Martin Gammell
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mgammell.bsky.social
Martin Gammell
@mgammell.bsky.social
300 followers 460 following 180 posts
Lecturer and Researcher in Animal Behaviour, Conservation and Freshwater Biology at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway. Joint coordinator of the MSc in Conservation Behaviour at ATU. Views my own.
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mgammell.bsky.social
Just back from a holiday in the Picos de Europa, Northern Spain. We were there last year as well, and one of the butterflies that we looked for then, but didn't find, was the Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous). Very happy that we found it this year!
A close up view of a Dusky Large Blue butterfly, perched on the compact purple flowerhead of Great Burnet, its larval foodplant. The butterfly is facing to the left with its head pointing downwards. It is showing its underwings, which are a light brown colour with a single curved row of black spots. Another Dusky Large Blue butterfly, also perched on a Great Burnet flowerhead. This butterfly is facing to the right and is showing its underwings. A more distant view of two Dusky Large Blue butterflies in a wet grassland habitat. Both butterflies are perched on different Great Burnet flowerheads, close to each other, and both are facing to the right and showing their underwings.
July 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Students from the MSc in Conservation Behaviour Class at ATU Galway were on Inis Mór this week for their Residential Field Course. We covered a lot in a few days, including butterfly surveys, moth surveys, cetacean watches and bat surveys. A great week! @atu-ie.bsky.social
A group of students on a small lane on a sunny day, surveying the raised banks to the side of the lane for insects. There is a mainly blue sky overhead, with a few white clouds lower in the sky.
May 23, 2025 at 9:08 AM
mgammell.bsky.social
First Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages) of the year for me, at Gortnandarragh Limestone pavement, west Galway (05 May 2025).
A small Dingy Skipper butterfly, with its wings fully open, resting on the head of a thistle. The head of the thistle is a creamy/light yellow colour. The butterfly's wings are brown with broad off-white bands on the forewings and some off-white spots on the hindwings. There are brighter white dots running in a line close to the edges of the forewings and hindwings.
May 5, 2025 at 9:02 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Some photographs taken between the showers during fieldwork at Derryclare, Connemara yesterday. We were deploying camera traps and acoustic recorders for a research thesis that is being carried out this year by one of the students on the MSc in Conservation Behaviour at ATU @atu-ie.bsky.social
In the centre of the image there is an isolated mountain, partially hidden by white mist, under a blue sky with white clouds. The foreground of the image consists of peatland with scattered deciduous woodland and conifer plantations. The image is taken from within a deciduous woodland. It shows two tall trees in the foreground on a low hill, with more trees in the background. A bluish sky with cloud can be see through the bare branches of the trees. The woodland floor is covered in fallen leaves and also contains substantial areas of moss growing on rocks and fallen branches. This image is taken from within a deciduous woodland. There is a large moss-covered tree with bare branches on the left side of the image. The tree is leaning to the left. Blue sky can be see through the branches of the tree, and more trees can be seen in the distance. There is dappled sun on the woodland floor. The woodland floor contains fallen leaves, some small patches of ferns and substantial amounts of moss growing on rocks and fallen branches. A section of a small, fast-flowing stream can be seen in the centre of the image, within the woodland.
January 23, 2025 at 11:40 AM
mgammell.bsky.social
On Wednesday this week we hosted an end of project workshop at @atu-ie.bsky.social to present the results of our @epaireland.bsky.social funded project: Biological Tools to Measure the Impact of Flow on Ecology in Irish Rivers. It was an enjoyable day, with lots of useful feedback and discussions.
The photograph shows a powerpoint slide projected onto a large screen. The information on the slide includes, at the top of the slide in large letters, the title of the project: Biological Tools to Measure the Impact of Flow on Ecology in Irish Rivers. This is followed by the names of the project team: Martin Gammell, Heather Lally, Conor Graham and Andres Peredo Arce from Atlantic Technological University. Lynda Weekes from Munster Technological University. Chris Westwood from Environmental Research Associates UK. Mike Dunbar and Chris Extence from the Environment Agency. This is followed by the date of the workshop: 15 January 2025. The slide also includes logos for the various organisations that were involved in the project. In the top left corner of the slide is the logo for Atlantic Technological University. In the top right corner is the logo for the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre. Along the bottom of the slide, running from left to right, are the logos for Munster Technological University, Environmental Research Associates UK, the Environment Agency, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
January 17, 2025 at 11:36 AM
mgammell.bsky.social
A good butterfly start to the New Year! We found four Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) eggs during a quick search of the Blackthorn in our garden today (1st January 2025, Galway). #butterflies #insects
The photograph shows a single Brown Hairstreak butterfly egg on a small Blackthorn branch. The egg is white and has an ornamented outer surface with a slightly roughened or stippled appearance. It is approximately circular in outline, viewed from above. The central part of the egg is slightly higher than its outer part, and there is a small hole in the centre of the egg.
January 1, 2025 at 5:18 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Join us at Atlantic Technological University (Galway City) on the 15th of January 2025 for our EPA-funded River Flow and Ecology Workshop #FreshwaterEcology #FreshwaterBiology #Limnology. Tickets are free and you can register here: riverflowandecology.eventbrite.ie
A slowly-flowing river surrounded by fields, low hills and small patches of woodland, on a sunny day, under a blue sky with some white clouds.
December 5, 2024 at 12:02 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Some camera trap footage of a Pine Marten foraging along the edge of a woodland trail, in West Galway earlier this year.
November 28, 2024 at 11:34 AM
mgammell.bsky.social
The Small Blue butterfly (Cupido minimus) - classified as Endangered on the Irish Red List. One of the highlights of our Residential Field Course on Inis Mór this week (for the MSc in Conservation Behaviour, Atlantic Technological University).
November 25, 2024 at 6:55 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Students from the MSc in Conservation Behaviour @ATU_GalwayCity are on Inis Mór this week. Today we surveyed for Thrift Clearwing moths using pheromone lures, and we found it! This is the first time this species has been recorded on Inis Mór, a great result for #BiodiversityWeek
November 25, 2024 at 6:55 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Great to see the no-mow areas on @ATU_GalwayCity campus delivering for pollinators. Orange-tip butterflies have been laying their eggs on the Cuckooflowers, their main larval foodplant @TheConorGraham @ECOparasites @uburke1 @FahertySheila @MORANEnv @kavfiona1 @HeatherLally
November 25, 2024 at 6:55 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Lovely to see the Spring Gentians flowering again. Callownamuck, Co. Galway (09 April 2022).
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Brimstone Butterfly. Near Moycullen, Co. Galway today (26 March 2022)
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Brown Hairstreak Butterfly on Bramble in the garden today (11 August 2021). West Galway
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
I went looking for Downy Emerald Dragonflies (Cordulia aenea) this morning. I'd never seen one before so I was delighted to find this male close to Lough Seecon, near Oughterard, Co. Galway (16 July 2021) @IWTGalwayBranch @BioDataCentre
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
White-spotted Sable (Anania funebris), a lovely micro moth, from Callownamuck, west Galway today (10 July 2021) @BioDataCentre @IWTGalwayBranch
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Dark Green Fritillary from West Galway today (04 July 2021)
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
A ruby-tailed wasp from the Burren yesterday (16 May 2021)
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Pearl-bordered Fritillary from the Burren today (16 May 2021)
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) from the garden today (07 May 2021). West Galway
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Our local Spring Gentians have started flowering. Callownamuck, West Galway today (02 April 2021) @BSBI_Ireland @BioDataCentre @IWTGalwayBranch
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
7-spot ladybird in the sun. West Galway today (16 March 2021).
November 25, 2024 at 6:53 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Little Grebe on Lough Corrib, west Galway today (16 March 2021).
November 25, 2024 at 6:53 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Female Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) nectaring on Angelica. West Galway today (29 August 2020), near Moycullen @IWTGalwayBranch @Irishwildlife @BioDataCentre
November 25, 2024 at 6:53 PM
mgammell.bsky.social
Female Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) in the garden today (30 May 2020), West Galway @Irishwildlife @IWTGalwayBranch @BioDataCentre
November 25, 2024 at 6:53 PM