Identifriday!

Identifriday- where we identify the wildlife we come across on our doorstep and on our travels and get into the habit of noticing and appreciating our local biodiversity!

 May Bug - Melolontha mellontha

According to Irish Indoor Insects the May Bug is the most common insect to be sent in for identification to the Natural History Museum by the public. It's not surprising! They are big, measuring up to 35 mm and as you can probably guess, they are most commonly seen in May.

 I spotted this guy along with several of his friends lying on the ground outside. Couldn't figure out why so many of them were there until that night while I was getting a glass of water and heard a bang on the glass. The outdoor light was on and the poor May bugs were disoriented and kept bashing into the window. Whoops! That's several beautiful big May bugs on my conscience! We keep the light off now so hopefully there won't be anymore causalities.

Wishing you a lovely weekend and let me know if you spot any interesting wildlife!

the laneway

We've walked up and down 'our' lane way in sunshine, rain, snow, thunder! We've dragged our groceries up in a sleigh when the snow became to deep to drive in. I walked it the day before Maisie was born with our midwife and have carried her countless times up and down it since.  Now she likes to run full pelt while I watch and try to resist the urge to tell her to slow down! On days where we don't stray too far from home it's our little fix of the outdoors.

At the moment the hedges are veiled in white and smells heavenly with hawthorn and gorse. Primroses and wild violets are everywhere and if you're lucky you can catch a glimpse of a bunny or two! Summer will bring more growth, the trees will get greener and the glorious pink foxgloves will arrive. Then it's a berry paradise with rowan, sloes, hawthorn and blackberries to fight over with the birds! Then the trees turn to orange and brown and winter strips back everything so we can see the moss covered stones of the walls and old ruins.

It is my favorite "part" of this house and I can't help but feel sad to know we will soon be leaving this place we have come to know as home.

Identifriday!

Identifriday- where we identify the wildlife we come across on our doorstep and on our travels and get into the habit of noticing and appreciating our local biodiversity!



Emperor Moth- Saturnia pavonia

This beauty was resting on the window of my parents kitchen a few weeks back. The Emperor Moth is a day flying moth that can be seen around April and May. It's widespread and locally common but likes to live near boggy habitats where its larvae can find food. According to Collins Complete Irish Wildlife  it also likes to feast on brambles!

Wishing you a happy weekend and keep an eye out for the little creatures!

It's the little things....

.........hawthorn in bloom along the lane way.

 .....the house martins, recently returned and rebuilding their nest above our door.

 .........cupcake experimentation (the truly yummy Sweet Almond Cupcakes from Get It Ripe and Fairy Buns from The Gentle Art of Domesticity.

...spotting hares in the field beside us. 

.....wild flowers on the table.

...the sweet smell of lilac filling the house. 

 ....sharing breakfast and a walk with old friends out on the bog!

Yes it's the little things alright, that are brightening up my days!

Identifriday!

Identifriday- where we identify the wildlife we come across on our doorstep and on our travels and get into the habit of noticing and appreciating our local biodiversity!

We visited Lough Carra recently. This is a beautiful marl lake in County Mayo. Marl is a clay that is high in calcium and aquatic plants can not easily grow in it. This makes the waters of Carra crystal clear and translucent. Unfortunately some enrichment of this lake has occurred in recent years and it's waters aren't as clean and clear as they used to be. According to this the water quality of the lake is of moderate status.

But it's still a beautiful lake with fab scenery and abundant wildlife. So what creature did we spot that day?

A leech!

Leech- Helobdella stagnalis

This little guy was suckering it's way along the bottom of a rock that I picked up in the shallows. According to Small Freshwater Creatures  Helobdella stagnalis (or at least that's my best guess as I didn't have a microscope handy!) feeds primarily on midge larvae and is common in lakes and ponds.  

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend! If you see anything interesting let me know!

Spring in our step!

The bees are busy in the apple blossoms.



Buff tailed Bumble Bee - Bombus terrestris




Honey Bee - Apis mellifera



Outside my parents house the Blackthorn is in bloom, and the Crabapple.

Primroses and Wild Strawberry line the road edges.

And in the shadows the ferns slowly unfurl....

All around life is stretching out after a long sleep and we all seem to have a Spring in our step!

photo by P. Keane