Dean Mac Cú Uladh

@dmac00.bsky.social took me to this neutral grassland today in South Armagh. We saw a Silver-washed Fritillary!

Very exciting indeed

Cá’il sé seo i gCabhán?

www.schweizerbart.de/papers/nova_...

The fungus in orange living within the developing sporophyte in the perianth

A lush temperate rainforest with trees covered in mosses and ferns

1st Irish record of the newly described bryophilous ascomycete Endoantria benetecta on its host Lejeunea patens from the temperate rainforest at Correl Glen, West Fermanagh

Known only from Scotland & Wales; this marks the first for Ireland - our rainforests support untold diversity

#fungifriends

Abundant epiphytes growing on oak twigs

Arthonia ilicina on a rowan branch with dark spots on a pale thallus

A small cove with tufa forming

A vertical wall of the lime-loving moss Palustriella commutata

Epiphytes were abundant, even some rarer species like the lichen Arthonia ilicina, a temperate rainforest species

There is even some tufa forming which seems to be undescribed and unknown. Typical calcareous bryos like Palustriella commutata growing in profusion

#ecology #bryophytes #lichens

A view of one of the waterfalls and plunge pool bordered by gorge walls and trees

A small colony of the oceanic liverwort Plagiochila bifaria growing on an ash tree

A large colony of the semi-aquatic liverwort Jubula hutchinsiae near a waterfall

The tiny hyperoceanic liverwort Drepanolejeunea hamatifolia growing on a a rowan

Sloughan Glen, West Tyrone

A very under-recorded site. Found several county 1sts from this temperate rainforest: Plagiochila bifaria & Drepanolejeunea hamatifolia. Jubula hutchinsiae growing in abundance near the waterfalls. Not the best woodland condition but definitely worth more exploration!

Correl Glen, Fermanagh

Selection of oceanic cryptogams. 1st time seeing all of these species. The strange Bunodophoron melanocarpum was great to see. Tiny Plagiochila exigua was growing in profusion on holly (1st Fermanagh record). & Killarney Fern sporophyte in a deep cove was a highlight!

Some more temperate rainforest action from Correl Glen, west Fermanagh

An amazing site full of bryophyte, lichen and fern diversity. Special finds include Plagiochila punctata, Lepidozia cupressina and Nephroma laevigatum

All three species of filmy fern are found here too!

A dark lichen (Pannaria rubiginosa) with orange-pink fruiting bodies on ash ash

Peltigera praetextata lichen growing on mossy wall

An assortment of crustose lichens on a young ash tree. Pyrenula macrospora in the centre with large black apothecia

Phasia hemiptera between my fingers

The biodiversity blew my mind and also reminded me how depauperate most of Ireland is in comparison. Great to see lichen diversity and even a Phasia hemiptera feeding on clovers!

A view over a bridge of a deep ravine with trees and mossy rocks.

A foliose lichen (Pectenia plumbea) on a willow branch

A yellow flower (Melamprynum pratense/cow-wheat) with a forest backdrop.

Oak-birch woodland with rocky outcrops and boulders. Bilberry in the foreground

First time visiting Banagher Glen and I was thoroughly impressed. Plenty of temperate rainforest species - the lichens of particular note.

Woodland is very healthy. More acidic areas dominated by oak had a lovely understory of bilberry and cow-wheat. More basic ash-hazel wood was also amazing!

Reed-marsh along Newry Towpath productive for insects, especially Hoverflies

Helophilus hybridus, Anasimyia lineata, Parhelophilus consimilis and the delicate butterfly Leptidea juvernica

Fen/marsh habitat is extremely rare in this part of Ireland, but is essential for these species

Ahh níl a fhios agam an ceantar sin

Cá’il sé seo?

A hoverfly called Leucozona lucorum on hawthorn blossom

A large green beetle on a rock (Rose chafer)

A small heath butterfly resting on the ground

Invertebrate life didnt disappoint. Rose chafer, Eristalis arbustorum, small heath and Leucozona lucorum (among other things)

A large rock pool

A purple orchid on a short grassy sward

Spring squill on short grassland

A view of the Mourne Mountains across the bay

Killard Point, east Co. Down - the best grassland site in the county. First time seeing both Spring Squill & Green-winged Orchid. Na Beanna Boirche in the distance as a nice reminder of home

Lá Buí Bealtaine fá mhaise daoibh uilig | happy May Day

Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo aríst

I got Alsa from Santander to Bilbao and it was decent but I don’t remember the price. At least €20 but this was in August

Tá, d’áirigh mé ceithre phlanda iomlán

A purple orchid growing among mossy rocks

The flower head of an orchid with vegetation behind

@ceanncait.bsky.social

An magairlín meidhreach - bit early but can confirm they are still there along the Moygannon Path. Only this one nearly in flower

Cheilosia pagana is actually Cheilosia bergenstammi*

Shores of Camloch today

Never seen so many Nomada before and nice to refind N. goodeniana. N. fabriciana found too

Hovers Cheilosia pagana and Chrysotoxum arcuatum were really positive finds

I recorded N. goodeniana from this exact spot last year coincidentally

Was this down on the Keggal Rd side where the carpark is?

So lucky to have it here

Wow Donna really nice temperate rainforest there. 1st and 2nd photo has the purple liverwort Frullania tamarisci. Some Peltigera collina possibly in the 2nd photo. 3rd photo looks like Pyrenula occidentalis - quite rare in Ireland!

A hoverfly Eristalis intricarius between my fingers

A peacock butterfly resting on a rock

A common carder bumblebee feeding on a dandelion

A small nomad bee between my fingers

Things are really picking up for pollinators now. How could you not love these creatures?

Buglife Events ~ Surveying for hoverflies and trees with Buglife NI Find out more about our upcoming events related to invertebrates, insects and bugs.

Join me on behalf of Buglife for City Nature Challenge 2025 in Belfast for hoverfly surveying

Lagan Meadows, 25th April, 12-2pm

I will be joined by Jen Farrar from BSBI who will be discussing all things trees!

@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

www.buglife.org.uk/events/surve...

Bombus sylvestris in a net

Bombus terrestris resting on a dandelion

Bombus hortorum in a net

Bombus lucorum agg. in a net

Selection of Bombus out yesterday including B. sylvestris, B. terrestris, B. hortorum and B. lucorum agg.

Anecdotal, but bumblebees having a much better year already compared to last year. Same for butterflies and solitary bees too.

Wowww! Scéal iontach agus tionchar dearfach atá ann