Bird, bug, butterfly and a wild variety of photos from Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain by Irish wildlife photographer Patrick J. O'Keeffe and invited guests

Wednesday 29 November 2017

MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis) Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) is of the family Motacillidae which is in the genus Anthus.

Monday 27 November 2017

SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) male at West Pier, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is of the longspur family Calcariidae which is in the genus Plectrophenax. This circumpolar species breeds mainly in the arctic mountainous regions of North America and Eurasia. Isolated populations also breed south of this range in upland areas.   
Apart from small numbers breeding in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland, this is an uncommon and local winter visitor, from October to March, at coastal locations in Britain and Ireland. It occurs singularly or  in small flocks at shingle beeches near the edges of sand dunes, harbour piers and headlands. Feeding close to the ground, it can be easily overlooked and difficult to locate as cryptic colouration helps it blend into the background.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Saturday 25 November 2017

RUFF (Calidris pugnax) Adult male, Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Ruff (Calidris pugnax) is a medium sized shorebird or wader of the sandpiper family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Calidris.

Thursday 23 November 2017

RUFF (Calidris pugnax) Juvenile plumage, Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Ruff (Calidris pugnax) is a medium sized shorebird or wader of the sandpiper family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Calidris.

Sunday 29 October 2017

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) Balbriggan, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is of the family Passeridae which is in the genus Passer.

Monday 23 October 2017

EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus ) male at Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a small bird of prey of the family Falconidae which is in the genus Falco. Alternative names include European Kestrel, Common Kestrel or simply referred to as a Kestrel. This falcon occurs throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. 
More recently, the British and Irish populations have been in serious decline which may be as a result of changes in agricultural practices and  increased use of rodenticides (rat poisons). Nest predation by Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Grey Crow (Corvus cornix), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) and Common Raven (Corvus corax), whose populations have increased, may also be a factor.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds