Blackbird

The bill of the Blackbird partly darkens in winter.

Fieldfare (Thrush)

The Fieldfare is a hardy migrant bird from colder areas such as Scandinavia and Russia.

Jackdaw

Wren claw anatomy

This foot is belonged to a Wren that unfortunatly collided with a window. The Tarsometatarsus leads down to the Hallux joined by the 3 Phalanx at the front.

Dunnock

Coal tit

The Coal Tit is one of the smallest tit's in Europe, they weight about 9 grams.

Robin

The Tree Sparrow

The Tree and House Sparrow are similar but the Tree Sparrow has the white band and black cheek spot under it's eyes.

The House Sparrow

The House Sparrows bill is strong so that it can eat nuts and berries. The House Sparrow is a social bird also they hang out in dense flocks.

Dunnock

The Dunnock is very similar to the House Sparrow in size and colouration. However the bill is the telling difference. (Compare this photo with the previous one)

The Goldfinch

The Goldfinch is a colourful bird easily recognisable.

Wexford

A view north to the Blackstair Mountain.

Chaffinch

The Robin

The most classic winter garden bird of all

Blue Tit

The Great Tit

Everybody who enjoys watching garden birds such as the Great Tit should sign up now to Birdwatch Ireland's Garden survey. It's a great way to get to know all the garden Birds in Ireland. This is a female (the black band (center) is uneven.

Song Thrush

This shot was taken through a slight gap in the hedge.

Two banded Longhorn Beetle

This Beetle is approx 16mm long 6mm wide. It has some great colouration on its back.

Wood Beetle

I found this fantastic Beetle inside a Douglas Fir log. anyone know what it is?

Corrie lake

A Corrie lake up in the Comeragh mountains Co Waterford.

Wild Waterford

Mahon River

Wildlife along Owenduff.

Blackhall Sea Arch

This sea arch can be found along Blackhall strand in Co Wexford.

Shield Bug

Butterfly search and Climate change

The following photos of Butterflies were all taken in the same area between late July and mid August this year. The habitat approximately 5 acres, contains a freshwater river along a natural meadow boarded by a mature deciduous woodland in Co Wexford.
By studying the distribution of Butterflies it can lead us to better understand the effects of climate change. As the planet heats up, Butterflies have moved northward in search of cooler habitats. Recent discovery's of species like the Essex Skipper and the Comma Butterflies from England and Europe support this theory.The little Egret is also a good example for this, as many breeding pairs are found throughout Ireland today.

Silver- washed Fritillary

A large and very fast Butterfly, this was the only picture I managed to get before it soared up into the canopy.

Small Copper

A view of the Small Copper with it's wings outstretched.

Small White

An extremly common Butterfly throughout the summer it's apperance is very similar to the Large White Butterfly.

Underside of the Ringlet

The Ringlet Butterfly is unuasual compared with other butterfly species as it's pattern and eyespots are the same on both sides.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

The Tortoiseshell is one of our most colourful species it often hibernates in houses for the winter.

Green- veined White

This butterfly is very common throughout Ireland. It can easily be mistaken for the Small and Large White species.

Ringlet Butterfly

The Peacock Butterfly

I think it's the brightly coloured eyespots that makes this species stand out

Speckled Wood

A very common butterfly species along hedgegrows and woodland.

The Common Blue

The outstreched wings of a male Common Blue Butterfly.

The Common Blue Butterfly

I think this is a female common blue.

Common Blue

The male Common Blue butterfly

Meadow brown

Red Admiral

A large migrant species of Butterfly that feeds mainly on the Nettle plant.

Moth

Funnel web

This web is a very interesting structure about five - seven inches long that reaches down to the ground.

Hanging

This species of spider makes a little home for itself in the barley fields of Ireland.

The Snail

Two banded Longhorn Beetle

The mud game

It's difficult to see but there's an Ant on the newly formed Amphibian. I waited in anticipation to see if it's hunting skills were finaly tuned but the Frog let this opportunity pass. Tadpoles develop hindlimbs first then forelimbs as it's tail recedes and gills are replaced by lungs. The transformation from aquatic life to terrestrial life is truly amazing.

A great year for Dandelions

Wild Garlic

The woods around Tintern Abbey Co Wexford are allways covered in a blanked of wild Garlic in early summer.

The Fern

In early May the Fern is getting ready to unwind

The four boys

Were keeping the pond from drying out these days for these boys and a few hundred of their sisters are all good too.

Thick on the ground