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

Monday, 17 May 2021

EUROPEAN HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus subspecies L. a. argenteus) 1st winter or 2nd calander at South Strand, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, 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

Sunday, 16 May 2021

WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus) Skerries Mills, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


 
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The Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) is of the family Columbidae which is in the genus Columba.

Friday, 14 May 2021

ROCK PIPIT (Anthus petrosus) Skerries Harbour, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) in transition from winter to summer plumage, Skerries Harbour, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Arenaria.

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

COMMON EIDER (Somateria mollissima) male, Skerries Harbour, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) is of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Somateria.

Sunday, 9 May 2021

TAPERED DRONEFLY or TAPERED HOVERFLY (Eristalis pertinax) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax) or Tapered Hoverfly is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Eristalis. This hoverfly is commonly found in Europe. It has a long flight season over a number of generations which extends from February to early November and overwinters as an adult. Key identification features include: large size, distinctive genus wing pattern, tapered abdomen, black antennae, yellowish front and middle lower legs (tarsi).

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Reference and highly recommended reading:
Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris

Saturday, 8 May 2021

WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus) fly catching on an Oak Tree, Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, 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

Friday, 7 May 2021

SAND MARTIN (Riparia riparia) c30 at the Bird Hide Trail ponds, Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) is of the swallow family Hirundinidae which is in the genus Riparia. This insectivorous species which catches flies and midges on the wing, is a summer resident in North America, Europe as well as Northern Asia.The North American populations winters in South America and western Mexico. The European and western Asian population spends the winter in Sub Saharan Africa. In the Mediterranean region, that population is mainly sedentary. Other Asian populations over winter in Southeast Asia.There are a number of subspecies recognised.

Patrick J. O' Keeffe / Raw Birds

Wednesday, 5 May 2021

NOON FLY or NOONDAY FLY (Mesembrina meridiana) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) or Noonday Fly is of the family Muscidae which is in the genus Mesembrina. This is a common and widespread medium sized fly with distinctive golden cheeks and amber wing bases. The female lays a single egg in up to five cow pats or dung and when the lava hatches, it predates the larvae of other species which are feeding within the dung. The flight season is from late April into October.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds