My mom just told me she cancelled her subscription to The Washington Post. She reads every one of my stories. It was a heartbreaking call. I understand why she did it, but I asked her to reconsider. To anyone who has cancelled or is thinking about cancelling, here’s what I said:

He obviously didn’t get the message that the feeders are ‘squirrel proof’. I had to send the terrier out to ask him to leave.

Irish birders, some help please? Are the winter WAGTAIL roosts at Grand Parade in Cork and O'Connell St in Dublin still there? Any other urban wagtail roosts? (I know about the one at Lexicon in Dun L). Thank you 🙏🙏#irishbirds #irishbirding #natureireland

As we all know, Dunnes Stores on George's Street Upper in Dún Laoghaire has been sitting vacant for the guts of 20 years. Well, finally some good news! Dunnes have been hit with the new land hoarding tax so will be forced to put these buildings to good use. Fianna Fáil wanted

I was busy last weekend on very important project. Well, someone’s got to keep the neighbour kids supplied with fuel for #Halloween mayhem

New game in The Times and The Sunday Times. I remembered the answer from school a hundred years ago🤓 Quizle November 2 "What is the largest organ in the human body?" ✅⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️ thetimes.com/quizle

After days and days of grey, doomy skies we have this! I forgive the Irish climate everything on a November day like this. And I’m so lucky to have this a 7 minute gallop from my door 🇮🇪 #dunlaoghaire

Irish #birding friends. I'm writing about URBAN #gull roosts in winter. Besides Dublin Bay, can you tell me other significant (>1000 birds) URBAN gull roosts? I've looked online extensively, but can't find the info. Thank you :) #Ireland #birds BirdWatch Ireland

First week of BirdWatch Ireland winter Irish Garden Bird Survey. Only 14 species this year as opposed to last year’s 17. Twelve more weeks to go. #irishnature #birds

In honour of today, Women’s Christmas, #NollaignamBan — I offer you the Jan 6 entry from my little book, An Irish Nature Year, published by William Collins. It honours the occasional male sparrowhawk who feeds a female 😉 Make sure you read to the end

After a few wonderful encounters with Wallcreepers around Bergamo, Italy last year, I worked up some sketches from various videos I took. A favourite species of mine and I really hope to enjoy more in the coming weeks and months.

Another favourite from last year was getting to spend a few hours with the Pied billed Grebe on Inish Mor in Galway. This again worked up at home from some videos and sketches of the bird.

Cheering start to week 9 of BirdWatch Ireland annual winter garden bird survey. Urban gardens can be full of birdlife. (The collared doves were busy making more doves on paulownia.) Also a grey squirrel, so I sent the terrier out to play with it. #urbannature #irishnature

#Happy February! Here's my list of what you can sow now in #organic #peatfree compost - to #growyourown delicious #seasonal #local #healthyfood for independence from global supply chains and #BIgAg! Sowing #seeds is sowing #hope and #homegrown #resilience! nickykylegardening.com/what-to-sow-in…

Is this #hoverfly Luniger sp? Don’t think it’s Scaeva — but could be wrong. Couldn’t get better pic. Wings look a bit cloudy. Can #entomology or #diptera person help ID? In Dun Laoghaire, Ireland #insectID #invertebrate #urbannature #irishnature

#urbanplants for #wildflowerhour #DunLaoghaire Harbour this evening: Common Mallow Mexican Fleabane Buck’s-horn Plantain Rock Sea-Spurrey #urbannature #irishnature

More #urbanplants for #wildflowerhour Dog-walk in #DunLaoghaire (where the council no longer sprays weedkiller! Hooray!) Field Poppy Long-headed Poppy Creeping Thistle Pineapple Weed + leaves of Broadleaf Plantain (swimming in blocked shore) #urbannature #irishnature

Flower crab spider (Misumena vatia) tucking into a hoverfly for dinner. Isn't she just gorgeous? 😍 #urbannature #irishnature

"As an ecologist, my heart sinks when I see brown areas sprayed with herbicide in advance of putting down a wildflower seed mix" All-Ireland Pollinator Plan co-founder Úna Fitzpatrick reveals the unintended consequences of wildflower seed mixes➡️ tinyurl.com/y9yvncas

Superb!