Nature on your farm.

They eat grass.

There is a dairy farmer near us and during the winter months there could be 40 to 50 whooper swans grazing in a couple of his fields that are on a lake shore. He has no issue with them and I notice that he always puts his heifer calves into those fields in the spring/summer. Maybe it because the swans have eaten all the snail and slugs.

Massive difference between swans and crows and pigeons.

but I do think there should be a compensation approach if a crop fails due to a protected species.

locally to us, lads were trying to shoot hen harrier for fear of not getting planning etc, now they’re looking for it to get the payments.

the actions on the swans give all of us a bad name. I think it was unnecessary And alternatives could be used to move them on.

spotted the first of the speedwells out

I saw a bumble bee today feeding on primroses that only flowered last week. It was 10c here today so fairly mild for the time of year.

The little bit I know about bees is that it's a bumble bee and not a honey bee. More experience people might be able to identify it from that photo but most would also need to see the tail end.

Below is a link to Biodiversity Ireland's link to their bumble bee monitoring scheme.

https://biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/bumblebee-monitoring-scheme/

The recommendation to revive a bee is to mix 2 parts granulated sugar with one part clean water and leave it close to the bee on a tea spoon so it can drink.

I am considering setting up a bee hive somewhere. Something small to dip my toes. Going to attend a local county meeting next month.

I don’t really have time but….I do like honey…..and it’s doing something positive for the environment.

A herd in my broken bucket. Tiny little fellas

They will kill kittens and old/frail cats that cannot defend themselves. In fairness most healthy fit cats are pretty ferocious at defending themselves. It would take a very desperate fox to try and take one on.

The NPWS are to start the reintroduction of Osprey back into Ireland. Hopefully the reintroduction goes well and we regularly get to see these beautiful birds. I saw one about 10 years ago flying along the route of a river in NCD. It was been mobbed by a red kite and rooks.

While driving I saw what was i thought was a swallow fly past - I will check dash cam later

I saw swallows in Cork last Sunday. Happy to see them back.

Swallows just arrived back on my place in North Mayo this week, which is about average for this location. Sister in Kildare had them for the past 2 weeks. Seems to be generally more about then this time last year when I think problems on migration with cold weather over Spain hit numbers quiet hard in areas further North

The pair of house martins were back this afternoon under the gable doing repairs on last years nest.

Yep - there busy lads atm, along with the likes of starlings who appear to be hoovering up a bumper crop of leatherjackets atm, based on what i see being transported by adults birds around the place

These ones won't make it. Had walked passed the spot 10 mins earlier, noticed them on my return. Hard to figure out, were they dropped from on high, who could carry both? Just on the roadway, no building or trees nearby. They were cold and leaking, I moved them to the side, some creature may as well have a feed.

Let bullocks into field of grass and saw them all surrounding 1 spot after a few moments, unfortunately two baby hares, they must have walked on one and killed it ( managed to fence off area with white cord electric fence, other one never moved an inch throughout it all ). Years ago wetter fields were hay meadows and not grazed in spring time - probably not cut till late june or later - giving hares and ground nesting birds somewhere to have young. Now the experts want you to finish cattle younger ( see ABP are to bring in " sustainability " payment ) based on it being lower carbon footprint, but that requires better silage ( drainage/ grazed early/ cutting May) and no store period. Have a couple of fields that I already farm more traditionally, think I will pick a few more wetter fields and leave alone till later in year.

Found bees nesting in a bolthole in a wall in the yard.. I've been told they are reusing an old bird nest

I would wager it’s this

Native to Ireland, not a bit dangerous - leave it to eat pest insects for you