COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) or more simply known as a Redpoll is of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Acanthis. 

 There are several subspecies recognised including the Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis flammea caberet) which is resident in Ireland and Britain. It also breeds in Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia where it is a partial migrant, which moves south and west to more temperate regions for the winter.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

ROOK (Corvus frugilegus) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Rook (Corvus frugilegus) is of the crow family Corvidae which is in the genus Corvus.

EURASIAN BLUE TIT (Cyanistes caeruleus) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is of the family Paridae which is in the genus Cyanistes.

GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 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 

EURASIAN CURLEW (Numenius arquata) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Curlew (Numenius arquata) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Numenius.

EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) male, Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is of the family Sturnidae which is in the genus Sturnus.

MISTLE THRUSH (Turdus viscivorus) at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus.

COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) male, Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) or more simply known as a Redpoll is of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Acanthis. 

 There are several subspecies recognised including the Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis flammea caberet) which is resident in Ireland and Britain. It also breeds in Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia where it is a partial migrant, which moves south and west to more temperate regions for the winter.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SONG THRUSH (Turdus philomelos) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus.

EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) female at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) or more simply known as a Blackbird is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus.

COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) or more simply known as a Redpoll is of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Acanthis. 

 There are several subspecies recognised including the Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis flammea caberet) which is resident in Ireland and Britain. It also breeds in Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia where it is a partial migrant, which moves south and west to more temperate regions for the winter.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BLACK TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa subspecie. L .l. islandica) juvenile in transition to 1st winter plumage at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Donabate, 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 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, 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

 

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

RED KITE (Milvus milvus) [Juvenile] Newbridge Demesne, Donabate, 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 Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Milvus. This Welsh born bird was part of a successful scheme to reintroduce this species to Ireland in July 2011.

BLACK BELLIED (GREY) PLOVER (Juvenile plumage) Pluvialis squatarola Broadmeadow Estuary, Corballis, Fingal, Donabate, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

CLICK PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
 

Juvenile Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) also known as Grey Plover in Europe at the high tide roost on the outer part of the Broadmeadow Estuary.

COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia) Broadmeadow Estuary, Corballis, Donabate, 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 

SHORT EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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 Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is a member of the owl family Strigidae which is in the genius Asio. It occurs on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Worldwide, there are 216 species of owl. 

    In Ireland, it is mainly a scarce winter visitor to northern, eastern and southern coastal locations. Historically, the absence of voles from the Irish landscape has prevented it from becoming a breeding resident. Elsewhere in Europe, breeding success is heavily dependent upon an abundance of voles which is an important prey item fed to young owlets. Probably as a result of accidental introduction, Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) has now become established in southwestern Ireland and subsequently this species of owl has bred on a number of occasions in that region. 

    More recently, a small breeding population of Short-eared Owl has become established in northeastern Ireland.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis) Newbridge Demense, Donabate, 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 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

SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) male at Balcarrick, Donabate, 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 Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is of the longspur family Calcariidae which is in the genus Plectrophenax. This circumpolar species breeds mainly in the arctic mountainous regions of North America and Eurasia. Isolated populations also breed south of this range in upland areas.   

Apart from small numbers breeding in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland, this is an uncommon and local winter visitor, from October to March, at coastal locations in Britain and Ireland. It occurs singularly or  in small flocks at shingle beeches near edges of sand dunes, harbour piers and headlands. Feeding close to the ground, it can be easily overlooked and difficult to locate as cryptic colouration helps it blend into the background.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds