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

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

SCANDINAVIAN CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita subspecies P. c. abietinus ) on !7-10-2015 at Cotters Garden, Knockanacohig, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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 The Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) is of the family Phylloscopidae which is in the genus Phylloscopus. This small insectivorous species of leaf warbler is a summer resident which breeds in the northern and temperate regions of Eurasia. In the autumn it migrates south to spend the winter in the Mediterranean Basin, sub Saharan Africa and southwestern Asia. Small numbers also overwinter in northwest Europe.  

There are several subspecies recognised including, Common Chiffchaff (P. c. collybita), Scandinavian Chiffchaff (P. c. abietinus) and Siberian Chiffchaff (P. c. tristis).  
 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula parva) juvenile / 1st winter on 6th October 2014 at Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, 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 

 

 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

RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula parva) juvenile / 1st winter on 6th October 2014 at Carhoona, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, 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 

 

 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

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) in 2nd winter or 3rd year plumage at Bullock Harbour, Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) adult in transition to summer plumage at Bullock Harbour, Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) adult on 01-03-2014 in winter plumage with a colour ring, Green AKAJ [which was fitted as a nestling in July 2011 on a flat roof at Hamburg-Moorfleet, Germany / 53° 30' N 10° 05' E] at Bullock Harbour, Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) adult on 01-03-2014 in winter plumage with a colour ring, Green AKAJ [which was fitted as a nestling in July 2011 on a flat roof at Hamburg-Moorfleet, Germany / 53° 30' N 10° 05' E] at Bullock Harbour, Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) adult on 03/08/2012 in winter plumage, colour ringed (Green 542) and has a very interesting history as follows; ringed as a nestling at Les Pas-de-Calais, France on 17/06/2008, observed at Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland on 15/10/2008, observed at Doelpolder Noord, Doel, Belguim on 12/06/2010, observed at Oostwold, Groningen, Netherlands on 08/07/2011, photographed at Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland on 03/08/2012, observed at Weymouth, Dorset, England on 26/11/13

 

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 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) in 2nd winter or 3rd year plumage at Gormanston Beach, Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland

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 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons