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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tacumshin, Co. Wexford - a winter visitor from N. America. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #RareBirds

An attractive small wader with buff underparts, speckled chest, scaly back and yellow legs.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Glossy Ibises, West Cork - exotic visitors. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The delightful Red-necked Phalarope at Cockleshell Pools, Tralee yesterday. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Small black and white wader with a thin needle-like beak.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Moorhen and chick - 19/09/26, East Cork. #Birds

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

A fresh-looking juvenile Dunlin, Ballycotton. # #Birds #Waders #Shorebirds

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Goldfinches feasting on thistle seeds. #Birds

Goldfinch perched on a thistle head, face full of seeds.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

An early arrival - Brent Goose, Ballycotton 10th September. #Birds #Ornithology

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Baird's Sandpiper, Ballycotton Bay today - an Irish ✔️ for me! #Birds #RareBirds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Small Sandpiper on seaweed at the seashore.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Sandwich Tern arriving with a sprat for its chick - they’re on a feeding stopover at Ballycotton in preparation for the long migration south. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Ballycotton

Young Sandwich Tern on the water with an adult flying towards it carrying a sprat.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Curlew Sandpiper at Jamesbrook, East Cork today. #Birds #Scarce #BirdsSeenIn2026

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Western Bonelli's Warbler, Ballycotton 28/08/26 - a great find by @birderpaul.bsky.social, and a first for Ballycotton. #RareBirds #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

A small leaf warbler with whitish underparts, yellow lore, and greenish tips to the wing feathers.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Grey Wagtail on the Awbeg River, Doneraile. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Grey Wagtail perched on a rock in a river.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Dippers on the Awbeg river, Doneraile Co. Cork. #Birds

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Wood Sandpiper at Harper's Island Wetlands, Cork - a scarce passage migrant. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 @harpersisland.bsky.social

Wader with a spotted back, yellow legs, and a white supercilium. The grasses in the foreground are blurred due to the heat haze and shimmer.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Emperor Dragonfly, East Cork. “Snáthaid Mhór” in Irish, meaning “big needle”.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Willow Warbler visiting our garden - presumably on its migration south. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Warbler perched on a stem with Verbena heads visible in the background.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Bullfinch - surprisingly quiet in voice and demeanour for such a tough-looking bird. #Birds

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

The solar eclipse from Ballycotton, 12/08/26 #Ballycotton #Eclipse

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Fulmar profile - from our pelagic trip off Dungarvan. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Fulmar head shot showing a closeup of its remarkable tubenose - used to excrete salt.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Some of the highlights from our pelagic out of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford yesterday - Wilson's Petrel, Juvenile Puffin, and bridled form of Common Guillemot. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Bridled form of Common Guillemot, with a juvenile Common Guillemot.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Ballycotton - it’s been a great year here for sightings of this migrant moth.

Attractive moth with its proboscis in a Valerian flower, nectaring.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The Wood Sandpiper at the Slob Bank, Youghal today - a scarce migrant #Birds #Scarce #BirdsSeenIn2026 #phonescoped

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The very rare and very striking Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Co. Kilkenny today. (With thanks to @harryhussey.bsky.social) #dragonflies #odonata

Striking looking large dragonfly with gold rings on its abdomen, hanging on vegetation.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Greater White-toothed Shrew in our garden.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Emerald Damselfly with its beautiful metallic hues. The Gearagh, Co. Cork, July 2026. #Dragonflies #Odonata @johncreedon.bsky.social

Metallic green Damselfly perched with its wings open at 45 degrees, typical for Emerald Damselflies.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Female Clouded Yellow, Ballycotton - a migratory butterfly from N. Africa and mainland Europe. This summer has seen an unusually large influx of these beauties. #Butterflies #Ballycotton

Large butterfly with wings folded, showing green and yellow upperwings. A small area of the underwing is visible, with the pale spot on the black border confirming it as female.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

A fledgling Robin in our garden #Birds

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Raven feathers are revealed to have a beautiful iridescence when seen in the right light and at the right angle. #Birds #Corvids

Raven perched on a pole, showing a lovely sheen and iridescence.

Vocal Raven perched on a pole, showing a lovely sheen and iridescence.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Some fancy footwork from the young Rook. #Birds

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Silver Y moth on Valerian at Harper's Island Wetlands today - with a faceful of pollen! #Moths #Pollinators @harpersisland.bsky.social

Moth showing the Y shape on its wing that gives it its name. Proboscis extended, ready to suck nectar from a Valerian flower. Its face is covered with pollen.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on valerian, Ballycotton. #Moths

Large moth resembling a hummingbird, feeding on flowers with its proboscis extended.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

"Maybe if I just sit here with my mouth open, the insects will fly in ..." #Birds #Ballycotton #BarnSwallow

Barn Swallow perched on a wire with its beak wide open.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Yellow-legged Gull, Cork Lough - a scarce visitor, all the way from its breeding grounds in Southern Europe. Quite possibly last year's bird returning as it seems to have settled in well, waiting on the unoccupied crib to fight off the other birds for any food. #Birds #Gulls #BirdsSeenIn2026