogs on Short Leash! Pet Dogs destroying curlew nest. Hard to believe but Believe it! video 👉 breedingwaders.ie/wp-content/u... Better still don't bring dogs to wild and wetland areas. Ground nesting birds are barely cling on. @breedingwaderseip.bsky.social

Is elder one of the last woody plants to flower in our hedges. June 6th 2025 , Sycamore gone to seed, hawthorn gone to haws , honeysuckle , brambles and wild rose still enticing the insects

“Waste ground “ Killeshandra Lakeland dairies , fantastic red clover and meadow vetchling for #pollinators @lakelanddairies.bsky.social

I sometimes get asked why so much of the timber from south Wales is chipped and burned rather than being used in construction. Who’s to say?

Help restore my faith in the world. Who loves a good bog? Make yourselves known! For bogs are - time keepers, death defiers, artifact protectors, carbon trappers, water purifiers, food providers, beautiful mysterious places

They look good for it to me but let's check with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social He's the guy who refound the Ghost Orchid & really knows his stuff!

I did find some optimistic primroses in killeshandra, Co cavan this week. Evading the ever present strimmer #wildflowerhour

I was chuffed to find these old seed heads because I think they are Broad-leaved Helleborine . Please could some kind botanist put me out of my wondering! Am i right ? . Beside the path in woodland in Co Cavan this week #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

So, if you ever need to refer to any of the wild bee fauna of Ireland in your writings as Gaeilge, a short trip to tearma.ie will put you right. And you can find lots of new invertebrate common names for other orders that I've requested there, too, like...

Really awesome paper just out by Lion Martius, Andy Taylor & colleagues at @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social & @wtscotsocial.bsky.social. "Dual mycorrhizal Salix facilitate ectomycorrhizal tree establishment": another reason why Willows are brilliant! nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Winter moths are definitely into the mating phase now, with pairs in cop on oak and pine bark at Yaxley Acres. Pine female is significantly darker.

Find a nice moss covered tree this winter and you might come across some courting #harvestmen. Behaviour may include the male slipping a nuptial gift through her chelicerae and to her mouth parts. @entospace.bsky.social @opiliones.bsky.social #bugsex #nature

Thanks @vannabartlett.bsky.social and @wildlifetoursed.bsky.social. Yes I do have a bit of Harvestmen obs to share. In fact my very 1st post on here was of them.⬇️⬇️ #harvestmen #uknature #aracnid #eightlegged

Brazil’s peatlands: 🌱 Huge climate potential, massive threats. New research shows, they store 39 Gt carbon but lack protection. COP30 in Brazil is a chance to change that. Time to put them on the Agendas for 2026! kurzlinks.de/uiwv 🌍@unigreifswald.bsky.social @unep.bsky.social

Intense rainfall has swollen Bessbrook River. Reminiscent of October floods last year. Nice to see floodplain sediment deposition in action! And the importance of riparian habitat.

An after-dark woodland stroll with a torch is worth it at any time of year. 🔦 Last night on some #EastLothian Sycamores: 🤍mating Winter Moths 🐞hibernating Orange Ladybirds 🕷hunting Drapetisca socialis. Plus harvestmen, woodlice, earwig, slugs, snails, flies, owl... Try it!

Marasmius hudsonii- Holly Parachute 🍄📷 #FungiFriends

Published in 1960 (Ladybird book). Streams thick with eels. Now they're criticaally endangered. Shifting baseline.

As you know, I love Harvestmen! Some people mistake them for spiders, but harvestmen are not spiders; they have no fangs and so venom. They DO have chelicerae, though. Little crab-like claws they use to tear apart their food and feed themselves. What do they look like, you ask? Look no further...

In honour of #OpilioWednesday (yes, I did just make that up), I give you this beautiful male Phalangium opilio harvestman and a map of some of the more interesting parts of his anatomy. Males of this species can be identified based on the cheliceral horns alone, which almost look like fangs! #ento

Fly #998: Hilara curtisi. Ludicrous front legs. Another one swept from arable field margins in Norfolk back in May

Fly number 1,000! The striking Seioptera vibrans, found in a woodland clearing in Norfolk in June. A widespread species by the sounds of it. Steven Falk has assigned the name 'Dark-tipped Wingweaver' and has more pics here www.flickr.com/photos/63075...

Remember folks, the ‘like’ from Twitter is #REPOST here. Without the #algorithm to boost #engagement, we need our own networks to do that. If you’re building connection but not interaction here, that’s probably the reason.

Like all beetles, Great Diving Beetles spend a significant amount of time as larvae. But in the case of the GDB, that larva can be almost 2.5 inches long and possesses huge jaws for catching and eating other inverts as well as frogs and newts. And what about those alien eyes!!! Six on each side.

Common dog violet, Killeshandra woods, Co. Cavan #wildflowerhour

Tattered , but blooming. The sea radish was strong and healthy at Cushendall, Co Antrim today #wildflowerhour

Waxcap of some sort in the grounds of Ballinamoney national school , Bailieborough

Lodgepole weeds raised #bogs #heath #peatland

It’s quite warm , it’s not blowing a gale . I have to come back tomorrow, sure why not !!

It’s quite warm , it’s not blowing a gale . I have to come back tomorrow, sure why not !!

#wildflowerhour Daisy flowers above the River Erne , Co . Cavan

Carratraw bridge over the Erne river Co. Cavan with mosses, lichens and ferns

Sheild bug , green I think

Visited a different wee bog in Belturbet on Saturday. Derryhoo #peatland

Alchemilla vulgaris , shore grassland , Killeshandra , Co Cavan #widflowerhour

This week’s challenge is #PollinatorPals! Find a flowering wild or naturalised plant with a pollinating visitor & snap away. Of course it’s not just about bees! Butterflies, moths, wasps, flies & beetles can all be #pollinators too! Share your pics for #Wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm!