Showing posts with label April. Show all posts
Showing posts with label April. Show all posts
Tuesday 22 March 2016
Thursday 10 March 2016
COLLARED FLYCATCHER (Female) (Ficedula albicollis) Moni Gouvernetou, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
Wednesday 2 March 2016
EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola subspecies S. r. rubicola) male at Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, 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 28 February 2016
LESSER KESTREL [First summer male on left and female] (Falco naumanni) Katholiko Monastory, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
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The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small migratory bird of prey of the family Falconidae which is in the genus Falco. It is a summer resident which occurs across a narrow band that stretches from the Iberian Peninsula eastwards as far as Mongolia and north western China. This colonial breeder has a patchy distribution in southern Europe. It arrives back from its wintering areas in sub Saharan Africa and Pakistan during April and early May. In addition, there are small non migratory populations mainly in southwest Spain and northwest Africa. Prey items include small birds, invertebrates, reptiles, mice, shrews and voles. It remains in the breeding areas until late August and early September when the return migration south begins. Where their ranges overlaps, it can be easily confused with the closely related Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) especially the females as they are very similar in appearance. The European population is in serious decline probably as a result of overuse of pesticides and rodenticides. Reference: Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Wednesday 24 February 2016
RED RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, Crete, Greece
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It is mainly a summer resident in the temperate regions of southern Europe, Morocco in northwest Africa as well as parts of western, central and eastern Asia. Its range extends from the Iberian Peninsula eastwards to Japan. There are also non migratory populations resident in tropical Africa and in South East Asia. This insectivorous species feeds exclusively on small flying insects, mainly flies and midges. Outside of the breeding season, it is a very rare but annual overshooting spring and autumn migrant to northern Europe. The European, Moroccan and northern Asian populations migrate south in the autumn to spend the winter in sub Saharan Africa, the India sub-continent and northern Australia. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com |
Friday 19 February 2016
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata) Pelekaniotikos River, Koundoura, Crete, Greece
Sunday 7 February 2016
WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Male) (Lanius senator) Katholiko Monastory, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
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The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) is a medium sized migratory perching bird in the family Laniidae and is one of 31 species of shrike found worldwide. It is a summer resident in southern Europe, the Middle East and north western Africa which spends the winter in sub Saharan Africa. Reference: Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Wednesday 3 February 2016
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, Crete, Greece
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The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is of the family Hirundinae which is in the genus Hirundo . It is a summer
resident which breeds in the Northern Hemisphere. There are small
sedentary populations in some of the tropical parts of this range but
during the summer it is mainly absent from the Indian sub-continent and South
East Asia. This common and widespread insectivorous species feeds exclusively on small flies and
midges. In late autumn with the onset of colder weather, when its prey items
begin to diminish, it migrates south to its wintering areas. The North American population winters in Central and South America. The Eurasian population winters in sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian sub-continent, South East Asia and parts of Northern Australia.
In early spring the return migration north begins. At least
races are recognised. There are 74 species of hirundines which includes Swallows and Martins. In additional, the only known record of the Red Sea Cliff Swallow (Hirundo perdita) was of one found dead at Sanganeb Lighthouse, Sudan in May 1984.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Thursday 28 January 2016
SARDINIAN WARBLER (Male) (Sylvia melanocephala) Agia Marina, Crete, Greece
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Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
Up to five subspecies are generally recognised:
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardinian_warbler
|
Sunday 24 January 2016
WESTERN (BLACK HEADED) YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava subspecies M.f. feldegg) male, Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
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who’s breeding range extends east wards from the Balkans to the Caspian Sea and as far south as Iran. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Saturday 23 January 2016
BALKAN GREEN LIZARD (Juvenile) (Lacerta trilineata) Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, Crete, Greece
The Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata) is in the family Lacertidae and is closely related to the Western Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata). It occurs in the southern half of Eastern Europe and parts of south western Asia. It tends to prefer vegetative type habitat. A wide variety of arthropods, small invertebrates and snails are preyed upon.
It is one of 14 species of amphibian/reptile (three frogs, one toad, three geckos, one skink, two lizards and four snakes) found on the Greek island of Crete. The endemic Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis) is the other lizard that occurs on the island.
Text © www.rawbirds.com
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- American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeianus)
- Cretan Water Frog (Rana cretensis)
- Common Tree Frog (Hyla arborea kretensis)
- Green Toad (Bufo viridis)
- Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica)
- Kotschy’s Gecko (Mediodactylus kotschyi)
- Turkish Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
- Ocellated Skink (Chalcides occellatus)
- Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata)
- Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis)
- Balkan Whip Snake (Hierophis gemonensis)
- Cretan Cat Snake (Telescopus fallax pallidus)
- Dice Snake (Natrix tesselata)
- Leopard Snake (Zamenis situla)
Saturday 9 January 2016
EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) adult at Tavronitis River Mouth, Crete, Greece
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
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Monday 4 January 2016
CRETAN WALL LIZARD (Podarcis cretensis) Moni Ioannou Erimitou Gkouvernetou, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE The Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis) is endemic to the Greek island of Crete and its satellite islets. It is one of 14 species of amphibian/reptile (three frogs, one toad, three geckos, one skink, two lizards and four snakes) found there. It is confined to the western half of the island but can be locally common. It is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is protected under Appendix II of Bern and Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive. The prefer habitats include rocky outcrops, dry river beds and stone walls. A wide variety of arthropods, small invertebrates and snails are preyed upon. The Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata) is the other species of lizard that occurs less commonly on the island. Text © www.rawbirds.com |
Tuesday 29 December 2015
CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata) Kolimvari, Crete, Greece
The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is one of 82 species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is commonly found across most of the temperate regions of Europe and Asia but absent from north west Europe and northern Asia. It also occurs in northern Africa as far south as Niger. It is sedentary by nature and is only a rare vagrant outside the normal range.
Text © www.rawbirds.com |
Saturday 26 December 2015
EUROPEAN SERIN (Serinus serinus) Moni Katholikou (Agiou Ioanni Erimiti), Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
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The European Serin (Serinus serinus) or simply called Serin, is a small seed eating passerine in the finch family Fringillidae. Its preferred habits include open deciduous woodland and parkland where the territory defending males sing from the treetops. It occurs throughout Europe as well around the Mediterranean Basin. The northern population is migratory and winters in the southern parts of its range. It is absent as a breeding species from Britain, Ireland, Iceland and Scandinavia. Text © www.rawbirds.com |
Sunday 20 December 2015
CHUKAR PARTRIDGE (Alectoris chukar subspecies A. c. cypriotes) Moni Katholikou (Agiou Ioanni Erimiti), Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
The Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) or more commonly called Chukar is in the pheasant family Phasianidae which is in the genus Alectoris. It has a widespread distribution which stretches in a wide band from south eastern Europe to eastern China. There are many subspecies recognised including Alectoris chukar cypriotes which occurs on the islands of Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus as well as in parts of Bulgaria and Syria.This gamebird has been widely introduced, for hunting purposes, in many countries including (western) USA and New Zealand where feral populations have become established.
Text © www.rawbirds.com |
Tuesday 20 May 2014
Sunday 18 May 2014
WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Lanius senator) Dehesa de Abajo, Seville, Andalucia, Spain
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The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) is a medium sized migratory perching bird in the family Laniidae and is one of 31 species of shrike found worldwide. It is a summer resident in southern Europe, the Middle East and north western Africa which spends the winter in sub Saharan Africa. |
Saturday 17 May 2014
WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Lanius senator) Dehesa de Abajo, Seville, Andalucia, Spain
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Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) is a medium sized migratory perching bird in the family Laniidae and is one of 31 species of shrike found worldwide. It is a summer resident in southern Europe, the Middle East and north western Africa which spends the winter in sub Saharan Africa. |
Labels:
Andalucia,
April,
Birds of Spain,
butcher bird,
Canon 7D,
Dehesa de Abajo,
Lanius senator,
Seville,
shrike,
Spain
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