Dean Mac Cú Uladh
@dmac00.bsky.social
Botanist, bryologist and ecologist from Co. Down. Tá Gaedhlig agam.
Woodland ecology, oceanic biogeography and pollinators.
newrywildlife.com
Woodland ecology, oceanic biogeography and pollinators.
newrywildlife.com
Colura calyptrifolia on rowan and plentiful Hyocomium armoricum on granite boulders at Yellow Water, Rostrevor, Co. Down
How amazing would this place be if it had some native woodland? Missed opportunity for restoration
How amazing would this place be if it had some native woodland? Missed opportunity for restoration
January 17, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Colura calyptrifolia on rowan and plentiful Hyocomium armoricum on granite boulders at Yellow Water, Rostrevor, Co. Down
How amazing would this place be if it had some native woodland? Missed opportunity for restoration
How amazing would this place be if it had some native woodland? Missed opportunity for restoration
Thug mé cuairt Uaimh Thalún na Fionnaise agus Liagán Áine, Co. An Dúin inniú
Tá an uaimh 29m ar fhad - iontach suntasach
Bhí na radharcanna ó Liagán Áine dochreidte, agus na Beanna Boirche ó dheas. Ainmníodh é i ndéidh Bandia an tSamhraidh, Áine
Tá an uaimh 29m ar fhad - iontach suntasach
Bhí na radharcanna ó Liagán Áine dochreidte, agus na Beanna Boirche ó dheas. Ainmníodh é i ndéidh Bandia an tSamhraidh, Áine
January 9, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Thug mé cuairt Uaimh Thalún na Fionnaise agus Liagán Áine, Co. An Dúin inniú
Tá an uaimh 29m ar fhad - iontach suntasach
Bhí na radharcanna ó Liagán Áine dochreidte, agus na Beanna Boirche ó dheas. Ainmníodh é i ndéidh Bandia an tSamhraidh, Áine
Tá an uaimh 29m ar fhad - iontach suntasach
Bhí na radharcanna ó Liagán Áine dochreidte, agus na Beanna Boirche ó dheas. Ainmníodh é i ndéidh Bandia an tSamhraidh, Áine
New site record of Hymenophyllum tunbrigense for Co. Louth (H31) growing in a rocky woodland on a minor hill. Happy to find this one today. A very scarce species in the county.
@bsbiireland.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#ferns #botany #filmyferns
@bsbiireland.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#ferns #botany #filmyferns
December 30, 2025 at 7:09 PM
New site record of Hymenophyllum tunbrigense for Co. Louth (H31) growing in a rocky woodland on a minor hill. Happy to find this one today. A very scarce species in the county.
@bsbiireland.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#ferns #botany #filmyferns
@bsbiireland.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#ferns #botany #filmyferns
Dryopteris affinis s.s on my St Stephen’s Day walk yesterday. Every day is a good day for some fernology
I am pretty confident with this one
@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
#ferns #botany
I am pretty confident with this one
@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
#ferns #botany
December 27, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Dryopteris affinis s.s on my St Stephen’s Day walk yesterday. Every day is a good day for some fernology
I am pretty confident with this one
@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
#ferns #botany
I am pretty confident with this one
@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
#ferns #botany
Fontinalis squamosa from Bavan, Cooley Mountains, Co. Louth in upland boulder stream
Doesn’t seem to be previously recorded from this region
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
Doesn’t seem to be previously recorded from this region
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
December 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Fontinalis squamosa from Bavan, Cooley Mountains, Co. Louth in upland boulder stream
Doesn’t seem to be previously recorded from this region
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
Doesn’t seem to be previously recorded from this region
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
November - Bazzania trilobata
This was a lovely large liverwort of humid woodland to find for the first time and marks the best find for November. Ness Country Park in Derry was really productive for temperate rainforest species and will be worth returning to.
This was a lovely large liverwort of humid woodland to find for the first time and marks the best find for November. Ness Country Park in Derry was really productive for temperate rainforest species and will be worth returning to.
December 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
November - Bazzania trilobata
This was a lovely large liverwort of humid woodland to find for the first time and marks the best find for November. Ness Country Park in Derry was really productive for temperate rainforest species and will be worth returning to.
This was a lovely large liverwort of humid woodland to find for the first time and marks the best find for November. Ness Country Park in Derry was really productive for temperate rainforest species and will be worth returning to.
October - Lobaria pulmonaria
A visit to northwest Donegal was productive for finding the lovely lungwort. This site had good populations of it, and other old-growth lichens which were nice to see for the first time too.
A visit to northwest Donegal was productive for finding the lovely lungwort. This site had good populations of it, and other old-growth lichens which were nice to see for the first time too.
December 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
October - Lobaria pulmonaria
A visit to northwest Donegal was productive for finding the lovely lungwort. This site had good populations of it, and other old-growth lichens which were nice to see for the first time too.
A visit to northwest Donegal was productive for finding the lovely lungwort. This site had good populations of it, and other old-growth lichens which were nice to see for the first time too.
September - Daltonia splachnoides
This was the month I came across Irish Daltonia and was over the moon. I found it first in Monaghan and then in Antrim, which were first records for those counties. I’ve subsequently found it in a few other places!
This was the month I came across Irish Daltonia and was over the moon. I found it first in Monaghan and then in Antrim, which were first records for those counties. I’ve subsequently found it in a few other places!
December 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
September - Daltonia splachnoides
This was the month I came across Irish Daltonia and was over the moon. I found it first in Monaghan and then in Antrim, which were first records for those counties. I’ve subsequently found it in a few other places!
This was the month I came across Irish Daltonia and was over the moon. I found it first in Monaghan and then in Antrim, which were first records for those counties. I’ve subsequently found it in a few other places!
August - Asplenium ceterach
Another fern, rustyback from southwest co. Armagh. A common fern but it’s always evaded me. A very distinctive and charismatic species and one I was happy to find on an old mortared wall.
Another fern, rustyback from southwest co. Armagh. A common fern but it’s always evaded me. A very distinctive and charismatic species and one I was happy to find on an old mortared wall.
December 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
August - Asplenium ceterach
Another fern, rustyback from southwest co. Armagh. A common fern but it’s always evaded me. A very distinctive and charismatic species and one I was happy to find on an old mortared wall.
Another fern, rustyback from southwest co. Armagh. A common fern but it’s always evaded me. A very distinctive and charismatic species and one I was happy to find on an old mortared wall.
July - Vandenboschia speciosa
I did loads of temperate rainforest surveying this month so this was difficult. But seeing Killarney Fern sporophyte in a cove in Fermanagh was probably the most exciting. I could make many posts about all the species I found in our rainforests!
I did loads of temperate rainforest surveying this month so this was difficult. But seeing Killarney Fern sporophyte in a cove in Fermanagh was probably the most exciting. I could make many posts about all the species I found in our rainforests!
December 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
July - Vandenboschia speciosa
I did loads of temperate rainforest surveying this month so this was difficult. But seeing Killarney Fern sporophyte in a cove in Fermanagh was probably the most exciting. I could make many posts about all the species I found in our rainforests!
I did loads of temperate rainforest surveying this month so this was difficult. But seeing Killarney Fern sporophyte in a cove in Fermanagh was probably the most exciting. I could make many posts about all the species I found in our rainforests!
June - Anacamptis pyramidalis
This was my first time seeing this stunning orchid in Ireland & after getting a hint of its presence via word of mouth on a roadside west of Ardee town, Co. Louth, I had to find it. A few plants were found at the corner of a t-junction & I was chuffed all together!
This was my first time seeing this stunning orchid in Ireland & after getting a hint of its presence via word of mouth on a roadside west of Ardee town, Co. Louth, I had to find it. A few plants were found at the corner of a t-junction & I was chuffed all together!
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
June - Anacamptis pyramidalis
This was my first time seeing this stunning orchid in Ireland & after getting a hint of its presence via word of mouth on a roadside west of Ardee town, Co. Louth, I had to find it. A few plants were found at the corner of a t-junction & I was chuffed all together!
This was my first time seeing this stunning orchid in Ireland & after getting a hint of its presence via word of mouth on a roadside west of Ardee town, Co. Louth, I had to find it. A few plants were found at the corner of a t-junction & I was chuffed all together!
May - Pamphilius gyllenhali
This was a hard one but I’ll settle on this very scarce sawfly with only 5 previous records in Ireland. I found it in a mixed woodland site SW of Newry. Its larvae feed on willow species & adults are distinctively black & yellow and robust. This day was v successful
This was a hard one but I’ll settle on this very scarce sawfly with only 5 previous records in Ireland. I found it in a mixed woodland site SW of Newry. Its larvae feed on willow species & adults are distinctively black & yellow and robust. This day was v successful
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
May - Pamphilius gyllenhali
This was a hard one but I’ll settle on this very scarce sawfly with only 5 previous records in Ireland. I found it in a mixed woodland site SW of Newry. Its larvae feed on willow species & adults are distinctively black & yellow and robust. This day was v successful
This was a hard one but I’ll settle on this very scarce sawfly with only 5 previous records in Ireland. I found it in a mixed woodland site SW of Newry. Its larvae feed on willow species & adults are distinctively black & yellow and robust. This day was v successful
April - Orchis mascula
My first time coming across Early-purple Orchid, here at its only extant south Co. Down location, just before it bloomed. This orchid should be much more common than it is. I’m grateful to have seen it. The path that it is on is also ancient & has other interesting wildlife
My first time coming across Early-purple Orchid, here at its only extant south Co. Down location, just before it bloomed. This orchid should be much more common than it is. I’m grateful to have seen it. The path that it is on is also ancient & has other interesting wildlife
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
April - Orchis mascula
My first time coming across Early-purple Orchid, here at its only extant south Co. Down location, just before it bloomed. This orchid should be much more common than it is. I’m grateful to have seen it. The path that it is on is also ancient & has other interesting wildlife
My first time coming across Early-purple Orchid, here at its only extant south Co. Down location, just before it bloomed. This orchid should be much more common than it is. I’m grateful to have seen it. The path that it is on is also ancient & has other interesting wildlife
March - Cheilosia grossa
This large and distinctive hoverfly is an early season species and I am lucky enough to have found it at a few local places this year. It can be found feeding on willow and is generally quite rare. This one was found in a reed marsh north of my hometown
This large and distinctive hoverfly is an early season species and I am lucky enough to have found it at a few local places this year. It can be found feeding on willow and is generally quite rare. This one was found in a reed marsh north of my hometown
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
March - Cheilosia grossa
This large and distinctive hoverfly is an early season species and I am lucky enough to have found it at a few local places this year. It can be found feeding on willow and is generally quite rare. This one was found in a reed marsh north of my hometown
This large and distinctive hoverfly is an early season species and I am lucky enough to have found it at a few local places this year. It can be found feeding on willow and is generally quite rare. This one was found in a reed marsh north of my hometown
February - Rana temporaria
Feb wasn’t the most productive month but coming across a huge population of frogs in this upland pond on Camlough Mountain was by far the most memorable. I have never seen so many frogs in one place and the noise was amazing. A humble creature
Feb wasn’t the most productive month but coming across a huge population of frogs in this upland pond on Camlough Mountain was by far the most memorable. I have never seen so many frogs in one place and the noise was amazing. A humble creature
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
February - Rana temporaria
Feb wasn’t the most productive month but coming across a huge population of frogs in this upland pond on Camlough Mountain was by far the most memorable. I have never seen so many frogs in one place and the noise was amazing. A humble creature
Feb wasn’t the most productive month but coming across a huge population of frogs in this upland pond on Camlough Mountain was by far the most memorable. I have never seen so many frogs in one place and the noise was amazing. A humble creature
To round up my year of biological recording, here are my favourite finds from each month of 2025!
January - Jubula hutchinsiae
I re-found this colony recorded in 2004 in the Glen Stream, co. Down. A v interesting & unmistakable oceanic liverwort of humid wooded stream valleys
January - Jubula hutchinsiae
I re-found this colony recorded in 2004 in the Glen Stream, co. Down. A v interesting & unmistakable oceanic liverwort of humid wooded stream valleys
December 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
To round up my year of biological recording, here are my favourite finds from each month of 2025!
January - Jubula hutchinsiae
I re-found this colony recorded in 2004 in the Glen Stream, co. Down. A v interesting & unmistakable oceanic liverwort of humid wooded stream valleys
January - Jubula hutchinsiae
I re-found this colony recorded in 2004 in the Glen Stream, co. Down. A v interesting & unmistakable oceanic liverwort of humid wooded stream valleys
Greenan Lough, Newry, Co. Down
These drumlin valleys contain lakes, fen and transition mire. Important habitats for scarce spp like Marsh St John’s Wort, Sphagnum contortum and many wetland birds.
Main issue = no public accessibility - I have not explored any of these wetlands properly
These drumlin valleys contain lakes, fen and transition mire. Important habitats for scarce spp like Marsh St John’s Wort, Sphagnum contortum and many wetland birds.
Main issue = no public accessibility - I have not explored any of these wetlands properly
November 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Greenan Lough, Newry, Co. Down
These drumlin valleys contain lakes, fen and transition mire. Important habitats for scarce spp like Marsh St John’s Wort, Sphagnum contortum and many wetland birds.
Main issue = no public accessibility - I have not explored any of these wetlands properly
These drumlin valleys contain lakes, fen and transition mire. Important habitats for scarce spp like Marsh St John’s Wort, Sphagnum contortum and many wetland birds.
Main issue = no public accessibility - I have not explored any of these wetlands properly
A deep hollow is know locally as Poll an Mhadaidh/Cove of the Dog (wolf?), now it is just a poor plantation but the fern-rich understory is still there. A few native oaks and ash can be found but also loads of rhodo and Tsuga regen. Historic beech planting too. But the potential is all there.
November 28, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A deep hollow is know locally as Poll an Mhadaidh/Cove of the Dog (wolf?), now it is just a poor plantation but the fern-rich understory is still there. A few native oaks and ash can be found but also loads of rhodo and Tsuga regen. Historic beech planting too. But the potential is all there.
This woodland site on the Armagh/louth border SW of Newry is begging for restoration. Bounded by forestry on both sides with a deep gorge between, supporting a nice array of species. Also an area brimming in local history, being one of the last Gaeltachtaí on east coast c. early 20th Century
November 28, 2025 at 10:34 AM
This woodland site on the Armagh/louth border SW of Newry is begging for restoration. Bounded by forestry on both sides with a deep gorge between, supporting a nice array of species. Also an area brimming in local history, being one of the last Gaeltachtaí on east coast c. early 20th Century
First record of Daltonia splachnoides for Co. Armagh (H37) from plantation on Camlough Mountain. Epiphytic on willow, associates were Lejeunea patens & Metzgeria consanguinea. Algal gloop a big issue though.
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
#bryophytes #moss #Ireland
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
#bryophytes #moss #Ireland
November 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
First record of Daltonia splachnoides for Co. Armagh (H37) from plantation on Camlough Mountain. Epiphytic on willow, associates were Lejeunea patens & Metzgeria consanguinea. Algal gloop a big issue though.
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
#bryophytes #moss #Ireland
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
#bryophytes #moss #Ireland
Other cool Fermanagh/Cavan finds included Saxifraga hypnoides, Sticta limbata and slime mould Badhamia utricularis.
Also visited Shannon Pot, the source of the River Shannon in west Cavan
#botany #lichens #slimemould #ireland
Also visited Shannon Pot, the source of the River Shannon in west Cavan
#botany #lichens #slimemould #ireland
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Other cool Fermanagh/Cavan finds included Saxifraga hypnoides, Sticta limbata and slime mould Badhamia utricularis.
Also visited Shannon Pot, the source of the River Shannon in west Cavan
#botany #lichens #slimemould #ireland
Also visited Shannon Pot, the source of the River Shannon in west Cavan
#botany #lichens #slimemould #ireland
Neckera crispa growing as an epiphyte in a hazel temperate rainforest north of Cuilcagh, Co. Fermanagh.
Other niceties include Ctenidium molluscum and Breutelia chrysocoma
Other niceties include Ctenidium molluscum and Breutelia chrysocoma
November 12, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Neckera crispa growing as an epiphyte in a hazel temperate rainforest north of Cuilcagh, Co. Fermanagh.
Other niceties include Ctenidium molluscum and Breutelia chrysocoma
Other niceties include Ctenidium molluscum and Breutelia chrysocoma
A new site for Neckera pumila from willow on edge of Gortin Lakes, co. Tyrone
This colony was particularly robust
#bryophytes #moss
This colony was particularly robust
#bryophytes #moss
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 PM
A new site for Neckera pumila from willow on edge of Gortin Lakes, co. Tyrone
This colony was particularly robust
#bryophytes #moss
This colony was particularly robust
#bryophytes #moss
Some more habitat photos from Ness Country Park, Derry
Very impressed with this site and an unexpected hyper-humid microclimate. The Burntollet River was powerful
Very impressed with this site and an unexpected hyper-humid microclimate. The Burntollet River was powerful
November 4, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Some more habitat photos from Ness Country Park, Derry
Very impressed with this site and an unexpected hyper-humid microclimate. The Burntollet River was powerful
Very impressed with this site and an unexpected hyper-humid microclimate. The Burntollet River was powerful
First record of large leafy liverwort Bazzania trilobata for co Derry (H40) since 1834! Also growing alongside it was Hymenophyllum tunbrigense which is a new county site too.
Ness Country Park, Co. Derry.
@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social
#bryophytes #ferns #botany
Ness Country Park, Co. Derry.
@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social
#bryophytes #ferns #botany
November 3, 2025 at 8:18 PM
First record of large leafy liverwort Bazzania trilobata for co Derry (H40) since 1834! Also growing alongside it was Hymenophyllum tunbrigense which is a new county site too.
Ness Country Park, Co. Derry.
@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social
#bryophytes #ferns #botany
Ness Country Park, Co. Derry.
@bsbiireland.bsky.social @bbsbryology.bsky.social
#bryophytes #ferns #botany