RED BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus serrator) male at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, 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 Red Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) is of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Mergus. This medium sized diving duck occurs in North America as well as in large parts of Eurasia. In the temperate areas of its range, this northern breeder, nests on the ground in secluded areas along rivers, on fresh water islands and close to lake. Before the onset of colder weather, some populations move to coastal locations and others migrate south to warmer regions for the winter.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Red Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) distribution map

 Breeding             Resident             Passage            Non breeding - winter 

 

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

EURASIAN TEAL (Anas crecca) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) male

Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) female

Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca) 

 

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 Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) is of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Anas. This small dabbling duck breeds in the temperate regions of the Palearctic. In the autumn northern populations migrate to spend the winter in northwest and southern Europe, parts of northern Africa including the Nile Valley, the Middle East as well as southern and southeast Asia.
The small scattered resident population in Ireland and Britain greatly increases from September when northern birds begin to arrive. Having overwintered, they begin to disperse back to their breeding grounds and most have gone by the end of March.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds  

 

 Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) distribution map 

  Breeding                Non breeding - winter           Resident

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

COMMON GULL or MEW GULL (Larus canus) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, 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 Common Gull (Larus canus) also known as Mew Gull in North America is a member of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus.

HOODED CROW or GREY CROW (Corvus cornix) attempting to remove a Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) from its shell at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, 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 Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) also known as Grey Crow is a member of the crow family Corvidae which is in the genus Corvus. Four subspecies are generally recognized. Despite the fact that it is heavily persecuted, it occurs throughout Western Asia including parts of the Middle East as well as along the Nile Valley in North Africa. It is also commonly encountered and has a widespread distribution in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. It is resident in Ireland, Isle of Man and Northern Scotland. In the rest of Britain as well as Southwestern and Western Europe, it is replaced by the closely related Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) from which it was split in 2002 and was recognised as a separate species. Where their breeding ranges overlap, they may hybridise. Some of the northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter.

   Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, 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 Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) is a medium sized sandpiper of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Tringa. The breeding range of this wader or shorebird extends from northern Scotland eastwards across northern Europe and Asia. This migratory species winters in sub Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Australasia. In addition, small numbers overwinter along the coasts of northwest Africa and northwest Europe including Britain and Ireland.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) distribution map

 

 

 Breeding           Passage           Non-breeding-winter           Vagrant  

 

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

YELLOW LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis) adult and a group of Black Headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) from 07-01-2022 to at least 03-02-2022 at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, 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 Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus. Up until recently it was considered as a race of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) but has now been given full species status. Post breeding populations disperse north and east. From July onward it occurs in good numbers in southern Britain but is an uncommon and scarce species in Ireland. The above record may be the same individual that was present at this location during August 2021.

 

There are two subspecies recognised:

• Larus michahellis michahellis - breeds in parts of western and southern Europe, as well as the Mediterranean Basin.  

• Larus michahellis atlantis - known as Atlantic Gull, breeds on the Atlantic coasts of France, Iberia, Morocco, Canary Islands, Madeira as well as a dark headed form that occurs on the Azores.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis) distribution map

 

  Resident           Breeding          Non breeding-winter

 

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

COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, 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 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

 

 

 

 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

CONTINENTAL CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo subspecies P. c. sinensis) immature on 1st January 2022 at Swords Sailing Club, Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, 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 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is of the family Phalacrocoracidae which is in the genus Phalacrocorax. It has a scattered distribution in parts of North America, Eurasia, Africa and Australasia. 

There are a number subspecies recognised including the ground nesting Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo carbo) which occurs in Britain and Ireland that breeds on coastal rocky outcrops and on off shore islands.  The tree nesting Continental Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) which breeds in Northern Europe extending eastwards to Japan, but has in recent times colonised parts of southern Britain. This is apparently a rare subspecies in Ireland with less than 70 records but is in all probability under recorded.

 

There are three previous Continental Cormorant (P. c. sinensis) records from Co. Dublin: 

1. Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, 1st winter from 4th to 30th January 2013. 
2. Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, 1st winter from 28th January to 16th May 2013, different from above. 
3. Scotsman Bay, Dunlaoire, adult on 1st February 2014.

 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

Reference:

A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2  by Joe Hobbs (download pdf here)

 

Great Cormorant distribution map

 

 

 

 breeding  resident passage non-breeding

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

GARDEN BUMBLEBEE (Bombus hortorum) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

 Click external linkhere for detailed species information

Click external link here to see identification guide to Irish Bumblebees 

 

The Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.

 

LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) adult in breeding plumage Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, 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 Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is of family Ardeidae which includes Bitterns, Egrets as well as Herons and is in the genus Egretta . It is found in the temperate parts of Eurasia and Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand. Over the last 60 years or so this species has greatly expanded its range including recolonising its former breeding areas in Northern Europe, as well as Ireland. It first bred in the Caribbean in the mid 1990’s and is increasingly being recorded along the North American eastern seaboard.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RED UNDERWING MOTH (Catocala nupta) on 17-08-2021 attracted to security light Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, 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 Ireland distribution map and status

 

The Red Underwing Moth (Catocala nupta) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Catocala. This is a large macro moth with a wingspan of 80mm and occurs in the temperate regions of the Palearctic. There are less than fifteen Irish records. The first record was from Co. Cork on 16th September 1906. There were no further reports until September 2016 when it was found in Co. Louth. All subsequent reports have been from that county as well as several from Co. Dublin and there is a single record from Co. Meath.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 

MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) female, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, 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 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Anas.

LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a member of the heron family Ardeidae which includes Bitterns, Egrets and Herons. It is found in the temperate parts of Eurasia and Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand. Over the last 60 years or so this species has greatly expanded its range including recolonising its former breeding areas in Northern Europe, as well as Ireland. It first bred in the Caribbean in the mid 1990’s and is increasingly being recorded along the North American eastern seaboard.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

EURASIAN BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) female with a preference for home made muffins over shop bought fat balls, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE  

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 The Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia.

EURASIAN BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) male, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE  

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 The Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia.

BLACK HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) adult winter plumage at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE  

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 The Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Chroicocephalus.

BLACK HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) adult winter plumage, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE  

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 The Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Chroicocephalus.

EURASIAN SISKIN (Spinus spinus) male at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, 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 Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Spinus.

Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) distribution map

Breeding                   Resident                    Non breeding - winter
 

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