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Common Redstart, Knockadoon - a scarce passage migrant in these parts. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Small bird with red upper tail, perched on a wire.

BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Lesser Yellowlegs, East Cork - a vagrant transatlantic wader and a great find by @dennisballyc . #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Wader with a narrow beak and yellow legs.

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Delighted to come across this Pied Flycatcher near home today - a scarce passage migrant in Ireland. #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Dunnock - quite attractive when seen up close, not just a “Little Brown Job”. #Birds

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BC_Gemma @bcgemma.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Geroff!! Emperor Dragonfly being pestered by a wasp. #Dragonflies #Insects #NaturePhotography

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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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