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

Showing posts with label Birds of Dublin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birds of Dublin. Show all posts

Friday 16 September 2022

EURASIAN BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula pyrrhul) male at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Co. Dublin, Ireland,

 

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 The Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhul) is of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Pyrrhula
This stocky species breeds in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Northern populations are migratory and move to southern Eurasia for the winter. Unlike most other finches, bullfinches don't form winter flocks. Normally encountered singularly or as a pair but a small family group, usually comprising less than 10 individuals, can be seen in late autumn/winter.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds

Saturday 21 May 2022

GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) in breeding plumage at Saint Anne's Park and Rose Gardens, Clontarf East, Raheny, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is of the family Ardeidae and is in the genus Ardea It is resident in the temperate regions of Eurasia as well as eastern and sub Saharan Africa. The more northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter. Wetlands are its main habitat and commonly occurs along estuaries, streams, rivers and lakes. Aquatic as well as terrestrial creatures are preyed upon. Prey items include amphibians, insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds which are swallowed whole.
This species nests in tall trees in colonies which are known as heronries. Upto five eggs are laid and are incubated for 25 days. Fledging takes place after 60 days.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) distribution map
 Breeding     Resident     Winter     Vagrant      Introduced resident 
 
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 

Tuesday 17 May 2022

MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) male at Saint Anne's Park and Rose Gardens, Clontarf East, Raheny, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Anas. This dabbling duck is native to North America, Eurasia and parts of North Africa. It has also been widely introduced to a number of other countries either as a game bird or as ornamental wildfowl in parks.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Wednesday 4 May 2022

BLACK LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla)[from 3rd to 8th May 2022] in 1st summer/ 2nd calandar year plumage at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland




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The Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is of the gull family Laridae which is in the genus Rissa. The only other member of the genus Rissa is the Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris) where less than 200,000 pairs breed on some of the Bering Sea Islands between Russia and Alaska,USA.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe /Raw Birds

Tuesday 3 May 2022

LITTLE GULL (Hydrocoloeus minutus) [from 1st to 6th May 2022] in 1st summer/ 2nd calendar year plumage at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) in 1st summer/ 2nd calendar year plumage.

 Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) on the left and Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus), both in 1st summer/ 2nd calendar year plumage.

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The Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Hydrocoloeus.

Thursday 28 April 2022

GADWALL (Mareca strepera) female at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Gadwall (Mareca strepera) is a dabbling duck of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Mareca.

Wednesday 27 April 2022

GADWALL (Mareca strepera) male at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Gadwall (Mareca strepera) is a dabbling duck of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Mareca.

Tuesday 26 April 2022

GADWALL (Mareca strepera) pair at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Gadwall (Mareca strepera) is a dabbling duck of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Mareca.

Monday 25 April 2022

BLACK TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa subspecies L .l. islandica) immature at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Limosa. This large, long-legged and long-billed shorebird's breeding range extends from Iceland through central Europe as well as central and northeastern Asia. In the autumn, it migrates south to spend the winter in southern and western Europe, Mediterranean Basin, sub Saharan Africa, southern Asia and parts of coastal Australia. The species breeds in fens, damp meadows, moorlands and bogs. In the winter, it occurs on estuaries, lake shores, and in damp coastal fields.
 
There are three subspecies recognised:
  • Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa islandica) 
  • European Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa limosa) 
  • Asian Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa melanuroides)
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) distribution map
 
LimosalimosaWorldDistribution.jpg
Yellow breeding     Blue wintering     Green breeding resident
 
J. Schroeder, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Sunday 24 April 2022

BLACK TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa subspecies L .l. islandica) adult in transition to breeding plumage at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Limosa. This large, long-legged and long-billed shorebird's breeding range extends from Iceland through central Europe as well as central and northeastern Asia. In the autumn, it migrates south to spend the winter in southern and western Europe, Mediterranean Basin, sub Saharan Africa, southern Asia and parts of coastal Australia. The species breeds in fens, damp meadows, moorlands and bogs. In the winter, it occurs on estuaries, lake shores, and in damp coastal fields. 
 
There are three subspecies recognised:
  • Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa islandica) 
  • European Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa limosa) 
  • Asian Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa melanuroides)

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) distribution map
 
LimosalimosaWorldDistribution.jpg
Yellow breeding     Blue wintering     Green breeding resident
 
J. Schroeder, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Wednesday 20 April 2022

COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is a small shorebird or wader in the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Actitis. This Eurasian species is a summer resident that returns from its wintering areas in April. It breeds around fresh water lakes and has a scattered distribution that extends from the Atlantic coast of Europe to Eastern Asia. Unlike most other shorebirds or waders seen on passage, it does not occur in flocks, single individuals are normally encountered. It migrates south in late Summer to spend the winter in Africa, southern Asia and Australia. Small numbers over winter in western and southern Europe. 
The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is an almost identical species that is a summer resident in North America which winters in South America and to a lesser extent in parts of southern USA. It is a rare but annual vagrant in Europe. Remarkably in 1975, a pair attempted to breed on the Isle of Sky in Scotland but alas the eggs failed to hatch.
 
  Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 11 April 2022

GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) adult at Howth Harbour, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is of the family Ardeidae and is in the genus Ardea It is resident in the temperate regions of Eurasia as well as eastern and sub Saharan Africa. The more northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter. Wetlands are its main habitat and commonly occurs along estuaries, streams, rivers and lakes. Aquatic as well as terrestrial creatures are preyed upon. Prey items include amphibians, insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds which are swallowed whole.
This species nests in tall trees in colonies which are known as heronries. Upto five eggs are laid and are incubated for 25 days. Fledging takes place after 60 days.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) distribution map
 Breeding     Resident     Winter     Vagrant      Introduced resident 
 
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 

Thursday 7 April 2022

PIED WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba subspecies M. a. alba) female at Balscadden Beach, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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 The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small ground nesting passerine and along with the longclaws and pipits is in 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 winters 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          

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

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

Tuesday 29 March 2022

EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula) at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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 The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) or more commonly known as a Robin is of the  family Muscicapidae which is in the genus Erithacus.

Thursday 24 March 2022

COMMON PHEASANT or RING NECKED PHEASANT (Phasianus colchicus) at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Common Pheasant or Ring Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is of the family Phasianidae which is in the genus Phasianus.

Tuesday 22 March 2022

MISTLE THRUSH (Turdus viscivorus) feeding on Common Ivy (Hedera helix) berries at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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 The Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus.

Monday 21 March 2022

MISTLE THRUSH (Turdus viscivorus) feeding on Common Ivy (Hedera helix) berries at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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 The Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus.

Sunday 20 March 2022

COMMON BUZZARD (Buteo buteo) at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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 The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium sized bird of prey of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Buteo.

Saturday 12 March 2022

COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus) feeding at low tide in the south east corner of Howth Harbour, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) or more simply known as a Redshank is of the sandpiper family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Tringa.

 Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) distribution map
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/TringaTotanusIUCN2019_2.png
 
 Resident - year round  Breeding  Passage  Non-breeding - winter 
 
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Friday 11 March 2022

BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros) immature at Balscadden Beach, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Black Redstart
(Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small perching bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae which is the genus Phoenicurus. It is a locally common resident in central and southern Europe as well as northern Africa. It also occurs in western and central Asia. In the warmer parts of its range it is sedentary. The northern populations migrate in the autumn to spend the winter in southern and western Europe, northern Africa and the Indian sub continent. 
 In Ireland, it is a very uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant, in addition very small numbers overwinter at traditional coastal locations.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds