A Brief History of People Have Lost Their Sense of Humour 🧵

For years I've wanted something like Duolingo for the birds of the various places I visit. Just in time for my trip to Aotearoa New Zealand, I found Peter's ChipNotes! app. He added New Zealand's birds for me and I found it very helpful. Such a cool app, very cleverly designed. Check it out! 🪶

"I'll try the lobster." Yellow-crowned Night-Heron with a specialized crustacean-crushing bill to back it up. Sandy Creek Park, Durham, NC. #BirdofTheDay #snacks #YCNH #birding

Radhairc ó Leitir Camus, Tamhnach Bán agus Ceannúir, i dtreo Cuan Chaisil, Cnoc an Chaisil agus na Beanna Beola

Have you seen a Cowslip in bloom this year? This week’s challenge is to find one and share your pics for #wildflowerhour this Sunday using the hashtag #CowslipChallenge. Happy flower hunting! 💛

Daniel Garber (American, 1880-1958) "Springtime in the Village," 1917 Oil on canvas 30.5 x 28.5 in #art #painting #artist #BlueSkyArt

#theBeeAt3 Basic bee facts every day at 3pm. # 298 Researchers in France observed bumblebees travelling over great distances by hitching lifts on passenger airlines. Queens, males and worker females were all recorded engaging in this behaviour although one anomaly was… 1/2 #bees #bumblebees

Boys Day with “koinobori” (traditional carp windsocks). Early 20th century, Japan. The carp is a central symbol in this celebration, representing strength, courage, and the determination to overcome obstacles—qualities inspired by the legend of the carp swimming upstream to become a dragon.

We recently welcomed our new Tory Island Warden, Kyle Coughlan. Kyle is working on the PeacePlus Nature project and will be working to help safeguard breeding waders on the island. PeacePlus Nature a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Welcome to Super Seabird Sunday where we ask you to share photos, videos & artwork of seabirds to brighten timelines. Here is my contribution; a pair of magnificent European Shags at their nest on the Isle of May #SuperSeabirdSunday

“Behind the spray of the male sallow-willow, shadows from the further bank of the pool - and from overhanging branches - are reflected on the still surface of the water” What to Look for in Spring Writer: EL Grant Watson Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

Shamsia Hassani (born 1988), recognized as the first Afghanistan born female muralist and street artist #WomensArt

Another image from my evening visit to the Sand Martins at Sandy Water Park. Pretty chuffed with these first efforts and can see myself spending a lot more time with them in the near future. #birdingWales #UKWildlife #birds #birdsSeenIn2026

#FlowersOnFriday blooming now.... Gorgeous blossom backlit by sunshine, sprinkled by rain showers on Wednesday. #bloomscrolling #DailyFlowers #Blossomwatch #vitaminN

Sometimes when we are botanising we can forget to look up! Which would be a shame as #treeflowers are both fascinating & beautiful! This week’s challenge is to go looking for wild & naturalised trees that are blooming. Share your finds for #WildflowerHour this Sunday 8-9pm!

Over a quarter of a million seabirds on Rathlin Island are now safer! 💙 Rathlin Island has been declared ferret-free: a world-first conservation success helping Puffins, Guillemots and more raise their young safely again. Read the full story: www.rspb.org.uk/media-centre...

Happy Monday! 😎 Met this mighty worm this morning, just going about its business, enjoying the warm air. [AD= long garden worm moves from left to right. background noise of London.]

Spent the first hours of the morning thoroughly surveying the walls and openings. Apparently they were of a suitable standard because moss is being moved in.

Cornsalad (Keeled-fruited) in Galway. Tasty nutritious salad leaves rich in vitamins and iron. #WildflowerHour #StoryPlants

Thale Cress Arabidopsis thaliana. Spring wildflower. Extensively used in scientific research to understand plant functions and genetics. The first plant genome to be sequenced. #WildflowerHour #StoryPlants

Children at an Edinburgh hospital painted pebbles for the penguins at Edinburgh Zoo and will be able to watch them choose and present them to their mates via livestream. #SundayMorning

Please share far & wide - the bestest, most heart warming thing you’ll see all day. Kakapo-Cam - watch one of the fattest, greenest, least able to fly, most endangered parrots in the world care for her young. Thnx @digs.bsky.social #kakapo #wildlife 🧪🧪 www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...

Delve into the world of Plant Pathogenic Fungi with Jake Dalzell this spring in our fully outdoor session. 📆 Saturday 16th May ⏰ 10am-4pm Get tickets: nationalmuseumsni.digitickets.co.uk/event-ticket...

Sunset over Gentian Hill Galway Bay, Galway, 🇮🇪 #photography #nature #landscape #springtime #cloud #sunset #PhotoHour #spéirghorm #EastCoastKin 🐕 🚶📱 📸 📷 🌧️ 💨 🌅

2/ Each tide, limpets leave their home scar to graze, then return to the exact same spot with mm precision. It's a question of life or death: their shell margin grows matching the rock surface. It’s the only way to keep humidity and prevent low tide dessication.

Chickweed in Galway #WildflowerHour #WhiteFlowers

Primrose in Galway today between the showers #WildflowerHour

"A curious pine marten peeps over the heather in Ardnamurchan, Scotland." 📸 "Standing Tall" Alastair Marsh Animal Portraits winner: British Wildlife Photography Awards www.euronews.com/2026/03/10/r...

Little Tern Wardens with Denbighshire County Council, full-time, fixed term positions based at Gronant Dunes, Prestatyn c-js.uk/4s8QpHV

Our new updated awareness raising A5 flyer is now available for download and printing via our website. housemartinconservation.com/resources

🦇We're Hiring! 🦢 Research Assistant position at ATU to determine the feasibility of establishing a radio receiver (Motus) network in Ireland for migrating bats and birds March 26th deadline! www.atu.ie/connect/jobs... @atu-ie.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @shrewgod.bsky.social

This year the 8th International Swift Conference is coming to Ireland! Hosted by @atumayo.bsky.social in Co. Mayo on 27-29 May, it's an opportunity to learn more about this fascinating species & to connect with Swift enthusiasts from around the world For more info visit: www.swiftsmayo2026.ie (2/2)

Ask A Bird…

This weekend has the great opportunity to join in with an @npwsireland.bsky.social and @universityofgalway.bsky.social project looking at breeding locations of Greenland White-fronted Geese with the use of satellite trackers. Great team effort and look forward to for the results.

A female curlew in the New Forest has become the oldest known living curlew in the UK, a powerful reminder of just how long these birds can live, this individual is almost 34 and was ringed in 1992. Read the story: buff.ly/DAunaSV

Perspective of Gallway." (British Library shelfmark: Maps K. Top.53.40.b.) Made about 1690. #Galway #Gaillimh

Galway County Council’s Biodiversity Office is asking people to help record sightings of the Common Frog in their gardens and local areas across County Galway www.advertiser.ie/galway/artic...

Willow for #WildflowerHour #SignsOfSpring

In an area with Green Veined Orchids later in the year, this plant is trying to flower early in spring #WildflowerHour #SignsOfSpring

Happy International Women’s Day - what better time to celebrate the women who make Galway great

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #photogenic - birds you find to be photogenic #birds #linnut 🪶

The Steve Wing Memorial Bursary is designed to help 18-25 year olds stay at Cape Clear Observatory in Co. Cork, with support training, mentorship and direct experience in the fields of ornithology and ecology. Closes 31 March @birdwatchireland.bsky.social birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/cap...

Redwinged Blackbirds and Grackles can look mega elegant and awe-inspiring. But then also be complete goofballs 😆Ah, I am so happy they are back. I hope the clouds vanish at some point and we get some sun here in Michigan. #birds

A short break away from all the news: A stroll in the woods before breakfast. Towards the end Bear makes sure that I’m following towards the house for he wants his breakfast

Honouring International Women’s Day with a look back at how far we’ve come. In 1922, Irish women finally won full voting rights—thanks to the tireless efforts of those who fought for equality and democratic participation. Their voices shaped our future and continue to inspire us today. #IWD26

An observation test for your inner 8-year-old. Can you spot 12 deliberate mistakes? From Treasure magazine, 1965 Official answers coming soon (Even if you don’t reply, could you please ‘like’ or share this one?)

An unusual sighting on the beach today in Galway. The corpse of a bird (diver?) that seems to have died choking on a fish, judging by the skeleton in its mouth. Has anyone seen this before? I guess this does not happen often. What do you think? 🐧🐟⚰️ #ukbirding @birdwatchireland.bsky.social

Glossy Ibis, this morning at Catcott Nature Reserve

With it being World Book Day, I wanted to mention our BMS books. Bk 1: focuses on grassland indicators with range of assocd species. Bk 2 has >200 different plants + assocd species. Example pages below. £10 each: £2.70 postage for one, £3.90 for two, [email protected]