 |
The Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus) occurs mainly in North West Africa and the Middle East. There is a small breeding population in South East Spain and it has recently expanded its breeding range into Turkey. This stocky, heavy billed finch is normally found in arid, stony, semi desert type habitat. Bucanetes githagineus subspecies B. g. amantum is endemic to the Canary Islands and is one of four subspecies recognised. On Fuerteventura, the track which runs alongside the goat farm at Las Parcelas and the surrounding plain are well-known area for them. Trumpeter Finches normally occur in small flocks but become dispersive during the breeding season (April) and they then can be difficult to locate. |
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
TRUMPETER FINCH (Male) Bucanetes githagineus Las Parcelas, Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
LAS PARCELAS (GOAT FARM) Las Parcelas, Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain.
 |
| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE |
The goat farm at Las Parcelas and the surrounding plain holds some of the most sought after bird species on Fuerteventura. These include, Trumpeter Finch, Berthelot’s Pipit, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Cream Coloured Courser and Houbara Bustard. Located west of the nearby village of Las Pacelas and at the start of a driveable track which leads to the Los Molinos dam and reservoir.
Saturday, 31 January 2015
BARBARY PARTRIDGE Alectoris barbara ssp. A. b. koenigi. Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
 |
The Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara) is a North African gamebird. It is also native to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. On the Iberian Peninsula there is a small colony at Gibraltar. The endemic subspecies Alectoris barbara koenigi occurs on the Canary Islands. On Fuerteventura, although uncommon, it is found throughout the island where at times it can be difficult to locate.
|
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
EURASIAN STONE CURLEW Burhinus oedicnemus Ssp B. o. insularum Tindaya, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
 |
World-wide, there are nine
species of Stone Curlew (also known as Thick-knee or Dikkop). They are found in
both tropical and temperate regions. On the Iberian Peninsula, the Eurasian
Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) is sedentary but in the rest of
Europe it is mainly a summer resident which winters in North Africa. The endemic
subspecies Burhinus oedicnemus insularum
occurs on the Canary Islands and its cryptic coloration help it blend in very
well with the semi desert type habitat on Fuerteventura.
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
SPECTACLED WARBLER (Male) Sylvia conspicillata Ssp S. c. orbitalis Tindaya, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
 |
The Spectacled Warbler occurs mainly in the Western Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Cyprus. The endemic subspecies Sylvia conspicillata orbitalis is resident on most of the scattered group of islands in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, known as the Macaronesia Islands. Within this group, it does not occur on the Azores but is commonly found on the Canary Islands. Because of the arid semi desert type habitat on Fuerteventura Island it has a very local distribution. This species along with the Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra) are the only warblers breeding on Fuerteventura. Like most Sylvia warblers it is skulking by nature and can be very un-obliging when it comes to having its photograph taken.
Friday, 16 January 2015
EMPEROR DRAGONFLY (Anax imperator) male, Las Penitas, Barranco de las Penitas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) or Blue Emperor Dragonfly is of the family Aeshnidae which is in the genus Anax. This large and powerful species is a voracious predator of other flying insects. Prey items including medium sized dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies and other flying invertebrates are captured on the wing but it tends to avoid predating
bees, wasps and hard shelled flying insects such as beetles. Probably as a
result of climate change, in the last 20 years or so it has greatly
expanded its range north ward. Now relatively common throughout the
Western Palearctic, excluding Iceland and the vast majority of
Scandinavia. In the Eastern Atlantic it occurs on all the Macaronesian
Islands including Fuerteventura where it is encountered in lush valleys
and gardens. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
|
Friday, 9 January 2015
SARDINIAN WARBLER [Female] (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra) Las Penitas, Barranco de las Penitas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
 |
The Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra) that occurs on the Canary Islands is an endemic subspecies. The Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata orbitalis) is the only other warbler that breeds on Fuerteventura and it is also classified as a Canary Island endemic subspecies. After a considerable wait, this female hopped out briefly onto a Tamarisk bush and I managed to fire off half a dozen shots before it disappeared back into the thicket. The photo above being the best of a bad lot.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
Up to five subspecies are generally recognised:
|
Sunday, 4 January 2015
SARDINIAN WARBLER (Male) Sylvia melanocephala ssp. S. m. leucogastra Las Penitas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
 |
The Sardinian Warbler found on the Canary Islands is classified as a separate subspecies (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra). It is shorter winged and has a thicker bill when compared to its mainland European counterpart. At times, it can be quite skulking as was the case here. As it hid in a Shrubby Launaea bush, it tried its best not to be photographed.
Thursday, 1 January 2015
COMMON RAVEN Corvus corax ssp C. c. canariensis Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
 |
The Common Raven or Northern Raven (Corvus corax) has a widespread distribution across the Northern Hemisphere. A minimum of eight subspecies are recognised including Corvus corax canariensis which is confined to the
Canary Islands. It is smaller in body structure, has a smaller more
decurved bill and shows an oily brown gloss to its plumage. Ravens are
normally very wary but at this location, they are tame because titbits can be scavenged from the tourists which pull in at this mirador (viewing
area). This area overlooks the lush valley and reservoir at Las
Penitas, an important area for wildlife on Fuerteventura.Text © www.rawbirds.com
|
Monday, 29 December 2014
Saturday, 27 December 2014
Thursday, 25 December 2014
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
EURASIAN SISKIN (Spinus spinus) male at Croha West, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
 |
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 Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Spinus. Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) distribution map  Breeding Resident Non breeding - winter SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons |
Sunday, 21 December 2014
EUROPEAN SHAG (Gulosus aristotelis subspecies P. a. aristotelis) immature at South Habour, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
 |
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 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 :
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) distribution map  Breeding Non-breeding - winter |
Friday, 19 December 2014
Wednesday, 17 December 2014
EUROPEAN HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus subspecies L. a. argenteus) at Keenleen, South Harbour, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
 |
| 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 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. |
Monday, 15 December 2014
EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) male at the Youth Hostel Garden, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
 |
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 callsThe Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) or more simply known as a Blackbird is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus. |
Saturday, 13 December 2014
BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros) immature at Killickaforavane, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
 |
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 Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small perching bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae which is the genus Phoenicurus. It is a locally common resident in central and southern Europe as well as northern Africa. It also occurs in western and central Asia. In the warmer parts of its range it is sedentary. The northern populations migrate in the autumn to spend the winter in southern and western Europe, northern Africa and the Indian sub continent. In Ireland, it is a very uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant, in addition very small numbers overwinter at traditional coastal locations. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola ssp. s. r. hibernans) male Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click external link here for detailed species information
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:
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Sunday, 7 December 2014
EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) juvenile Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
 |
Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls The European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory member of the family Columbidae, which includes doves as well as pigeons and is in the genus Streptopelia. 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 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)