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

Thursday 28 February 2013

ICELAND GULL (1st winter) (Larus glaucoides) Seatown Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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ICELAND GULL (1st winter) (Larus glaucoides) Seatown Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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ICELAND GULL (1st winter) (Larus glaucoides) Seatown Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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Saturday 23 February 2013

RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Arenaria.

GARGANEY (Male) Anas querquedula Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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GARGANEY (Female) Anas querquedula Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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Friday 22 February 2013

GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)at The Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is of the family Ardeidae and is in the genus Ardea It is resident in the temperate regions of Eurasia as well as eastern and sub Saharan Africa. The more northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter. Wetlands are its main habitat and commonly occurs along estuaries, streams, rivers and lakes. Aquatic as well as terrestrial creatures are preyed upon. Prey items include amphibians, insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds which are swallowed whole.
This species nests in tall trees in colonies which are known as heronries. Upto five eggs are laid and are incubated for 25 days. Fledging takes place after 60 days.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) distribution map
 Breeding     Resident     Winter     Vagrant      Introduced resident 
 
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 

BLACK HEADED WEAVER Ploceus melanocephalus

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Thursday 21 February 2013

COMMON LINNET (Linaria cannabina) male, Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Co.Louth, Ireland

 
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The Linnet (Linaria cannabina) or Common Linnet is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Linaria.
 It derives its name from its fondness for the seeds of the flax plant which is used to make linen. This small finch occurs in Europe as well as Western Asia but is absent from northern latitudes and has a limited distribution in North West Africa and the Middle East. 

There are seven subspecies :
  • Linaria c. autochthona - occurs in Scotland     
  • L. c. cannabina - occurs in the rest of Britain, Ireland also northern Europe, eastwards to central Siberia. It is a partial migrant, wintering in north Africa and southwest Asia
  • L. c. bella - occurs in Middle East, eastwards to Mongolia and northwestern China
  • L. c. mediterranea - occurs on the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Greece, northwest Africa and on the Mediterranean islands
  • L. c. guentheri - occurs on Madeira Island
  • L. c. meadewaldoi - occurs on the Western Canary Islands (El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria)
  • L. c. harterti - occurs on the Eastern Canary Islands (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura)
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_linnet

EARLY BUMBLEBEE(Bombus pratorum) National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.

Wednesday 20 February 2013

BLACK NECKED GREBE Podiceps nigricollis El Astillero, Cantabria, Spain

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CRYPTIC WOOD WHITE BUTTERFLY (Leptidea juvernica) Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain


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The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea.

MARBLED ROCK CRAB (Pachygrapsus marmoratus) Llanes, Asturias, Spain

 
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The Marbled Rock Crab (Pachygrapsus marmoratus) is of the family Grapsidae which is in the genus Pachygrapsus.

Monday 18 February 2013

EURASIAN WIGEON [Male] (Anas penelope) Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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EURASIAN WIGEON [Female] (Anas penelope) Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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MELODIOUS WARBLER (Hippolais polyglotta) Tavira, Portugal

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 The Melodious Warbler
(Hippolais polyglotta) is of the warbler family Acrocephalidae which is in the genus Hippolais. It is a common breeding summer resident in southwest Europe and northwest Africa. In Mid September, it migrates south to spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ireland it's a rare but annual over shooting spring and autumn migrant to south coast headlands where it needs to be separated with care from the very similar Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) which has noticeably longer primary projections being equal in length to the tertials. Melodious Warbler primary projections are half the length of its tertials.       
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Saturday 16 February 2013

GREAT CORMORANT [1st Winter plumage] (Phalacrocorax carbo subspecies P. c. carbo) Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, Ireland

 
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The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is of the family Phalacrocoracidae which is in the genus Phalacrocorax. It has a scattered distribution in parts of North America, Eurasia, Africa and Australasia. 
There are a number subspecies recognised including the ground nesting Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo carbo) which occurs in Britain and Ireland that breeds on coastal rocky outcrops and on off shore islands.  The tree nesting Continental Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) which breeds in Northern Europe extending eastwards to Japan, but has in recent times colonised parts of southern Britain. This is apparently a rare subspecies in Ireland with less than 70 records but is in all probably under recorded.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CONTINENTAL CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo subspecies P. c. sinensis) 1st winter plumage at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is of the family Phalacrocoracidae which is in the genus Phalacrocorax. It has a scattered distribution in parts of North America, Eurasia, Africa and Australasia. 
There are a number subspecies recognised including the ground nesting Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo carbo) which occurs in Britain and Ireland that breeds on coastal rocky outcrops and on off shore islands.  The tree nesting Continental Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) which breeds in Northern Europe extending eastwards to Japan, but has in recent times colonised parts of southern Britain. This is apparently a rare subspecies in Ireland with less than 70 records but is in all probably under recorded.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Tuesday 12 February 2013

YELLOW BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus Cotter's Garden, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co Cork, Ireland

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YELLOW BROWED WARBLER ( Phylloscopus inornatus) Cotter's Garden, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co Cork, Ireland


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The Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) is one of smallest leaf warbler in the genus Phylloscopus. This insectivorous species is a summer breeding resident in the temperate regions of Asia. In the autumn, it migrates south to winter in the tropical regions of south east Asia. Small numbers also winter in western and southern Europe, as far south as the Canary Islands. In Ireland, it is a scarce or rare annual autumn passage migrant to coastal headlands and offshore islands.
 
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / RawBirds.com

Sunday 10 February 2013

HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY (Celastrina argiolus) male, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenids which is in the genus Celastrina. It is a widespread species and occurs in North America as well as Eurasia but is absent from the colder northern parts of this range. Up to 14 subspecies are generally recognised. There are two generations and it is one of the earliest blue butterflies to be seen, emerging in late spring. Later in the season, it can be confused with similar coloured species but it has very distinctive black speckling on its under wing.  
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER Sylvia hortensis Tavira, Portugal

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SPECKLED WOOD Pararge aegeria

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EUROPEAN SERIN Serinus serinus Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Tavira, Portugal

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RED VEINED DARTER (Female) Sympetrum fonscolombii El Rocio, Almonte, Huelva, Spain

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Friday 8 February 2013

SARDINIAN WARBLER [Male] (Sylvia melanocephala) Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Tavira, Portugal


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The Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) is a small mainly insectivorous warbler of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia. It is commonly encountered in southern and eastern Europe as well as in countries bordering the Mediterranean Basin. It is also resident on the Canary Islands. Some authorities recognise up to five subspecies. The female, typical of most sylvia warblers, has drabber plumage, it is grey headed with brownish upper parts and the under parts are washed buff. This species normally occurs in shrubby type habitat as well as in parks and gardens.
   
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com 
Up to five subspecies are generally recognised:
  • Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala - Iberia across the northern Mediterranean to western Turkey. Extends into the Maghreb from Iberia, and into Libya from Italy via Sicily. Migrates to the Sahel and oases in the Sahara in winter.
  • Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra  - Canary Islands, resident, probably some vagrancy between eastern islands and Maghreb.
  • Sylvia melanocephala momus - Near East. Resident, some local movements. 
  • Sylvia melanocephala norissae - Fayyum Warbler - probably only a local morph of momus  - Nile Delta region. Extinct since around 1940.
  • Sylvia melanocephala valverdei - Morocco south to the Tropic of Cancer, inland to the edge of the Sahara. Resident, but some seasonal movements.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardi

Wednesday 6 February 2013

BRAMBLING (Fringilla montifringilla) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Brambling
(Fringilla montifringilla) is a member of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Fringilla. It breeds in the northern birch and coniferous forests of Scandinavia and Russia. With the onset of colder weather, this migratory species moves south to winter in western and southern Europe, North Africa, the northern part of the Indian sub continent, China, and Japan. During migration, it regularly occurs in Alaska and as far south as the western United States.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Sword, Fingal, Co.Dublin, Ireland


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The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), alternative names include Northern Sparrowhawk or simply Sparrowhawk, is a small bird of prey of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Accipiter. It has a widespread distribution across the temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World. It is a partial migrant and in the more northern and colder parts of its range, it disperses south for the winter. The preferred habitats include open type wood land, hedge rows, parks and gardens where a wide variety of small to medium sized perching birds are preyed upon. Males are up to 25% smaller than females and tend to prey upon sparrow sized passerines but can include starlings and thrushes. Females, on the other hand, can tackle larger prey including doves, pigeons and magpies.
This species is the most commonly encountered bird of prey in Ireland.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds