12-8-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BARREL CACTUS (Ferocactus herrerae)

Ferocactus herrerae, commonly known as the twisted barrel cactus, Herrera's barrel cactus, or the biznaga (in Classical Nahuatl), is a species of viviparous barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus of the family Cactaceae that is native to southwestern Sonora to the northwestern coastline of Sinaloa in western Mexico.

F. herrerae is a solitary cactus, reaching an average height of 2 m (6.56 ft), and 40 cm (15.74 in) in diameter. It features 13 deep ribs, initially heavily tuberculated. Areoles are 2.03 cm long with 7-9 spines, with supposed bristle-like radials up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long and 5 mm (0.20 in) wide. Flowers are yellow, with red-pink midribs and brown tips, blooming from Summer to early Autumn. The funnel-shaped flowers are yellow with a red central stripe, reaching up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in length and diameter. Fruit are yellow-green and fleshy, 4 to 6 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in) long, and 2.5 to 3 cm (0.98 to 1.18 in) in diameter, splitting open at their base. It starts out in a globular barrel cactus form and eventually, as it matures, developing into a signature cylindrical barrel cactus form.

12-8-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - NIGHT BLOOMING CACTUS (Cereus jamacaru)

Yellow to brown areoles stand on them at a distance of 2 to 4 cm. These carry about 15 to 20 yellowish to brownish spines, which are divided into 7 to 9 radial spines and 6 to 13 central spines. It is not uncommon for the total number of thorns to be reached over the course of many years. The thorns that form later are particularly tough and up to 10 cm long.

The flowers are white open at night, and about 250 mm (10 in) long, with green and white outside the petals with a brown outer edge. The outer bracts are brownish to light green, the inner ones are white. The flower buds usually appear in the middle of spring and each flower lasts only for a night. They blossom at dusk and wither by the morning.

9-8-2026 SEAL ISLAND MAINE, USA - AMERICAN HERRING GULL (Larus smithsonianus) CAM

The American Herring Gull is a large North American seabird measuring 22–26 inches long with a 54–60 inch wingspan. Adults feature a pale gray back, white head and body, pink legs, and a yellow bill with a red spot. Separated from European gulls in 2024, they thrive in coastal, inland, and urban areas.

Physical Traits and Development

Adult look: White head and underparts, gray back, black wingtips with white spots.

Bill and eyes: Yellow bill with a red spot on the lower jaw; pale yellow eyes.

Young birds: Covered in mottled brown feathers and take four years to get adult plumage.

Habitat and Range

Where they live: Coastlines, lakes, rivers, islands, and city rooftops.

Geographic spread: Breed across Alaska, Canada, and the northern US; winter further south to Central America.

Diet and Behavior

What they eat: Fish, insects, small mammals, marine invertebrates, and human trash.

Nesting: Lay two to three eggs in ground scrapes or on flat buildings.

Vocalizations: Make loud, plaintive calls that sound like a weeping complaint. 

19-7-2026 COBH, IRELAND - EUROPEAN HERRING GULL (Larus marinus)

The European herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large and robust seabird, with a length of up to 66 cm (26 inches). It is a familiar sight along the coastal regions of Western Europe and is known for its striking appearance and adaptability to various environments.

Adult European herring gulls have a light grey back and upper wings, with a white head and underparts. Their wingtips are marked with black and white spots known as "mirrors." The bill is a bright yellow with a red spot near the tip, and the legs are typically pink, although they can sometimes be yellowish. Juveniles are mottled brown with darker streaks and possess a dark bill and eyes. As they mature, their plumage gradually lightens, reaching full adult coloration and sexual maturity at around four years of age.

These gulls are commonly found in coastal areas, but they have also adapted to urban environments where they can be seen nesting on rooftops and scavenging for food.

Herring gulls are noisy, gregarious birds with distinctive vocalisations. Their loud, laughing call is particularly well known, and is often seen as a symbol of the seaside in countries such as the United Kingdom. The European herring gull also has a yelping alarm call and a low, barking anxiety call. The most distinct and best known call produced by European herring gulls – which is shared with their American relative – is the raucous territorial 'long call', used to signal boundaries to other birds; it is performed by the gull initially with its head bowed, then raised as the call continues.

European herring gull chicks and fledglings emit a distinctive, repetitive, high-pitched 'peep', accompanied by a head-flicking gesture when begging for food from or calling to their parents. Adult gulls in urban areas also exhibit this behaviour when fed by humans.

19-7-2026 COBH, IRELAND - ROOK (Corvus frugilegus)

Rooks are highly social and gregarious, often seen in flocks. They are monogamous, with pairs forming lifelong bonds and staying together within the flock. These birds are diurnal, foraging on the ground during the day and roosting communally at night. They exhibit complex social behaviors and are known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities.

The rook's call is a distinctive caw or kaah, variable in pitch and used in different contexts. It is less raucous than that of the carrion crow and is often heard in flight or while perched, where the bird may fan its tail and bow with each call.

Rooks nest colonially in rookeries located at the tops of tall trees. Both sexes contribute to nest-building, which is a cup-shaped structure made of sticks and lined with softer materials. The breeding season begins in spring, with egg-laying occurring by the end of March or early April in Britain, and possibly later in eastern Europe and Russia. The clutch size ranges from three to five eggs, which are incubated primarily by the female.

The birds form flocks in winter, often in the company of other Corvus species or jackdaws. They return to their rookeries, and breeding takes place in spring. They forage on arable land and pasture, probing the ground with their strong bills and feeding largely on grubs and soil-based invertebrates, but they also consume cereals and other plant material. Historically, farmers have accused the birds of damaging their crops and have made efforts to drive them away or kill them. Like other corvids, they are intelligent birds with complex behavioural traits and an ability to solve simple problems.

19-7-2026 COBH, IRELAND - PIED WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba ssp. yarrellii)

The Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba ssp. yarrellii) is a common black, white, and grey subspecies of the White Wagtail. It breeds mainly in Great Britain and Ireland, featuring a much darker black or dark grey back compared to continental European birds.

Key Identification Features

Plumage: Adult males have a jet-black back, crown, and throat bib with a crisp white face and underparts.

Rump: Features a solid black rump, which helps separate it from the lighter continental White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba).

Behavior: Constantly bobs and wags its long tail up and down while running fast on open ground.

Habitat and Range

Distribution: Resident across Britain and Ireland; some populations migrate south to winter in western France, Iberia, and North Africa.

Environment: Thrives near water, farmland, and urban environments like parks and parking lots. Users on BirdForum reach a consensus that telling females and first-winter birds apart from standard White Wagtails can be tricky due to overlapping grey tones on the mantle.

19-7-2026 COBH, IRELAND - BLUE LILY (Agapanthus praecox)

Agapanthus praecox (common agapanthus, blue lily, African lily, or lily of the Nile) is a popular garden plant around the world, especially in Mediterranean climates. It is native to the Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Local names include agapant, bloulelie, isicakathi and ubani. Most of the cultivated plants of the genus Agapanthus are hybrids or cultivars of this species. It is divided into three subspecies: subsp.praecox, subsp. orientalis and subsp. minimus.

Agapanthus praecox is a variable species with open-faced flowers. It is a perennial plant that can live for up to 75 years. Its evergreen leaves are 2 cm wide and 50 cm long. Its inflorescence is an umbel. The flowers are blue, purple or white and bloom from late spring to summer, followed by capsules filled with black seeds. Its flowering stem reaches one meter high. Its roots are very powerful and can break concrete.

12-8-2026 TURPENTINE CREEK WILDLIFE REFUGE - BENGAL TIGER (Panthera tigris) WEBCAM

The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the nominate Tiger subspecies. It ranks among the biggest wild cats alive today. It is considered to belong to the world's charismatic megafauna. The Bengal tiger is estimated to have been present in the Indian subcontinent since the Late Pleistocene, for about 12,000 to 16,500 years. Today, it is threatened by a number of threats caused by humans.

The Bengal tiger's coat is yellow to light orange, with stripes ranging from dark brown to black; the belly and the interior parts of the limbs are white, and the tail is orange with black rings. The white tiger is a recessive mutant, which is reported in the wild from time to time in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, and especially in the former State of Rewa. However, it is not an occurrence of albinism. The Bengal tiger has exceptionally stout teeth. Its canines are 7.5 to 10 cm (3.0 to 3.9 in) long and thus the longest among all cats.

22-7-2026 ST BENEDICTS PRIORY, COBH - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)

The Goldfinch is a colourful finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It's a very sociable bird, often breeding in loose groups. It has a delightful twittering song and call. Their fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly, they are visiting bird tables and feeders. In winter, many UK Goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.

The European goldfinch is illegally trafficked and can be found in countries worldwide, including the United States.

They attach their nests to tree twigs using spider silk.

Males and females look similar, but males have slightly larger red face masks that extend to their eyes.

They are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially those containing niger seeds.

They forage by hovering over plants and will occasionally feed upside down.

The European goldfinch or simply the goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a small passerine bird in the finch family that is native to Europe, North Africa and western and central Asia. It has been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay.

22-7-2026 ST BENEDICTS PRIORY, COBH - ROSE OF SHARON (Hypericum calycinum)

Hypericum calycinum is a species of prostrate or low-growing shrub in the flowering plant family Hypericaceae. It is native to the Strandzha Mountains along the Bulgarian and Turkish Black Sea coast. Widely cultivated for its large yellow flowers, its names as a garden plant include rose-of-Sharon in Britain and Australia, and Aaron's beard, great St-John's wort, creeping St. John's wort and Jerusalem star.

Hypericum calycinum is a low, creeping, evergreen woody shrub (classified as a subshrub or shrublet to about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall and 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) wide but often smaller. The green, ovate leaves grow in opposite pairs. Usually 4 inches (10 cm) long, the undersides of the leaves are net-veined. In the sun, the leaves are a vibrant green color, and in shade, the leaves are a lighter yellow-green. The underside of the leaves is a blue-green color and in the fall, the leaves take on a purple color.

The flowers are 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) in diameter, a rich yellow, with five petals and numerous yellow stamens. Its flowers can be described as "rose-like" and tend to be single or in units of two or three, flowering in June to September.

22-7-2026 COBH, IRELAND - MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT (Asplenium trichomanes)

Linnaeus was the first to describe maidenhair spleenwort with the binomial Asplenium trichomanes in his Species Plantarum of 1753.

Asplenium trichomanes has diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid cytotypes, which it has been argued should be recognised as distinct species. A triploid cytotype (a sterile hybrid between the diploid and tetraploid cytotype) is also known. 

Within these cytotypes several subspecies are recognised. Plants of the World Online accepts 20 infraspecific subdivisions as of February 2025.

21-7-2026 COBH, IRELAND - BRITISH BUFF TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus terrestris ssp. audax)

The British buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris ssp. audax) is an endemic UK subspecies of the common buff-tailed bumblebee. It features a black body with golden-yellow bands, a distinctive buff-coloured tail on queens, and white tails on workers. Colonies can grow up to 600 individuals underground.

Appearance and Identification

Size: Queens reach 22 mm, while workers are smaller (11–17 mm).

Collar & Bands: Yellow-orange collar on the thorax with a second yellow-brown band on the abdomen.

Tail color: Queens show a brownish-buff tail, whereas workers often appear white-tailed.

Behavior and HabitatNesting: They build underground nests, often in old rodent or mammal holes.

Winter activity: Mild UK winters allow some southern colonies to stay active and forage year-round.

Feeding: They possess short tongues and practice "nectar robbing" by biting holes in deep flowers.

22-7-2026 COBH, IRELAND - RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY (Vanessa atalanta)

Vanessa atalanta, the red admiral or, previously, the red admirable, is a well-characterized, medium-sized butterfly with black wings, red bands, and white spots. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches (5 cm). It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. The red admiral is widely distributed across temperate regions of North Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. It resides in warmer areas, but migrates north in spring and sometimes again in autumn. Typically found in moist woodlands, the red admiral caterpillar's primary host plant is the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica); it can also be found on the false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica). The adult butterfly drinks from flowering plants like Buddleia and overripe fruit. Red admirals are territorial; females will only mate with males that hold territory. Males with superior flight abilities are more likely to successfully court females. It is known as an unusually calm butterfly, often allowing observation at a very close distance before flying away, also landing on and using humans as perches.

In northern Europe, it is one of the last butterflies to be seen before winter sets in, often feeding on the flowers of ivy on sunny days. The red admiral is also known to hibernate, re-emerging individuals showing prominently darker colors than the first brood. The butterfly also flies on sunny winter days, especially in southern Europe.

Male red admirals are territorial and perch during the afternoon until sunset. Larger territories are optimal and subject to intrusion by other males more frequently than smaller territories. Territories tend to be oval, 8–24 feet (2.4–7.3 m) long and 13–42 feet (4.0–12.8 m) wide. Males patrol their territory by flying around the perimeter between 7 and 30 times per hour. On average, territory holders interact with intruders 10 to 15 times per hour.

When another male encroaches on a red admiral's territory, the resident chases away the intruder, often in a vertical, helical path to disorient or tire out the intruder while minimizing the horizontal distance it travels from its perch. The red admiral immediately returns to its territory after chasing off encroaching males. Time spent patrolling increases as number of the intruder interactions increases.

23-7-2026 COBH, IRELAND - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (MALE) (Turdus merula)

The Common Blackbird, Turdus merula, is a true thrush and a familiar sight in gardens and woodlands. The male is distinguished by its all-black plumage, bright yellow eye-ring, and orange-yellow bill, which darkens slightly during winter. Females and juveniles are more demure in their attire, sporting mainly dark brown feathers.

Adult males are entirely black with the exception of the yellow eye-ring and bill. Females are sooty-brown with a duller bill, and juveniles resemble females but have pale spots on their upperparts. The very young may also exhibit a speckled breast.

23-7-2026 RIVER LEE CORK, IRELAND - EUROPEAN HERRING GULL (Larus marinus)

The European herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large and robust seabird, with a length of up to 66 cm (26 inches). It is a familiar sight along the coastal regions of Western Europe and is known for its striking appearance and adaptability to various environments.

Adult European herring gulls have a light grey back and upper wings, with a white head and underparts. Their wingtips are marked with black and white spots known as "mirrors." The bill is a bright yellow with a red spot near the tip, and the legs are typically pink, although they can sometimes be yellowish. Juveniles are mottled brown with darker streaks and possess a dark bill and eyes. As they mature, their plumage gradually lightens, reaching full adult coloration and sexual maturity at around four years of age.

23-7-2026 RIVER LEE CORK, IRELAND - EUROPEAN HERRING GULL (JUVENILE) (Larus argentatus)

A juvenile European herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large, heavy-bodied young bird up to 66 cm long. It features mottled, dark brown and buff-speckled plumage, a dark bill, dark eyes, and pinkish legs. It takes about four years to transition into fully gray-and-white adult plumage.

Appearance and Identification

Plumage: Covered in a messy mix of dark brown feathers with pale fringes, giving a scaly or checkered look.

Head and Neck: Streak-brown and dingy, lacking the clean white look of adults.

Bill: Mostly dark or blackish, sometimes showing a slightly paler pinkish base.

Eyes and Legs: Dark eyes (becoming pale only in later years) and dull pink legs.

Development and Behavior

Maturation: Takes four years to reach adult look. Intermediate stages look mottled and messy.

Diet: Opportunistic feeder. Found near coasts, lakes, and landfills.

Flight: Strong and broad-winged, though juvenile tail and wing feathers show dark, uniform tones.

23-7-2026 RIVER LEE CORK, IRELAND - BLACK HEADED GULL (JUVENILE) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

A juvenile Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small, noisy bird measuring about 34 to 43 cm long. Unlike adults, young birds lack a dark hood. They feature a mottled brownish back, brown wing patterns, a speckled breast, yellowish-pink legs, and a pale bill with a dark tip.

Key Identification Features

Head: White with a dark smudge or spot near the ear.

Body: Warm buff-brown streaking and mottling on the upper back and wing coverts.

Tail: White with a distinct dark or black band right at the tip.

Bill and Legs: Flesh-colored, yellowish, or dull orange-pink rather than the bright red of an adult.

Wings: Show a bright white stripe (blaze) on the front edge of the inner wing during flight.

Behavior and Habitat

Diet: Eats insects, worms, scraps, and small fish.

Location: Found near lakes, ponds, farm fields, rivers, and coastal shores.

Development: They molt their brown juvenile feathers and transition to a pale gray back by their first winter.

30-7-2026 ROSTELLAN, IRELAND - MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor)

The mute swan, Cygnus olor, is a majestic bird, easily recognized by its all-white plumage and the distinctive orange beak bordered with black. The male, known as a cob, is noted for a prominent knob atop the beak, which is more pronounced than that of the female, or pen.

Adult mute swans measure between 125 to 160 cm in length, with a wingspan of 200 to 240 cm. The males are generally larger than females and possess a larger knob on their bill. The species is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males reaching weights up to 14.3 kg and females up to 10.6 kg. Juveniles, or cygnets, are not as bright white as adults and have a dull greyish-black bill for their first year.

Mute swans are found in a variety of wetland habitats, including lakes, ponds, rivers, and coastal areas, where they build large mounds of vegetation for nesting.

Native to Eurosiberia, the mute swan has been introduced to North America, Australasia, and southern Africa. It is partially migratory in northern latitudes, with some populations moving as far south as North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Mute swans are territorial and monogamous, often reusing the same nest each year. They are less vocal than other swan species but are known for their aggressive defense of their nests and offspring. They can be seen performing a threat display known as busking, with wings half raised and neck curved back.

While not as vocal, mute swans produce a range of sounds including grunting, hoarse whistling, and snorting. They also have a rhythmic song during courtship displays and a unique throbbing sound from their wings in flight.

30-7-2026 ROSTELLAN, IRELAND - MUTE SWAN (JUVENILE) (Cygnus olor)

A juvenile mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a large young water bird. It has dusty gray-brown feathers instead of bright white. Its bill is dark gray or dull pinkish instead of orange, and it lacks the large black forehead knob that adults have.

Physical Traits

Color: Dusky gray-brown body, paler on the neck and chin.

Bill: Dull gray, black, or pinkish-horn with no visible knob.

Size: Nearly as large as an adult, with a long neck.

Change: Feathers turn white and bills turn orange during their first year or second year.

Life and HabitsTracked by bird watchers on platforms like eBird.

Stays with family groups for several months after hatching.

Eats water plants by dabbling in lakes, ponds, and slow rivers.

30-7-2026 ROSTELLAN, IRELAND - MALLARD (FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

The Mallard, or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), is a familiar and widespread dabbling duck with a presence across temperate and subtropical regions of the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has also been introduced to parts of the Southern Hemisphere. The male is renowned for its iridescent green head and white collar, while the female sports a brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes boast a speculum—a patch of feathers with iridescent purple or blue hues bordered by white. The Mallard's length ranges from 50 to 65 cm, with a wingspan of 81 to 98 cm, and it typically weighs between 0.7 and 1.6 kg.

 Males during the breeding season are unmistakable with their glossy green heads, white collars, and purple-tinged brown breasts. Females are mottled brown with buff cheeks and an eye-stripe. Both sexes have the distinctive speculum on their wings. The male's bill is yellowish-orange tipped with black, while the female's is darker, ranging from black to mottled orange and brown.

Mallards are found in a variety of wetlands, including parks, small ponds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. They prefer water depths less than 0.9 meters and are drawn to areas with aquatic vegetation.

21-7-2026 FOTA HOUSE GARDEN, IRELAND - DOTTED LOOSESTRIFE (Lysimachia punctata)

Lysimachia punctata, the dotted loosestrife, large yellow loosestrife, circle flower, or spotted loosestrife, is a flowering plant species in the family Primulaceae.

Lysimachia punctata is a rhizomatous perennial herbaceous plant growing up to about 1.2m in height. The flowers have five petals, sepals and stamens and are produced in dense groups in the axils of leaves. The leaves are opposite and ovate. Both the leaves and the flower parts are hairy.  The petals are fringed with hairs and the hairy sepals all-green, without the orange margin of L. vulgaris.

It is native to SE Europe east to the Caucasus, introduced as a garden plant and widely naturalized as a garden escape on rough ground, roadsides and damp places.

21-7-2026 FOTA HOUSE GARDEN, IRELAND - GARDEN DAHLIA (Dahlia pinnata)

Dahlia pinnata (D. × pinnata) is a species in the genus Dahlia, family Asteraceae, with the common name garden dahlia. It is the type species of the genus and is widely cultivated.

Dahlia pinnata is a perennial herbaceous plant with a rhizome and tuberous roots, reaching a height of 70 to 120 centimetres (28 to 47 inches), rarely 160 cm. The stem is erect, and branched only in the inflorescence. The leaves are usually simple, with leaflets that are ovate and 5–10 centimetres (2–4 in) long. The plant is slightly shaggy.

Between July and October, atop stems 5 to 15 cm in length are two to eight flower heads, 6 to 10 cm in diameter. The eight florets have a length of 3 to 5 cm, are ovate and coloured pink to deep purple.

Hansen and Hjerting in (1996)[3] demonstrated that Dahlia pinnata should more properly be designated D. x pinnata. D. x pinnata was shown to actually be a variant of D. sorensenii that had acquired hybrid qualities before it was introduced to Europe in the sixteenth century and formally named by Cavanilles. The original wild D. pinnata is presumed extinct.

It is geographically located in Central America, tending to grow at borders. The plant occurs in Mexico in the mountains around Mexico City.

7-8-2026 KATMAI NAT PARK, ALASKA., USA - BROWN BEAR (Ursus arctos) WEBCAM

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear species found across Eurasia and North America. In North America, the populations of brown bears are called grizzly bears, while the subspecies that inhabits the Kodiak Islands of Alaska is known as the Kodiak bear. It is one of the largest living terrestrial members of the order Carnivora, rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus), which is much less variable in size and slightly bigger on average. The brown bear's range includes parts of Russia, Central Asia, the Himalayas, China, Canada, the United States, Hokkaido, Scandinavia, Finland, the Balkans, the Picos de Europa and the Carpathian region (especially Romania), Iran, Anatolia, and the Caucasus. The brown bear is recognized as a national and state animal in several European countries.

21-7-2026 FOTA HOUSE GARDEN, IRELAND - GOLDEN EVERLASTING (Xerochrysum bracteatum)

Xerochrysum bracteatum, commonly known as the golden everlasting or strawflower, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Australia. Described by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in 1803, it was known as Helichrysum bracteatum for many years before being transferred to a new genus Xerochrysum in 1990. It is an annual[4] up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall with green or grey leafy foliage. Golden yellow or white flower heads are produced from spring to autumn; their distinctive feature is the papery bracts that resemble petals. 

The species is widespread, growing in a variety of habitats across the country, from rainforest margins to deserts and subalpine areas. The golden everlasting serves as food for various larvae of lepidopterans (butterflies and moths), and adult butterflies, hoverflies, native bees, small beetles, and grasshoppers visit the flower heads.

21-7-2026 FOTA HOUSE GARDEN, IRELAND - EUROPEAN COMMA BUTTERFLY (Polygonia c-album)

 Polygonia c-album, or the “comma”, is a food generalist (polyphagous) butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. The angular notches on the edges of the forewings are characteristic of the genus Polygonia, which is why species in the genus are commonly referred to as anglewing butterflies. Comma butterflies can be identified by their prominent orange and dark brown/black dorsal wings.

Both the larval and adult stages exhibit protective camouflage, mimicking bird droppings and fallen leaves respectively, which reduces predation. The pupae are also cryptic, resembling shriveled leaves. During the later stage of development, the larvae also develop strong spines along their backs. The species is commonly found in Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and contains several subspecies. Although the species is not migratory, the butterflies are strong fliers, resulting in an open population structure with high gene flow and increased genetic variation.