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The northeast Asian red seaweed, (Agarophyton vermiculophyllum), is known to be present in Ireland since at least the 1990s. A survey of estuarine habitats in Cos Cork and Waterford in 2024 revealed that it was present at all but two sites between Croagh Bay and Tramore. The most extensive populations were at Clonakilty Bay, Courtmacsherry Bay, Cork Harbour, Youghal Harbour, the lower River Blackwater and Dungarvan Bay.

A total of 168 species (on present knowledge) are known to have ever bred in Ireland in a natural and wild state; 165 of these breeding at least once during 1801-2020. There has been an overall increase of 29 % in the number of species breeding during 1801-2020. A total of 111 species bred in all six time-periods studied, with fewer (peak of 16) breeding in the remaining five time-periods. There was considerable turnover in breeding species, but the number of species becoming extinct was exceeded by the number of new breeding species. The loss of the White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Great Bittern and Woodlark were the most significant events in the 1800s and early 1900s, but Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Common Eider, Common Scoter, Fulmar and Stock Dove were among the new colonists. Several species have ceased to breed or declined to negligible numbers since 1951 (Nightjar, Ring Ouzel, Twite, Corn Bunting), but a long list of new colonists include Little Egret, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Reed Warbler, while White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle and Red Kite have been re-introduced. Comparative data for the 40-year period 1968/1972-2007/2011 shows that waterbirds, wading birds and other non-passerines have the highest percentage of decreasing species, with lower percentages of decreasing species among raptors and owls, and passerines. Although the total number of breeding species is now at its highest level ever, the number of species in the rare or scarce category is also at its highest level, and more breeding species are in a poorer conservation and biodiversity status than at any other time-period during 1801-2020.

Scavenging on road casualties by birds and mammals was studied in east Cork and west Waterford during 1972-2007. A total of 433 scavenging events was recorded. Five species of Corvidae scavenged, the most frequent being the Magpie (Pica pica) (471 individuals) and the Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) (227 individuals). The other Corvidae were the Rook (Corvus frugilegus), the Raven (Corvus corax) and the Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) (combined total of 51 individuals). Only two mammal species scavenged, one individual each of Ferret (Mustela putorius furo) and Domestic Cat (Felis catus). The scavenged species were predominantly mammals, (94 %), mostly Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus).

This work was supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (BA), the British Society for Neuroendocrinolgy (BA, NE), and the German Science foundation (DFG, research grant to BH grant HE3488/5–1)

The diet of the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) was studied at five sites in east Cork and west Waterford in the non-breeding season during January 2018 to December 2021. The results show that the invasive Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) (61 %) and Greater White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura russula) (21 %) made up most of the diet. Numbers varied from site to site, peaking at 83 % for the vole at Currabeha and 26 % for the shrew at Ballynatray. The Kestrel has declined in the breeding season and is now a Red-listed species. The results presented here indicate a decline also in the non-breeding season as only one of the five sites was occupied throughout the study period.

The breeding biology of the Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) nesting inside buildings (54 nests) and beneath river bridges (44 nests) and using disused nests of Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (37) and Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) (8) was studied. Most clutches were initiated in May (67 %), and consisted of five eggs with an overall mean of 5.1. Clutches initiated in April and May were larger (mean = 5.2) than clutches initiated in June and July (mean = 4.7), and larger clutches produced proportionately larger numbers of young. The overall success of 35 nests was 70.6 %.