Graham Copithorn, while strolling down a coastal road in Donegal, recently had the pleasure of spotting a ladybird – only the second one he’s observed this year. His query regarding whether the ladybird was feasting on those tiny bugs on it, which could be aphids, was confirmed. The ladybird was pictured with seven-spots, amidst black aphids or known as blackfly, sucking sap from plants, thereby weakening them. Both adult and larval ladybirds enjoy aphids as a food source.
In a separate situation, Mary Kennedy, a resident in close proximity to Nenagh, observed a bird in her garden last month resembling a blackbird-thrush hybrid, roughly the size of a blackbird. This bird with unique shades was a novel sight for them, even with the numerous birds they host in their garden. After a consultation with Niall Hatch from Birdwatch Ireland, it was confirmed that the bird was, in fact, a young blackbird recently emerged from its nest and under its father’s supervision. Interestingly, blackbirds belong to the thrush species, a characteristic quite prominent in young blackbirds with their lighter heads and chests and spotted breasts. Their appearance rapidly changes to a darker plumage in a matter of weeks.
Frank Folan from Ballyvaughan, Co Clare, came across a cuttlefish on Inishnakillew in Clew Bay, Co Mayo, which made him wonder if it had survived there due to global warming, as he believed cuttlefish were only found in tropical waters. In response, it was clarified that although climate change does influence our oceans by introducing non-native species, cuttlefish are actually indigenous to the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The internal “bone” or shell that he found aids in flotation while the cuttlefish is alive due to the many tiny gas-filled holes. The ink of the cuttlefish also has historical significance, as it was used to create sepia colour.
Lastly, Brian McGovern from Portnoo, Co Donegal spotted a bird munching on plant seeds in his garden. This bird was similar in size to a thrush, but its yellowish head resembled more a finch in colour. He wondered if it was a starling dusted in pollen as he had seen many feeding off the plant it was consuming, recently.
The New Zealand flax is a plant indigenous to its namesake country, and it offers a plentiful amount of nectar which serves as sustenance for the local tui bird. This bird’s beak conveniently aligns with the flax’s blossoms’ curvature. As a result, the flax plants in the vicinity are pollinated thanks to the pollen collected on the tui bird’s head. Starlings have also emerged as a source of pollination, similarly resulting in the production of fertile seeds, as observed in your image. The plant has elongated pods, hosting hundreds of seeds which it releases into the atmosphere, hence increasing the odds of it morphing into an invasive species due to the ensuing propagation by starlings.
I happened upon these on rocks along the pebbly Skibbereen inlet following a receding tide. Their length was 6cm. It’s worth noting that the withdrawing tide also introduced myriad saucer-sized jellyfish, numbering in the hundreds on the stony shoreline. – John J Kelly
The beautiful image is of Velella velella, or the by-the-wind-sailor, which is not exactly categorised as a jellyfish. This marine life form freely drifts on the sea surface, comprising a see-through blue, oval disc that includes a bony skeleton that encapsulates a buoy keeping it afloat. The disc’s upper surface sports a curvy sail, interacting with the wind. Large clusters of these creatures can traverse together and frequently find themselves stranded on seashores.