Hannah Mulcahy
@hannahmul.bsky.social
130 followers 140 following 48 posts
Ecologist | Botanist | BSBI VC recorder H09 | Sharing finds from the field — Turloughs, Irish flora, habitats & wildlife 🌿 Based in Co Clare 🇮🇪
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hannahmul.bsky.social
Tiny and rare- my first encounter with Mudwort (Limosella aquatica) at The Gearagh, Co. Cork.

Growing on freshly exposed mud, the water levels are controlled by ESB for the hydrolectric dam downstream on the Lee.

This plant is protected in Ireland (FPO) and also occurs on turloughs
hannahmul.bsky.social
A treat this week to find Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) near Clonakilty, Co. Cork 🌼
With its stronghold in the south, it’s not something I often see in Clare. Sadly, this plant is has suffered larges declines in Britain and Ireland
hannahmul.bsky.social
One of my #FavouritePlant has to be Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris). I’m lucky to see it regularly in the west of Ireland.

But it was a real joy to meet this familiar plant on a trip to the Swedish Arctic, in Abisko National Park

#wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
hannahmul.bsky.social
This was an immediately obvious problem when I visited in 2022, within the first hour off the boat I witnessed three children attempting to approach hauled out seals on the beach by crawling towards them. The story of the poor dead pup was still fresh that summer. Sad to hear this is still an issue
hannahmul.bsky.social
Who else gets excited when its finally Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) season?

One of the loveliest late summer flowers ✨

📍Tullanafrankagh turlough, Co Galway
hannahmul.bsky.social
Ah surely they will still be out looking for food in September - go for it!
hannahmul.bsky.social
Water Germander Teucrium scordium from Knockaunroe Turlough

A gorgeous rare plant that seems to like hiding among equally purple-leaved Water-mint

📍Burren National Park
hannahmul.bsky.social
Unexpected places where bats turn up - I recorded pipistrelles on the Great Blasket around the old village few years ago.
hannahmul.bsky.social
Dodder (Cuscuta epithymum) flowering on fixed dune, a wholly parasitic plant.

It seems to particularly enjoy parasitising Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides) which has turned yellow from stress.

📍Maharees, Co Kerry
hannahmul.bsky.social
Pyramidal orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis still going strong and vibrant, despite the gloomy start to August.

📍Maharees, Co Kerry
hannahmul.bsky.social
Yeah even with exact grid ref, its hard. It might be a tad easier when its not quite so flooded. Really its best to go out with someone who knows what they are looking for - Rory Hodd and Mike WJ pointed it out to me 😇
hannahmul.bsky.social
Pillwort Pilularia globulifera from Upper Lake, Killarney, Co Kerry

Tiny, rare, protected, aquatic.. FERN?!

This is a hard plant to find not only is it rare but it grows with its equally thread-like companion bulbous rush, both growing side by side in this photo
hannahmul.bsky.social
Ahh that feeling when you can sit down anywhere you like, lie down for lunch, and no fear of dropping your phone into water😊
hannahmul.bsky.social
A great year for Spiranthes spiralis Autumn lady's-tresses in Maharees, Co Kerry.
hannahmul.bsky.social
Strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) in fixed dune, Maharees, Co Kerry.
Always a cheerful one to see!
hannahmul.bsky.social
Year 3 of growing a meadow in my back garden and this year I bought my own scythe - now I'm fully committed!

I quickly learned rule no. 1 of scything: keep the blade super sharp and it’ll slice like butter. Then it’s a fun job and you could go forever.
hannahmul.bsky.social
I went searching for Orange Foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) in Lough Gash, Newmarket-on-Fergus. This elegant and colour grass is only present in a handful of sites in Ireland, it is protected under Wildlife Acts.
Pleased to have found it doing well!

#Turloughs
Reposted by Hannah Mulcahy
trisnorton.bsky.social
Carex pulicaris Flea Sedge, Carex canina White Sedge, Carex dioica Dioecious Sedge, Carex leporina Oval Sedge. Glenshee area, Aberdeenshire/Angus. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social
hannahmul.bsky.social
Yellow-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium californicum) from the shores of Lough Corrib, Co Galway.

Native of west coast North America, introduced to Ireland.

@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
hannahmul.bsky.social
At last, I have introduced myself to the rare and beautiful Irish Lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) — found at a well-known site along Lough Corrib, Co. Galway.

#WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Reposted by Hannah Mulcahy
mayocorncrake77.bsky.social
More hen corncrake and chicks from the farm!!
hannahmul.bsky.social
Ballyvaughan Turlough, Co Clare - this turlough refilled dramatically after one night of heavy rain, flooding back over flowering vegetation.

Here you can see the Marsh ragwort flowers under the surface of the water.