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

Tuesday 29 December 2020

BLACK DARTER DRAGONFLY or BLACK MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLY (Sympetrum danae) teneral female, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Black Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum danae) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum. It occurs in northern Eurasia as well as parts of North America where it is know as Black Meadowhawk Dragonfly. The flight season is from July to September.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 28 December 2020

CLOUDED BORDER MOTH (Lomaspilis marginata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click here to see distribution map for Ireland
 
The Clouded Border Moth (Lomaspilis marginata) is of the family Geometridae which is in the genus Lomaspilis.

Tuesday 22 December 2020

AZURE DAMSELFLY (Coenagrion puella) male infected with white Entomopathogenic Fungi, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Azure Damselfly information
 
The Azure Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Coenagrion. It is the most abundant bluet in Europe and also occurs in parts of northern Africa and western Asia. It is absent from northern latitudes and from eastern Iberia. The flight period is from April to September, peaking in June and July.
When an insect becomes infected with entomopathogenic fungi, the host species subsequently dies as a result.
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 21 December 2020

Saturday 19 December 2020

Friday 18 December 2020

WHITE TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus lucorum) on Common Knapweed wildflower (Centaurea nigra) at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click external link here for detailed White-tailed Bumblebee information
Click external link here for detailed Common Knapweed Wildflower information
 
Click here to see identification guide to Irish Bumblesbees
 
The White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus  lucorum) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.
The Common Knapweed Wildflower (Centaurea nigra) or Lesser Knapweed is of the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Centaurea.

Wednesday 16 December 2020

COMMON GARDEN SPIDER (Araneus diadematus) [female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Common Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) or Cross Spider is of the family Araneidae which is in the genus Araneus. This widespread large orb-weaver spider occurs in Europe as well as North America. There are a number of colour variations and the pale distinctive cruciform markings on its back clearly identifies it.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Saturday 12 December 2020

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER DRAGONFLY or FOUR SPOTTED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Libellula quadrimaculata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly (Libellula quadrimaculata) is of the family Aeshnidae which is in the genus Libellula. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It is also found in North America where it is known as the Four-spotted Skimmer. The flight season is from mid April to early September. 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Thursday 10 December 2020

BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx rhamni) [Pair, male on left] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) is of the family Pieridae which is in genus Gonepteryx. It occurs in Europe, Asia and parts of northern Africa. The presence of its larval food plants, Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) and Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus carthartica) influences its geographic range and distribution. This butterfly can live for up to a year and the flight season is from April to August. It then overwinters as an adult and emerges, after seven months, from hibernation.
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Wednesday 9 December 2020

ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY (Anthocharis cardamines) a female nectaring on Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 
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Click external link here for detailed Orange-tip Butterfly information
Click external link here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information
 
 The Orange-tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Anthocharis. This common and widespread species is on the wing from early May to late June. The larval food plant is Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) which is also known as Lady's Smock. It overwinters as a chrysalis.
 The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Tuesday 8 December 2020

ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY (Anthocharis cardamines) a male nectaring on Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click external link here for detailed Orange-tip Butterfly information
Click external link here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information
 
 The Orange-tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Anthocharis. This common and widespread species is on the wing from early May to late June. The larval food plant is Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) which is also known as Lady's Smock. It overwinters as a chrysalis.
 The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 6 December 2020

ORCHID BEETLE (Dascillus cervinus) on Blackberry Plant (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Orchid Beetle information
Click external link here for detailed Blackberry Plant information
 
The Orchid Beetle (Dascillus cervinus) is of the family Dascillidae which is in the genus Dascillus.
The Blackberry Plant (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) is of the family Rosaceae which is in the genus Rubus.

Thursday 3 December 2020

BLUE TAILED DAMSELFLY (Ischnura elegans) [Immature female, form rufescens] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Ischnura. It commonly occurs throughout Europe. In this species the abdomen S8 is blue coloured. Separate with care from the very similar but smaller Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio) whose abdomen S9 is blue. The flight season extends from April to early October. Immature females have a number of colour variations including the pink form rufescens.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 

Tuesday 1 December 2020

BURNET COMPANION MOTH (Euclidia glyphica) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Burnet Companion Moth (Euclidia glyphica) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Euclidia. It occurs through the Palearctic region. This day flying species is on the wing from April to late July, peaking in June. Larva (caterpillar) can be seen from late June to the end of August and then overwinters as a pupa, in a cocoon.
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 30 November 2020

Sunday 29 November 2020

ALDER BUCKTHORN WILDPLANT (Frangula alnus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland



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The Alder Buckthorn Wildplant (Frangula alnus) is of the family Rhamnaceae which is in the genus Frangula. This deciduous shrub or small tree is uncommon in Ireland and is typically found in acidic soils. It mainly occurs in a band which stretches from Co. Kildare, in the midlands, westwards into eastern Co. Galway as well as parts of Co. Clare where a prostrate form grows in the limestone soils of the Burren.
This species and the Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticas) are the larval food plants of the Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni).
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Distribution map of Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus)
 
File:Frangula alnus range.svg 

Legend:            Native range.   Isolated population.

 Map source:

Caudullo, G., Welk, E., San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., 2017. Chorological maps for the main European woody species. Data in Brief 12, 662-666. DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.05.007

Friday 27 November 2020

CRYPTIC WOOD WHITE BUTTERFLY (Leptidea juvernica) on HERB ROBERT WILDFLOWER (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Cryptic Wood White Butterfly information
Click here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information
 
The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea.
The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.

Thursday 26 November 2020

COMMON SNOUT HOVERFLY (Rhingia campestris) female on HERB ROBERT WILDFLOWER (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Common Snout Hoverfly information
Click here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information  
 
The Common Snout Hoverfly (Rhingia campestris) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Rhingia. It commonly occurs in the Palaearctic region. The flight season is from late March to mid November and there are two generations. This is a very striking species with a long snout and its larvae are found in dung or silage.
The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Reference and highly recommended reading:
Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris

Monday 23 November 2020

LESSER DIVING BEETLE (Acilius sulcatus) [female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Lesser Diving Beetle (Acilius sulcatus) is of the family Dytiscidae which is in the genus Acilius. Also known as the Grooved Diving Beetle, it occurs on all continents of the world except Antarctica. In Ireland this water beetle has a very scattered distribution but as in other countries it is probably under recorded due to its aquatic life style. Separate with care from the almost identical but rarer Acilius canaliculatus by differences in face pattern. As a strong flier, it is not confined to a single body of water. It overwinters deep under water as an adult.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 22 November 2020

RAGGED ROBIN WILDFLOWER (Silene flos-cuculi) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Ragged Robin Wildflower (Lychnis flos-cuculi) is of the family Caryophyllaceae which is in the genus Lychnis. This perennial wildflower occurs in Europe, Asia and as an invasive species in parts of Canada and United States. The flowering season is from May to late August.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds