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Hannah Mulcahy

@hannahmul.bsky.social
185 followers 149 following 51 posts

Ecologist | Botanist | BSBI VC recorder H09 | Sharing finds from the field — Turloughs, Irish flora, habitats & wildlife 🌿 Based in Co Clare 🇮🇪

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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Ohh a hornwort! Sad to miss this one Cian
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Thanks for having me! It was great to see the interest in turloughs, and to have such engaging and thoughtful questions from so many people at the end
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Rhodo Rangers @rhodorangers.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
We're excited to welcome @hannahmul.bsky.social as our speaker at next month's Green Drinks! She will speak about turloughs & their importance to local biodiversity. Reg @ eventbrite.com/e/1979983195036?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
A lot of work to do in Ireland as we look towards Nature Restoration, with 90% of our protected habitats in bad or unfavourable condition, with 51% of these deteriorated since last report in 2018. www.npws.ie/publications...
rte.ie
90% of Ireland's habitats deemed in poor condition
A new report has found that 90% of Ireland's EU-protected habitats are in 'unfavourable' conservation status, with 51% showing deteriorating trends across their national ranges.
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Ruth Carden 🦴 🐾 🐚🦪 | 🦣🏺 @ruthfcarden.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Wildcat bones dating back over 5,500 years ago uncovered during dig in the Burren #Ireland Marion Dowd of ATU Sligo & team found partial skeleton of a male wild cat in a cave in west of Ireland, from the middle Neolithic. #cats 🏺🦣 www.rte.ie/news/munster...
rte.ie
Wildcat bones found in Co Clare dated to 5,500 years ago
The first directly dated wildcat bones found in Ireland have been identified, confirming that the species inhabited the island more than 5,500 years ago.
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Donncha Ó Catháin @donncha-oc.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Wood-name townlands of Clonderlaw barony Co. Clare Trees in the placenames are Oak (Doire/Derry); Alder (Fearnán/Fearnóg) & Holly (Cuileann) In 1655 there were 1670 acres of wooded lands recorded consisting of -Timber trees 701 a -Young Wood 304 a -Old Wood 361 a -Shrubs 324 a
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Typical habitat
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Tiny and rare- my first encounter with Mudwort (Limosella aquatica) at The Gearagh, Co. Cork. Growing on freshly exposed mud, the water levels are controlled by ESB for the hydrolectric dam downstream on the Lee. This plant is protected in Ireland (FPO) and also occurs on turloughs
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
A treat this week to find Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) near Clonakilty, Co. Cork 🌼 With its stronghold in the south, it’s not something I often see in Clare. Sadly, this plant is has suffered larges declines in Britain and Ireland
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
ha snap on GOP!
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
One of my #FavouritePlant has to be Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris). I’m lucky to see it regularly in the west of Ireland. But it was a real joy to meet this familiar plant on a trip to the Swedish Arctic, in Abisko National Park #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
This was an immediately obvious problem when I visited in 2022, within the first hour off the boat I witnessed three children attempting to approach hauled out seals on the beach by crawling towards them. The story of the poor dead pup was still fresh that summer. Sad to hear this is still an issue
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
Who else gets excited when its finally Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) season? One of the loveliest late summer flowers ✨ 📍Tullanafrankagh turlough, Co Galway
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Jenni Roche @jenniroche.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Our new paper is just out! @restorationecology.bsky.social It covers the challenges, motivations and perspectives of forest restoration practitioners in 7 European countries. Thanks to all co-authors and colleagues who contributed through the #SUPERB project onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Challenges, motivations, and perspectives of practitioners on forest restoration across seven European countries
Forest restoration is crucial in addressing nature degradation, enhancing climate adaptation and mitigation, supporting ecosystem services, and reducing disaster risk. Understanding practitioners' pe...
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Ah surely they will still be out looking for food in September - go for it!
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Water Germander Teucrium scordium from Knockaunroe Turlough A gorgeous rare plant that seems to like hiding among equally purple-leaved Water-mint 📍Burren National Park
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Unexpected places where bats turn up - I recorded pipistrelles on the Great Blasket around the old village few years ago.
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Dodder (Cuscuta epithymum) flowering on fixed dune, a wholly parasitic plant. It seems to particularly enjoy parasitising Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides) which has turned yellow from stress. 📍Maharees, Co Kerry
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Pyramidal orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis still going strong and vibrant, despite the gloomy start to August. 📍Maharees, Co Kerry
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Yeah even with exact grid ref, its hard. It might be a tad easier when its not quite so flooded. Really its best to go out with someone who knows what they are looking for - Rory Hodd and Mike WJ pointed it out to me 😇
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Pillwort Pilularia globulifera from Upper Lake, Killarney, Co Kerry Tiny, rare, protected, aquatic.. FERN?! This is a hard plant to find not only is it rare but it grows with its equally thread-like companion bulbous rush, both growing side by side in this photo
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Ahh that feeling when you can sit down anywhere you like, lie down for lunch, and no fear of dropping your phone into water😊
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
A great year for Spiranthes spiralis Autumn lady's-tresses in Maharees, Co Kerry.
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) in fixed dune, Maharees, Co Kerry. Always a cheerful one to see!
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
Year 3 of growing a meadow in my back garden and this year I bought my own scythe - now I'm fully committed! I quickly learned rule no. 1 of scything: keep the blade super sharp and it’ll slice like butter. Then it’s a fun job and you could go forever.
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
I went searching for Orange Foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) in Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus. This elegant and colour grass is only present in a handful of sites in Ireland, it is protected under Wildlife Acts. Pleased to have found it doing well! #Turloughs
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Tristan Norton @trisnorton.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Carex pulicaris Flea Sedge, Carex canina White Sedge, Carex dioica Dioecious Sedge, Carex leporina Oval Sedge. Glenshee area, Aberdeenshire/Angus. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Yellow-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) from the shores of Lough Corrib, Co Galway. Native of west coast North America, introduced to Ireland. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
At last, I have introduced myself to the rare and beautiful Irish Lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) — found at a well-known site along Lough Corrib, Co. Galway. #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
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mayocorncrake77.bsky.social @mayocorncrake77.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
More hen corncrake and chicks from the farm!!
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Ballyvaughan Turlough, Co Clare - this turlough refilled dramatically after one night of heavy rain, flooding back over flowering vegetation. Here you can see the Marsh ragwort flowers under the surface of the water.
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Thanks! Ok no subspecies for D incarnata - sounds like that makes things a little bit easier 😅
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
If anyone could help me ID this orchid 😇 I thought it might be Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. coccinea but this on the edge of my ID capabilities with only 1 flower left 😅 @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
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Joanna Kędzierska @joannakedzierska.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
That’s how the biggest and the longest river in Poland looks like today - Vistula river. It has reached the lowest level in its history - 15cm and it practically turned into temporary river. It is not only drought due to climate change it is also lack of proper water policy and retention
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
A close up of the felted algal paper - with little snail shells 🐚
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
These dried, felted remains of filamentous algae are known as "algal paper", left behind as turlough waters recede - a reliable sign you're standing in a turlough basin. 📍 At Coolisduff in typical sheets across the basin floor. 📍 At Lydacan the paper is unusually caught in a wire fence
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
Beautiful Irish Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza kerryensis) 😍
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Delighted to have been to the BBS Summer Meeting in Co Clare this past week. My favourites are these tiny thalloid liverworts, Riccia: • Riccia sorocarpa from Burren NP • Riccia beyrichiana at Ballyeighter Lough • Riccia cavernosa at Glenamaddy Turlough (not in Clare!)
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Based on the ID features in the book by @ukorchids.bsky.social seems it could be G densiflora, but maybe Sean can confirm
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Hometree @hometreecharity.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
In years to come Hometree will be able to sustainably produce seed for these trees by extracting them from a unique habitat. Last photo show the parent trees. Learn more about our work: hometree.ie
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Gathered Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) seed today from the meadow in the back garden, ready to sow back into the meadow in the grassier patches First bloom was 13 May, and here we are, 49 days later on 1 July, pods rattling, season complete 🌿🌼🌾
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Here's a close up
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
What a turlough basin looks like in June 🌿 Meadowsweet, silverweed, mint, eyebrights, and a few special Fen Violets tucked in there too. #WildflowerHour #Turloughs
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
My first Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) of the year — flowering at the base of Lydacan Castle, Co. Galway.
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) is flowering now — a woody climber with striking purple blooms, and not too common here in the west of Ireland. Found this one, along with an interesting white-flowered variant, on the fringes of Termon Turlough in Co. Galway 💜🤍 #Turlough #WildflowerHour
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Cofnod Local Environmental Records Centre @cofnod.org.uk · 25/06/2025
@britishspiders.bsky.social recently digitised 15k slide 📸 from arachnologists John & Frances Murphy. Spotted that one of their Snowdon Lily 📸 was exactly same clump/angle 54yrs later. Great to see this Mountain Spiderwort clump still thriving. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @natreswales.bsky.social
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Elvira de Eyto @edeeyto.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Thanks @rayofoghlu.bsky.social for the write up It was great to see everyone and discuss restoration of forested peatlands in Ireland. @colinguilfoyle.bsky.social www.farmersjournal.ie/more/climate... Wild Nephin: restoration, research and rewilding - Free
farmersjournal.ie
Wild Nephin: restoration, research and rewilding
"Restoration of peatlands is both costly and complicated," writes Ray O Foghlú. The current system of licensing and permissions is not fit for purpose.
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Shoreweed (Littorella uniflora) — an aquatic plant that only flowers when exposed by falling water levels. Common on turloughs, but easy to miss. The flowers are tiny, but worth crouching down for a closer look 🌿💧 #Turloughs #AquaticPlants
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Hannah Mulcahy @hannahmul.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
A nod to the (semi) aquatic specialists I found this week in — the plants adapted to the rise and fall of a turlough basin: • Turlough Dandelion • Common Bladderwort • Lesser Water-plantain • Greater Spearwort #WildflowerHour #AquaticPlants #Turloughs @bsbibotany.bsky.social
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