The Urban Countryside – Christmas in the Countryside.
by Albert Nolan For kids the days before Christmas seem to get longer and longer while for poor harassed parents there just isn’t enough hours in the day. If the stress of the festive season is getting you down try taking a short walk in your garden or park and discover some of the fascinating […]
The Urban Countryside – Berries for the birds
by Albert Nolan After the summer holidays the year seems to take on a faster pace as house routine blends in with the school week. Some birds have already returned to their wintering quarters and others like swallows are getting ready to go. Swifts have departed and for such a noisy species they leave without […]
The sweeter side of Wasps – The Urban Countryside
by Albert Nolan I have received several calls and emails form distressed people wondering why there are so many “bloody wasp” around over the last few weeks. These insects are universally unpopular because of their painful sting. But behind this successful defense their lives are very interesting and they are very important in the ecology […]
The Urban Countryside – Grasshoppers
by Albert Nolan The Tailor of the Meadows. I was driving my car a few days ago and enjoying the countryside as it sped by and the cool breeze circling in the car. The roadside verges have recovered some of their lushness after been scorched by the heat wave and fresh flowers and grass […]
The urban countryside – The Pheasant
by Albert Nolan Every so often a reader emails me around his observations on pheasants. He had seen one recently digging a hole in the ground and sitting in it and was wondering why it was behaving in such a manner?. Like the pheasant I was left scratching my head for a few days and […]
Discovering Wildlife in St Mary’s Graveyard Tipperary Town
by Albert Nolan It was a day when you could hear the alluring call of the sea echoing from every street corner as warm heat radiated from buildings and roads. Unfortunately I was not on my way to the beach, but to St Mary’s graveyard to do a nature walk as part of the Tipperary […]
The Urban Countryside – A brush with foxes
by Albert Nolan The silence of Sunday morning was shattered by the harsh warning call of a pair of Magpies in the back garden. Despite the lingering effects of last nights wine I decided it was worth the effort of drawing the curtains as this warning call often indicates a predator is about. As I […]
Go wild this year as part of Tipperary Festival
This year as part of Tipperary Town Festival well know wildlife enthusiasts Dan Hogan and Albert Nolan will be exploring our town and discovering bugs, butterflies and birds These walks will be of particular interest to families and kids but all are welcome to attend and learn about Tipperary’s wildlife. For more information please contact […]
The Urban Countryside – First lessons in life
by Albert Nolan I have been watching the blackbirds in my garden for the last few weeks between washing the dishes and preparing meals for my hungry gang. Now that their first brood is raised they are taking a welcome break from the rigors of parenting. The days are stretching well into the night and […]
The Urban Countryside – The Swift
by Albert Nolan Observing birds in your own back yard can often reveal some interesting behavior. I was visiting a friend of mind that has a dog that spends most of its time indoors and in this artificial environment he sheds a lot of hair. Each morning the floor is mopped and the brush is […]
