David Misstear
@dmisstear.bsky.social
Irish wildflowers, butterflies and other bits and bobs I see while out walking.
Cinnabar moth caterpillar on Common Ragwort, Rossnowlagh. The toxins in the plant help to make the moths poisonous to would-be predators. #wildflowerhour #bythesea
Soapwort, Rossnowlagh. As the name suggests, the plant has been used for soaps and shampoos. #wildflowerhour #bythesea
Lovely to see a tree bumblebee today in Dún Laoghaire. This is one of Ireland's newest species, having been first recorded here in 2017.
A lovely surprise to see a migrant hawker dragonfly in the courtyard of our apartment block.
Herring Gull on what appears to be a frequently visited spot, a Crimean War cannon in Dùn Laoghaire. #birdoftheday #gulls
Starling, Dún Laoghaire. As well as taking part in mesmerising murmurations, starlings can mimic other birds, sounds like car alarms and even human voices.
Honey Bee, Dún Laoghaire. We have just over 100 native bee species in Ireland, but only one of these is a honey bee. The remainder are bumblebees and solitary bees.
One of my favourite flowers, although tricky to photograph on a windy day. Fairy Flax, Cabinteely. #wildflowerhour
