Will O'Connor
@entosphenus.bsky.social
Ecologist and wildlife photographer.
Atlantic salmon trying to pass a natural cascade in the upper River Mulkear catchment last week. This is a relatively small river, yet more salmon can pass through this site in an hour than make it through the fish pass at Ardnacrusha hydroelectric station in an entire year.
November 25, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Atlantic salmon trying to pass a natural cascade in the upper River Mulkear catchment last week. This is a relatively small river, yet more salmon can pass through this site in an hour than make it through the fish pass at Ardnacrusha hydroelectric station in an entire year.
Parteen Regulating Weir on the Lower River Shannon yesterday morning. This weir forms part of the Shannon hydroelectric scheme and is the point at which water is abstracted and diverted to the Ardnacrusha Hydroelectric Station.
Read the full post here:-
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Read the full post here:-
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November 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Parteen Regulating Weir on the Lower River Shannon yesterday morning. This weir forms part of the Shannon hydroelectric scheme and is the point at which water is abstracted and diverted to the Ardnacrusha Hydroelectric Station.
Read the full post here:-
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Read the full post here:-
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Ardnacrusha hydroelectric station yesterday evening, when ESB was abstracting almost 70% of the flow in the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Much of the abstracted water is not even being used for hydroelectricity generation.
Read the full post here:-
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Read the full post here:-
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November 21, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Ardnacrusha hydroelectric station yesterday evening, when ESB was abstracting almost 70% of the flow in the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Much of the abstracted water is not even being used for hydroelectricity generation.
Read the full post here:-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
Read the full post here:-
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Unlucky Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) failing to catch two Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, earlier this week.
This weir is a barrier to the upstream spawning migration of trout, and even larger, stronger salmon (Salmo salar) struggle to get past it.
This weir is a barrier to the upstream spawning migration of trout, and even larger, stronger salmon (Salmo salar) struggle to get past it.
November 20, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Unlucky Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) failing to catch two Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, earlier this week.
This weir is a barrier to the upstream spawning migration of trout, and even larger, stronger salmon (Salmo salar) struggle to get past it.
This weir is a barrier to the upstream spawning migration of trout, and even larger, stronger salmon (Salmo salar) struggle to get past it.
Very nice footage of Otters (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear downstream of Annacotty weir, Co. Limerick, November 2025.
Watch the 4K version here:-
youtu.be/jLXoIOqtFJ8?...
Watch the 4K version here:-
youtu.be/jLXoIOqtFJ8?...
November 19, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Very nice footage of Otters (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear downstream of Annacotty weir, Co. Limerick, November 2025.
Watch the 4K version here:-
youtu.be/jLXoIOqtFJ8?...
Watch the 4K version here:-
youtu.be/jLXoIOqtFJ8?...
Current trail camera footage of a Heron (Ardea cinerea) catching a Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) at a site on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick.
November 18, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Current trail camera footage of a Heron (Ardea cinerea) catching a Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) at a site on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick.
More footage of wild Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) running in the upper River Mulkear catchment last week. These fish are on their upstream spawning migration.
This is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and salmon are a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
This is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and salmon are a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
November 17, 2025 at 8:24 AM
More footage of wild Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) running in the upper River Mulkear catchment last week. These fish are on their upstream spawning migration.
This is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and salmon are a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
This is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and salmon are a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) running in the upper River Mulkear catchment yesterday afternoon.
Read the full post here :-
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Read the full post here :-
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November 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) running in the upper River Mulkear catchment yesterday afternoon.
Read the full post here :-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
Read the full post here :-
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Otters (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
This is a mother and a juvenile, and the second photo shows them resting together. They were feeding on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) blocked by the weir.
This is a mother and a juvenile, and the second photo shows them resting together. They were feeding on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) blocked by the weir.
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Otters (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
This is a mother and a juvenile, and the second photo shows them resting together. They were feeding on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) blocked by the weir.
This is a mother and a juvenile, and the second photo shows them resting together. They were feeding on River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) blocked by the weir.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), and Otter (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear downstream of Annacotty Weir, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
November 13, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), and Otter (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear downstream of Annacotty Weir, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
Otters (Lutra lutra) on the Jándula River in Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain, October 2025.
The Jándula is a tributary of the Guadalquivir River and is designated as a SAC under the EU Habitats Directive. Otters are a key Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
The Jándula is a tributary of the Guadalquivir River and is designated as a SAC under the EU Habitats Directive. Otters are a key Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
November 12, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Otters (Lutra lutra) on the Jándula River in Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain, October 2025.
The Jándula is a tributary of the Guadalquivir River and is designated as a SAC under the EU Habitats Directive. Otters are a key Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
The Jándula is a tributary of the Guadalquivir River and is designated as a SAC under the EU Habitats Directive. Otters are a key Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
Otter (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
November 11, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Otter (Lutra lutra) on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
Current trail-camera footage of wild Fallow Deer (Dama dama) from a site in north Co. Tipperary.
November 7, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Current trail-camera footage of wild Fallow Deer (Dama dama) from a site in north Co. Tipperary.
Otters (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, November 2025.
Read the full post here :-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
Read the full post here :-
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November 6, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Otters (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, November 2025.
Read the full post here :-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
Read the full post here :-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
Otters (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, last week. This is a mother and a juvenile.
The River Mulkear is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation, and Otter is a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
The River Mulkear is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation, and Otter is a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
November 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Otters (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, last week. This is a mother and a juvenile.
The River Mulkear is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation, and Otter is a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
The River Mulkear is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation, and Otter is a Qualifying Interest of this Natura 2000 site.
Juvenile Otter (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, last week. Watch until the end of the video when its mother makes an appearance.
November 4, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Juvenile Otter (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, last week. Watch until the end of the video when its mother makes an appearance.
Otters (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
Read the full post here :-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
Read the full post here :-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
November 3, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Otters (Lutra lutra) at Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday morning.
Read the full post here :-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
Read the full post here :-
x.com/EcofactEcolo...
Otter (Lutra lutra) foraging downstream of Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday evening.
November 2, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Otter (Lutra lutra) foraging downstream of Annacotty Weir on the River Mulkear, Co. Limerick, yesterday evening.
Selected autumn trail-camera footage from a site in north Co. Tipperary, featuring a Badger (Meles meles), Fallow Deer (Dama dama), and a Fox (Vulpes vulpes).
This was captured using a 'white-flash' camera, which uses an LED light to illuminate the scenes.
This was captured using a 'white-flash' camera, which uses an LED light to illuminate the scenes.
November 1, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Selected autumn trail-camera footage from a site in north Co. Tipperary, featuring a Badger (Meles meles), Fallow Deer (Dama dama), and a Fox (Vulpes vulpes).
This was captured using a 'white-flash' camera, which uses an LED light to illuminate the scenes.
This was captured using a 'white-flash' camera, which uses an LED light to illuminate the scenes.
Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) in Monfragüe National Park, Extremadura, Spain, October 2025.
This location is Peña Falcón, in the Salto del Gitano gorge of the River Tagus. The site supports one of the largest colonies of Griffon Vultures in Europe, with approximately 80 breeding pairs.
This location is Peña Falcón, in the Salto del Gitano gorge of the River Tagus. The site supports one of the largest colonies of Griffon Vultures in Europe, with approximately 80 breeding pairs.
October 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) in Monfragüe National Park, Extremadura, Spain, October 2025.
This location is Peña Falcón, in the Salto del Gitano gorge of the River Tagus. The site supports one of the largest colonies of Griffon Vultures in Europe, with approximately 80 breeding pairs.
This location is Peña Falcón, in the Salto del Gitano gorge of the River Tagus. The site supports one of the largest colonies of Griffon Vultures in Europe, with approximately 80 breeding pairs.
Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) in Doñana National Park, Andalusia, Spain, October 2025.
Once considered one of the world’s rarest gulls, conservation efforts under the EU Birds Directive have significantly improved its status, particularly in Spain, though it remains vulnerable.
Once considered one of the world’s rarest gulls, conservation efforts under the EU Birds Directive have significantly improved its status, particularly in Spain, though it remains vulnerable.
October 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) in Doñana National Park, Andalusia, Spain, October 2025.
Once considered one of the world’s rarest gulls, conservation efforts under the EU Birds Directive have significantly improved its status, particularly in Spain, though it remains vulnerable.
Once considered one of the world’s rarest gulls, conservation efforts under the EU Birds Directive have significantly improved its status, particularly in Spain, though it remains vulnerable.
Otter (Lutra lutra) on the Jándula River in Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain, October 2025.
October 29, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Otter (Lutra lutra) on the Jándula River in Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain, October 2025.
Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) on the Cáceres plains, Extremadura, Spain, October 2025.
October 29, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) on the Cáceres plains, Extremadura, Spain, October 2025.
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) on the Shannon Estuary last week. Most of the Golden Plover seen in Ireland are winter visitors from Iceland.
October 28, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) on the Shannon Estuary last week. Most of the Golden Plover seen in Ireland are winter visitors from Iceland.
Current trail camera footage wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) at a site in east Co. Clare. Unlike the Killarney herd, these deer are descendants of more recent introductions and are not considered native.
October 27, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Current trail camera footage wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) at a site in east Co. Clare. Unlike the Killarney herd, these deer are descendants of more recent introductions and are not considered native.