The Joy Of Observing A Family Of Ravens

As talked about in the previous blogpost, I spent a week in West Cork during the Summer this year, I spend a week or more there every year. One of the things I really look forward to about going to West Cork is getting to see and hear ravens. Near my home I don't really … Continue reading The Joy Of Observing A Family Of Ravens →

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 →

Seeing Bird Number 100.

I've been at birding for over two and a half years. And sometimes I wonder has it allowed me to experience more in the previous two and a half years than in the ten years before that. The joy of seeing baby birds, the excitement of seeing a tense stand off between a buzzard and … Continue reading Seeing Bird Number 100. →

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? →

Gannets, Gannets, Gannets!

Gannets are a pretty cool seabird that I first saw August last year. Here's a picture. https://imgur.com/0bGKAX6 First gannet sighting. I assumed when I took this photo that a gannet was an extremely elusive bird, and that there was a good chance this would be my first and last time seeing this mighty bird. Thankfully, … Continue reading Gannets, Gannets, Gannets! →

Long-Tailed Tits Really Are The Sweetest, Loveliest Little Birds

This is a long-tailed tit. https://imgur.com/u9EjDZ5 AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! Now, I know what you're thinking, you don't want to learn any more about this bird, because, surely you will find out that this bird isn't quite as nice as they seem! It always turns out that way with the really cute birds doesn't it! Like, robins, who … Continue reading Long-Tailed Tits Really Are The Sweetest, Loveliest Little Birds →

How To Start Recording Birdsong

I started recording bird song, and other vocalizations, in May of 2024. But funnily enough, I didn't really get into it properly until a bit later, preferring the camera over the microphone. This had a lot to do with the fact that, recording bird song has its fair share of frustration involved in it, and … Continue reading How To Start Recording Birdsong →

The Sedge Warbler, The Frank Zappa Of The Bird World

During the Summer of this year (2025), I spent many happy days in the Glen River Park listening to the birds singing. Whether it was the jovial baritone of the wood pigeon, the achingly beautiful tones of a blackbird, or the relentless, breathless clicking of the stonechat, all of these sounds brought me great joy, … Continue reading The Sedge Warbler, The Frank Zappa Of The Bird World →

Servitude Or Death, The Fate Of Earth’s Animals.

I talked in my previous blogpost: https://autismneurodiversity.com/2025/10/17/harpers-island-a-place-where-birds-are-allowed-to-thrive/ about how the slender billed curlew is extinct. There are no more of them left. Any sighting you get of one, will be a photograph. Any sound you hear from them, will be a recording. Now, let's contrast that with another bird. The domestic chicken. How many of … Continue reading Servitude Or Death, The Fate Of Earth’s Animals. →

Harper’s Island, a Place Where Birds Are Allowed To Thrive

I read something the other day that left my deeply upset. The slender billed curlew is extinct. https://www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/slender-billed-curlew-officially-declared-extinct-wake-call-migratory-bird-conservation An amazing animal, a sentient, intelligent creature, will never fly through our skies again, simply because it had the misfortune to encounter humanity. And yes, while plenty of animals went extinct before humans were on Earth, habitat … Continue reading Harper’s Island, a Place Where Birds Are Allowed To Thrive →