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Monday, 11 February 2013
Sunday, 10 February 2013
HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY (Celastrina argiolus) male, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenids which is in the genus Celastrina. It is a widespread species and occurs in North America as well as Eurasia but is absent from the colder northern parts of this range. Up to 14 subspecies are generally recognised. There are two generations and it is one of the earliest blue butterflies to be seen, emerging in late spring. Later in the season, it can be confused with similar coloured species but it has very distinctive black speckling on its under wing. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER Sylvia hortensis Tavira, Portugal
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
RED VEINED DARTER (Female) Sympetrum fonscolombii El Rocio, Almonte, Huelva, Spain
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
Saturday, 9 February 2013
GOLIATH DUNG BEETLE Scarabaeus viettei Parque Nacional de Doñana, Almonte, Huelva, Spain
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
Friday, 8 February 2013
SARDINIAN WARBLER [Male] (Sylvia melanocephala) Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Tavira, Portugal
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Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
Up to five subspecies are generally recognised:
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Thursday, 7 February 2013
COMMON POCHARD Aythya ferina El Rocío, Almonte, Huelva, Spain
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Wednesday, 6 February 2013
BRAMBLING (Fringilla montifringilla) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, 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 Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) is a member of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Fringilla. It breeds in the northern birch and coniferous forests of Scandinavia and Russia. With the onset of colder weather, this migratory species moves south to winter in western and southern Europe, North Africa, the northern part of the Indian sub continent, China, and Japan. During migration, it regularly occurs in Alaska and as far south as the western United States.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Sword, Fingal, Co.Dublin, Ireland
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Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk
(Accipiter nisus), alternative
names include Northern Sparrowhawk
or simply Sparrowhawk, is a
small bird of prey of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Accipiter. It
has a widespread distribution across the temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World.
It is a partial migrant and in the more northern and colder parts of its range,
it disperses south for the winter. The preferred habitats include open type
wood land, hedge rows, parks and gardens where a wide variety of small to
medium sized perching birds are preyed upon. Males are up to 25% smaller than
females and tend to prey upon sparrow sized passerines but can include starlings
and thrushes. Females, on the other hand, can tackle larger prey including doves,
pigeons and magpies.
This species is the most commonly encountered bird of prey in Ireland. |
Monday, 4 February 2013
Sunday, 3 February 2013
EUROPEAN BEE EATER (Merops apiaster) El Rocío, Andalusia, Spain
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
EUROPEAN BEE EATER (Merops apiaster) El Rocío, Andalusia, Spain
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
Friday, 1 February 2013
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
LULWORTH SKIPPER BUTTERFLY (Male) Thymelicus acteon El Rocio, Almonte, Huelva, Spain
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PIMELIA BEETLE or DARKLING BEETLE (Pimelia species) at Doñana National Park, Almonte, Huelva, Spain
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information Primelia Beetles (Pimelia species) are of the family Tenebrionidae and are in the genus Primelia. Also refereed to by the more general name Darkling Beetles which includes other types of ground beetles. This flightless diurnal species occurs in warmer climates and is exclusively found in sand dunes and deserts. In the heat of the day they burrow down into the sand to avoid dehydration and emerge in the early morning or late evening to feed on dead or decaying matter. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Monday, 28 January 2013
BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulus) Glasnevin, Co Dublin, 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 Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is of the family Bombycillidae which is in the genus Bombycilla. This eruptive species breeds in the coniferous forests of North America and Eurasia. Northern populations migrate to spend the winter in the southern parts of its home range. In years when there is a poor winter berry crop in northern latitudes, all of the population disperses further south and can be found either singly or in flocks feeding on berries or rose hips in parks, gardens and along hedgerows. In Ireland, Bohemian Waxwing is an irregular or scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds | ||
BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulus) Glasnevin, Co Dublin, Ireland
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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 Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is of the family Bombycillidae which is in the genus Bombycilla. This
eruptive species breeds in the coniferous forests of North America and
Eurasia. Northern populations migrate to spend the winter in the
southern parts of its home range. In years when there is a poor winter
berry crop in northern latitudes, all of the population disperses
further south and can be found either singly or in flocks feeding on
berries or rose hips in parks, gardens and along hedgerows. In Ireland, Bohemian Waxwing is an irregular or scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
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