This page contains photographs taken over a number of years in various locations around Northern Ireland together with pictures from the the Burren in County Clare. It illustrates some of the more obvious and common, birds, animals, flowers, insects and fungi seen at various seasons in the different habitats. Overall Ireland is somewhat depauperate in terms of species diversity as a result of the last ice age, however, there is still a great deal of interest to be seen when walking around the countryside. Many of the flowers are quite small in size, but display great beauty and complexity when examined in detail. There are also some special habitats like the Burren where the local topography has created ecological niches that allow unexpected species to not only survive but to thrive. A number of otherwise alpine species can be found at sea level in the Burren as a result of the special conditions created on the limestone pavement. Rathlin Island is also a special location with the sea stacks at the western end of the island populated during the summer by enormous colonies of nesting sea birds. Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Puffins and other species fill the air as they fly from the rock faces out to sea to fish. The western end of the island also plays host to an array of interesting plants with a range of orchid species, bog asphodel, butterwort and the unusual pyramidal bugle principal amongst them. The coastal dune systems, such as those at Portstewart, are also filled with interesting plants, with orchids again a prominent feature during the summer period.