I am looking forward to a short trip to Italian Alps at the end of the month with 2 friends. It is an area I have seen several Lammergieir before and we are hoping for a few close encounters on this trip.
Harry Hussey
@harryhussey.bsky.social
Using this mostly for birds and other wildlife, keen birder, slight knowledge of other groups of creatures.
A 1CY Grey Heron hanging around Cork city centre yesterday.
Nice weekend on Cape Clear last weekend. Nothing too rare, but 1-2 Pied Flycatchers and a Whinchat were notable.
A few Northern Wheatears and 11 or more Sandwich Terns were the best at Pilmore Strand yesterday after work. One of the former was quite photogenic.
AI is getting dangerous - beyond our control. 🤖 The race to build ever more powerful AI is reckless. Tell the EU to put safety first! ✊ action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-08...
AI should serve us, not tech billionaires!
Share the petition and you'll help multiply the impact of this campaign: AI should serve us, not tech billionaires!
action.wemove.eu
Due to a spring tide, I miscalculated my visit to the Douglas Estuary area. As a result, while I saw some small waders really well, as is normal at this site, my time with them was limited before they had to fly off.
Summer plumage Cattle Egret and a somewhat late 2CY+ Common Swift, apparently still with unfledged young somewhere judging by the bolus, at the Cork Lough this evening.
AI is getting dangerous - beyond our control. 🤖 The race to build ever more powerful AI is reckless. Tell the EU to put safety first! ✊ action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-08...
AI should serve us, not tech billionaires!
Share the petition and you'll help multiply the impact of this campaign: AI should serve us, not tech billionaires!
action.wemove.eu
No waders of note seen today in the Douglas Estuary/Lough Mahon area, but these birds showed nicely.
Female Short-winged Conehead from a site in east Cork today. It's amazing to think that these were recorded for the first time in Ireland in 1989, and that they went unknown subsequently until being found at several sites in Wexford and east Cork, and further afield since then.
Field Grasshopper in east Cork yesterday (23rd August).
Some close-ups of Painted Ladies today in Cork city, near the centre feeding on Red Valerian and Buddleia. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth moved through too quickly for photos.
The aptly named Beautiful Demoiselle, a male seen at Midleton in Co. Cork on 16th August.
Several migrant moths were at Power Head yesterday, feeding among clovers in a stubble field. Most abundant was Rush Veneer, also singles of Bordered Straw and Scarce Bordered Straw and a few Silver Y. 2 Clouded Yellows (no photos) and a Wall Brown were the best butterflies.
Despite relatively overcast and windy conditions, this Common Darter showed well in a stubble field in east Cork yesterday, near Rossmore.
Data centres are being built across Europe at a rapid pace. As things stand, they could increase droughts, drive up bills and worsen the climate crisis - unless we act quick. How much do you know about data centres? action.wemove.eu/signup/2026-...
Test your data centres knowledge!
Data centres are being built across Europe at a rapid pace. As things stand, they could increase droughts, drive up bills and worsen the climate crisis - unless we act quick. Can you share this quiz w...
action.wemove.eu
Plenty of Emperor Dragonflies still on the wing at Lough Aderra today, quite happy with this photo of one in flight. The ratio of images with an out of focus blur/a tiny part of the insect/nothing versus decent photos was very skewed towards the debit end! @alexlynchwildlife.bsky.social
Enjoyed good views of the long-staying Long-tailed Shrike near Eastleach in Gloucestershire yesterday, my first anywhere since seeing a few on the breeding grounds in Uzbekistan in 2010. Still an extreme rarity in the Western Palearctic, and a beautiful bird too.
An accidentally interesting photo of two juvenile Little Egrets in Cork city yesterday.
A lovely fresh juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull from Cork city yesterday. No way to be sure, but probably locally bred as the urban gull population is doing well.
Only editing some photos from last weekend now. Juvenile Stonechat from Youghal last Sunday.
The Sound Approach to Birding (second edition) review This ultimate guide will genuinely alter how people experience birds in the field, enthuses David Campbell: https://f.mtr.cool/cdhwwxcvac
Found this male Southern Oak Bush-cricket on a lamp post along Sunday's Well Road, Cork city this eve (30th July). Only aware of 3 or so previous Irish records, at least 1 of which was also in Cork city. Following recent colonisation of Britain, it is perhaps likely to become established here too.
Some more insects photos from the weekend from Kilkenny.
Nice views of this 2CY Mediterranean Gull yesterday (27th July) along the Cork city quays.
