EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) juvenile at Glen West, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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The European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory member of the genus Columbidae, which includes doves and pigeons. It is a  summer breeding resident in Europe (including the Canary Islands), parts of the Middle East, as well as western Asia and north Africa. It is absent as a breeding species from Iceland, Ireland (formally bred) and most of Scandinavia but does occur in spring and autumn as an uncommon/rare overshooting migrant. Over much of its northern range, there has been a very sharp decline in its population. In the autumn, it migrates south to spend the winter in southern Africa.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

ROOK Corvus frugilegus Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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REDWING (Turdus iliacus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is a species of thrush in the family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus. It breeds in the northern parts of Eurasia extending eastwards from Iceland to eastern Russia. Small numbers have also recently been found breeding in Greenland. In the autumn, this highly migratory species leaves the colder parts of its breading range to winter further south in Europe as well as parts of North Africa and the Middle East extending to northern Iran. 

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DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis) Inisbofin Island, Co. Galway, Ireland

 

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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

SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET (Leptophyes punctatissima) female on 16th October 2009 at Ballyieragh North, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co.Cork, Ireland

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The Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) is of the family Tettigoniidae which is in the genus Leptophyes. This flightless insect occurs across most of Europe as well as parts of the Middle East. 

In Ireland it is very uncommon and apparently has a very restricted range in the southeastern as well as southern regions but in all probability is under recorded. It occurs in a wide variety of vegetative habitats, including hedgerows, parks and gardens where its cryptic colouration help it to avoid predation. In late autumn, eggs are laid on plant stems and on tree bark. They hatch out as nymphs in May the following year. The adult stage is from August to early November. A bat detector set to 40khz can be used to locate calling adults.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET (Leptophyes punctatissima) male on 2nd September 2012 at Ireland's Eye, Howth, Fingal,Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) is of the family Tettigoniidae which is in the genus Leptophyes. This flightless insect occurs across most of Europe as well as parts of the Middle East. 

In Ireland it is very uncommon and apparently has a very restricted range in the southeastern as well as southern regions but in all probability is under recorded. It occurs in a wide variety of vegetative habitats, including hedgerows, parks and gardens where its cryptic colouration help it to avoid predation. In late autumn, eggs are laid on plant stems and on tree bark. They hatch out as nymphs in May the following year. The adult stage is from August to early November. A bat detector set to 40khz can be used to locate calling adults.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

EURASIAN BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) female, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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 The Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia.

WHITE TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus lucorum) National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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The White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus  lucorum) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.

HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY (Celastrina argiolus) female Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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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.  
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COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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 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.

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YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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BLACK NECKED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) Dojlidy Ponds, Bialystok, Poland

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GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) Dojlidy Ponds, Bialystok, Poland

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The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is of the family Podicipedidae which is in the genus Podiceps.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) Dojlidy Ponds, Bialystok, Poland

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The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is of the family Podicipedidae which is in the genus Podiceps.

COMMON DARTER Sympetrum striolatum

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RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula parva) juvenile / 1st winter at Glen West,Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

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The Red Breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) is of the family Muscicapidae which is in the genus Ficedula.

This species breeds in deciduous woodlands throughout Eastern Europe as well as Western Central Asia. In North West Europe, it is mainly an uncommon autumn passage migrant (mostly juveniles) to coastal locations. In Ireland, there has been less than a hand full of spring reports where as it's a rare but regular passage visitor during September and October averaging <10 individuals annually.

In early autumn the migration south to its wintering areas on the Indian subcontinent begins. 

The Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla) previously treated as a sub species of Red Breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) has in recent times been upgraded to full species status. The only Irish record is of a juvenile /1st winter at Galley Head, Co. Cork from 21st to 25th October 2018.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds 

 

Red Breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) distribution map 

 

 BREEDING AREA               MIGRATION              WINTERING AREA

 

Map atribution:
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, species assessors and the authors of the spatial data., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

IVY BROOMRAPE Orobanche hederae

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RED BACKED SHRIKE (Female) Lanius collurio Bialowieza Forest, Poland

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RED NECKED FOOTMAN (Atolmis rubricollis) Saint Johns Lake, Kiltybardan, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

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The Red Necked Footman (Atolmis rubricollis) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Atolmis.

POPLAR HAWK MOTH (Laothoe populi) Saint John's Lake, Kiltybarden, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

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The Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) is a macro moth of the family Sphingidae which is in the genus Laothoe. It is commonly found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East . It is quiet large and has a wing span of up to 100mm.
This distinctively shaped moth is on the wing from May to September and can be double brooded. The adults do not feed and the species overwinters as a pupa. It is readily attracted to outdoor lights.

 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laothoe_populi

COMMON REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus

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RED WOOD ANT (EUROPEAN) Formica polyctena

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SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata

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LATTICED HEATH Chiasmia clathrata

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RED BACKED SHRIKE Lanius collurio

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MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos medius

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BLACK VEINED MOTH Siona lineata

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RED NECKED GREBE (Podiceps grisegena) Dojlidy Ponds, Bialystok, Poland

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EURASIAN KESTRELor COMMON KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) female, Co. Sligo, Ireland

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The Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a small bird of prey of the family Falconidae which is in the genus Falco. Alternative names include European Kestrel, Common Kestrel or simply referred to as a Kestrel. This falcon occurs throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. 

More recently, the British and Irish populations have been in serious decline which may be as a result of changes in agricultural practices and  increased use of rodenticides (rat poisons). Nest predation by Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Grey Crow (Corvus cornix), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) and Common Raven (Corvus corax), whose populations have increased, may also be a factor.

 

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