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

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 

EURASIAN BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula pyrrhul) male at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Co. Dublin, Ireland,

 

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 The Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhul) is of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Pyrrhula. 

This stocky species breeds in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Northern populations are migratory and move to southern Eurasia for the winter. Unlike most other finches, bullfinches don't form winter flocks. Normally encountered singularly or as a pair but a small family group, usually comprising less than 10 individuals, can be seen in late autumn/winter.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds

HEATHER COLLETES BEE (Colletes succictus) nectaring on Devil's-bit Scabious Wildflower (Succisa pratensis) at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Heather Colletes Bee (Colletes succictus) is of the family Colletidae which is in the genus Colletes.

KEELED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum coerulescens) or HEATLAND SKIMMER DRAGONFLY male and a LARGE RED DAMSELFLY or SPRING RED EYE DAMSELFLY (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) male in the foreground at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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 The Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthetrum coerulescens) or Heathland Skimmer Dragonfly is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Orthetrum. This small to medium sized dragonfly commonly occurs in Europe, Western Asia as well as parts of North Africa. 

In Ireland it has a more patchy distribution and is uncommon. Although in western regions it is more abundant, as is the case in Britain. The main flight season is from June to August.

The Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) or Spring Red Eye Damselfly is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Pyrrhosoma. It is a common and widespread species in Europe as well as parts of Western Asia and North Africa. In Ireland, the flight season can extends from mid April into October.

 In recent times, the english names for most European species of damselflies and dragonflies have been changed. Here the older name is used first, to reflect common useage, follow by the new name.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds 

JUNIPER SHIELDBUG (Cyphostethus tristriatus) adult on 04-05-2022 at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Juniper Shieldbug (Cyphostethus tristriatus) is of the family Acanthosomatidae which is in the genus Cyphostethus . It has two very distinctive purple red boomerang shaped markings on the upperparts as well as rounded "shoulders" which helps to identify from the similar Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) which has squarish "shoulders".  

It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe. In Britain, it has recently expanded its range northward and has become more common. In Ireland, this appears to be a rare species with has been reported from less than 25 locations. Although this represents the first record for Fingal, in all probably it is under recorded.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

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

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

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

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