Nov

13

Last night while driving along the top road (the roundabout side of Kellys on the top road, and across from the former Barracks) I spotted a non-roadkill badger, sniffing its way casually along a wall and footpath.

Just recorded the sighting to Biology.ie

Jul

17

A recent trip (well, before the last 2 months of rain) to the Glen revealed this fern monster. Each frond is approximately 2 metres long – the blurry photograph does not really do it justice.

Giant Fern 2

It has been suggested to me that this is the Broad Buckler Fern (Dryopteris austriaca) – information like this is difficult to pin down online.

Last weekend I purchased Complete Irish Wildlife in an effort to have a backpack friendly reference for walks. It’s pretty comprehensive guide to all things relating to wildlife, flora and fauna on the island of Ireland. For example, did you know that we have over 70 different types of moths?

Anyway, according to page 276 of this guide this fern is “favouring damp woods, heaths and mountain slopes, usually on acid soils.” Sounds right, though the description of frond length up to 1m does not tally.

If this is not a Broad Buckler Fern, could someone put me straight?

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