This page simply reformats the Flickr public Atom feed for purposes of finding inspiration through random exploration. These images are not being copied or stored in any way by this website, nor are any links to them or any metadata about them. All images are © their owners unless otherwise specified.
This site is a busybee project and is supported by the generosity of viewers like you.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Winter trees near the National Concert Hall, Dublin 2.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Winter trees near the National Concert Hall, Dublin 2.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f2 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Apis mellifera mellifera, (A.m.m.), also called the Black Bee or the Dark European Honey Bee or the Northern Dark Bee was originally widespread throughout the whole of northern Europe but sadly is no longer prevalent there now, due to hybridisation with other sub-species such as Apis mellifera ligustica or a hybrid form between the two types.
The Black Bee is thankfully still very much alive in Ireland and is the one kept by most beekeepers BUT it is severely threatened due to hybridisation with imported non-native sub-species as well as the potential detrimental effects of diseases that may be imported with non-native bees. Along with other bees and pollinators generally, it is also struggling due to habitat loss, pesticide use and intensive agriculture – sadly, 1/3rd of all Ireland’s bees are at risk of extinction.
The importance of protecting local bees is now being recognised throughout Europe; in March 2018, an EU Report on Prospects and challenges for the EU apiculture sector (2017/2115(INI)) “Calls on the European Commission and Member States to put in place measures to increase legal protection and financial support for local honey bee ecotypes and populations throughout the European Union, including by way of legally protected locally endemic honeybee conservation areas.” (Native Irish Rare Breed Society)
The native Irish Honey Bee is resilient to our unpredictable weather, including an ability to tolerate long periods of confinement to the hive in winter and an ability to fly at low temperatures and in drizzle or light rain. Clearly, our native bee is admirably adapted to life in Ireland! This individual was one of several feeding on Allium 'Millenium' flowers in my garden during the summer.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
One of the entrance gates to Dalymount Park, Phibsborough, Dublin. Currently home to Bohemians FC, the first football game played here was on 7th September 1901.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Passing the time with some knitting while waiting for the LUAS tram system, Dublin.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Not all is at it seems along the Grand Canal, Dublin 2.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Not all is at it seems along the Grand Canal, Dublin 2.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Mallard sitting on the banks of the section of the Tolka River that runs through Griffith Park in Dublin.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
John Kavanagh's, or better known as The Gravediggers Pub, has stood at the southeastern tip of Glasnevin Cemetery's wall in Dublin since 1833. Apart from keeping its original structure and ambience, this historic pub shares a unique connection with the nearby cemetery, which opened to Irish citizens of all faiths just a year before the pub's inception. In early 19th Century Ireland Catholics were still not allowed their own graveyards and had to conduct their ceremonies in Protestant or Church of Ireland cemeteries. Prior to the establishment of Glasnevin Cemetery, Irish Catholics had no cemeteries of their own in which to bury their dead and as the repressive Penal Laws of the eighteenth century placed heavy restrictions on the public performance of Catholic services. The graveyard itself was ground breaking, uniting Catholics and Protestants in death, even if not in life. The pub's no-frills ambiance—low ceilings, dark wood, and creamy pints—has drawn generations of patrons from all walks of life. It's a place where tales intertwine with reality, and where spirits, both liquid and ethereal, flow freely.
The Gravediggers Pub has its own folklore and ghost stories woven into the fabric of Dublin's history:Some say that more than just earthly spirits inhabit The Gravediggers. Visitors have reported eerie encounters—a fleeting shadow, a whisper, or a sudden chill. Whether it’s the remnants of long-lost patrons or the lively imagination of storytellers, the pub’s walls hold secrets and echoes from centuries past.
The nickname "The Gravediggers" stems from its location next door to Glasnevin cemetery. Thirsty gravediggers could simply reach through a slot in the wall to obtain pint-sized relief. The pub's walls likely echo with stories from all sectors of early 19th-century Dublin.
This isn't a posh modern establishment; it's a workingman's bar where patrons trade tales. The Kavanagh family, who have owned the pub for generations, drew much of their business from funerals. They provided comfort to grieving families, and when the mourners dispersed, it was the gravediggers who'd finish their shifts with a pint.
It is a real pub. John Kavanaghs Gravediggers Pub has retained the original 19th century décor and makes no concession to modernity. Never mind Wi Fi, there is no TV, it never had a telephone or a sound system. The one-room bar features a game of ring board, low ceilings, and dark wood. There's even a sectioned-off area where many years ago, women could drink separately from the men.
So, if you ever visit Dublin step into The Gravediggers, where history, spirits, and pints intertwine—a place where the living and the departed share a timeless connection.
John Kavanagh's, or better known as The Gravediggers Pub, has stood at the southeastern tip of Glasnevin Cemetery's wall in Dublin since 1833. Apart from keeping its original structure and ambience, this historic pub shares a unique connection with the nearby cemetery, which opened to Irish citizens of all faiths just a year before the pub's inception. In early 19th Century Ireland Catholics were still not allowed their own graveyards and had to conduct their ceremonies in Protestant or Church of Ireland cemeteries. Prior to the establishment of Glasnevin Cemetery, Irish Catholics had no cemeteries of their own in which to bury their dead and as the repressive Penal Laws of the eighteenth century placed heavy restrictions on the public performance of Catholic services. The graveyard itself was ground breaking, uniting Catholics and Protestants in death, even if not in life. The pub's no-frills ambiance—low ceilings, dark wood, and creamy pints—has drawn generations of patrons from all walks of life. It's a place where tales intertwine with reality, and where spirits, both liquid and ethereal, flow freely.
The Gravediggers Pub has its own folklore and ghost stories woven into the fabric of Dublin's history:Some say that more than just earthly spirits inhabit The Gravediggers. Visitors have reported eerie encounters—a fleeting shadow, a whisper, or a sudden chill. Whether it’s the remnants of long-lost patrons or the lively imagination of storytellers, the pub’s walls hold secrets and echoes from centuries past.
The nickname "The Gravediggers" stems from its location next door to Glasnevin cemetery. Thirsty gravediggers could simply reach through a slot in the wall to obtain pint-sized relief. The pub's walls likely echo with stories from all sectors of early 19th-century Dublin.
This isn't a posh modern establishment; it's a workingman's bar where patrons trade tales. The Kavanagh family, who have owned the pub for generations, drew much of their business from funerals. They provided comfort to grieving families, and when the mourners dispersed, it was the gravediggers who'd finish their shifts with a pint.
It is a real pub. John Kavanaghs Gravediggers Pub has retained the original 19th century décor and makes no concession to modernity. Never mind Wi Fi, there is no TV, it never had a telephone or a sound system. The one-room bar features a game of ring board, low ceilings, and dark wood. There's even a sectioned-off area where many years ago, women could drink separately from the men.
So, if you ever visit Dublin step into The Gravediggers, where history, spirits, and pints intertwine—a place where the living and the departed share a timeless connection.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Reflections along the Grand Canal near Charlemont Bridge, Dublin 2.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European Siskin, Common Siskin or just Siskin. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.
It can be distinguished from other similar finches by the color of the plumage. The upper parts are greyish green and the under parts grey-streaked white. Its wings are black with a conspicuous yellow wing bar, and the tail is black with yellow sides. The male has a mainly yellow face and breast, with a neat black cap. Female and young birds have a greyish green head and no cap. It is a trusting, sociable and active bird. The song of this bird is a pleasant mix of twitters and trills. For these reasons it is often raised in captivity.
These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behavior are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations. (wikipedia)
This male was busy feeding on the same fruit trees as the Waxwings that were in a suburban North Dublin estate. There was an influx of Siskin in Dublin suburbs recenlty, wtih two flocks of 100 birds each near where I live. Beautiful and noisy finches.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Looking across the canal from Dublin 2 to Dartmouth Square in Dublin 6.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Winter trees in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Carl Zeiss Planar T* lens on Ilford Delta Plus 400 black and white film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
There are three species: the Bohemian waxwing (B. garrulus), the Japanese waxwing (B. japonica) and the cedar waxwing (B. cedrorum). The Bohemian waxwing is a starling-sized bird. It is short-tailed, mainly brownish-grey, and has a conspicuous crest on its head. The male of the nominate subspecies has a black mask through the eye and a black throat. There is a white streak behind the bill and a white curve below the eye. The lower belly is a rich chestnut colour and there are cinnamon-coloured areas around the mask. The rump is grey and the tail ends in a bright yellow band with a broad black border above it. The wings are very distinctive; the flight feathers are black and the primaries have markings that produce a yellow stripe and white "fishhooks" on the closed wing. The adult's secondaries end in long red appendages with the sealing wax appearance that gives the bird its English name. The eyes are dark brown, the bill is mainly black, and the legs are dark grey or black. In flight, the waxwing's large flocks, long wings and short tail give some resemblance to the common starling, and its flight is similarly fast and direct. It clambers easily through bushes and trees but only shuffles on the ground.
The range of the Bohemian waxwing overlaps those of both the other members of the genus.
The Bohemian waxwing's call is a high trill sirrrr. The Bohemian waxwing has a circumpolar distribution, breeding in northern regions of Eurasia and North America.
This waxwing is migratory with much of the breeding range abandoned as the birds move south for the winter. Migration starts in September in the north of the range, a month or so later farther south. Eurasian birds normally winter from eastern Britain through northern parts of western and central Europe, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and northern China to Japan. North American breeders have a more southeasterly trend, many birds wintering in southeast Canada, with smaller numbers in the north central and northeastern US states. Birds do not usually return to the same wintering sites in successive years. One bird wintering in the Ukraine was found 6,000 km (3,700 mi) to the east in Siberia in the following year.
In some years, this waxwing irrupts south of its normal wintering areas, sometimes in huge numbers. The fruit on which the birds depend in winter varies in abundance from year to year, and in poor years, particularly those following a good crop the previous year, the flocks move farther south until they reach adequate supplies.They will stay until the food runs out and move on again. (wikipedia)
This bird was one of a flock of a dozen feeding on some fruit trees in a quiet estate in the suburbs of Glasnevin, Dublin. Every few years, there is a larger invasion into Ireland when the food supplies in their normal winter range is exhausted prematurely. Flocks of up to 400 Waxwings have been recorded in Ireland. This year seems to be one of those irruptive years for the species.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Great Palm House in the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F2 lens on Ilford HP5 B&W film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Phoenix Rising by Michael Charles Keane from the Sculptures in Context exhibition in the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin in September 2023.
Taken with a Leica M4-P and a Carl Zeiss Planar T* lens on Kodak Gold 200 colour film. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The MIstle Thrush is about the same size as a Blackbird. Has a very upright stance in comparison to either Song thrush or Blackbird. The face is white with some black markings, while the eye has a distinct white eyering. The crown, nape and back of the Mistle Thrush are plain brown. The throat and upper part are white with some black streaks. This is bordered by a brownish smudge across the breast, with the rest of the underparts white with black spots. The rump is pale grey-brown, while the tail is brown - the outer tail feathers being white. The legs are pink in contrast to the dark colouring of the Fieldfare.
Breeds throughout Ireland, though less commonly in the south. Mistle Thrushes are less frequently seen in suburban gardens than Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, favouring larger parks and rural areas. (Birdwatch Ireland)
The number of Mistle Thrush in Ireland increase in winter due to the population being supplemented with birds from the Continent.
The numbers of Mistle Thrush are bolstered hugely during the winter in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, where this photograph was taken.
Close-up Grey Squirrel in a tree at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin
