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 Mullet Peninsula. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mullet Peninsula. Show all posts

Saturday 22 October 2022

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 

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

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

Friday 21 October 2022

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

Thursday 20 October 2022

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica) juvenile on 19th & 20th October 2022 in a flock of c650 European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) at Annagh Beach, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Found by Dave Suddaby


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 The American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) is of the family Charadriidae which is in the genus Pluvialis. This long distant migrant breeds in the tundra areas of North America and spends the winter in the southeastern region of South America. 
It is a rare but regular autumn vagrant to Western Europe and the majority of records are of juveniles. In adult summer plumage, key identification features need to be observed to separate it from the closely related Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva).
In Ireland, where less than 10 individuals occur annually, it tends to be found at southern and western coastal locations and often associating with flocks of European Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica). 
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds 

Sunday 29 May 2022

EURASIAN SKYLARK (Alauda arvensis) at Annagh Marsh, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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The Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) or commonly referred to as a Skylark is a member of the lark family Alaudidae which is in the genus Alauda.
 
EURASIAN SKYLARK (Alauda Arvensis) distribution map
 
Resident breeding    Summer breeding resident    Passage migrant    Winter non breeding    Introduced resident breeding
 
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Saturday 28 May 2022

ROCK PIPIT (Anthus petrosus) on a landing beacon at Blacksod Lighthouse Helipad, Blacksod, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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The Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) or European Rock Pipit is of the family Motacillidae which is in the genus Anthus.

ROCK PIPIT (Anthus_petrosus) distribution map

Green
year round resident  Yellow summer resident  Blue winter resident
 
Jimfbleak, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Friday 27 May 2022

SMALL COPPER BUTTERFLY or AMERICAN COPPER BUTTERFLY (Lycaena phlaeas) male nectaring on Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) at Cross Lough, Killadoon, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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The Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas) or American Copper Butterfly is of the family Lycaenids which is in the genus Lycaena. This is a common species that is found throughout the Holarctic region which includes North America and Eurasia. It also occurs in North Africa and a number of subspecies are recognised. The normal flight season is from mid April to late October over three generations and it overwinters as a caterpillar.  In North America, it is known as American Copper Butterfly.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Thursday 26 May 2022

EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola subspecies S. r. hibernans) male at Cross Lough, Killadoon, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, 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

Wednesday 25 May 2022

WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata megera) male at St. Deirbhile's Old Church and Graveyard, Faulmore, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo


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The Wall Brown Butterfly (Lasiommata megera) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Lasiommata
It occurs in most of Europe as well as parts of Western Asia and North Africa. Formally more common and widespread but since the mid 1980 it has been in decline and is now absent from many of its former haunts.  This decline has not been reflected on the Mullet Peninsula where this species is still commonly encountered. The main flight season is from late April to early September, over two generations. Occasionally there is a third generation in late September into early October. Males have a very distinctive dark mid fore wing bar. It overwinters as a larva.  
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Tuesday 24 May 2022

EUROPEAN SHAG (Gulosus aristotelis) adult at Blacksod Harbour, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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The European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) is of the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae which is in the genus Gulosus. It occurs in northern and western Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, parts of North Africa as well as parts of the Black Sea Coast. This species breeds in colonies on coastal rocky cliffs and on offshore islands. Can easily be confused with Greater Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) but unlike that species, it is very rarely found inland on lakes or rivers.
  
Three subspecies are generally recognised :
      • G. a. aristotelis – occurs in northwestern European Atlantic Ocean coasts
      • G. a. desmarestii – occurs in the Mediterranean Basin and Black Sea coasts
      • G. a. riggenbachi – occurs in northwestern African coasts
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) distribution map

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

 

Sunday 2 January 2022

GREAT BLACKED GULL (Larus marinus) 2nd winter, at Faulmore Beach, Faulmore, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland



 

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The Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus.
 
 
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) distribution map

  
Range_map for Larus marinus based on: Lars Larsson, Birds of the World, 2001, CD-rom Mullarney, K. Svensson, L. Zetterström, D. (1999) Fågelguiden, Europas och medelhavsområdets fåglar i fält. Stockholm: Albert Bonniers förlag David Allen Sibley, The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2000, ISBN 0-679-45122-6  No machine-readable author provided. AHA2 assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
 Red - Breeding ground        Purple - All year round        Blue - Winter

Saturday 27 November 2021

EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola subspecies S. r. hibernans) female at Cross Lough, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls

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

Wednesday 10 November 2021

SANDERLING (Calidris alba) at Blacksod Harbour, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

 
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The Sanderling (Calidris alba) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Calidris. It breeds in the Arctic tundra regions of North America and Asia. This small shorebird winters on the coastal beaches of southern North America, South America, Western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia. It also occurs as a spring and autumn passage migrant at inland locations.
  
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Friday 5 November 2021

MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis) at Clogher, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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

Thursday 4 November 2021

ROCK PIPIT (Anthus petrosus) at Clogher, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland




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The Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) is of the family Motacillidae which is in the genus Anthus.

Monday 4 October 2021

EUROPEAN STARLING or COMMON STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) juvenile in transition to 1st winter plumage below and adult, feeding on Potworms (Enchytraeidae) at Clogher, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland



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 The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) or Common Starling is of the family Sturnidae which is in the genus Sturnus.

Sunday 19 September 2021

MOSS CARDER BEE (Bombus muscorum) or LARGE CARDER BEE nectering on Devil's-bit Scabious Wildflower (Succisa pratensis) at Blacksod Village, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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Click external link here for detailed Moss Carder Bee information
Click external link here for detailed Devil's-bit Scabious Wildflower information

The Moss Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum) or Large Carder Bumblebee is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.
The Devil's-bit Scabious Wildflower (Succisa pratensis) is of the family Caprifoliaceae which is in the genus Succisa
 
Click external link here to view identification guide to Irish Bumblebees

Thursday 16 September 2021

COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula) juvenile Blacksod Lighthouse, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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 The Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is of the family Charadriidae which is in the genus Charadrius.

Wednesday 15 September 2021

EUROPEAN HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus subspecies L. a. argenteus) adult Blacksod Lighthouse, Mullett Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland


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The European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus. There are several subspecies recognised including the Western European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus argenteus) which is resident in Ireland, Britain and the Near Continent.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
European Herring Gull  (Larus argentatus) distribution map
 
 File:Larus argentatus map.svg 
Green: year-round  Yellow: breeding  Blue: non breeding

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