Seán Keane
@nativehorti.bsky.social
Irish Horticulturist with a passion for native plants and pollinators.
Currently focused on helping with efforts to help save the Great Yellow Bumblebee from extinction on the Mullet Peninsula.
Mayo, Ireland.
Currently focused on helping with efforts to help save the Great Yellow Bumblebee from extinction on the Mullet Peninsula.
Mayo, Ireland.
Slow compost from a pile under the shade of mature trees (whitethorn, holly and goats willow).
An area where we dump our lawn clippings, meadow strip hay and meadow thatch. Pile started in 2022, and only brown material is from leaf fall that formed natural layers in the pile.
Glorious stuff.
An area where we dump our lawn clippings, meadow strip hay and meadow thatch. Pile started in 2022, and only brown material is from leaf fall that formed natural layers in the pile.
Glorious stuff.
June 6, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Slow compost from a pile under the shade of mature trees (whitethorn, holly and goats willow).
An area where we dump our lawn clippings, meadow strip hay and meadow thatch. Pile started in 2022, and only brown material is from leaf fall that formed natural layers in the pile.
Glorious stuff.
An area where we dump our lawn clippings, meadow strip hay and meadow thatch. Pile started in 2022, and only brown material is from leaf fall that formed natural layers in the pile.
Glorious stuff.
Recorded another 253 Irish Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza kerryensis var. Occidentalis yesterday in Belmullet Town in a small meadow strip at the entrance to Achadh estate.
Credit to @wildtee.bsky.social for this count Seány boy was absolutely zonked from the Sun and heat.
Credit to @wildtee.bsky.social for this count Seány boy was absolutely zonked from the Sun and heat.
May 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Recorded another 253 Irish Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza kerryensis var. Occidentalis yesterday in Belmullet Town in a small meadow strip at the entrance to Achadh estate.
Credit to @wildtee.bsky.social for this count Seány boy was absolutely zonked from the Sun and heat.
Credit to @wildtee.bsky.social for this count Seány boy was absolutely zonked from the Sun and heat.
Recorded 433 Dactylorhiza kerryensis ssp occidentalis in Belmullet Town's reduced mowing areas between Friday and this afternoon. There are still a few sites to visit. The Tidy Towns group there has done stellar work in pushing for reduced mowing in the town over the last decade.
May 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Recorded 433 Dactylorhiza kerryensis ssp occidentalis in Belmullet Town's reduced mowing areas between Friday and this afternoon. There are still a few sites to visit. The Tidy Towns group there has done stellar work in pushing for reduced mowing in the town over the last decade.
Meadow thistle is worthy of a pot on front door step or in flower border. Stunning #cirsiumdissectum
May 9, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Meadow thistle is worthy of a pot on front door step or in flower border. Stunning #cirsiumdissectum
Did my first ever bumblebee transect yesterday in my area. 2km walk.
80% of the bees recorded were common carders but seen five white tail queens and two garden bumblebee queens. #bumblebeemonitoring #Irishbumblebees
@microwild.bsky.social my lucky Bombus hortorum merch still going strong ;)
80% of the bees recorded were common carders but seen five white tail queens and two garden bumblebee queens. #bumblebeemonitoring #Irishbumblebees
@microwild.bsky.social my lucky Bombus hortorum merch still going strong ;)
May 9, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Did my first ever bumblebee transect yesterday in my area. 2km walk.
80% of the bees recorded were common carders but seen five white tail queens and two garden bumblebee queens. #bumblebeemonitoring #Irishbumblebees
@microwild.bsky.social my lucky Bombus hortorum merch still going strong ;)
80% of the bees recorded were common carders but seen five white tail queens and two garden bumblebee queens. #bumblebeemonitoring #Irishbumblebees
@microwild.bsky.social my lucky Bombus hortorum merch still going strong ;)
Greater BFT was added as small plugs last season. It's spread really well which is no surprise.
April 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Greater BFT was added as small plugs last season. It's spread really well which is no surprise.
Two of the most common species here in wet ol Newport.. Angelica and meadow sweet.
April 28, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Two of the most common species here in wet ol Newport.. Angelica and meadow sweet.
It's nice to see square stem st John's wort show up of it own accord.
April 28, 2025 at 8:19 PM
It's nice to see square stem st John's wort show up of it own accord.
Ribwort plantain starting to colonise across the strip.
April 28, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Ribwort plantain starting to colonise across the strip.
The long flowering meadow strip coming into its forth summer. The grass has really taken a beating from the annual cut, detaching, buttercup removal, and yellow rattle.
Pics: Knapweed, yellow rattle seedlings, and spotted orchid.
Pics: Knapweed, yellow rattle seedlings, and spotted orchid.
April 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The long flowering meadow strip coming into its forth summer. The grass has really taken a beating from the annual cut, detaching, buttercup removal, and yellow rattle.
Pics: Knapweed, yellow rattle seedlings, and spotted orchid.
Pics: Knapweed, yellow rattle seedlings, and spotted orchid.
Planted in self heal that had seeded in one of the borders.
The smaller seedlings I transplanted into a 144 cell modular tray #peatfree. Tedious to say the least!!
The smaller seedlings I transplanted into a 144 cell modular tray #peatfree. Tedious to say the least!!
April 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Planted in self heal that had seeded in one of the borders.
The smaller seedlings I transplanted into a 144 cell modular tray #peatfree. Tedious to say the least!!
The smaller seedlings I transplanted into a 144 cell modular tray #peatfree. Tedious to say the least!!
Short flowering meadow got its first cut and lift of the six week rotation today. Red clover and common birds' foot trefoil plugs doing well from spring planting.
April 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Short flowering meadow got its first cut and lift of the six week rotation today. Red clover and common birds' foot trefoil plugs doing well from spring planting.
Cavity nesting solitary bee and wasp next box #beehotel.
The tubes are native Phragmites australis, 150mm long, 3mm to 8mm internal cavity diameters, closed on one end by a node. Placed at a height of 1.2m.
Drilled split birch logs with 6mm and 8mm/100mm cavities.
The tubes are native Phragmites australis, 150mm long, 3mm to 8mm internal cavity diameters, closed on one end by a node. Placed at a height of 1.2m.
Drilled split birch logs with 6mm and 8mm/100mm cavities.
April 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Cavity nesting solitary bee and wasp next box #beehotel.
The tubes are native Phragmites australis, 150mm long, 3mm to 8mm internal cavity diameters, closed on one end by a node. Placed at a height of 1.2m.
Drilled split birch logs with 6mm and 8mm/100mm cavities.
The tubes are native Phragmites australis, 150mm long, 3mm to 8mm internal cavity diameters, closed on one end by a node. Placed at a height of 1.2m.
Drilled split birch logs with 6mm and 8mm/100mm cavities.
Possibly an Andrena scotica female in my friends garden?
Doesn't appear to have the orange hairs of Andrena nigroaenea on the hind legs/pollen brush?
Video not ideal for ID
@ianbeavis.bsky.social @obeckett98.bsky.social @jimthebib.bsky.social
Doesn't appear to have the orange hairs of Andrena nigroaenea on the hind legs/pollen brush?
Video not ideal for ID
@ianbeavis.bsky.social @obeckett98.bsky.social @jimthebib.bsky.social
April 22, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Possibly an Andrena scotica female in my friends garden?
Doesn't appear to have the orange hairs of Andrena nigroaenea on the hind legs/pollen brush?
Video not ideal for ID
@ianbeavis.bsky.social @obeckett98.bsky.social @jimthebib.bsky.social
Doesn't appear to have the orange hairs of Andrena nigroaenea on the hind legs/pollen brush?
Video not ideal for ID
@ianbeavis.bsky.social @obeckett98.bsky.social @jimthebib.bsky.social
Andrena praecox female emerging from underground nest in my parents garden today. #smallsallowbee
Lots of other tiny early species about as well and I've spotted some Nomad cuckoo bees too. But phone is not much good at capturing these guys identifying features well enough.
Lots of other tiny early species about as well and I've spotted some Nomad cuckoo bees too. But phone is not much good at capturing these guys identifying features well enough.
April 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Andrena praecox female emerging from underground nest in my parents garden today. #smallsallowbee
Lots of other tiny early species about as well and I've spotted some Nomad cuckoo bees too. But phone is not much good at capturing these guys identifying features well enough.
Lots of other tiny early species about as well and I've spotted some Nomad cuckoo bees too. But phone is not much good at capturing these guys identifying features well enough.
Ian, thank you very much. You have set me right on this beginning this journey. Its clearly a female pollen baskets on hindlegs!
Not attempted to ID any bees since 2021 but luckily I've plenty of time this spring.
Scale of area below
Not attempted to ID any bees since 2021 but luckily I've plenty of time this spring.
Scale of area below
April 5, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Ian, thank you very much. You have set me right on this beginning this journey. Its clearly a female pollen baskets on hindlegs!
Not attempted to ID any bees since 2021 but luckily I've plenty of time this spring.
Scale of area below
Not attempted to ID any bees since 2021 but luckily I've plenty of time this spring.
Scale of area below
Thanks Brian.
Hi @obeckett98.bsky.social,
I was reading last night about Andrena praecox on your website. Is it possibly a female small sallow bee?
Buffish pile face and hind legs, side of thorax and reddish brown pile on thorax.
Abdomen seems to have buffish hairs too.
Scale of area below.
Hi @obeckett98.bsky.social,
I was reading last night about Andrena praecox on your website. Is it possibly a female small sallow bee?
Buffish pile face and hind legs, side of thorax and reddish brown pile on thorax.
Abdomen seems to have buffish hairs too.
Scale of area below.
April 5, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Thanks Brian.
Hi @obeckett98.bsky.social,
I was reading last night about Andrena praecox on your website. Is it possibly a female small sallow bee?
Buffish pile face and hind legs, side of thorax and reddish brown pile on thorax.
Abdomen seems to have buffish hairs too.
Scale of area below.
Hi @obeckett98.bsky.social,
I was reading last night about Andrena praecox on your website. Is it possibly a female small sallow bee?
Buffish pile face and hind legs, side of thorax and reddish brown pile on thorax.
Abdomen seems to have buffish hairs too.
Scale of area below.
Reposted: An Unidentified #Andrena mining bee species in Newport, County Mayo.
I will keep eye out for more and try get clearer pics. Any comments welcome.
Pictures in comments.
@jimthebib.bsky.social @ianbeavis.bsky.social
@entospace.bsky.social
I will keep eye out for more and try get clearer pics. Any comments welcome.
Pictures in comments.
@jimthebib.bsky.social @ianbeavis.bsky.social
@entospace.bsky.social
April 4, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Reposted: An Unidentified #Andrena mining bee species in Newport, County Mayo.
I will keep eye out for more and try get clearer pics. Any comments welcome.
Pictures in comments.
@jimthebib.bsky.social @ianbeavis.bsky.social
@entospace.bsky.social
I will keep eye out for more and try get clearer pics. Any comments welcome.
Pictures in comments.
@jimthebib.bsky.social @ianbeavis.bsky.social
@entospace.bsky.social
Usually a good few species mining nests here each year. Facing directly south.
April 4, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Usually a good few species mining nests here each year. Facing directly south.
Camera: Samsung S21 FE
April 4, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Camera: Samsung S21 FE
I lost me book. I'll try websites. Need to order a new one.. thanks Jim.
This was a new one also?
This was a new one also?
April 4, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I lost me book. I'll try websites. Need to order a new one.. thanks Jim.
This was a new one also?
This was a new one also?
Another Olympic park greenway find on Friday, 28 March. What I think is a sweat bee of some kind? @jimthebib.bsky.social what's your thoughts?
April 4, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Another Olympic park greenway find on Friday, 28 March. What I think is a sweat bee of some kind? @jimthebib.bsky.social what's your thoughts?