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The Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris) is of the family Carabidae which is in the genus Cicindela.
Saturday, 29 May 2021
Friday, 28 May 2021
WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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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.
Thursday, 27 May 2021
DINGY SKIPPER BUTTERFLY (Erynnis tagesi) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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The Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) is of the family Hesperiidae which is in the genus Erynnis. It occurs in Europe and most of western Asia. The flight season is normally from late April to early June but in the warmer parts of its range there is a second generation on the wing during July and August.
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The Dingy Skipper Butterfly (Erynnis tages) is of the family Hesperiidae which is in the genus Erynnis. It occurs in Europe and most of western Asia. The flight season is normally from late April to early June but in the warmer parts of its range there is a second generation on the wing during July and August.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Friday, 21 May 2021
Thursday, 20 May 2021
COMMON LINNET (Linaria cannabina) Skerries Mills, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Linnet (Linaria cannabina) or Common Linnet is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Linaria.
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The Linnet (Linaria cannabina) or Common Linnet is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Linaria.
It derives its name from its fondness for the seeds of the flax plant which is used to make linen. This small finch occurs in Europe as well as Western Asia but is absent from northern latitudes and has a limited
distribution in North West Africa and the Middle East.
There are seven subspecies :
- Linaria c. autochthona - occurs in Scotland
- L. c. cannabina - occurs in the rest of Britain, Ireland also northern Europe, eastwards to central Siberia. It is a partial migrant, wintering in north Africa and southwest Asia
- L. c. bella - occurs in Middle East, eastwards to Mongolia and northwestern China
- L. c. mediterranea - occurs on the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Greece, northwest Africa and on the Mediterranean islands
- L. c. guentheri - occurs on Madeira Island
- L. c. meadewaldoi - occurs on the Western Canary Islands (El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria)
- L. c. harterti - occurs on the Eastern Canary Islands (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura)
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_linnet
Wednesday, 19 May 2021
HOODED CROW or GREY CROW (Corvus cornix) South Strand, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) also known as Grey Crow is a member of the crow family Corvidae which is in the genus Corvus.
Four subspecies are generally recognized. Despite the fact that it is
heavily persecuted, it occurs throughout Western Asia including parts of
the Middle East as well as along the Nile Valley in North Africa. It is
also commonly encountered and has a widespread distribution in Northern, Central and Eastern
Europe. It is resident in Ireland, Isle of Man and Northern Scotland. In the rest of Britain as well as Southwestern and Western Europe, it is replaced by the
closely related Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) from which it was split in
2002 and was recognised as a separate species. Where their breeding ranges overlap, they may
hybridise. Some of the northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Tuesday, 18 May 2021
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) Skerries Mills, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is of the family Columbidae which is in the genus Streptopelia.
Over
the last 150 years or so this dispersive species has greatly expanded
its original range which stretched from Turkey eastwards to southern
China and the Indian sub-continent. The first record for Europe was from
Bulgaria in 1838 and by the end of the 20th century it had colonised
the rest of Europe with the exception of Iceland but including the
Canary Islands as well as the North African and parts of the Middle East. First record for Britain was in 1952 followed by the first for Ireland in 1958.
To the east of its original range, it has also spread northeast to most of central and northern China as well as Japan.
In
1974, less than 50 escaped from captivity in the Bahama Islands and
from there it spread to Florida. It is now found in nearly every state
in the USA, as well as in Mexico.
Patrick J, O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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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Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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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.
European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) distribution map 
Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Green: year-round Yellow: breeding Blue: non breeding
Sunday, 16 May 2021
Friday, 14 May 2021
Wednesday, 12 May 2021
Tuesday, 11 May 2021
Monday, 10 May 2021
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
Click external link here for detailed species information
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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Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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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.
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.
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Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
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.
Click external link here for detailed species information
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
Tuesday, 4 May 2021
Monday, 3 May 2021
Sunday, 2 May 2021
Saturday, 1 May 2021
BLOTCH WINGED HOVERFLY (Leucozoba lucorum) male at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see a Beginners Guide to Hoverflies
The Blotch winged Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Helophilus. This is a very distinctive species that mimics the Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum). Orange hairs on the thorax and an orange yellow scutellum are among the features that help separate it from Volucella hoverflies. In Ireland the normal flight season extends from May to August.
Reference and highly recommended reading:
Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris Thursday, 29 April 2021
THE FOOTBALLER HOVERFLY (Helophilus pendulus) female, Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Footballer Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Helophilus. This is a common species which occurs in a variety of habitats including gardens and parks. The pattern of black on the hind leg are among the features which help separate it from other Helophilus hoverflies. In Ireland it is on the wing from mid April until late October.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Reference and highly recommended reading:
Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris Tuesday, 27 April 2021
MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor) male colour ringed CAFV, Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Click here to see the 2020 list of nesting colour ringed Mute Swans in the Dublin region The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Cygnus. Two other species of wild swan, the Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) and the rare Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus), are winter visitors to Ireland.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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