Mark Shorten
@sevenheads.bsky.social
Birder, Cork county recorder, co author Birds of County Cork,
Reposted by Mark Shorten
Successful trip to Donegal with the Harlequin showing well and then got the two Taiga in the Geese fields at Dooey. #irishrarebirds
November 8, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Successful trip to Donegal with the Harlequin showing well and then got the two Taiga in the Geese fields at Dooey. #irishrarebirds
Recently got a Hawke phone adapter for the scope from @birdwatchireland.bsky.social great value at €25. Many years of using a jam jar lid glued to phone case behind me…..cheap🤷🏻♂️
November 6, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Recently got a Hawke phone adapter for the scope from @birdwatchireland.bsky.social great value at €25. Many years of using a jam jar lid glued to phone case behind me…..cheap🤷🏻♂️
High tide on the Lee at Shaky Bridge, Cork
November 6, 2025 at 11:15 AM
High tide on the Lee at Shaky Bridge, Cork
Reposted by Mark Shorten
The view from Seven Heads, Cork. Sadly I messed up the digiscoping effort for the Soft plumaged Petrel past Seven Heads, Cork at 10.52 this morning but thrilled the lads on Galley Head got it nearly an hour later. Persistence pays off for seawatching
November 3, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The view from Seven Heads, Cork. Sadly I messed up the digiscoping effort for the Soft plumaged Petrel past Seven Heads, Cork at 10.52 this morning but thrilled the lads on Galley Head got it nearly an hour later. Persistence pays off for seawatching
Reposted by Mark Shorten
Welcome to Seven Heads
November 3, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Welcome to Seven Heads
Reposted by Mark Shorten
1/3 We had another great volunteer morning on the reserve yesterday. The weather gods were kind to us and we got a lot done, including replacing one of our wetland access gates and cutting back some encroaching gorse on the nature trail.
November 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
1/3 We had another great volunteer morning on the reserve yesterday. The weather gods were kind to us and we got a lot done, including replacing one of our wetland access gates and cutting back some encroaching gorse on the nature trail.
Clearing out old Sand Martin nests from the nesting wall at @harpersisland.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Clearing out old Sand Martin nests from the nesting wall at @harpersisland.bsky.social
Old Head of Kinsale 12.5 km away as seen from Seven Heads. Gannets diving. 169 Sootys, 32 Great Shearwater, 7 Arctic, 1 Pom 1 Bonxi
October 31, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Old Head of Kinsale 12.5 km away as seen from Seven Heads. Gannets diving. 169 Sootys, 32 Great Shearwater, 7 Arctic, 1 Pom 1 Bonxi
Recent visit or the Irish Butter museum in Cork. Made some butter and glad to see a butter wrapper from the family shop, O’Donovan’s Princes Street, in the collection. Butter on the shelves last shot
October 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Recent visit or the Irish Butter museum in Cork. Made some butter and glad to see a butter wrapper from the family shop, O’Donovan’s Princes Street, in the collection. Butter on the shelves last shot
Reposted by Mark Shorten
Ireland’s third Isabelline Wheatear was showing very well over the border in Dungarvan this morning. Hopefully have something more colourful to post tomorrow from west Cork.
October 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Ireland’s third Isabelline Wheatear was showing very well over the border in Dungarvan this morning. Hopefully have something more colourful to post tomorrow from west Cork.
Reposted by Mark Shorten
Currently looking at research on Woodpigeons in Ireland. They are the most commonly struck (by aircraft) large bird at Dublin Airport. Strikes generally occur in the evening and hit the starboard engine mostly. An interesting added complexity to consider when choosing your flight and seat.
October 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Currently looking at research on Woodpigeons in Ireland. They are the most commonly struck (by aircraft) large bird at Dublin Airport. Strikes generally occur in the evening and hit the starboard engine mostly. An interesting added complexity to consider when choosing your flight and seat.
Flap - Michael Quane piece looking fantastic with autumn Virginia Creeper
October 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Flap - Michael Quane piece looking fantastic with autumn Virginia Creeper
Recently got on the solar train, 9 panels and 5kw battery, the later powering us through till dawn usually. Have in recent days been exporting up five times as much energy as imported from grid. Wet cloudy days production is about same as imported. We are not heavy electric users.
September 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Recently got on the solar train, 9 panels and 5kw battery, the later powering us through till dawn usually. Have in recent days been exporting up five times as much energy as imported from grid. Wet cloudy days production is about same as imported. We are not heavy electric users.
Reposted by Mark Shorten
Just watched a Peregrine chase a flock of Pink-footed Geese and then take one down! Seem to to remember reading about previous records of hunting geese (Barnacle?) in the Derek Ratcliffe book but never witnessed it! 🤯
September 25, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Just watched a Peregrine chase a flock of Pink-footed Geese and then take one down! Seem to to remember reading about previous records of hunting geese (Barnacle?) in the Derek Ratcliffe book but never witnessed it! 🤯
25 Buzzards moving SW in an hour, in hills west of Dungarvan. Gained height from Dungarvan and moved rapidly SW @watbirds.bsky.social
September 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
25 Buzzards moving SW in an hour, in hills west of Dungarvan. Gained height from Dungarvan and moved rapidly SW @watbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Shorten
Visiting Copeland bird observatory warden Adam Ringland was delighted to ring one of two adult Choughs that surprisingly ventured into our mist nets this morning.
September 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Visiting Copeland bird observatory warden Adam Ringland was delighted to ring one of two adult Choughs that surprisingly ventured into our mist nets this morning.
Grand day at Galley Head 10.45-16.00 very heavy Great Shearwater passage, up to 8,500 per hour at times. Total app 20,000, second highest day count for the species in Ireland. 250 Cory’s, 4 long tailed, 21 Bonxi, 5 Arctic skua, 1 Pom, 1 Sabines, 2 Wilson’s, 4 grey phalarope #seabirds
September 14, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Grand day at Galley Head 10.45-16.00 very heavy Great Shearwater passage, up to 8,500 per hour at times. Total app 20,000, second highest day count for the species in Ireland. 250 Cory’s, 4 long tailed, 21 Bonxi, 5 Arctic skua, 1 Pom, 1 Sabines, 2 Wilson’s, 4 grey phalarope #seabirds
Graffitiish from recent trip to Cape Clear @ccbowarden.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Graffitiish from recent trip to Cape Clear @ccbowarden.bsky.social
Above Dungarvan with Hook Head and Saltee Islands in background, flyby ringtail, Swallows and House Martins moving through…
August 21, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Above Dungarvan with Hook Head and Saltee Islands in background, flyby ringtail, Swallows and House Martins moving through…
www.rte.ie/news/environ... @jamierohu.bsky.social straight on peat?
Launch of first large-scale solar power joint project
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien has officially launched the first large-scale solar power project developed as a joint venture between ESB and Bord na Móna.
www.rte.ie
August 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
www.rte.ie/news/environ... @jamierohu.bsky.social straight on peat?
Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher recently from @harpersisland.bsky.social ebird.org/checklist/S2... ebird.org/checklist/S2...
eBird Checklist - 27 Jul 2025 - Harper's Island Wetlands - 1 species
Submitted by Mark Shorten.
ebird.org
August 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher recently from @harpersisland.bsky.social ebird.org/checklist/S2... ebird.org/checklist/S2...
First-very modest-fig harvest nearly ready
August 8, 2025 at 11:17 PM
First-very modest-fig harvest nearly ready
Etain Hickey ceramic added to the bird wall - tiny flock of Curlew and a Hare in spring flowers. Beautiful work
August 8, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Etain Hickey ceramic added to the bird wall - tiny flock of Curlew and a Hare in spring flowers. Beautiful work
Reposted by Mark Shorten
"What song the Sirens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, though puzzling questions, are not beyond all conjecture"
Can’t wait to introduce bird-based storage into my backup system
July 28, 2025 at 7:03 PM
"What song the Sirens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, though puzzling questions, are not beyond all conjecture"