Spotted these lovely #orchids when walking to Cupidstownhill, the highest point in Co. Kildare last Sat. 5th July 2025 - two Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and a Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). These were growing along the gravel path in Sitka Spruce plantation!

More #butterfly species seen last Sat. 5th July 2025 along the main path in a Sitka Spruce plantation on Cupidstownhill, Co. Kildare, #Ireland: Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) & Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina). A great place to see butterflies!

Another #butterfly species seen last Sat. 5th July 2025 along the main path in a Sitka Spruce plantation on Cupidstownhill, Co. Kildare, #Ireland was this lovely Green-veined White Butterfly (Pieris napi).

In addition to #orchids, the Sitka Spruce plantation on Cupidstownhill was full of #butterflies last Sat. 5th July 2025 with lots of dark brown Ringlets (Aphantopus hyperantus) chasing each other. Back in April there were Orange Tips and Peacock butterflies.

I’ve just launched my shop on Redbubble, where you can now find my artwork on a range of products like t-shirts, stickers, mugs and more. I’ll be adding more designs over the next few weeks. Take a look at my work here: HollyAG.redbubble.com

Spotted these lovely #orchids when walking to Cupidstownhill, the highest point in Co. Kildare last Sat. 5th July 2025 - two Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and a Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). These were growing along the gravel path in Sitka Spruce plantation!

Celebrate the launch of the new Tolka Scaldwood Walk @ 14:30 Sat. 31 May 2025 meeting at the Mill Road old entrance to Connolly Hospital, following the Tolka River towards the Royal Canal via Dunsink Lane finishing at 12th Lock. See registration details attached.

Celebrate the launch of the new Tolka Scaldwood Walk @ 14:30 Sat. 31 May 2025 meeting at the Mill Road old entrance to Connolly Hospital, following the Tolka River towards the Royal Canal via Dunsink Lane finishing at 12th Lock. See registration details attached.

Whitethroat, Ballycotton. #birds #IrishBirding

The Tolka Branch BWI outing on Sat 24th May 2025 is to Lough Boora Discovery Park and surrounds in Co. Offaly, meeting in the main car park in Lough Boora Discovery Park at 10:00 AM see maps.app.goo.gl/6QTnQo48xVA3.... #IrishBirding #Birds

TOLKA BRANCH BWI Monthly Talk on Wed. 21st. May 2025 in the Botanic Gardens Auditorium in Glasnevin, Dublin is "On the Road: Wildlife Photography Tips" by Mark Carmody, starting at 7:45PM sharp. Car park free & open at 7.30PM.

When togetherness is more important than personal comfort. Pair of napping Black-bellied whistling Ducks 🪶 #birding #wildlife #photography #BirdsSeenIn2025

A poor image of a spectacular bird – the Chestnut-naped Forktail (Enicurus ruficapillus), female. Seeing them fly with that forked tail is a joy. #GlobalBigDay 2025 #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Ipoh #Perak #Malaysia #birds #nature #wildlife @mybirdcards.com @ebrrh.bsky.social

Dawn Chorus walk this morning in Monasterevin along the #Barrowblueway with Kildare Branch of Birdwatch Ireland.

A beautiful day on Saturday facilitated a gathering of islander's, birders from across the emerald Isle, colleagues, friends & family members all gathered at the observatory to remember CCBO Warden Steve Wing who sadly passed last autumn.

A few more warblers seen in Central Park yesterday and another photo of the Cerulean. L to R, Black-throated Green, Cerulean, Blackburnian & Cape May. #birdcpp #NaturePhotography #BirdsOfbluesky #centralpark #wildlife #Birds #springmigration #BirdsSeenIn2025 #centralparkbirds #urbanbirds #nature

It's been a while but it was great to be back on @tommysoutdoors.com and his great podcast series to talk about rewilding and working with landowners. Check it out tommysoutdoors.com/2025/05/07/2...

I am really excited to be exhibiting paintings from the Birds of Donegal, by Ralph Shepherd, on May 17 and 18 at the Bridge house in Glenveagh. The official book launch will also be in Glenveagh the following week. The exhibition is free to attend and I will be there both days.

This is a Woodpecker and not a Green-headed Tanager. It is a Cream-backed Woodpecker (Campephilus leucopogon) which lives in South America-Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay. #Birds

A curious common pauraque at Lake Sandoval in Peru. #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #naturephotography #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

Happy 99th Birthday to Sir David Attenborough, who I met on 8th Jan 1995 in Eason's book store, Dublin, at a book signing for his book called "The Private Life of Plants". I managed to get a selfie with my non-digital pocket camera & thank you to that unknown person in the queue who took the photo!

Happy 99th Birthday to Sir David Attenborough, who I met on 8th Jan 1995 in Eason's book store, Dublin, at a book signing for his book called "The Private Life of Plants". I managed to get a selfie with my non-digital pocket camera & thank you to that unknown person in the queue who took the photo!

And the nice views of the local stars, two Temminck's stint (Bécasseau de Temminck) in the same area than the ringed plover! France #BirdsSeenIn2025

In the marshes of western France, I was looking for the a lost greater/lesser spotted eagle and the first water warblers but found this african sacred ibis (Ibis sacré), feral in this area! France #BirdsSeenIn2025

South Dublin Branch, BirdWatch Ireland @ 8PM Tue. 6th May in the Graduate Bar, Rochestown Ave. - Talk by John Coveney on "Birds and Wildlife in the USA, Spring 2024". All welcome. @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @tolkabranchbwi.bsky.social Photo below one of mine from 2018. #Birds #irishbirding

Great news. Only a week out, first batch sold out and now No. 3 in the Bestsellers Non Fiction list in Ireland. @theobrienpress.bsky.social

I am really looking forward to taking part in the Glenveagh National Biodiversity Week this coming May. I will be leading two art focussed courses, more details can be found on the Glenveagh website. The courses are free but booking is required. www.nationalparks.ie/glenveagh/th...

A great series of events, walks and talks will be available during the Glenveagh Biodiversity Week. More can be found at www.nationalparks.ie/glenveagh/th..., including more information on the two events I will be leading.

#BirdsSeenIn2025 #IrishBirding Puffins (Fratercula artica) photographed by @paulcox32.bsky.social on the Saltees, Co Wexford, #Ireland. #Birds

#BirdsSeenIn2025 #IrishRareBirds Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) photographed by Dick Coombes on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, #Ireland. #Birds #IrishBirding #RareBirdsIreland

#BirdsSeenIn2025 @tonyrinaud.bsky.social Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) with Snipe photographed by @sevenheads.bsky.social in Harpers Island Wetlands, Co. Cork, #Ireland. #IrishRareBirds #RareBirdsIreland #Birds #IrishBirding

#BirdsSeenIn2025 @tonyrinaud.bsky.social Swifts (Apus apus) photographed by @donoghsweeney.bsky.social in Limerick, #Ireland. #Birds #IrishBirding

#BirdsSeenIn2025 #IrishBirding Puffins (Fratercula artica) photographed by @paulcox32.bsky.social on the Saltees, Co Wexford, #Ireland. #Birds

#BirdsSeenIn2025 #IrishRareBirds Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) photographed by Dick Coombes on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, #Ireland. #Birds #IrishBirding #RareBirdsIreland

Sat. 19th April 2025 outing to East Coast Nature Reserve & Kilcoole in Wicklow cancelled due to very bad weather Orange Weather Warnings & rescheduled to next Sat. 26th April 2025, meeting at ECNR entrance on Sea Rd. at 10 AM. #irishbirding @birdwatchireland.bsky.social

Due to Orange weather warnings, the outing to East Coast Nature Reserve (ECNR) & Kilcoole in Co. Wicklow is rescheduled to next Sat 26th April 2025, meeting at 10 AM at the entrance to the ECNR. @BirdWatchIE @BWIFingal @BirdwatchDublin We hope to see summer migrants & a mix of woodland & sea birds.

South Dublin Branch, BirdWatch Ireland @ 8PM Tue. 6th May in the Graduate Bar, Rochestown Ave. - Talk by John Coveney on "Birds and Wildlife in the USA, Spring 2024". All welcome. @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @tolkabranchbwi.bsky.social Photo below one of mine from 2018. #Birds #irishbirding

Another Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) from the weekend. It's a diving duck but they like smaller, shallower freshwater ponds and lakes with lots of reeds. #BirdingHungary #BirdsSeenin2025 #ducks #waterfowl #birds

One of the many #raptors I saw today. Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). Directly over my head and directly in the sun (of course!) 🤬 😄 #BirdingHungary #birds #falcons #raptors #BirdsofPrey

Incoming Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) #BirdingHungary #birds #ducks #waterfowl #BirdsSeenin2025

One of the Stone-curlews I saw on the weekend had a colour ring "J50". Also a solar-powered transmitter on its back. A female banded almost 2 years ago near where I saw it. It winters in Libya and migrates directly north south. #BirdingHungary #WaderWednesday #shorebirds #plovers #BirdsSeenin2025

Sat. 19th April 2025 outing to East Coast Nature Reserve & Kilcoole in Wicklow cancelled due to very bad weather Orange Weather Warnings & rescheduled to next Sat. 26th April 2025, meeting at ECNR entrance on Sea Rd. at 10 AM. #irishbirding @birdwatchireland.bsky.social

A glorious morning on Fanad Head in north Donegal. A couple of stunning summer plumage Long-tailed Ducks and Eider enjoying the sun as much as I am.

After a fantastic morning on Fanad I returned after a work meeting to make the most of the great weather. Incredibly, one of the first birds I saw was a Pacific Diver amongst the Long Tailed Duck flock! A great surprise and a first for Donegal.

I still cannot believe that my little book took Irish Biography of the Year. I cannot reply to all of the messages but please know that I see and appreciate every one of them. Now I just hope that the messages in my book spread far and wide and that they can act as seeds of change. Up nature!

Tufted Duck at The Lough, Cork. #Iridescence #birds #cork #IrishBirding #BirdsSeenIn2025

#BirdsSeenIn2025 in #Ireland Pacific Diver (Gavia pacifica) found & photographed by @robertvaughani.bsky.social in Ballyhiernan Bay, Fanad, Co. Donegal. #IrishRareBirds #irishbirding

Just found a Pacific Diver in Ballyhiernan Bay, Fanad, swimming in amongst the long tailed ducks. #irishrarebirds

“A very strange and very quiet deletion from Coillte’s business plan and strategy.” In the depths of a biodiversity crisis, #Coillte has quietly folded its dedicated nature restoration division, #CoillteNature. Is this not a signal that Coillte is not committed to nature restoration?