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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · 7d

More fungi - from a wooded area of Lagan Meadows, Belfast. Identifications are educated guesses at best! Corrections welcomed! Weeping Widow fungi, Fairy Inkcaps?, Honey Fungus and Oysterlings (Latin names in 'ALT')

Possibly a Fairy Inkcap - Coprinellus sp, maybe!

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · 8d

Some fungi from a walk in Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast. Not my area of expertise but maybe Collared Earthstar, Shaggy Inkcaps, Rosy Bonnets and ???

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · 13d

Can now add Aughrim Hill, Attical (Mourne Mountains) to the Common Lizard map for N Ireland. First sign was a shed skin and then 2 juveniles spotted on a sunny bank 26 Sep 2025 @argroupsuk.bsky.social #woodlandtrust #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Shed Common Lizard skin in the grass at Aughrim Hill, Mourne Mountains

Juvenile Common Lizard, Aughrim Hill, Mourne Mountains

Fairy thorn, Aughrim Hill, Mourne Mountains

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · 20d

A few of today's Common Lizard sightings, during a couple of brighter spells, at Peatlands Park, Co Armagh @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Adult Common Lizard in the grass at Peatlands Park, Co Armagh

Juvenile Common Lizard in the grass at Peatlands Park, Co Armagh

Juvenile Common Lizard on the boardwalk at Peatlands Park, Co Armagh

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · 23d

Into Autumn and running out of time to find new Common Lizard locations, so was pleased today to find this one at Slieve Gallion, near Magherafelt (previous visits in June & July turned up nothing) @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Adult Common Lizard at Slieve Gallion (not Gullion!) near Magherafelt. First record for this site, off Cullion Road.

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Reposted by Philip🦎EcotrakNI

Belfast Hills Partnership @belfasthills.bsky.social · 25d

Belfast Hills Partnership are delighted to be the recipients of a £1.1 million investment from @daera-ni.gov.uk for nature recovery. Read the full story on our website.

belfasthills.org/newsroom/one...

£1.1 Million Investment into the Belfast Hills - Belfast Hills

Belfast Hills Partnership are delighted to be the recipients of a £1.1 million investment for nature recovery.

belfasthills.org

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · 27d

The Rumble Hole waterfall, at Colin Glen/Glenside in the #BelfastHills, looking spectacular this afternoon (12 September 2025) Nice little rainbow at the bottom. @belfasthills.bsky.social #northernireland #ireland

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · 28d

Cool today with sunshine & showers at Whitehead, Co Antrim but lots of common lizard sightings! My favourite pic was this trio of juvenile lizards in the grass beside the Blackhead Path @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

A group of 3 young Common Lizards huddled together in the grass, at Blackhead Path, Co Antrim (11 September 2025)

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Sep 5

Contrasting views of Lambay Island from Portmarnock Beach yesterday #ireland #weather #showers

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Sep 4

Still in the Dublin area today and this time a Common Lizard sighting on the path to the beach at Portmarnock Beach South. #HSI #reptile #Ireland

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Sep 2

Visited the fantastic Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin, Dublin this afternoon but wasn't expecting any #reptile encounters. What a surprise then to see a terrapin (Yellow-bellied Slider?) at the edge of one of the ponds! Looks like it may be a long term resident (very tame). #HSI

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Aug 19

Great to find a new lizard site in the Belfast Hills at Glas-na-Bradan (acquired by the #WoodlandTrust in 2021). 3 juveniles seen this afternoon. @belfasthills.bsky.social @argroupsuk.bsky.social #woodlandtrust #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

View to Belfast Lough from Glas-na-Bradan

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Aug 9

Migrant Hawker dragonfly seen today at Ballyhornan coastal path, Co Down, N Ireland. Obligingly settled on a Gorse bush in front of me @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #dragonfly #ukwildlife

Female Migrant Hawker on Gorse bush at Ballyhornan, Co Down

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Aug 7

Still had time yesterday for one more potential Common Lizard site - Hen Mountain trail in the Mournes. This turned out to be the best of the 3 sites visited with a total of 17 lizards seen on the lower path. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Common Lizard basking on a Gorse branch - Hen Mountain trail, Mourne Mountains. 6th August 2025

Common Lizard basking on a burnt Gorse branch - Hen Mountain trail, Mourne Mountains. 6th August 2025

Common Lizard basking on a patch of bare soil - Hen Mountain trail, Mourne Mountains. 6th August 2025

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Aug 7

Two more new Common Lizard sites yesterday (6th Aug). An old quarry at Spelga in the Mournes (after several visits in recent years) and along the road verges at Kinnahalla Road. #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

Juvenile Common Lizard on a rock at Spelga in the Mourne Mountains

Juvenile Common Lizard at Kinnahalla Road in the Mourne Mountains

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Aug 2

At the end of the Ballykinler Path you reach the dunes & beach - accessible when the military firing range is not active! Here, again, Common Lizards are plentiful but you can't wander too far into the dunes. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #nature

Where Ballykinler Coastal Path meets the dunes and close to the military firing range - open when red flag is not flying

View across a deserted beach to the Mourne Mountains

Adult Common Lizard basking on a fence post at Ballykinler beach

Adult Common Lizard basking on a fence slat at Ballykinler beach

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Aug 2

Yet another new site for Common Lizards in N Ireland - Ballykinler Coastal Path (1 Aug). Not the most exciting or well known path but a perfect lizard corridor (even if not intended) on the left. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

Common Lizard well hidden in the long grass adjacent to the Ballykinler Coastal Path

Straight, fenced, pathway to the coast at Ballykinler. Rough grass and stone wall on the left side providing good lizard habitat

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Jul 29

Looks like a Holly Blue ok 👍

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Jul 28

Not the most comfortable basking spot but this old broken fence post was just high enough to catch the late afternoon sun at Slievenacloy, Co Antrim today. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Jul 24

A bit of a break from the lizards, today I visited the RSPB reserve at Belfast Harbour and was delighted to see a Spoonbill. It has been there for 7 weeks and I'm only getting to see it now (heavily cropped/distant photo) #birds #nibirds #belfast #northernireland #ireland #ukwildlife #nature #🪶

Spoonbill at RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Jul 20

Totally agree. There is no reason to handle lizards except as part of a licenced translocation. Photos too are mainly for recording purposes (ARG Record Pool and CEDaR) - taken with a long telephoto lens (and cropped).

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Jul 19

Two more new Common Lizard locations today in Co Antrim. Collin Road verge - a shed skin on a fence was the first sign. Then more sightings at Wolf Bog Windfarm. 9 adult and 16 neonates in total. @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

Shed skin of a Common Lizard lying on a fence - Collin Road, Co Antrim

Adult Common Lizard basking on a fence at Collin Road, Co Antrim

Neonate Common Lizards on a rock at Wolf Bog Windfarm, Co Antrim

3 neonate Common Lizards looking tiny on a large rock at Wolf Bog Windfarm, Co Antrim

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Jul 18

Found another new site for Common Lizards today at Tornaroy, Co Antrim #BelfastHills. Not far from the Divis mountain, so unsurprising but I'd been checking this lane for 4/5 years without success @argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

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Philip🦎EcotrakNI @ecotrakni.bsky.social · Jul 17

Yes, baby lizards are out in the Belfast Hills too (photos 16 July 2025). Always love this time of year - seeing the new generation of Common Lizards arrive🦎🦎🦎
@argroupsuk.bsky.social #ukwildlife #HSI #reptile #lizard #zootoca #northernireland #ireland #nature

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Reposted by Philip🦎EcotrakNI

Belfast Hills Partnership @belfasthills.bsky.social · Jul 11

Please don’t start any fires deliberately. Even if you haven’t got malicious intentions fire can get out of hand quickly. Don’t ever tackle a wildfire yourself; leave the scene of the fire as quickly & safely as possible as flames can spread incredibly quickly & call 999 ASAP.

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