CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls 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 :
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_linnet |
Saturday, 30 July 2016
COMMON LINNET (Linaria cannabina subspecies L. c. mediterranea) male, Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
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Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Sunday, 24 July 2016
CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata) Akrotiri Peninsula, Chania, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is a small songbird and is one of 82 species of lark in the family Alaudidae which is in the genus Galerida. It is commonly found across most of the temperate regions of Europe and Asia but is absent from northwest and northern Europe as well as northern Asia. It also occurs in the northern half of Africa as far south as Niger. It is sedentary by nature and is only a rare vagrant outside the normal range. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com |
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Thursday, 21 July 2016
EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola subspecies S. r. rubicola) female at Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Crete, Greece
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The European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is of the chat family Muscicapidae which is in the genus Saxicola. Preferred habitats include rough grassland, sand dunes and heathland where it is typically seen perched on brambles, gorse or shrubs within the breeding area. In the temperate part of its range, nesting
commences in late March and up to three broods are raised. It is a partial migrant. Populations from the colder regions move to spend the winter in southern Europe and northern Africa. Successive hard winters, as was the case in 2009/10 and 2010/11 caused severe losses in the mainly sedentary northwestern populations. There are two
subspecies generally recognised, Saxicola rubicola rubicola occurs in
central, eastern and southern Europe as well as northern Morocco and
southeastern Turkey. Saxicola rubicola hibernans occurs in
northwestern Europe including Britain, Ireland, France and Norway. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Sunday, 17 July 2016
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
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The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a large wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae which is in the genus Plegadis. This migratory species occurs in the warmer regions of North America, Eurasia, Africa and Australia.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Saturday, 16 July 2016
PALE SHOULDER MOTH (Acontia lucida) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
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The Pale Shoulder (Acontia lucida) is a macro moth in the family Noctuidae which is in the genus Acontia. This day flying moth is commonly found in southern Europe and western Asia as fast east as India. There are also records from northwest Africa and from further north in Europe where it has occurred as a rare autumn migrant. There are two generations which are on the wing in April/May and again in July/August. The wingspan is 26–30 mm. The food plants of the lavae include Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis).
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
PALE SHOULDER MOTH (Acontia lucida) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
PALE SHOULDER MOTH (Acontia lucida) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
Saturday, 9 July 2016
PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
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The Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is a migratory butterfly in the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Vanessa. It is one of the most widespread butterflies in the world and occurs on every continent except the Antarctic.
Having over wintered in North Africa, this species migrates north and arrives back in Southern Europe in early spring. It then gradually progresses further north and recolonizes the rest of Europe over a number of generations, reaching the extreme northern part of the range by July. In the autumn, it migrates south at higher altitudes where higher wind speeds greatly assist this southerly movement to its overwintering areas.
In the rest of its World range, similar spring and autumn migrations are undertaken but as is the case in Europe there are small sedentary populations in the tropical parts of its range.
Alternatively known as the Thistle Butterfly and the Cosmopolitan Butterfly in North America.
Text © www.rawbirds.com
Having over wintered in North Africa, this species migrates north and arrives back in Southern Europe in early spring. It then gradually progresses further north and recolonizes the rest of Europe over a number of generations, reaching the extreme northern part of the range by July. In the autumn, it migrates south at higher altitudes where higher wind speeds greatly assist this southerly movement to its overwintering areas.
In the rest of its World range, similar spring and autumn migrations are undertaken but as is the case in Europe there are small sedentary populations in the tropical parts of its range.
Alternatively known as the Thistle Butterfly and the Cosmopolitan Butterfly in North America.
Text © www.rawbirds.com
Thursday, 7 July 2016
PURPLE MILK THISTLE (Galactites tomentosa) Pelekaniotikos River, Koundoura, Crete, Greece
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The Purple Milk Thistle (Galactites tomentosa) is a biennial herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Galactites. The genus name derives from the Greek γάλα meaning milk and refers to the dense white hairs covering the stems and leaves. The species name tomentosa means hairy in Latin. It grows up to 1 metre tall and the flowering period extends from April to July. The flower colour varies from white or pink to lilac-purple. It grows on uncultivated or barren ground, waste places, well-drained soils, pastures and roadsides. It occurs in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactites_tomentosa
Saturday, 2 July 2016
COMMON CHAFFINCH [Female] (Fringilla coelebs subspecies F. c. schiebeli) Agia Marina, Crete, Greece
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