GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) at North Harbour, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, 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 

EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola subspecies.S. r. hibernans) male at Ballyieragh South, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

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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

EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola subspecies S. r. hibernans) female at North Harbour, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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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

YELLOW BROWED WARBLER (Phylloscopus inornatus) North Harbour, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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The Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) is one of smallest leaf warbler in the genus Phylloscopus. This insectivorous species is a summer breeding resident in the temperate regions of Asia. In the autumn, it migrates south to winter in the tropical regions of south east Asia. Small numbers also winter in western and southern Europe, as far south as the Canary Islands. In Ireland, it is a scarce or rare annual autumn passage migrant to coastal headlands and offshore islands. 

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / RawBirds.com

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata) Knockanacohig, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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The Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) is a small Old World passerine in the family Muscicapidae which is in the genus Muscicapa. It is the commonest and the most widespread flycatcher found in Europe and western Asia. It is one of five species of migratory flycatcher which are summer breeding residents in Europe. In late spring, it returns from its wintering areas in southern Africa and southwestern Asia. Its preferred habit is open deciduous woodland. Main prey items include small flying invertebrates and caterpillars. By September with its food supply in decline, the return migration south begins.  

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EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) juvenile at Ballyieragh North, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

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 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

DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis) Croha East, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

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The Dunnock (Prunella modularis) which was formally known as Hedge Sparrow or Hedge Accentor is of the family Prunellidae which is in the genus Prunella. The name Dunnock comes from the ancient English word dunnākos, meaning "little brown one". It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe, parts of Western Asia and as an introduced species in New Zealand. 

 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

EURASIAN REED WARBLER (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) Knockanacohig, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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The Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds across Europe into temperate western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.This passerine nests exclusively in reed beds and feeds on a wide variety of small invertebrates . Text reference 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_reed_warbler

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita subspecies P. c. tristis) 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 from mid March to October 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

COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita subspecies P.c.collybita) Cotter's 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 from mid March to October 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

WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus) Keenleen, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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The Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) is of the family Phylloscopidae which is in the genus Phylloscopus. This insectivorous leaf warbler is a common and widespread summer resident from mid April to late September which breeds throughout the northern and temperate regions of Eurasia. It is strongly migratory, with almost all of the population wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a bird of open woodlands with a preference for habitats that include birch, alder and willow trees as well as ground cover for nesting.

    

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita subspecies P. c. tristis ) on 13th October 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 from mid March to October 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

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

WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus) Keenleen, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

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The Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) is of the family Phylloscopidae which is in the genus Phylloscopus. This insectivorous leaf warbler is a common and widespread summer resident from mid April to late September which breeds throughout the northern and temperate regions of Eurasia. It is strongly migratory, with almost all of the population wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a bird of open woodlands with a preference for habitats that include birch, alder and willow trees as well as ground cover for nesting.

    

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita subspecies P. c. collybita ) 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 from mid March to October 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

(EUROPEAN) LESSER WHITETHROAT (Sylvia curruca subspecies S. c. curruca) Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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The Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) is a common summer resident in the temperate regions of western/central Asia and Europe but is absent as a breeding species from the Iberian Peninsula, Iceland, Ireland and northern Scandinavia. Three races are generally recognised, the European Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca curruca), the Siberian Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca blythii) and the Desert Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca halimodendri).This mainly insectivorous warbler also eats soft skinned berries. In the autumn, it migrates south to spend the winter in sub Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian sub-continent. In Europe, it's expanding its range north wards. In Ireland, it's an uncommon but regular spring and autumn passage migrant on coastal headlands as well as off shore islands and in recent years breeding has been suspected at a couple of locations in the south east. Text © www.rawbirds.com

MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis) 1st winter at Ballyieragh North, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

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The Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) is of the family Motacillidae which is in the genus Anthus.

GREATER SHORT TOED LARK (1st winter) Phoenicurus ochruros Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula) Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

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 The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) is of the  family Muscicapidae which is in the genus Erithacus.

EURASIAN SISKIN (Spinus spinus) male at Croha West, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

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 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