As the leaves change & the temperatures cool, new signs of local wildlife pop up all around us! 🍁 Discover autumn species & how to record them in this slow-paced walk around the grounds of the Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra. 🍄 🎫https://www.ulsterfolkmuseum.org/whats-on/wildlife-walk-autumn

Fairy trees stand alone in fields as in Irish Folklore they guard a portal to the fairy world. Commonly hawthorn, but also blackthorn - these trees are food producing plants for a variety of species. Let us know if you spot one by recording on iRecord or CEDaR Online Recording!

It’s national fox day! Enjoy some footage of foxes pottering about the woodland & don’t forget to submit your records on iRecord or CEDaR Online Recording.

In honour of World Dolphin Day tomorrow, we've put together a fact file - number 9 will shock you 🫣 Don't forget to record your cetacean sightings on CEDaR Online Recording or the iRecord app to contribute to the NI Mammal Recording Project! #WorldDolphinDay

These arachnids, with 1 body segment & 2 eyes aren't spiders. Our under-recorded sp (group) of the month is harvestmen, also called "daddy-longlegs" They ambush prey, scavenge & eat decaying plant material so are natural pest control & nutrient recyclers Record on iRecord or CEDaR Online Recording

Calling all recreational anglers! Share your catch photos with us on CEDaR Online Recording or iRecord & help us find out more about the health of our fish populations!

Our latest newsletter is here: mailchi.mp/38faf4feebbf...

In mid-August we headed out for our Twilight Bat Walk @ulsterfolkmuseum.org 17 visitors with bat detectors headed into the dark in search of Common & Soprano Pipistrelles & Leisler' Bats. We found quite a few sheep in the rural museum as well!🦇🐑 1/2🧵

In 2026 we’ve received 45 sightings of otters! This mustelid is a top predator in our freshwater & coastal ecosystems & so they give us insight into the health of our wider environment. Our NI Mammal Recording Project is still ongoing, so get your records in on iRecord or CEDaR Online Recording!

What exactly is a cardinal point & how can trees help us navigate? 🧭Cardinal points are the main 4 on a compass (N S E W) 🌱Trees will lean/grow branches towards the sun, in NI this means they lean South ⚠️This post is just for interest, always bring a map & compass for navigation

There are just 3 tickets left for our microscopy course on spiders with Dr Grant Brown. Grab your spot: nationalmuseumsni.digitickets.co.uk/event-ticket...

The DiveNI spotlight this month is the breadcrumb sponge! Common on NI shores, we have 1281 records of this sponge on our database, it can be tricky to identify as it comes in a number of forms. Very much alive, sponges are thought to be one of the oldest animal phyla on earth!

Hoverflies are under-recorded in NI. These pollinators are active even on colder & shadier days when you might not find any bees. Here's a list of the key ID features you need to contribute to our NI Hoverfly Recording Project, using iRecord or CEDaR Online Recording.

We were delighted to support @librariesni.bsky.social with the Big Summer Read in 3 Belfast libraries. Kids got hands on with objects from our collection, including aptly named “mermaid’s purses” & “witches’ broom”🧜🧙 Comment if you know any other magical common names for local wildlife!

The bank vole (Myodes glareolus) & field vole (Microtus agrestis) aren't native in NI. Their effects on our ecosystem are yet to be completely understood @QUBbioscience & @UlsterWildlife are gathering more info & welcome sightings of both species: www2.habitas.org.uk/records/voles

To close out July, we held our first Teen Nature Recorders Workshop. Mindful recording with the FIT count app, sweep netting, insect collecting, submitting records on iRecord & dissecting owl pellets 📲🌾🦉 @ulsterfolkmuseum.org

This #NationalMarineWeek we're proud to share the second edition of our 2020 publication, Marine Invasive Species in Northern Ireland, now with additional species pages & up to date maps. Check it out on the Dive NI website: dive-ni.org/wp-content/u...

Caught out 🎣 These 4 fish are lying to you about their names. #NationalMarineWeek #nifishrecordingproject

Yes! Jellyfish are cnidarians & all have stinging organelles (nematocysts). HOWEVER, many species are harmless to humans. Only some jellyfish stings cause us pain.

CEDaR@cedarrecordsni.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Introducing Fun Fact Friday: we’re asking “Do all jellyfish sting?” 🪼Choose yes/no Answer on Monday!

Introducing Fun Fact Friday: we’re asking “Do all jellyfish sting?” 🪼Choose yes/no Answer on Monday!

Celebrate #nationalmarineweek with us by looking out for sea life. This month the Dive NI Species Spotlight is on jellyfish! Interested in all-things diving in Northern Ireland? Head over to our Dive NI website & Facebook page. dive-ni.org

In 2026, scientists are predicting a strong El Niño, the warming phase of the Pacific Ocean's ENSO climate cycle. This could mean stormier winter weather. Keep an eye out for our #StormWatch project, & as always, pay close attention to weather warnings! #nationalmarineweek

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030 launched this month & we at National Museums NI (of which CEDaR is part) are delighted to be strengthening our commitment as a Partner! We look forward to continuing to play our part, for more info head to: pollinators.ie

Kicking off #nationalmarineweek we received an unusual sighting - a sunfish. We have 33 records of Mola mola on our database. They swim in temperate oceans, following warm water & food (zooplankton & jellyfish). You’ll find them here in summer, when ocean temp reaches over 10*C.

Join Dr Grant Brown, Curator of Entomology at National Museums NI, for an engaging indoor microscopy session designed to build confidence in identifying these extraordinary arachnids🕷️ 🕸️Tickets at the link: nationalmuseumsni.digitickets.co.uk/event-ticket...

Buy Introduction to Spider Identification Tickets online - National Museums NI

View Introduction to Spider Identification from National Museums NI.

nationalmuseumsni.digitickets.co.uk

We receive records via the Big Butterfly Count! Get recording this summer 🦋

Butterfly Conservation@savebutterflies.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Big Butterfly Count 2026 is here and butterflies need our help! 🦋 From now until 9 August, spend just 15 minutes outside counting the butterflies you see and help us take nature's pulse. The best part? Anyone, anywhere can take part. Count yourself in 👉 https://butrfli.es/3SVFepj

ID Footballer hoverflies (Helophilus pendulus) by their stripey jersey-like thoraxes. Don’t confuse with H.trivittatus/H.hybridus, see markings on the end of the abdomen. Found around puddles or ponds, or along roadsides & field margins, numbers peak in July. Let us know if you spot one!

So how do you know what fish you’ve caught? Check fins, lateral line, eye, mouth, shape Take a photo & #shareyourcatch on the iRecord app. Always try to take fish out of water as little as possible. www2.habitas.org.uk/records/angl...

1 of the most common hoverflies in NI, Marmalades are seen in gardens, hedges, parks & woods. They have a unique pattern: 2 dark bands separated by 2 orange bands. No.s rise in spring & peak in July. These flies hibernate so adults can appear on a sunny day at any time of year!

Grab your dive gear & read the DiveNI blog to find out how to get involved with the Great Shark Snapshot, 18-26 July 2026: dive-ni.org/the-great-sh...