Irish Wildlife Observations 2013.

Netted this from the Erne recently while out trout fishing, it was flapping about so much in the water that at first I thought it was a bat. I think it's a female emperor moth, (should that be an Empress moth then?) Saturnia pavonia

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I seen 5-6 dolphins playing about in the swilly over the weekend!..didn't have camera so no pics!..they were awesome though, first time I saw them there!

out and about yesterday and I think i can add to the collection of Canadian Geese, but also was about to launch the boat and i spotted this big shoal of fry, they hung around for good while so i din't actually launch beside as i didn't think my 2stroke would be too good for them, so I moved down the shore and launched down water from them, I must be getting soft as the yrs go by...

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While staying in Donegal for a few days last week I took a run up to Slieve League cliffs with herself, too many witnesses so I just had to admire the scenery....While looking out to sea we were lucky enough to see a pair of peregrine falcons circling over the water. It's not often you get the chance to look down on peregrines. There were quite a few wheatears about as well, sadly I didn't have my camera with me. Later while beach fishing I saw a group of eider ducks with their young. Then on the way home at about 1.30a.m I caught a fox cub in the headlights, this one got away safely; I've seen a few dead ones on the roads recently.

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When out trout fishing yesterday afternoon there was a rustle in the undergrowth on the other bank, followed by a big splash as something fell into the water from the at least man high steep bank. To my surprise it was a badger, that then desperately tried to climb back up the bank and fell back again. On the second attempt he went very slowly and did make it up the bank and off he went.

I almost sure I saw a sunfish yesterday. Was out fishing in Nth Dublin and thought I saw a mullet floating in the water. "Look at that", I thought to myself, "..a big mullet". After a few seconds, I though nah, its a bag floating out with the tide. But on closer as it floated by, it did look like it was sticking its head out of the water, mouthing. I could see fin like shapes on it. Going mad?

saw another buzzard hovering over me while driving - huge birds - ill crash one of these days, so big and using the warm air rising
then down the boreens and rabbits all over the shop, with the odd hare flying away
while i was fishing the bats were hammering all the insects above me - what a night to be out last friday

A buzzard flew right across the car on the way back from kerry last week, I think he must have been eating roadkill cause he came right from behind the central divide on the motorway, also saw 6 kestrals along that stretch in half an hour, also a sea otter came up and had a good look at us while we were fishing a mark on the SPA just outside tralee.

A quick video of the foxes that are living on the GSK site.5-6 in total.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wIcHg72ThLA

Was out trout fishing on 27/07/2013 and while ashore for a lunchbreak, was lucky enough to see a kingfisher dart up a small river behind us and perch in a tree. By the time I got the camera ready he had moved to another perch further away but I got a picture of sorts. We saw him successfully dive for small fish several times meaning he got more fish than we did. I bet he didn't even have a permit.

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love watching those birds!!!!!

Seen a hummingbird hawk moth at the girlfriends hanging basket yesterday , I didn't have a clue what it was till I looked it up online, these are really cool looking are they comman because iv never seen or even heard of them ill try stick up a pic from google

Here we go

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nice 1 Paul, have heard of them alright myself but didnt know we could get them here
maybe cathalger (the originator of this thread) will pop back on the forum soon - he hasnt been on for a few months now. he will tell you all you need to know.. he's a moth fanatic!

Here we go

That's unreal.................

Seen a hummingbird hawk moth at the girlfriends hanging basket yesterday , I didn't have a clue what it was till I looked it up online, these are really cool looking are they comman because iv never seen or even heard of them ill try stick up a pic from google

I think these moths are found more commonly in warm climates but migrate north in summertime. I've seen lots of them in Cork but the recent warm/hot spell may well have encouraged them to travel further north this year. I saw one a couple of years ago in Co Armagh. They're unusual in being active by day and you can actually hear their wings humming if you are close enough.

Found this cool looking caterpillar the other day, an elephant hawk moth.
The biggest caterpillar iv ever seen

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Netted this from the Erne recently while out trout fishing, it was flapping about so much in the water that at first I thought it was a bat. I think it's a female emperor moth, (should that be an Empress moth then?) Saturnia pavonia

Nice one John, female Emperor for sure. Did you find it during June? Lovely moth.

Found this cool looking caterpillar the other day, an elephant hawk moth.
The biggest caterpillar iv ever seen

That is a rare animal, aapplegreenius

Dippers at 3 locations and Kingfishers at 2 today. Years since I had seen either and then a real rush today.