Hannah Mulcahy
@hannahmul.bsky.social
Ecologist | Botanist | BSBI VC recorder H09 |
Sharing finds from the field — Turloughs, Irish flora, habitats & wildlife 🌿
Based in Co Clare 🇮🇪
Sharing finds from the field — Turloughs, Irish flora, habitats & wildlife 🌿
Based in Co Clare 🇮🇪
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
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
September 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
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
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
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
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
September 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
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
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
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
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
September 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
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
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
Who else gets excited when its finally Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) season?
One of the loveliest late summer flowers ✨
📍Tullanafrankagh turlough, Co Galway
One of the loveliest late summer flowers ✨
📍Tullanafrankagh turlough, Co Galway
August 16, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Who else gets excited when its finally Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) season?
One of the loveliest late summer flowers ✨
📍Tullanafrankagh turlough, Co Galway
One of the loveliest late summer flowers ✨
📍Tullanafrankagh turlough, Co Galway
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
A gorgeous rare plant that seems to like hiding among equally purple-leaved Water-mint
📍Burren National Park
August 11, 2025 at 7:16 PM
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
A gorgeous rare plant that seems to like hiding among equally purple-leaved Water-mint
📍Burren National Park
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
It seems to particularly enjoy parasitising Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides) which has turned yellow from stress.
📍Maharees, Co Kerry
August 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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
It seems to particularly enjoy parasitising Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides) which has turned yellow from stress.
📍Maharees, Co Kerry
Pyramidal orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis still going strong and vibrant, despite the gloomy start to August.
📍Maharees, Co Kerry
📍Maharees, Co Kerry
August 8, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Pyramidal orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis still going strong and vibrant, despite the gloomy start to August.
📍Maharees, Co Kerry
📍Maharees, Co Kerry
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
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
August 7, 2025 at 4:43 PM
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
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
A great year for Spiranthes spiralis Autumn lady's-tresses in Maharees, Co Kerry.
August 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
A great year for Spiranthes spiralis Autumn lady's-tresses in Maharees, Co Kerry.
Strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) in fixed dune, Maharees, Co Kerry.
Always a cheerful one to see!
Always a cheerful one to see!
August 6, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) in fixed dune, Maharees, Co Kerry.
Always a cheerful one to see!
Always a cheerful one to see!
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.
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.
August 3, 2025 at 9:21 AM
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.
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.
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
Pleased to have found it doing well!
#Turloughs
August 1, 2025 at 5:25 PM
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
Pleased to have found it doing well!
#Turloughs
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
Native of west coast North America, introduced to Ireland.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
July 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
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
Native of west coast North America, introduced to Ireland.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.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
#WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
July 27, 2025 at 8:31 PM
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
#WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.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.
Here you can see the Marsh ragwort flowers under the surface of the water.
July 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
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.
Here you can see the Marsh ragwort flowers under the surface of the water.
If anyone could help me ID this orchid 😇
I thought it might be Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. coccinea but this on the edge of my ID capabilities with only 1 flower left 😅
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
I thought it might be Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. coccinea but this on the edge of my ID capabilities with only 1 flower left 😅
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
July 11, 2025 at 10:03 PM
If anyone could help me ID this orchid 😇
I thought it might be Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. coccinea but this on the edge of my ID capabilities with only 1 flower left 😅
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
I thought it might be Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. coccinea but this on the edge of my ID capabilities with only 1 flower left 😅
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
A close up of the felted algal paper - with little snail shells 🐚
July 7, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A close up of the felted algal paper - with little snail shells 🐚
These dried, felted remains of filamentous algae are known as "algal paper", left behind as turlough waters recede - a reliable sign you're standing in a turlough basin.
📍 At Coolisduff in typical sheets across the basin floor.
📍 At Lydacan the paper is unusually caught in a wire fence
📍 At Coolisduff in typical sheets across the basin floor.
📍 At Lydacan the paper is unusually caught in a wire fence
July 7, 2025 at 7:48 PM
These dried, felted remains of filamentous algae are known as "algal paper", left behind as turlough waters recede - a reliable sign you're standing in a turlough basin.
📍 At Coolisduff in typical sheets across the basin floor.
📍 At Lydacan the paper is unusually caught in a wire fence
📍 At Coolisduff in typical sheets across the basin floor.
📍 At Lydacan the paper is unusually caught in a wire fence
Delighted to have been to the BBS Summer Meeting in Co Clare this past week. My favourites are these tiny thalloid liverworts, Riccia:
• Riccia sorocarpa from Burren NP
• Riccia beyrichiana at Ballyeighter Lough
• Riccia cavernosa at Glenamaddy Turlough (not in Clare!)
• Riccia sorocarpa from Burren NP
• Riccia beyrichiana at Ballyeighter Lough
• Riccia cavernosa at Glenamaddy Turlough (not in Clare!)
July 5, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Delighted to have been to the BBS Summer Meeting in Co Clare this past week. My favourites are these tiny thalloid liverworts, Riccia:
• Riccia sorocarpa from Burren NP
• Riccia beyrichiana at Ballyeighter Lough
• Riccia cavernosa at Glenamaddy Turlough (not in Clare!)
• Riccia sorocarpa from Burren NP
• Riccia beyrichiana at Ballyeighter Lough
• Riccia cavernosa at Glenamaddy Turlough (not in Clare!)
Gathered Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) seed today from the meadow in the back garden, ready to sow back into the meadow in the grassier patches
First bloom was 13 May, and here we are, 49 days later on 1 July, pods rattling, season complete 🌿🌼🌾
First bloom was 13 May, and here we are, 49 days later on 1 July, pods rattling, season complete 🌿🌼🌾
July 1, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Gathered Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) seed today from the meadow in the back garden, ready to sow back into the meadow in the grassier patches
First bloom was 13 May, and here we are, 49 days later on 1 July, pods rattling, season complete 🌿🌼🌾
First bloom was 13 May, and here we are, 49 days later on 1 July, pods rattling, season complete 🌿🌼🌾
What a turlough basin looks like in June 🌿
Meadowsweet, silverweed, mint, eyebrights, and a few special Fen Violets tucked in there too.
#WildflowerHour #Turloughs
Meadowsweet, silverweed, mint, eyebrights, and a few special Fen Violets tucked in there too.
#WildflowerHour #Turloughs
June 30, 2025 at 8:27 PM
What a turlough basin looks like in June 🌿
Meadowsweet, silverweed, mint, eyebrights, and a few special Fen Violets tucked in there too.
#WildflowerHour #Turloughs
Meadowsweet, silverweed, mint, eyebrights, and a few special Fen Violets tucked in there too.
#WildflowerHour #Turloughs
My first Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) of the year — flowering at the base of Lydacan Castle, Co. Galway.
June 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
My first Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) of the year — flowering at the base of Lydacan Castle, Co. Galway.
Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) is flowering now — a woody climber with striking purple blooms, and not too common here in the west of Ireland.
Found this one, along with an interesting white-flowered variant, on the fringes of Termon Turlough in Co. Galway 💜🤍
#Turlough #WildflowerHour
Found this one, along with an interesting white-flowered variant, on the fringes of Termon Turlough in Co. Galway 💜🤍
#Turlough #WildflowerHour
June 28, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) is flowering now — a woody climber with striking purple blooms, and not too common here in the west of Ireland.
Found this one, along with an interesting white-flowered variant, on the fringes of Termon Turlough in Co. Galway 💜🤍
#Turlough #WildflowerHour
Found this one, along with an interesting white-flowered variant, on the fringes of Termon Turlough in Co. Galway 💜🤍
#Turlough #WildflowerHour