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

Sunday 31 March 2013

SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) 1st winter male at Ballyieragh South, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, 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 

SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) 1st winter male at Ballyieragh South, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, 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 

LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) juvenile, Big Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) is a medium sized shorebird or wader of the family Scolopacidae which is the genus Tringa. It is a common long distant migrant which breeds in wetland areas in the boreal forests of Central and North West Canada as well as Alaska. In early autumn it migrates south to its wintering areas in the Gulf of Mexico and South America. It is also a very rare but annual autumn vagrant to North West Europe, including Ireland. 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Friday 29 March 2013

EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) juvenile at Glen West, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland


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The European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory member of the family Columbidae, which includes doves as well as pigeons and is in the genus Streptopelia. It is a  summer breeding resident in Europe (including the Canary Islands), parts of the Middle East, as well as western Asia and north Africa. It is absent as a breeding species from Iceland, Ireland (formally bred) and most of Scandinavia but does occur in spring and autumn as an uncommon/rare overshooting migrant. Over much of its northern range, there has been a very sharp decline in its population. In the autumn, it migrates south to spend the winter in southern Africa.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) juvenile at Glen West, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland


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The European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory member of the genus Columbidae, which includes doves and pigeons. It is a  summer breeding resident in Europe (including the Canary Islands), parts of the Middle East, as well as western Asia and north Africa. It is absent as a breeding species from Iceland, Ireland (formally bred) and most of Scandinavia but does occur in spring and autumn as an uncommon/rare overshooting migrant. Over much of its northern range, there has been a very sharp decline in its population. In the autumn, it migrates south to spend the winter in southern Africa.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Tuesday 26 March 2013

REDWING (Turdus iliacus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is a species of thrush in the family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus. It breeds in the northern parts of Eurasia extending eastwards from Iceland to eastern Russia. Small numbers have also recently been found breeding in Greenland. In the autumn, this highly migratory species leaves the colder parts of its breading range to winter further south in Europe as well as parts of North Africa and the Middle East extending to northern Iran. 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 25 March 2013

DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis) Inisbofin Island, Co. Galway, Ireland

 
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The Dunnock (Prunella modularis) which was formally known as Hedge Sparrow or Hedge Accentor is of the family Prunellidae which is in the genus Prunella. The name Dunnock comes from the ancient English word dunnākos, meaning "little brown one". It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe, parts of Western Asia and as an introduced species in New Zealand. 
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET (Leptophyes punctatissima) female on 16th October 2009 at Ballyieragh North, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co.Cork, Ireland

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The Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) is of the family Tettigoniidae which is in the genus Leptophyes. This flightless insect occurs across most of Europe as well as parts of the Middle East. 
In Ireland it is very uncommon and apparently has a very restricted range in the southeastern as well as southern regions but in all probability is under recorded. It occurs in a wide variety of vegetative habitats, including hedgerows, parks and gardens where its cryptic colouration help it to avoid predation. In late autumn, eggs are laid on plant stems and on tree bark. They hatch out as nymphs in May the following year. The adult stage is from August to early November. A bat detector set to 40khz can be used to locate calling adults.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET (Leptophyes punctatissima) male on 2nd September 2012 at Ireland's Eye, Howth, Fingal,Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) is of the family Tettigoniidae which is in the genus Leptophyes. This flightless insect occurs across most of Europe as well as parts of the Middle East. 
In Ireland it is very uncommon and apparently has a very restricted range in the southeastern as well as southern regions but in all probability is under recorded. It occurs in a wide variety of vegetative habitats, including hedgerows, parks and gardens where its cryptic colouration help it to avoid predation. In late autumn, eggs are laid on plant stems and on tree bark. They hatch out as nymphs in May the following year. The adult stage is from August to early November. A bat detector set to 40khz can be used to locate calling adults.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 24 March 2013

EURASIAN BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) female, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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 The Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia.

WHITE TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus lucorum) National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus  lucorum) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.

HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY (Celastrina argiolus) female 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

Saturday 23 March 2013

COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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 The Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) or more simply known as a Redpoll is of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Acanthis. 
 There are several subspecies recognised including the Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis flammea caberet) which is resident in Ireland and Britain. It also breeds in Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia where it is a partial migrant, which moves south and west to more temperate regions for the winter.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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Wednesday 20 March 2013

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) Dojlidy Ponds, Bialystok, Poland

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The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is of the family Podicipedidae which is in the genus Podiceps.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) Dojlidy Ponds, Bialystok, Poland

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The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is of the family Podicipedidae which is in the genus Podiceps.

Sunday 17 March 2013

RED BACKED SHRIKE (Female) Lanius collurio Bialowieza Forest, Poland

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RED NECKED FOOTMAN (Atolmis rubricollis) Saint Johns Lake, Kiltybardan, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

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The Red Necked Footman (Atolmis rubricollis) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Atolmis.

POPLAR HAWK MOTH (Laothoe populi) Saint John's Lake, Kiltybarden, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, Ireland


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The Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) is a macro moth of the family Sphingidae which is in the genus Laothoe. It is commonly found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East . It is quiet large and has a wing span of up to 100mm.
This distinctively shaped moth is on the wing from May to September and can be double brooded. The adults do not feed and the species overwinters as a pupa. It is readily attracted to outdoor lights.


 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laothoe_populi