Otter of the River Suir
- Darren McLoughlin
- Category: Guide
An interesting sight that you often won't see in Ireland, the elusive Eurasian otter has been on the IUCN Red List for some time, classified as Near Threatened and a species in decline, Lutra lutra is one of the finest animals to see in nature.
Here as I was travelling along Ireland's River Suir in County Tipperary, I saw this busy otter swimming, diving and fishing on the fast flowing river.
It was an impressive hour, the otter would work its way upstream, then dive under water to re-emerge usually with a fish.
Here it is seen with what looks like a decent sized trout. This is a big creature, male otters can reach 1.3m nose to tail and they look impressive when you see them cutting through the water's surface.
This is undoubtedly one of the finest animals to see, along with Ireland's other elusive mammal the pine marten.
January is over, spring has begun in Ireland - according to tradition, and colour is coming back into the landscape.
Winter is colourful in Ireland, the countryside remains green all year round but at the the end of January we see the emergence of cherry blossom, snowdrops and crocus.
The snowdrop galanthus nivelis is not native, nor is the crocus (here crocus etruscus) but both will be found in gardens and the wild now, many varieties of cherry are found too although the wild cherry is native.
February 1st, Saint Brigid's Day and First Day of Spring in Ireland
- Darren McLoughlin
- Category: Guide
Today, February 1st, is historically regarded as being the first day of spring here in Ireland, spring is known as Imbolc in ancient Ireland.
February 1st is also Saint Brigid's Day, Saint Brigid is one of Ireland's three patron saints along with Saint Patrick and Saint Columcille.
Interestingly, the dandelion is associated traditionally with Saint Brigid as it flowered closest to the festival so that is what I have posted here, a bumblebee on a dandelion in Ireland.
Winter can be cold and monotone in places around the world, but here in Ireland it is more often than not a colourful time of year interspersed with snowy days.
Most of the time, snow is absent even in the mountains except for the rare years.
Here we have the rugged, weathered mountains of the west of Ireland and the Atlantic looking calm.
Winter 2020 is far from over, currently we are having storms but there is still plenty of time for snow like this to blanket the mountains of Ireland.
Deep snow blankets the normally grassy landscape of the Irish mountains as sunset approaches.
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