Biodiversity Ireland

🚨Dataset Update🚨 We've had more great work been done lately on a number of different beetle species & our Citizen Science Beetle Records dataset now has 5,526 records across 166 taxa. A massive thanks to Louise Garcia for all of her time & expertise validating these records.

A touch of Green this St. Patrick's Day... the donut shaped egg masses of the Banded chink shell (Lacuna vincta) come in many colours including these green eggs recorded by Geraldine Nee. Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh go leir! exploreyourshore.ie

Beaches are full of biodiversity surprises! 🌊 Rita Mahon found this beautiful Long-snouted Seahorse on Ballynamona Strand, Cork — the first record submitted to NBDC and the first confirmed Irish record since 1990. Join the Big Beach Biodiversity Survey: exploreyourshore.ie/surveys/the-bi…

🌊 🚨 New Dataset Alert! 🚨 Get a birds-eye view of cetacean and seabird distributions gathered by UCC during the Department of Climate, Energy & the Environment OBSERVE II programme 2021-2023: 41,318 records of 59 cetacean & seabird species. Explore 👉 maps.biodiversityireland.ie/Dataset/442

Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) is currently the most commonly recorded plant species through Ireland's Citizen Science Portal. It's easily identified by yellow flowers with dark green heart-shaped leaves. You can submit your sightings here: #7/53.455/-8.016" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/spring-…

Validation for ladybird records submitted last month has been completed and will shortly be loaded to Biodiversity Maps. We often get some great photos submitted with records, including this incredible photo by Geraldine Nee of Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata).

🌊 **Ocean Oddities!** The Thumbnail Crab (Thia scutellata) - grows to 2 cm, its distinctively notched carapace is fringed with long hairs. It burrows in sand and mud in shallow coastal waters. Explore more: exploreyourshore.ie

Did you know that over 7,600 records were submitted throughout last month, which is a great level of recording, especially considering the wet conditions we had. While Red Squirrel was the most commonly recorded species, Common Frog wasn't far behind with 169 records submitted.

How do I get involved in marine species recording? ... Complete our FREE online course in Marine Biodiversity Citizen Science to learn the basics of marine species identification and recording and you too can become a Marine Citizen Scientist. See: learn.biodiversityireland.ie/courses/marine…

It's World Book Day! If you are looking for books to help with marine species ID, then take a look at some suggested texts on our resources page: exploreyourshore.ie/resources/

🚨 Dataset Update🚨 Our Vascular Plants dataset has just recently been update with data from the 2025 season. The dataset now has 349,207 records across 1788 taxa. Fun Fact Lesser Celandine was the most recorded plant species throughout all of 2025!

Top 100 Explore Your Shore! species - #54 - Netted Dog Whelk / Cuachma Chon Mhogallach / Hinia reticulata is found on the lower shore and in sandy habitats. Shore: rocky/sandy. Distribution: all coasts. exploreyourshore.ie

🚨Dataset Update 🚨 Our Carrion Beetles of Ireland dataset has been updated and is now live on Biodiversity Maps: This dataset now has 1519 records across 15 species. Massive thanks to Aidan O'Hanlon (@MusingMollusc) for his time and expertise validating these records.

🌊 **Ocean Oddities!** Meet the Wart Barnacle (Verruca stroemia) - tiny but tough! Growing up to just 1cm wide, it has unique interlocking shell plates and hides beneath rocks on the lower shore. Explore more: exploreyourshore.ie

Starting to see more Lesser Celandine pop their heads up over the last few days. With its bright yellow flowers and glossy green, heart shaped leaves, it's an easy one to identify too. You can submit your sightings here: #7/53.455/-8.016" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/vascula…

Did you know that Red Squirrel is currently the most recorded species through Ireland's Citizen Science Portal. Over 500 records have already been submitted this year for the species and will go on to inform the 2026 All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey. @squirrelsurvey

Dataset Update! We have recently added 3,792 new records to our Explore Your Shore! dataset. You can explore these data at maps.biodiversityireland.ie

🚨 Dataset Update🚨 Our Longhorn Beetles dataset has been update with 2025 data and is live on Biodiversity Maps. This dataset now has 653 records across 17 species. A huge thanks to Aidan O'Hanlon (@MusingMollusc) for his time and expertise in validating these records.

Even though it might not seem like it, spring flowers will be starting to pop up across the country shortly. It's good to keep an eye out for early species like Lesser Celandine & Coltsfoot. It won't be long before other species are flowering also. #SpringFlowersProject

🚨 Update 🚨 Ireland's Citizen Science Portal and Biodiversity Maps are now back online. Thank you for your patience while this matter was being resolved.