Photographing bats is very difficult. A late night attempt tonight in whichI did capture a few fuzzy flying mammels but out often focus and cetainly not of a high standard. Time to get some tips, but maybe not from this guy below. i believe that these may be Dauberton bats due to a few indicators notably sighting, habitat and i could hear theirhigh pitched squeeks. Here is the lowdown on Irish bats from Bat convervation ireland Bats are mammals. This means that they are covered in fur, they have warm blood, they give birth (rather than laying eggs) and they suckle their babies with milk. There are over 1,000 species of bat worldwide, all in the Order Chiroptera. The greatest diversity of bat species is found in warm equatorial areas where there are fruit-, fish-, insect-, pollen- and even frog-eating types. In Ireland we have nine species confirmed as residents, all of which belong to the bat Sub-order Microchiroptera. All of the Irish bat species consume only insects and the nine residents belong to two Families – the Vespertilionidae (with eight species) and the Rhinolophidae (with one species). Until recently, it was thought that there were seven bat species in Ireland. The Nathusius’ Pipistrelle, a relatively common species throughout the rest of Europe, was discovered breeding in Northern Ireland in 1997. It has also been recorded by detector in the Republic. Around the same time scientists in Britain investigating the Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) discovered that it was actually two different species that have since been named the Common and Soprano Pipistrelle. Both species are found in Ireland. In another new development for Ireland, a Brandt's bat (Myotis brandtii) was discovered in County Wicklow in 2003. It is still unknown, following this first discovery, whether the bat was a vagrant from the UK or Europe, or a resident. No further specimens have been confirmed since 2003. This bat is very similar to the whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus) so it is possible that it has been mistaken for whiskered bats in the past. This brings to 9 the number of bat species confirmed resident in Ireland, with one additional species (Brandt's) possibly resident but unconfirmed.
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Nestled amongst the Knockmealsown and Comeragh mountains the river Suir river overflows with wildness. The river slinks along its green weedy bed with lazy grace. The fly fisherman wade into its shallow depths, and immerses himself in this wildness to stalkrising trout. Bright twigs float by; casual journeymen Swans and signets glide across the water and run the small weir one by one like a waterpark ride. A male swan sits nonchalantly on a risen bank and preens his already immaculate feathers. A heron waits on a shallow stretch for a morsel. And then that dash of blue which is the kingfisher, a bird that waits for no man, the best dressed of the wild. The kingfisher always makes me smile. Nervous duckilings like little gold, wind up toys follow their parents to safe waters At night bats fly around your head. Small and exact in their manoevering they ingest the multitude of inse.cts from that fill the night air. The thrum of their wings fills the ear as they rush by, eager and hungry. The main prupose of a night visit is to search for the elusive river otter. As yet no signs of sprait of the otter; no trace of a holt to this eye.. So here are the fieldcraft tips for spotting otters. I hope you have some luck Fieldcraft How to detect an otter 1. Paw prints - 5 toes- teardrop shape 5cm 2. Holts in banks 3. Smell from spraint [ smells like jasmin tea ) 4. Prey marks. - Crayfish,crab single hole in it, leave tail of rat 6. Dog otter is territorial in large area. Has a number of females. 7. Otter hole in root system of tree every 200 m 8. To see an otter watch out for wind direction so they don't mell yo - wind direction off otter and blowing into your face Species identified * Grey squirrel * Kingfisher * Moorhen * Foxes { night mode!) * Heron * Swan * Trout * Dragonfly * Daddy long legs Below are what otter prints look like and what a holt could look like. Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises- Pedro Calderon de la Barca The good man is the friend of all living things- Ghandi This site is dedicated to documenting nature's narratives on our green isle. Hopefully over the next few years I will collect, document and recreate my encounters with the nature of this beautiful island. This site is about affinity, creativity and inspiration.
The first list comes from a holiday in West Cork Species identified Wild Flowers 1. Digitalis 2. Fuschia 3. Eglantine /wild rose 4. Wild strawberry 5. Honeysuckle 6. Wild Garlic 7. Flag iris 8. Daisy 9. Birds foot trefalia / wild pea 10. Rhodedendrum 11. Cornflower 12. Wild lupen 13. Violets 14. Sweet Sicily 15. Sweet Alison 16. Budleia 17. Navelwort 18. Araum lily 19. Rough hawkbit 20. Pyramid orchid Plants 1. Black shield lichen Seashore invertebrates 1. Beadlet anenome Cone jellyfish Molluscs 1. White lipped snail Beetle 1. Rose chafer beetle Butterflies 1. Cabbage white butterfly Mammals 1. Grey Seal 2. Bats 3. Rabbit Birds 1. Gannets 2. Razorbills 3. Cormorants 4. Herring gull 5. Juvenile black backed gull 6. Wren 7. Herron Fish 1. Basking shark! |
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