John Smyth

I've was clearing the overgrowth from the lawn yesterday (due to the construction work earlier this year) and spent half the time uncovering frogs which I then returned to the wildlife pond (and yes, there are STILL tadpoles swimming in the pond) #frog #tadpole #Galway #wildlife #pond

There are STILL tadpoles in the wildlife pond in my back garden. These ones really don't want to leave home.... #tadpole #wildlifepond #backgarden #Galway #Ireland

Saw my first Whoopers of the season on the outskirts of Galway city this morning, along with a Marsh Harrier (first time this year too). #WhooperSwans #birdmigration #MarshHarrier #Galway

I recorded this earlier today - there are still a small number of tadpoles in the garden wildlife pond , and they look like they have a while to go before they transform into frogs. At least it will help keep the algae in check ! #tadpoles #wildlifepond #Galway #Ireland #biodiversity

Lots of bats hunting over the Eglinton Canal in Galway this morning #bats #Galway #Ireland

Stephen, you’ll need to pace yourself- Comrade Catherine is going to provide a LOT of commentary material before the election is over

Frost on grass

A hand holding a piece of ice from a puddle in front of a meadow and a blue sky

The equinox has passed and the first frost of the season has appeared at the meadow #Rahugh #Westmeath #Ireland #wildmeadow #equinox #frost #seasons #autumn

Nice hiking weather in Connemara today #TwelveBens #Derryclare #Galway #Ireland

Me, taking a pic in Connemara - 5 years ago this week #Connemara #Galway #KillaryFjord #hiking #Ireland

Spuds!

A juvenile bullfinch wondering when it will be fed next (recorded back in June) #juvenile #fledgling #bullfinch #bird #Rahugh #Westmeath #Ireland @birdwatchireland.bsky.social

YouTube video by John Smyth Garden Pond September 2025 Update - we're gonna need a bigger pond!

I finally got around to posting a video update on my back garden pond in Galway - youtu.be/4iekeGqwZec. (I also mention my new nature project, which is very exciting for me). And there are STILL a couple of tadpoles in the garden pond, yet to transform. #GardenPond #Nature #biodiversity #Galway

The wren did all the hard work!

Make yourself heard! A wren giving it everything in the garden during the week. @birdwatchireland.bsky.social #wren #galway #ireland

Someone has finally discovered the perch I built for them (and has used it all week) ! A Common Buzzard surveying the meadow below, on Monday afternoon. #CommonBuzzard #Rahugh #Westmeath @birdwatchireland.bsky.social

Looking like an inside day today... #weather #aimsir #fliuch #rain #Galway #Ireland

A pair of willow warblers in the meadow a couple of weeks ago (video slowed to 50%) #WillowWarbler #bird #Rahugh #Westmeath #Ireland #meadow @birdwatchireland.bsky.social

The rowan tree on my street is already nearly stripped of berries, probably by birds like this blackbird feeding its 2nd brood (ignore the incorrect timestamp). I wonder if there will be enough food to forage in the hungry winter months ahead ? #blackbird #rowan #Galway #Ireland

They are just about hanging on. There were a couple of curlews calling nearby- another endangered species

A juvenile hen harrier hunting over marshland at the edge of Galway city this morning #henharrier #Galway #Ireland @birdwatchireland.bsky.social

Sunday was a great day for hiking in Connemara. #Maumturks #mountains #hiking #Galway #GalwayWalkingClub #Ireland #wildatlanticway #TwelveBens

You wait all year to see a 22-spot ladybird and then 17 of them show up all at once! I have a small , raised bed at the meadow to grow peas and a colony of Psyllora vigintiduopunctata seem to have made it their home. #22-spotladybird #rahugh #westmeath #ireland

There's only room for one wren on this perch!
#wren #troglodytestroglodytes #dreoilín #rahugh #westmeath #ireland #biodiversity #birding #ireland #nature

Done

Screenshot of the first two questions in the survey - there's only six to answer. #SpéirGorm #SpéirGhorm #Ireland #Art

There's a REALLY quick and easy survey for the public consultation on the Basic Income for the Arts scheme - it only takes a few seconds, anyone can fill it in, and it could make a huge difference to arts workers in Ireland. Take a few ticks to places a few ticks here: ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...

Common in the Burren

Female Brown Hawker dragonfly laying eggs onto a piece of floating wood in a shallow pool of water last Sunday in Rahugh, Co. Westmeath #BrownHawker #dragonfly #rahugh #westmeath #ireland

A sparrowhawk that visited my back garden a couple of weeks ago. #sparrowhawk #galway #ireland

Every time I visit Mám Éan in summer, I call to a nearby pond that is a great environment for damselflies and dragonflies. On my most recent visit last month, dragonflies were in short supply but there were plenty of damselflies. This Emerald damselfly looks like a work of art up close.

Back in May, I could hear a male blackcap calling in the meadow. Last week, the fruits of his endeavour were clear: a female blackcap feeding a juvenile female - I'm not sure what sort of berry she has. #blackcap #rahugh #westmeath #ireland #birds @birdwatchireland.bsky.social