Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) recorded during one of our ongoing electrofishing surveys. Brown trout exhibit many ecological forms with varying migratory behaviours. Some are considered resident and only undertake localised movements. Sea trout are the same species but migrate to

Another Sanderling (Calidris alba) on the Shannon Estuary last week.

There is a history of anglers blocking the salmon pass at this site to maximize angling catches. The alarm bells went off for me when the IFI press releases about this major fish kill made no mention of fish passage issues at the site. Fish passage was definitely a contributing

Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) at Mas de Bunyol near Valderrobres, Spain, in July 2024. Like all vultures, this species was heavily persecuted in the past. However, thanks to conservation efforts, such as the supplementary feeding station at this site, its numbers have recovered.

Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) hind near Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus) (top) and two roach (Rutilus rutilus) from the River Barrow, recorded during one of our ongoing electrofishing surveys. Both are non-native, invasive species in Ireland. They were first introduced in the 1880s to the River Blackwater but are now widely

Another Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) hind near Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Flounder (Platichthys flesus) from one of our aquatic ecology surveys. Flounders exhibit a facultative catadromous life cycle (similar to eels), with some entering freshwater to feed and grow before returning to marine waters to spawn. They are a forgotten migratory fish in our

Fresh-run adult River Lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) from one of our August electrofishing surveys. This lamprey is on its spawning migration but won’t spawn until next spring. Unlike salmon, lampreys don't return to their natal rivers. Instead, they select spawning sites by

Freshwater-feeding Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) post-smolt captured in Lough Derg (Lower Shannon) yesterday. If you were a juvenile salmon, would you risk running the gauntlet of the unscreened ESB Group hydroelectric turbines at Ardnacrusha? Some don’t and decide to take their

A rare catch from the River Fergus: this Shad was captured in the tidal reaches of the river downstream of Ennis in August 2024 by Simonas Kybartas. Based on the reported size, it may have been an Allis Shad (Alosa alosa). There could possibly have been Shad in the Fergus before

Important story in today's Irish Mail on Sunday by Valerie Hanley: The Limerick to Foynes railway is essentially an unauthorised development in breach of the EU Habitats and EIA Directives. This project is neither 'green' nor 'sustainable' and is being built using dubious planning

The Limerick to Foynes railway: Major site compounds and storage areas have been constructed without any planning permission or environmental assessment. The vegetation clearance affected over 40 km of an abandoned railway line. Many of these areas had rewilded, with extensive

The Limerick to Foynes Railway: This project was split into different parts to avoid completing the legally required Appropriate Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment for the overall project. Such "project splitting" is prohibited under the Habitats and EIA Directives.

Juvenile River/Brook Lampreys were recorded during one of our electrofishing surveys. Some of these individuals are 'transforming' into young adults ('macrophthalmia') and were identified as River Lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis). River Lampreys and Brook Lampreys (L. planeri)

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) with a Sprat (Sprattus sprattus) on the Shannon Estuary, August 2024.

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) at a site in Co. Offaly. Ireland's national bird, but now a red-listed breeding species here.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) running at a site in upper River Mulkear catchment, Co. Tipperary. This is part of the Lower River Shannon SAC.

Another photo of an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) attempting to pass through a natural cascade in the River Mulkear catchment, part of the Lower River Shannon SAC.

Wild Fallow Deer (Dama dama) at a site in Co. Offaly yesterday evening.