John Glynn of Kilrush spotted a razorbill at Skellig Michael in June. Back in the summer of 2023, there were around 400 razorbills observed on the island. Since 1991, the seabird population here has been monitored, with the first count recording 300 razorbills. The numbers rose notably after the filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the island back in 2014, with a count of 200 that year.
Patricia Williams sought to identify something she found on the camellias in her garden. She carefully wrapped each of the four mysterious objects in plastic bags before pruning the branches, to avoid potential allergic reactions to insect bites. Based on her description, the objects are not wasp nests, which are typically made from chewed wood and possess a papery texture. Rather, they are galls formed on camellia bushes due to infection by the fungus Exobasidium camelliae. The galls initially appear hard, green, and fungal, but as the infection advances, spore production causes them to transform into a creamy colour. Mature galls are soft, irregularly shaped and can measure up to 15cm. They may have a smooth or rough texture. However, they cause minimal long-term damage to the affected plant.
Upon returning home from Berlin, Ita Delogu of Dublin discovered an unfamiliar moth in her garden. However, this moth is a native species – a female pale tussock moth. Its hairs could cause irritation, so it is advised to observe from a distance.
Irene Deisler described a beetle she encountered midway through May on a blustery day. Initially clung onto a blade of grass, until it unfurled its wings and floated down to the ground. With thin wings beneath its main pair and measuring about 1cm long, this beetle did not meet an immediate identification.
The Ctenicera cuprea, commonly known as a click beetle, is usually observable from May to July. The male species are more prominent as they lounge on the tips of grasses or on umbellifer blossoms and thistles. Their defence mechanism includes flying away when threatened, occasionally landing in a topsy-turvy manner on the ground. In order to correct this, they contort their body to rest on their head and tail points and then spring upright with a clicking sound similar to an acrobat. Their larvae, known as wireworms, are notorious for attacking plant roots and causing damage to crops.
Now, turning to an intriguing lifeform discovered in a bird’s water source, filled with rainwater from rooftops. This squirming organism measures about 140mm in length and there’s a speculation that it might have been regurgitated by a small bird. The creature is identified as a thunderworm. They are long, thread-like nematodes that seem to miraculously appear on plants overnight, particularly after periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms in the initial summer months. Their life cycle involves laying eggs on plants. These eggs are subsequently consumed by grasshoppers and caterpillars which triggers the hatching process. The larvae then feast on the host’s body fluids in order to mature. Once they’re developed enough to survive independently, they leave the host and burrow in the soil, away from human observation. After substantial rainfall during June, they may emerge onto the plants in gardens or polytunnels, lay their eggs and die, subsequently starting the cycle anew. In this case, the observed specimen might have got caught up on a bird’s claw.