Seán Ronayne
@seanronayne.bsky.social
Irish ornithologist & wildlife sound recordist.
http://www.irishwildlifesounds.com/
Using bird sound as a tool to spread love for Irish nature.
Albums:
-Wild Silence
-Hope
Book: Nature Boy (Irish biography of the year 2024)
Doc: Birdsong
http://www.irishwildlifesounds.com/
Using bird sound as a tool to spread love for Irish nature.
Albums:
-Wild Silence
-Hope
Book: Nature Boy (Irish biography of the year 2024)
Doc: Birdsong
I’m back here after an absence. I was trying to cut back on apps. I feel like I’m being shadow-banned on instagram so this seems like a nicer place to revisit
Here’s a video from a mic deployment in Barcelona, in the midst of a wonderful thunderstorm. I got so wet it didn’t matter! It was beautiful
Here’s a video from a mic deployment in Barcelona, in the midst of a wonderful thunderstorm. I got so wet it didn’t matter! It was beautiful
September 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I’m back here after an absence. I was trying to cut back on apps. I feel like I’m being shadow-banned on instagram so this seems like a nicer place to revisit
Here’s a video from a mic deployment in Barcelona, in the midst of a wonderful thunderstorm. I got so wet it didn’t matter! It was beautiful
Here’s a video from a mic deployment in Barcelona, in the midst of a wonderful thunderstorm. I got so wet it didn’t matter! It was beautiful
The start of a new chapter! I’ve been meaning to explore underwater sounds for some time. This recorder will remain submerged for 24hrs as a test. Let’s see what swims around it tonight, when the tide rises and the people leave. Just my mic, the sea, and the fish!
March 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
The start of a new chapter! I’ve been meaning to explore underwater sounds for some time. This recorder will remain submerged for 24hrs as a test. Let’s see what swims around it tonight, when the tide rises and the people leave. Just my mic, the sea, and the fish!
Thank you everyone for a great night at Cork Opera House! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d fill 750 seats in my home city one day. What a privilege to do that talking about the thing I love so much. Nature. You all give me so much hope. See you at the next! Lots more venues to go.
March 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Thank you everyone for a great night at Cork Opera House! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d fill 750 seats in my home city one day. What a privilege to do that talking about the thing I love so much. Nature. You all give me so much hope. See you at the next! Lots more venues to go.
UK friends! Tonight Birdsong makes its UK TV debut on BBC4 at 9pm. It will also be available on BBC Player thereafter. Please spread the word! Extract taken from The Times.
March 12, 2025 at 9:19 AM
UK friends! Tonight Birdsong makes its UK TV debut on BBC4 at 9pm. It will also be available on BBC Player thereafter. Please spread the word! Extract taken from The Times.
Currently have mics running at three sites here in Catalunya. The lack of human noise at each is astounding. Can’t wait to see what I’ve captured!
February 15, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Currently have mics running at three sites here in Catalunya. The lack of human noise at each is astounding. Can’t wait to see what I’ve captured!
Tour almost ready to go! Lots of new sounds & stories as well as new threads & elements to others. The first two gigs are sold out with most others heading that way. I can’t wait! I have a few mics to collect here before coming home from Catalunya so hope to add even more sounds.
February 14, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Tour almost ready to go! Lots of new sounds & stories as well as new threads & elements to others. The first two gigs are sold out with most others heading that way. I can’t wait! I have a few mics to collect here before coming home from Catalunya so hope to add even more sounds.
Following on from a sold out Live at St. Luke's, I'll be speaking at the Cork Opera House, March 26th!
Tickets: www.irishwildlifesounds.com/irish-tour/
The sound system there is just incredible and I am so excited to showcase the best of what I've captured over the years.
See you there!
Tickets: www.irishwildlifesounds.com/irish-tour/
The sound system there is just incredible and I am so excited to showcase the best of what I've captured over the years.
See you there!
February 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Following on from a sold out Live at St. Luke's, I'll be speaking at the Cork Opera House, March 26th!
Tickets: www.irishwildlifesounds.com/irish-tour/
The sound system there is just incredible and I am so excited to showcase the best of what I've captured over the years.
See you there!
Tickets: www.irishwildlifesounds.com/irish-tour/
The sound system there is just incredible and I am so excited to showcase the best of what I've captured over the years.
See you there!
The Irish tour is growing!
Shows in Clare, Limerick, Galway, Leitrim, Kerry, Kildare & Longford announced!
tinyurl.com/mu9bx8kp
It looks like we are headed for a lot of full houses - absolutely buzzing.
Thank you everyone for your kindness & support.
More to announce in coming days!
Shows in Clare, Limerick, Galway, Leitrim, Kerry, Kildare & Longford announced!
tinyurl.com/mu9bx8kp
It looks like we are headed for a lot of full houses - absolutely buzzing.
Thank you everyone for your kindness & support.
More to announce in coming days!
January 17, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The Irish tour is growing!
Shows in Clare, Limerick, Galway, Leitrim, Kerry, Kildare & Longford announced!
tinyurl.com/mu9bx8kp
It looks like we are headed for a lot of full houses - absolutely buzzing.
Thank you everyone for your kindness & support.
More to announce in coming days!
Shows in Clare, Limerick, Galway, Leitrim, Kerry, Kildare & Longford announced!
tinyurl.com/mu9bx8kp
It looks like we are headed for a lot of full houses - absolutely buzzing.
Thank you everyone for your kindness & support.
More to announce in coming days!
An Irish tour of talks will be starting soon. Hope to see you there!
Note that this is just a fraction of venues. I am awaiting on contracts before I announce the remainder.
For tickets and details please visit my website:
www.irishwildlifesounds.com
Note that this is just a fraction of venues. I am awaiting on contracts before I announce the remainder.
For tickets and details please visit my website:
www.irishwildlifesounds.com
January 11, 2025 at 9:28 PM
An Irish tour of talks will be starting soon. Hope to see you there!
Note that this is just a fraction of venues. I am awaiting on contracts before I announce the remainder.
For tickets and details please visit my website:
www.irishwildlifesounds.com
Note that this is just a fraction of venues. I am awaiting on contracts before I announce the remainder.
For tickets and details please visit my website:
www.irishwildlifesounds.com
Just a gorgeous lemon-yellow Brimstone moth. A blast from the past from one of my many early teenage nocturnal garden safaris.
January 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Just a gorgeous lemon-yellow Brimstone moth. A blast from the past from one of my many early teenage nocturnal garden safaris.
1/6🧵
It was around this time last year that I was given this chance to talk about the thing that means the most to be on what is a huge national platform (thank you RTE and thank you Tommy Tiernan and team)
It was around this time last year that I was given this chance to talk about the thing that means the most to be on what is a huge national platform (thank you RTE and thank you Tommy Tiernan and team)
January 2, 2025 at 8:26 AM
1/6🧵
It was around this time last year that I was given this chance to talk about the thing that means the most to be on what is a huge national platform (thank you RTE and thank you Tommy Tiernan and team)
It was around this time last year that I was given this chance to talk about the thing that means the most to be on what is a huge national platform (thank you RTE and thank you Tommy Tiernan and team)
Two song types from a Wood Warbler in an Irish Sessile Oak Woodland. Now both sadly very rare. This bird was a real treat to sit with and listen to. I'd imagine this was once a much more common sound, in the very distant past, when oak woodlands were more common.
January 1, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Two song types from a Wood Warbler in an Irish Sessile Oak Woodland. Now both sadly very rare. This bird was a real treat to sit with and listen to. I'd imagine this was once a much more common sound, in the very distant past, when oak woodlands were more common.
This fast flowing water was almost singing to me. I heard it from afar and tracked it down the the exact source. I just had to record it. I was searching for Dippers again, but I always get distracted. But that's what makes the day - these beautiful distractions.
December 31, 2024 at 8:27 PM
This fast flowing water was almost singing to me. I heard it from afar and tracked it down the the exact source. I just had to record it. I was searching for Dippers again, but I always get distracted. But that's what makes the day - these beautiful distractions.
1/3🧵
Setting up my mics one night, I glanced at, but took no particular notice of, a large slug (not the individual in photo - this one I saw in SE Asia!) right by my kit.
I finally solved the mystery of the odd scratchy sounds I sometimes heard in my recordings!
Setting up my mics one night, I glanced at, but took no particular notice of, a large slug (not the individual in photo - this one I saw in SE Asia!) right by my kit.
I finally solved the mystery of the odd scratchy sounds I sometimes heard in my recordings!
December 31, 2024 at 10:31 AM
1/3🧵
Setting up my mics one night, I glanced at, but took no particular notice of, a large slug (not the individual in photo - this one I saw in SE Asia!) right by my kit.
I finally solved the mystery of the odd scratchy sounds I sometimes heard in my recordings!
Setting up my mics one night, I glanced at, but took no particular notice of, a large slug (not the individual in photo - this one I saw in SE Asia!) right by my kit.
I finally solved the mystery of the odd scratchy sounds I sometimes heard in my recordings!
Another gorgeous morning out soaking up nature and placing/collecting mics in East Cork. The highlight for this trip was seeing the delicate and rather scarce (in these parts) Tunbridge Filmy-fern for the first time ever. Now to analyse sounds…
December 30, 2024 at 3:15 PM
Another gorgeous morning out soaking up nature and placing/collecting mics in East Cork. The highlight for this trip was seeing the delicate and rather scarce (in these parts) Tunbridge Filmy-fern for the first time ever. Now to analyse sounds…
Clicking sounds from many brown shrimp (crangon crangon), recorded from a small pier in West Cork with a hydrophone (an underwater microphone).
If you listen very closely you will hear a distant limpet grazing on algae.
It's another world down there and I'm looking forward to exploring it!
If you listen very closely you will hear a distant limpet grazing on algae.
It's another world down there and I'm looking forward to exploring it!
December 30, 2024 at 11:47 AM
Clicking sounds from many brown shrimp (crangon crangon), recorded from a small pier in West Cork with a hydrophone (an underwater microphone).
If you listen very closely you will hear a distant limpet grazing on algae.
It's another world down there and I'm looking forward to exploring it!
If you listen very closely you will hear a distant limpet grazing on algae.
It's another world down there and I'm looking forward to exploring it!
Just a dinky, submarine-yellow periwinkle going about its business to the sound of a lapping Cork Harbour sea.
December 29, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Just a dinky, submarine-yellow periwinkle going about its business to the sound of a lapping Cork Harbour sea.
Gently lapping waves, very low levels of anthropogenic noise, no wind, and ten displaying black guillemots right below me. This was a perfect recording scenario - bliss.
December 29, 2024 at 5:20 AM
Gently lapping waves, very low levels of anthropogenic noise, no wind, and ten displaying black guillemots right below me. This was a perfect recording scenario - bliss.
Underwater sounds coming soon!
December 28, 2024 at 5:02 PM
Underwater sounds coming soon!
Just collected this unit after a week-long deployment from its ethereal, misty, dripping, gorgeous, Irish Atlantic rainforest hiding place. Analysis tonight. What will it have heard and captured? These units are my absolute favourite - sturdy, long-lived, waterproof and with pin-sharp sound.
December 28, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Just collected this unit after a week-long deployment from its ethereal, misty, dripping, gorgeous, Irish Atlantic rainforest hiding place. Analysis tonight. What will it have heard and captured? These units are my absolute favourite - sturdy, long-lived, waterproof and with pin-sharp sound.
A grey seal snorts and loafs around amidst a sunny, bustling seafood festival at Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford, presumably hoping for fish scraps from the numerous fishing boats tied up.
December 28, 2024 at 9:38 AM
A grey seal snorts and loafs around amidst a sunny, bustling seafood festival at Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford, presumably hoping for fish scraps from the numerous fishing boats tied up.
Beautiful! I’ve only taken to poetry in recent months and find passages like this very impressive. Currently reading this:
December 27, 2024 at 7:19 PM
Beautiful! I’ve only taken to poetry in recent months and find passages like this very impressive. Currently reading this:
Short-eared owl wing-clapping and calling, with the company of some whooper swans in the background.
Recorded with an SM4 at a then long-term, listening station on the Wexford coast, on the 17th Jan' 2022.
This is possibly my favourite ever recording, of this seldom-heard migratory owl.
Recorded with an SM4 at a then long-term, listening station on the Wexford coast, on the 17th Jan' 2022.
This is possibly my favourite ever recording, of this seldom-heard migratory owl.
December 27, 2024 at 7:08 AM
Short-eared owl wing-clapping and calling, with the company of some whooper swans in the background.
Recorded with an SM4 at a then long-term, listening station on the Wexford coast, on the 17th Jan' 2022.
This is possibly my favourite ever recording, of this seldom-heard migratory owl.
Recorded with an SM4 at a then long-term, listening station on the Wexford coast, on the 17th Jan' 2022.
This is possibly my favourite ever recording, of this seldom-heard migratory owl.
**Spoken extract from 'Nature Boy' - available in full on Audible.
Wet woodlands are real magical places. There's something ethereal about them. They're wild places full of life, mystery and character.
Wet woodlands are real magical places. There's something ethereal about them. They're wild places full of life, mystery and character.
December 26, 2024 at 8:48 PM
**Spoken extract from 'Nature Boy' - available in full on Audible.
Wet woodlands are real magical places. There's something ethereal about them. They're wild places full of life, mystery and character.
Wet woodlands are real magical places. There's something ethereal about them. They're wild places full of life, mystery and character.