Mournes Wildlife

[Spud]

Class. Have never seen one of those before, will have to keep a eye out if I'm up that way

[GMB]

Did he look like this?




No thats not him he looks abit like him though. Our wee critter would have have been quite small and was jet black!!!

Was just having a duke through Paddy Dillon's 'The Mournes Walks' and in the Tollymore section he talks about Pine Martens living in and around the forest. They can seem black. Here's a pic of another one. May have been one of these little critters???

[Wolf_Larson]

WOW is that in the Mournes

[GMB]

That pic isn't out of the book btw but apparently there are Pine Marten & Otter in Tollymore. The Spinkwee I suppose would be a good place if any to spot them 

[Glenn B]

Did he look like this?




No thats not him he looks abit like him though. Our wee critter would have have been quite small and was jet black!!!

Was just having a duke through Paddy Dillon's 'The Mournes Walks' and in the Tollymore section he talks about Pine Martens living in and around the forest. They can seem black. Here's a pic of another one. May have been one of these little critters???

Hi GMB
Our wee mate was as black as your boot and no white throat or under belly,  we got a really good view of him from about 30ft away and we must have watched him for a good 20-30secs going over the rocks on the river bank a good contrast on the grey rocks.  Must have been a MORE LESSER SPOTTED WINKLE THROPPER.

[ChuckMcB]

Yup, they are in Tollymore, Pine Martin poo anyone?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=472621556116470&set=pb.139632352748727.-2207520000.1363292161&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=472952172750075&set=pb.139632352748727.-2207520000.1363292161&type=3&theater

[robertsreilly]

found this lizard last year

DSCN3255 by paul surginor, on Flickr

I caught one like that, exactly like that in fact, up Ben Lomond summer before last, quick wee things

[MudGoat]

My first Mourne frog, near Lough Shannagh.

Now, where's the best place to see lizards?

[Mourneman]

My first Mourne frog, near Lough Shannagh.

Now, where's the best place to see lizards?

Ben crom for some reason 

[zeaphod]

There are lizards all over the Mournes and Ireland, but as mentioned, if you follow the stream valley from the Hares Gap to Ben Crom, you've a good chance of spotting one.  They tend to sit on rocks beside the streams, hoping to catch insects as they pass - the grass is usually full of spiders.
They are a version of the common european lizard, but have adapted to our crap climate by giving birth to live young, rather than laying eggs - viviparous.

[ChuckMcB]

Saw my first and only Lizard on the south facing slope of Commedagh on a roasty hot day in July. 

(more info on NI Lizards here and here, I also heard some chatter about a lizard survey planned to take place last year, unsure if anything came of it but there some info about it here and here which may help Lizard seekers )

[MudGoat]

Thanks for the good lizard info. I imagine hot weather is the best time to see our cold blooded friends. So I'll wait for the next sunny day to head to the Mournes with my camera.

Or maybe I'll just go up this week-end..

[ChuckMcB]

Any love for the bugs?



Any know what this is? Seen them in the Mournes since I was a kid, was told that they sting...and to this day I'm too chicken to test this claim 

[MudGoat]

Thanks for the tips. Met this fella on Ben Crom today.

[Mourneman]

Wow,great photo Mudgoat