Harper's Island Wetlands
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harpersisland.bsky.social
Harper's Island Wetlands
@harpersisland.bsky.social
Harper's Island Wetlands is a Nature Reserve situated in Cork Harbour in Co. Cork, Ireland. Open Daily 9am - 5pm https://birdwatchcork.com/about-harpers/
Pinned
It's well worth checking in on the cameras right now.. the infrared camera is on, it's high tide and the wetlands are full of birds.. .. 😊 www.youtube.com/live/BpW9fu1...
Harper's Island Wetlands Nature Reserve Live Stream
YouTube video by Harper's Island Wetlands Nature Reserve
www.youtube.com
It's well worth checking in on the cameras right now.. the infrared camera is on, it's high tide and the wetlands are full of birds.. .. 😊 www.youtube.com/live/BpW9fu1...
Harper's Island Wetlands Nature Reserve Live Stream
YouTube video by Harper's Island Wetlands Nature Reserve
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Harper's Island Wetlands
Yes, agree, it is always a great spot to relax and enjoy some nature. Thanks to all who continue to make Harper’s Island a great space for the birds and us humans too 👍🏻
November 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Great footage, thanks for sharing Colm. Itt was lovely and peaceful down at the wetlands today.
A nice Egret preening on the wetlands at Harpers Island, Cork. #wildbirds #egret #wetlands #biodiversity @harpersisland.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Harper's Island Wetlands
Redshank this morning at Harper’s Island, Cork #birds #redshank #nature
November 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
We are delighted to announce our new Wetland Cam. This camera will stream 24/7 live images and sound from out on our wetlands. Please share the link with friends, school teachers and anyone you think might be interested www.youtube.com/channel/UCXj...
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November 26, 2025 at 8:20 AM
1/3 We had another great volunteer morning on the reserve yesterday. The weather gods were kind to us and we got a lot done, including replacing one of our wetland access gates and cutting back some encroaching gorse on the nature trail.
November 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Harper's Island Wetlands
Clearing out old Sand Martin nests from the nesting wall at @harpersisland.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Notice - Our opening hours are changing for the winter. From Nov 1st we will be open from 9am - 5pm each day. Oiche Samhain Shona Daoibh go léir 🍂🍁🍂🍁
October 31, 2025 at 4:34 PM
We had surprise visitors to the reserve today when these Whooper Swans showed up. These swans recently arrived from Iceland & will spend the winter here. Whooper Swans are scarce visitors in Cork Harbour, but large flocks over winter near Fermoy 🙏 to Michael Jones for the pic.
October 23, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Thanks for sharing Gemma - great footage, poor Sparrowhawk!
If at first you don't succeed ..
In the rain yesterday at Harper's Island, a Hooded Crow eventually drives a Sparrowhawk away from the small wader that the Sparrowhawk had just caught.
@IslandWetlands @BirdWatchIE #phonescoped #kleptoparasitism @birds
October 20, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Thanks to a loan of a thermal imaging camera over the next few months we will be having a look at what goes on on the reserve after dark. Under the cover of darkness our very healthy Rabbit population was looking very relaxed out in the open near the Scrape Hide.
October 18, 2025 at 6:56 AM
On Saturday we will be holding our regular monthly volunteer morning on the reserve. We have two hours of work, tasks varying from month to month and something for all abilities, with a tea break in the middle. You don't have to come for the two hours, all help is welcome 🙂
October 1, 2025 at 9:16 PM
And just like that it's going to be October tomorrow. For the next month we will be open from 9am to 7pm daily.
September 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The Bar-tailed Godwit, one of our special species, is beginning to arrive back to Cork from its summer breeding grounds. Drop down to the reserve to see this beautiful bird for yourself.
Today’s Autumn Arrival Spotlight is the Bar-tailed Godwit! 😍

These long-distance travellers fly from their Arctic breeding grounds to settle along UK mudflats, where they probe for bugs with upturned bills.
September 25, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Something cute for mid-week 😊 This young Wood Mouse was out exploring next to the nature trail -at the weekend, showing no fear whatsoever of the phone. It is rare to get such a close view of this super little animal. Thanks to @limosawit.bsky.social for sharing!
September 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Harper's Island Wetlands
A reasonably close Little Egret at Harper's Island on Wednesday.
September 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Thanks to everyone who helped out at today's Volunteer Morning. We got a lot done, including waterproofing of the Borrow Dyke Hide, pigeon-proofing the ceiling in our workshop, trimming back brambles & putting the finishing touches to our new viewing area. Our volunteers are the best! meitheal
September 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Thanks to the support of the AA-AGORA fund, we are installing a new viewing stop at the corner between our two hides. Special thanks to the great work of the members of Glounthaune Men's Shed who are constructing this new viewing area and to our BirdWatch members who designed the structure #meitheal
September 5, 2025 at 6:04 AM
A frequently recorded butterfly at the reserve is the Red Admiral. We are unsure how it got its name, but it may be that the name is a corruption of 'Red Admirable'. This one was photographed on the nature trail.
August 16, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1/2 Three more horses arrived for their summer holidays today, bringing the herd total to 9. These living lawnmowers keep our dry meadow in optimal condition and an effective check on the invasive saltmarsh species, Spartina anglica.
August 14, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Another butterfly to look out for on the nature trail is the beautiful Peacock. It gets its name from the false ‘eyes’ on the upper side of its wings, reminiscent of pattern on the tail feathers of the bird with the same name and thought to scare off predators!
August 13, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Keep an eye out for the Painted Lady butterfly especially on the Buddleja (Butterfly Bush) near the farmhouse gate. This species travels thousands of miles from sub-Saharan Africa to the Arctic Circle and back, with each new generation moving north and south in a butterfly relay race #butterflies
August 12, 2025 at 4:34 PM
As you walk the nature trail you will pass two wetland habitats we created back in 2019. These are a great place to look for dragonflies & damselflies. This is a female Blue-tailed Damselfly. Unlike the bigger dragonflies, damselflies fold their wings over their backs at rest.
August 11, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Harper's Island Wetlands
Lots of flyover Water Rail but not on the official @harpersisland.bsky.social list yet….
July 27, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Harper's Island Wetlands
Detections for late June- late July @harpersisland.bsky.social LRP recorded on 5 dates. Not 100% sure of Barn Owl. Analysis of 124 hours or recording took 40 minutes using @chirpity-nocmig.bsky.social on the computer plus another 40 mins for me so delete errors. Recorded 4 hours per night
July 27, 2025 at 10:33 AM