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Lepus timidus hibernicus
The Irish hare is a local form of the mountain hare, with long ears and a bounding stride. Scan Glenveagh’s upland grass or the open country of Connemara from an established path. A brief sighting at a distance is often all you get before it disappears into the grass.
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Red deer
Look across open ground in Killarney National Park for red deer. Genetic evidence links Killarney’s long-established herd to deer that lived in Ireland thousands of years ago. In autumn, a stag’s low roar can carry farther than you can see. Watch from the path and give the herd extra room during the rut.
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European pine marten
Wooded areas of Wicklow Mountains National Park are pine marten country. A passing animal can look like a large, long-bodied squirrel until you catch the creamy bib and dark brown coat. Scan woodland edges quietly in the evening and treat any glimpse as a bonus.
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Eurasian otter
Otters live along rivers and lake edges in Wicklow and elsewhere in Ireland, and can feed along the coast. Look for a low head and long wake, then watch for the back to curve as the animal dives. Scan from the bank with binoculars and let the otter move freely.
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Stoat
Follow the line of a hedgerow or dry stone wall with your eyes. Irish stoats use that cover as they move across the countryside. One may pop up, show a long brown body and pale belly, and vanish almost immediately. The tip of the tail is black year-round.
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Natterjack toad
Sandy coastal areas of County Kerry are the stronghold of Ireland’s natterjack toads. The males can be easier to hear around shallow pools during spring and summer than to see. A distinctive yellow line runs down the back. Respect access restrictions and leave breeding pools undisturbed.
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Basking shark
On calm days in spring or summer, scan from headlands on the western or southwestern coast. A triangular dorsal fin may move slowly at the surface while a basking shark filters plankton. Sometimes the upper tip of its tail appears farther back and gives you a sense of its size.
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Grey seal
Look from shore around the Blasket Islands or other rocky stretches of the southwestern coast. A gray seal can show a long, sloping profile when it lifts its head. Use a scope to compare the head shapes of seals already resting at a distance, especially when pups are on shore.
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Red squirrel
Look high in woodland at Killarney before following a rustle along the ground. A red squirrel’s tail is long and fluffy, and the ears can carry prominent tufts, particularly in winter. A squirrel moving from branch to branch may be easier to track than one sitting against the bark.
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Atlantic puffin
From the marked viewpoints at the Cliffs of Moher, use binoculars to scan for puffins during the spring and summer breeding season. The bright bill helps if a bird is perched. Out over the water the silhouette is small and stocky, with quick wingbeats.
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Red-billed chough
In western Kerry, watch coastal cliffs and the short grass above them. A chough’s curved red bill and red legs stand out against its black plumage if the bird is close enough to see clearly. Look for broad wings as it sweeps out from the rocks.
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Viviparous lizard
Watch sunny stones, walls, or fallen wood in the Burren in the warmer months. Ireland’s common lizard often basks where there is cover a short dash away. Let your eyes follow the edge between sun and shade so you can see it before it slips out of view.
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White-tailed eagle
Scan wide stretches of water around Killarney’s lakes or Lough Derg for a big raptor with long, broad wings. Adults develop a white tail, while a young bird can be darker. White-tailed eagles returned to Ireland through a reintroduction program.
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Harbor seal
From the shore or a public viewpoint at Glengarriff Harbour in County Cork, look for seals resting on rocks. A harbor seal usually has a rounder head and shorter muzzle than a gray seal. A pair of binoculars lets you make the comparison without moving closer.
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