Category: My Favourite Places

Red Legged Jackdaws, Birds That Fly For Sheer Enjoyment

Sometimes people ask me what my favourite bird is. This is an extremely difficult question, it's like asking which of my children I prefer. In fact, it's worse than that, because I have no interest in having children, but plenty of interest in being a birder for the rest of my life. But let's say … Continue reading Red Legged Jackdaws, Birds That Fly For Sheer Enjoyment →

My First Sighting Of Red Squirrels

Weirdly enough, despite living in Ireland my whole life, last August was my first ever time seeing a squirrel. I encountered a grey squirrel up in the trees when I was in a lovely woodland just north of Tramore Valley Park. Here's the squirrel! https://i.imgur.com/KZJ5NzA.jpeg But of course, grey squirrels are an introduced species. And … Continue reading My First Sighting Of Red Squirrels →

Hen Harriers, Ravens, and Dragonflies!

Every year I make two trips to the Nagle Mountains on the bike. A year just doesn't feel complete without it. Despite the annoying presence of Coilte plantations on the mountains, and I've written about my feelings about those kind of plantations here: https://autismneurodiversity.com/2025/06/12/bottlehill-forest-is-a-great-place-to-listen-to-bird-song-but-it-shouldnt-be/ fortunately, a lot of the mountain range is still a beautiful … Continue reading Hen Harriers, Ravens, and Dragonflies! →

Are Oystercatchers One Of Ireland’s Most Underrated Birds?

I've talked before about Betteridge's Law of Headlines, which is "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no." But this isn't quite Betteridge's Law, because the answer to the question, "Are oystercatchers one of Ireland's most underrated birds?", isn't "No", it's, "I don't know, maybe?" I spent the … Continue reading Are Oystercatchers One Of Ireland’s Most Underrated Birds? →

Shorts, T-Shirt, And A Raincoat, A Battle Between Summer And Winter On The Nagle Mountains

It's September 14th now, so, it's around that time when you start to to accept, Winter will arrive, our time is limited, better enjoy the last days of sunshine. But it's a quite ambiguous time of year, on previous years, the week after this day could be, bitter cold, like Winter came early, or, beautiful … Continue reading Shorts, T-Shirt, And A Raincoat, A Battle Between Summer And Winter On The Nagle Mountains →

The Strange Tale Of How The Courtmacsherry Estuary Became A Haven For Birds

https://imgur.com/wXmJSh8 A curlew flying over the Courtmacsherry Estuary. One of my passions is getting clear photos of curlews in flight. I see that splendid plumage and the elegant, elephant like beak, and the camera is at the ready. Sometimes it's nice and clear like the one you see here, and sometimes it's a blurry mess. … Continue reading The Strange Tale Of How The Courtmacsherry Estuary Became A Haven For Birds →

The Wonderful Birdlife Of The Coolim Cliffs

Last year, during my yearly visit to the Coolim Cliffs, I wrote this: https://autismneurodiversity.com/2024/08/16/magnificent-insects-on-the-coolim-cliffs/ And perhaps some of you are thinking, wouldn't it be great if I wrote another post about the birds of the Coolim Cliffs? Well, your wish will very soon be granted, and by very soon I mean immediately, because that's what … Continue reading The Wonderful Birdlife Of The Coolim Cliffs →

A Raven, A Kestrel, And Bees!!!!!

Before I go on a long cycle, I always check the weather forecast beforehand. I like the security of knowing that there'll be no rain, it won't be too hot or too cold, and that the wind won't be strong enough to make for a difficult cycle. But, before my last cycle, the weather forecast … Continue reading A Raven, A Kestrel, And Bees!!!!! →

I Saw Four Planets In The Sky At The Same Time

Something unusual is going on in our night skies at the moment, and it's wonderful. And it's a great way to start what will hopefully be a great year for astronomy, and my tenth year of doing astronomy. For the next few weeks, all of the planets except Mercury will be in the sky together … Continue reading I Saw Four Planets In The Sky At The Same Time →