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 25 October 2022

RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula parva) a juvenile /1st winter from 11th to 12th October 2022 at Blacksod Village, Fallmore, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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 The Red Breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) is of the family Muscicapidae which is in the genus Ficedula.
This species breeds in deciduous woodlands throughout Eastern Europe as well as Western Central Asia. In North West Europe, it is mainly an uncommon autumn passage migrant (mostly juveniles) to coastal locations. In Ireland, there has been less than a hand full of spring reports where as it's a rare but regular passage visitor during September and October averaging <10 individuals annually.
In early autumn the migration south to its wintering areas on the Indian subcontinent begins. 
The Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla) previously treated as a sub species of Red Breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) has in recent times been upgraded to full species status. The only Irish record is of a juvenile /1st winter at Galley Head, Co. Cork from 21st to 25th October 2018.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds 
 
Red Breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) distribution map 
 
File:FicedulaParvaIUCN2019-3.png
 BREEDING AREA               MIGRATION              WINTERING AREA
 
Map atribution:
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, species assessors and the authors of the spatial data., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Monday 24 October 2022

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) male at Blacksod Village, Fallmore, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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 The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is of the sparrow family Passeridae which is in the genus Passer.

Sunday 23 October 2022

Saturday 22 October 2022

PIED WAGTAIL or WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba subspecies M. a. yarrellii) female at Blacksod Harbour, Mullet Pensinsula, Co. Mayo. Ireland



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 The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small ground nesting passerine (perching bird). Along with the longclaws and pipits, it is of the family Motacillidae which is in the genus Motacilla. This species is the commonest and most widespread wagtail that is found in Eurasia. It also breeds in Morocco in North Africa and there is a small Alaskan breeding population in North America. The northern populations are migratory and move south to spend the winter in southern Europe, Africa and southern Asia. 
Up to 11 sub-species are recognised, including the Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) which breeds in Britain, Ireland and the near-continent.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
PIED WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba subspecies M. a. yarrellii) male at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland 
 

 

WHITE WAGTAIL (Montacella alba) subspecies distribution map 

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CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Friday 21 October 2022

COMMON FIRECREST (Regulus ignicapilla) or FIRECREST . A small fall of upto 4 individuals in a private garden from 10th to 12th October 2022 at Dún na mBó, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland.



 
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 The Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) or more simply known as a Firecrest is of the family Regulidae which is in the genus Regulus. This small kinglet breeds in coniferous woodlands in the temperate regions of Europe and northwestern Africa as well as in a small number areas in western Asia. Northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter. 
It is a scare breeding resident in southern Britain. In Ireland, it is now a rare spring and autumn passage migrant and in recent times there has been a sharp decline in the numbers occurring annually.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds 

Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)   Distribution Map
 

     Breeding                                               Resident                                         Non-breeding

Attribution:
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, species assessors and the authors of the spatial data., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Thursday 20 October 2022

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica) juvenile on 19th & 20th October 2022 in a flock of c650 European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) at Annagh Beach, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Found by Dave Suddaby


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Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 The American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) is of the family Charadriidae which is in the genus Pluvialis. This long distant migrant breeds in the tundra areas of North America and spends the winter in the southeastern region of South America. 
It is a rare but regular autumn vagrant to Western Europe and the majority of records are of juveniles. In adult summer plumage, key identification features need to be observed to separate it from the closely related Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva).
In Ireland, where less than 10 individuals occur annually, it tends to be found at southern and western coastal locations and often associating with flocks of European Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica). 
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds