Nature Activities In July
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What nature activities can you enjoy in Ireland during July?
This is Mooney Goes Wild on RTE Radio 1.
So a wonderful hour of nature ahead of us tonight here on RTÉ Radio 1 in the guise of Mooney Goes Wild. In studio, Terry Flanagan and Eileen Nylander. And it's July, Eileen, the 6th of July. Can you believe it already? Did you blink?
The third month of summer. We're moving into the last month of summer. We've had the longest day. The days are getting shorter again.
Why is Ireland's Eye a great destination for wildlife watching?
But the temperature is actually, on average, the warmest in July. And nature is in full swing today. everything is happening. So it's now or never to get out and see the things that you always promised to do on your bucket list. And there's plenty of places around the country where you can go on wildlife expeditions, if you like.
Well, I was just looking up TripAdvisor for things to do in Ireland in July. Oh, you must be hard up. No, I was just curious before we came on now, just one of the things you can do is explore the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Ireland's Eye on this scenic cruise. It combines wildlife watching with an island landing. Yeah, Ireland's Eye is a great place to go.
What unique wildlife can you observe at Ireland's Eye?
It's actually just off Hoth. It's not in Dublin Bay. It's the other side of it. So technically speaking, Dublin Bay is the UNESCO site. And I presume they're including Ireland's Eye in it for good measure. Loads of breeding birds there because there's lots of cliffs. But the big one is the gannets. I mean, 30, 40 years ago, there were no gannets there. And the gannets are there. And you see the odd puffin as well.
How have gannet populations changed in Ireland over the years?
Everybody wants to see the puffins because of their... But the gannets are the drama queens, aren't they? They really are.
And you're standing there up on the headland on the island, you know, just up past the Martello Tower. And you're watching these gannets and they're diving into the water, just like an arrow zapping into the water, coming up with fish.
What makes gannets a fascinating species to observe?
And as you say, 20, 30, 40 years ago, there were no gannets there. Now, I think it's almost completely overrun with gannets that they're having to move off the island. But just to look at them, that beautiful kind of slate grey eye and you've got the yellow head and the white on the body. They're a beautiful breed.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What nature activities can you enjoy in Ireland during July?
0:00–0:37
2
Why is Ireland's Eye a great destination for wildlife watching?
0:37–1:16
3
What unique wildlife can you observe at Ireland's Eye?
1:16–1:37
4
How have gannet populations changed in Ireland over the years?
1:37–1:53
5
What makes gannets a fascinating species to observe?
1:53–2:07