Vincent Hyland / Wild Derrynane

It was very good.

The choice is ours, our marine life will benefit by a reduction in plastic for consumables.

Illustration by Vincent Hyland.

This allows the industry to escape their responsibilities by placing the consumer as the collectors and return of their product. We use, we pay for collection and return, when in fact we should refuse to use as much product wrapped in plastic as we can.

Seabirds continue to struggle to break free from our production of plastic. I believe that the return and collection scheme is showing us just how much plastic we use, and is a green light for the production of even more plastic by manufacturers.

On an otherwise grey start to the day, the southern end of Abbey Island was momentarily lit up by the rising sun. It's beauty was all the more apparent as a lone gannet flew along its shores, circling the bay in less that a minute, as it searched for its mornings' breakfast.

Bórdónín dolmen at Coomatloukane, Caherdaniel under tonight's magnificent night sky.

#kerrydarksky #kerrydarkskyreserve #wildatlanticwaykerry #discoverkerry #wildatlanticway #astrophotography #wildderrynane #Derrynane #discoverireland #nightsky

I saw some moths flying yesterday evening and decided to investigate further. A quick set up of the moth trap, and when opened early thus morning revealed these two wonderful moths: A pale prominent and an early grey. Isn't nature just wonderful. What patterning and colour.

Every season, Eoghan. Sadly, I've photos going back 15 years. The barren wildscape that it creates is tantamount to ecocide. It is the same on this side, too, but burning has fallen in recent years due to ageing farmers not bothering or them passing.

Correct, plus so much of it is set on fire every year. What would have come back is now sadly depleted, I'm talking here about heathers, dry and wet heath flora, and it's associated inverts and vertebrate life. Small birds do exist, and its population of chough is now under threat.

YouTube video by David Pembroke Series_Episode 1_Plastic in Pardise

Plastic in paradise!
To follow up on the topic of microsplastics as discussed on RTÉ Radio 1 during the Claire Byrne show today, take a look at this documentary that I made in 2015 about plastics in our marine environment and it's effects on wildlife.

youtu.be/bIiWs4szs0s?...

YouTube video by David Pembroke Series1_Episode3_A Burning Issue

A Burning Issue.
In the news today... setting mountains on fire in Ireland.
Have a look at the documentary I did in 2015 about setting mountain pasture on fire for maintaining land for agricultural purposes.

youtu.be/Rb-Y3ydR6FA?...

Brill

An Eider duck pictured today at Wild Derrynane . Red listed in Ireland and of Conservation concern over their range. Txs to Ed Carty for the ID.

#birdsofinstagram #birdwatchireland #wildatlanticway #wildatlanticwaykerry #discoverkerry #discoverireland

Well howdy. Online for the moment.

Vincent Hyland pictured alongside his new poster print; Marine Fish and Shellfish of Ireland.

My new and updated Marine fish and Shellfish of Ireland poster print now on display at the Blind Piper Pub. Get yours... available from www.derrynane.ie/posters

#wildderrynane #wildatlanticwaykerry #discoverkerry #discoverireland

Fish, flotsam and jetsam at Whitestrand, Castlecove this morning. Sprat, gooseneck barnacles, and a lobster tag plus plastic bottle from the USA.

#StormÉowyn #wildatlanticwaykerry #discoverkerry #wildderrynane #Derrynane #discoverireland

rocks and various bird species including curlew and whimbrel foraging along the shoreline.

#wildatlanticwaykerry #discoverkerry #kerryseasnationalpark #skelligcoast #discoverireland #wildderrynane #wildatlanticway

but the new Kerry Seas National Park includes Derrynane. Why is this? Well if yesterday's events are anything to go by, it's because it was possible to view, a large pod of common dolphins feeding at Wild Derrynane Bay, a sea eagle at Glanbeg, just off the beara

Common dolphins at @wildderrynane

White tailed sea eagle at @wildderrynane

Curlew at @wildderrynane

Whimbrel at @wildderrynane

What a day yesterday turned out to be. 16°C in warm sunshine, a calm sea... and natural history at its best. It is not well publicised, as Dingle takes most of the credit,

A male wild Atlantic Salmon guards a female over her redd. Photo by Vincent Hyland / Wild Derrynane c2025

Another year over for our remaining populations of spawning wild Atlantic Salmon. Are we witnessing a trend away from farmed salmon as a menu item? I hope so.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Strong Aurora tonight showing view (1) to the West showing Venus, (2) East towards Jupiter and (3) North showing the Plough from Skehanagh, Castlecove.

#aurora #auroraborealis #auroraireland #kerrydarksky #discoverireland #wildatlanticway #wildatlanticwaykerry #discoverkerry

Thank you again and have a great 2025.

www.derrynane.ie/book

#wildatlanticway #wildatlanticwaykerry #discoverireland #Derrynane #kerry #wildderrynane
#wildlife #skelligcoast

to personally support my continued work in highlighting Derrynane and the Skellig Coast's wonderful environment and it's wildlife.

A big thank you to my partner Mo, who is such an inspiration to me and gives me the freedom to keep doing what I love the most.

I will be formalising a weekly schedule that will include immersive nature walks, and dark sky experiences. Watch this space.

EXHIBITIONS AND WORKSHOPS
There are other things in the pipeline too, including a video segment, exhibitions, workshops and a way

The stories that people like as their favourites, is so revealing and surprising.

JOIN ME FOR WALKS IN 2025
As I enter 2025, it has given me the will to create new experiences. For those of you who would like to join me on walks around Wild Derrynane,

Thanks to OPW - Office of Public Works Derrynane for their amazing 'Discover Derrynane Weekend', which continues to grow in strength, and is a highlight of summer.

USING THE BOOK
The practical use that people are getting from the book is amazing.

These are the unexpected positives in becoming an author. Thank you

I also want to thank Parknasilla Resort & Spa for their generous support in having me as a wildiife guide for their guests at their beautiful facility.

and many others, all of which has made my day, and definitely has made writing, and publishing my book so worthwhile.

INTERVIEWS
I've done radio (RTE and Newstalk) and press interviews, attended book readings, and festivals, including speaking at the Dublin Book Festival.

LETTERS
I've had letters of support from so many, the highlights of which include handwritten letters from Sir David Attenborough and Valentia Island's very own, Des Lavelle. I've had verbal feedback from Author and Broadcaster Desmond Morris,

Author Vincent Hyland reads from his book Wild Derrynane atop Skellig Michael.

The cover of Wild Derrynane - a 540 page natural history of the Skellig Coast.

Pages from the butterfly section of Wild Derrynane showing some of the 640 species highlighted throughout the book.

THANK YOU
As 2024 draws to a close, I want to say a very big thank you to everyone who has bought my book, Wild Derrynane. I am glad to tell you that it will be heading for a third print run in 2025.