Biodiversity Ireland

The Worm Pipefish / Pis an Ribe / Nerophis lumbriciformis is related to Seahorses and is the pipefish species most commonly encountered on rocky shores. Look for it beneath rocks on the lower shore. Take time to explore this weekend with exploreyourshore.ie/surveys/the-gr…

Following on from the Humming-bird Hawk-moth post yesterday, another two migratory species which have been heavily recorded in July are Red Admiral and Painted Lady, both of these butterflies have over 100 records submitted through Ireland's Citizen Science Portal for this month.

Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) a migratory moth species, which as the name suggests bears a striking resemblance to a Hummingbird, is currently one of the most commonly recorded species during July 2026. Sightings can be submitted here: #7/53.455/-8.016" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/moths#7…

Yesterday we asked you to guess what species was our 100,000th record to be submitted through Ireland's Citizen Science Portal in 2026. If you said Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) you were correct. 2022 was the last time a flowering plant was the 100,000th record!

It’s Shark Awareness Day! 🦈 Did you know 41 shark species have been recorded in Irish waters – including the basking shark, the world’s 2nd largest shark species, and the critically endangered Angel Shark? #SharkAwarenessDay exploreyourshore.ie

The first of our Rare Plant Monitoring Scheme workshops for the 2026 season took place last week in Co. Wicklow. Stunning scenery, a lovely mixture of plants species and a number of new populations added to the scheme. Thanks a million to Paul Green for leading as always!

Yesterday afternoon we received our 100,000th record through Ireland's Citizen Science Portal. One of the species pictured below was our 100,000th record, which one do you think it was? Answers tomorrow!

Thanks to the @KAdvertiser for covering. To find out more about the work of the National Biodiversity Data Centre and how anyone can get involved in recording, please visit our website, biodiversityireland.ie Many thanks to award-winning photographer @valphoto.

We're very close to the 100,000th record for the 2026 season being entered through Ireland's Citizen Science Portal. With that milestone record likely to be added early this week. You can read about the 100,000th record in 2025 here: biodiversityireland.ie/100000th-recor…

Our Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, Dr Úna FitzPatrick introduces the new All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030. To watch the full video and get involved, visit pollinators.ie

Today a new All-Ireland Pollinator Plan was launched by Ireland’s Minister for Nature, Heritage & Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD & Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland Find out more➡️ tinyurl.com/3ejw6k32

Check Clean Dry: Three Simple Steps to Protect Our Waters 🎥 Please share this video to help spread the message 🎥 Find out more: invasives.ie/biosecurity/ch… invasivespeciesni.co.uk/biosecurity/ (Northern Ireland) #CheckCleanDry #Biosecurity #InvasiveSpecies #NationalBiodiversityDataCentre

What is Citizen Science and why do we use it to collect Biodiversity Data? ... discover the answer to this and more by completing our FREE online course in Marine Biodiversity Citizen Science. See: learn.biodiversityireland.ie/courses/marine…

June was the first month in 2026 to surpass the recording activity in 2025, with over 23,000 records submitted through Ireland's Citizen Science Portal. Hedgehog was the most commonly recorded species with over 1,800 records submitted.

🎉🌊 It's World Polychaete Day! 🌍🪱 Let’s celebrate the wriggly wonders of the sea – Polychaete Worms! With 404+ species calling Ireland home and 13,000+ species worldwide add your polychaete records to Explore Your Shore! at exploreyourshore.ie #WorldPolychaeteDay

You don't need superhuman powers to take part in our Big Beach Biodiversity Survey... but a sharp eye helps to spot some of the tiny wonders of the shore such as this Green Urchin (Echinocyamus pusillus) which grows to a mighty 15mm in length! exploreyourshore.ie/surveys/the-bi…

Happy World Sea Turtle Day! Did you know 5 species of marine turtle have been recorded from Irish waters? There have been 28 marine turtle records around the Irish coast since 2019. Record your marine turtle sightings at exploreyourshore.ie/marine-surveys…

7-Spot Ladybird was knocked off the No.1 spot for most recorded beetle last month. That honour, perhaps unsurprisingly, went to the Common Cockchafer, also known as the Maybug, with 120 sightings submitted last month!

Top 100 Explore Your Shore! species - #50 - Striped Venus / Maighdeog Riabhach / Chamelea striatula is found cast ashore as shells or occasionally alive. Shore: sandy beaches. Distribution: all coasts. exploreyourshore.ie

May was another great month for recording with 21,033 records submitted through Ireland’s Citizen Science Portal. While Hedgehog took the top spot, one of the most notable things from last month was the number of Painted Lady butterflies recorded with 274 sightings.