Lorraine Benson

Young Blackcap on the Beara Peninsula, West Cork, Ireland feeding up before migration on 14 October 2025.

Birdwatch Ireland conservation volunteers with Cape Clear Warden John Horton. Lovely morning for a ringing session.

Irish Times today on decision of the International Court of Justice on responsibility of States to protect the rights of current and future generations to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The EU US Trade deal on future fossil fuel purchase runs foul of the ICJ.

If those 20 EU govts who joined Monday's strong statement by Western countries to immediately allow aid & supplies move unencumbered into Gaza are ready to put their words into action, there's already a qualified majority to act. QMV can immediately suspend the trade chapter 1/4

Healthy environment is a human right, top UN court rules in landmark climate case ‘This is the start of a new era of climate accountability at a global level’ - Greenpeace

Healthy environment is a human right: '... those most responsible for causing the climate crisis are legally bound to take action, can be held accountable for inaction and may be required to provide reparations to those most affected'

www.irishtimes.com/world/2025/0...

Tonight the Greens are ending a bad tax cut in Dublin City Council. We want to invest instead.

We'll be raising money to insulate social housing, bring derelict properties into use, offer pprenticeships, and build zebra crossings.

Fixing Dublin = Investing in Dublin

Birdwatch Ireland Kildare visit to Farming for Nature Ambassador, Anthony Mooney's farm. Anthony runs a successful beef farm, does not apply chemical nitrogen and has not reseeded his land for 25 years. We were joined by the Dublin Naturalists Field Club.

Large White Butterfly eggs and larvae on a cabbage leaf today in North Kildare. There are plenty of these about.

In the picture L to R Senator Malcolm Noonan, Seán Roynane, Una Duggan, Jennifer Whitmore TD, Andrew Kelly CEO Birdwatch Ireland and Lorraine Benson.

Time to protect the seabirds by designating Marine Protected Areas. Birdwatch Ireland's detailed work and mapping will help inform government policy and legislation....... I hope

Crucial areas for conserving Irish seabirds identified A map identifying the 73 most important areas for Ireland's seabirds is being launched by BirdWatch Ireland.

A map identifying the 73 most important areas for Ireland's seabirds is being launched by BirdWatch Ireland

France ordered to compensate family of jogger killed by toxic algae Jean-René Auffray, 50, died in 2016 during a run after inhaling poisonous gas emitted by rotting green algae piled along the country's western coast.

Landmark case: Court in France found French State liable for death of jogger, citing its "negligence" in enforcing environmental regulations to protect its waters and prevent toxic green algae. In Brittany, 90% of algae blooms are caused by intensive agriculture

www.lemonde.fr/en/police-an...

Hummingbird-Hawk-moth on Lavender in my garden.

No Song Sparrow on Tory Island today 😢 after it's one week stay. But isn't the Donegal landscape breathtaking?

And here is another gem. Bord na Mona knows that peat purifies water. They were hired by the US EPA to use Irish peat to address pollution in the Gulf of Mexico also back in the 1950s.

Found this poster today in Lullymore, Co Kildare. Maybe it's time for a new mandate for Bord na Móna to build houses? Sounds like a just transition to me.

Well said Elaine.

O'Gorman calls for Wexford 'goo lagoon' to be prevented Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman has said that urgent action is needed to prevent Ireland's largest saltwater lake from becoming a toxic "goo lagoon".

Lady's Island Lake is one of Ireland's largest saline lagoons, and hosts a wide variety of bird-life.
Unfortunately, it is also highly polluted.
I have been working with the Wexford Green Party to highlight this, and today I raised the issue with the Taoiseach

www.rte.ie/news/regiona...

Thank you Mary.

Logo of Birdwatch Ireland

Proud to join the board of BirdWatchIreland today working to protect birds and biodiversity.

Certainly was a lively Spring on Cape Clear Island. Great work by the Warden John Horton.

Meas mór Elaine. 👏👏 💪🧑‍🎤

Wild Dog rose by the Liffey before the rain came.

Great White Egret with Mute Swan at the Leixlip Reservoir Co Kildare

Great White Egret with a Mallard showing size comparison

Great White Egret at Leixlip Reservoir Co Kildare.

"solutions abound, but on housing, the centre is now a vacant site" Gerard Howlin 👌

Don't break the chain!
Ground-breaking analysis demonstrating the complex needs of migrating Black-tailed Godwits.
Damaging one site can have far-reaching consequences.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ornithology
Paper @amigodeaves.bsky.social

Bundling data centres with an energy park sounds good for the Midlands but should not be at the expense of our emissions and biodiversity targets.

Goat's beard after flowering and going to seed.

Skibbereen was ground zero of Ireland's Great Famine, an Gorta Mór. The Famine Burial Pits at Abbeystrowry hold the remains of up to 10,000 unidentified victims.

Important messaging in this movie about the state of our environment, climate, our bogs and hopes for the future. Made by young people in Kildare. 💚💚💚#DANCEOFTHECRANES #YOUTHINK

Goat's beard out this morning.