Robert’s Ramblings

You could be forgiven for being confused by such an exotically named plant presenting itself so devilishly. The true beauty of this intriguing Nigella damascena is yet to emerge.

Very soon those green veined leaves will fold back, turn blue, and reveal themselves as the petals of a dramatic and exotic flower. The common name, love-in-a-mist, comes from the effect in full bloom of beautiful blue petals floating in a filigree mist of fine green.

This time of year the Burren, in Co Clare, Ireland, is awash with colour as wildflower adorn the ditches and rocky landscape in all directions. It is a very special place that rewards stillness with a great sense of belonging to the land.

The Burren is a place I recommend visiting and spending time in. You may or may not find something very special here but at least the wildflowers will not disappoint.


#Loveinamist #nigelladamascena #nigella #ireland #wildflowers #burren #flowers #burrennationalpark

Another beautiful jellyfish, the crystal jelly (Aequorea victoria), is normally almost perfectly clear but when disturbed it illuminates its outer bell in a blue-green glow using tiny light producing organs.

The light producing substance harvested from these guys is aequorin, a calcium-activated photoprotein used in medical research. The crystal jelly is also the very same creature who’s genes have been inserted into mice to make them glow green as their genetically modified bodies produce their own aequorin.

As the water here off the coast of Kerry is still getting warmer I’m looking forward to these guys being around for a few more months yet.


#crystaljelly #aequoreavictoria #jellyfish #ireland #scuba #diving #kerry #wildatlanticway #aequorin

Ireland’s Burren National Park, or simply ‘The Burren’ is unlike anything you would have imaged to be Irish landscape.

It is said that Oliver Cromwell, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland circa 1650, when he first saw the Burren, said, “There isn’t a tree to hang a man, water to drown a man, nor soil to bury a man.”

Despite it’s stark almost sterile aspect from afar, up close the Burren is an oasis of life, abundant in flora, fauna and ancient human history. When we visited here a couple weeks ago it was awash with colour as wildflowers bloomed from every conceivable nook, crack and cranny.

This is a place to find solitude and feel the juxtaposition of wide open barren rock landscape with the rich colour of living things.

I first came here over twenty years ago and will always be back for more.


#Ireland #landscape #countyclare #burren #burrennationalpark #tinyplanet

Just for a moment I felt like I was back in the familiar waters of South Australia where our magnificent southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) is often found in caves and under deep ledges. However, in all my years of diving Southern Australian waters I have never seen our timid crayfish out in the open during the day.

Here below the imposing Skellig Michael, and unlike its distant Australian relative, the European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) seems absolutely at home out in the open. During our dive we found several crayfish perched on open drop-off walls or foraging under the kelp.

It was amazing observing these beautiful creatures out and about rather than having to peer in caves and under ledges. Unfortunately the same does not apply to lobster which do their best to stay out of sight.

I can only surmise that for the spiny lobster, here off the south west coast of Ireland, a lack of predators has lead to their boldness making them so photogenic.


#crayfish #spinylobster #europeanspinylobster #palinuruselephas #scuba #diving #skelligmichael #critters #underwater

Every time time a meet an Irish lobster on a dive I am reminded of our Australian common yabby and childhood memories of catching them in creeks and dams.

How different the wild Irish coast is from muddy Australian farm dams and yet how similar these two creatures are in appearance.

Given the choice of diving with Irish lobster off the Irish coast or a muddy Australian farm dam I think I’ve made the right choice.


#irishlobster #homarusgammarus #lobster #kerry #scuba #diving #kerrysac #coonanna

Despite it’s name, the Compass Jellyfish has minimal control over the direction it travels or the places it finds itself.

Relative to still water they are efficient swimmers but no match for the current, tides, storms and seas of the Wild Atlantic Way coast.

These three once beautiful oceanic creatures have found a final place of rest on a pebbly beach of the Flaggy Shore, County Clare.


#newquay #ireland #clare #flaggyshore #beachcombing #beach #wildatlanticway #chrysaorahysoscella #jellyfish #compassjellyfish #pebbles #countyclare

This exquisite creature is mysterious, captivating and enchanting as it moves through the ocean with a grace all its own.

This time of the year in the waters off Ireland they are everywhere and make incredible subjects of photography or observation while waiting to off-gas on our safety stop. They are also everywhere on beaches, washed ashore, where their distinctive compass pattern can be seen draped over rock, shingle and sand.

For me the ‘jellies’ are also synonymous with the warmer (relative) water of Ireland’s Summer.

Expect a few more jellies before summer is over.


#Coonanna #ireland #kerry #scuba #diving #boating #wildatlanticway #chrysaorahysoscella, #jellyfish #compassjellyfish

On yet another perfect dive day you can see our tiny dive boat tucked in behind Bray Head. You could dive just this few hundred metres of coastline all year and never experience the same dive twice.

What a privilege it is to be diving week in and week out at locations like this.


#Brayhead #portmagee #ireland #diving #boating #aerial #wildatlanticway #valentiaisland

#map0GsPNBG3JVNZmIMkuHzB

The last thing I expected on the 12th hole was a pheasant cock strutting his stuff. I have now learned that pheasants have had uninterrupted residency here on the Cork Golf Club grounds for years.

Not actually being here to play I was easily distracted by shiny things and bright colours, especially when my team were waiting their turn.

So, cock sure and strutting his stuff, and with no fear of humans bearing strange clubs, this beautifully coloured bird captured my attention for little while. At least until the play moved on.


#Pheasant #corkgolfclub #birds #animals #golf #green #cock #cork #ireland

As we strolled down Main Street, Ennistymon, the diversity of vehicles passing through town unmistakably trended to agricultural equipment.

By about the third tractor and yet another indescribable piece of towed plant, I thought this image would capture the feel of Main Street, Ennistymon.


#ireland #ennistymon #clare #tractors #agriculture #rurallife #mainstreet