SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) 1st winter male at Bray Promenade, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

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The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is of the longspur family Calcariidae which is in the genus Plectrophenax. This circumpolar species breeds mainly in the arctic mountainous regions of North America and Eurasia. Isolated populations also breed south of this range in upland areas.   

Apart from small numbers breeding in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland, this is an uncommon and local winter visitor, from October to March, at coastal locations in Britain and Ireland. It occurs singularly or in small flocks at shingle beeches near the edges of sand dunes, harbour piers and headlands. Feeding close to the ground, it can be easily overlooked and difficult to locate as cryptic colouration helps it blend into the background.

 

Patrick J. O'Keffe / Raw Birds

 

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)  distribution map

   Breeding    Migration    Resident    Non breeding-winter

Cephas, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) immature or 1st winter at Bray Promenade, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

 

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 The Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) sub adult or 2nd winter at Bray Promenade, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

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 The Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) two adults at Bray Promenade, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

1st adult Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)

 

1st adult Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)

 

2nd adult Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) 

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 The Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo subspecies P. c. carbo) immature at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is of the family Phalacrocoracidae which is in the genus Phalacrocorax. It has a scattered distribution in parts of North America, Eurasia, Africa and Australasia. 

There are a number subspecies recognised including the ground nesting Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo carbo) which occurs in Britain and Ireland that breeds on coastal rocky outcrops and on off shore islands.  The tree nesting Continental Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) which breeds in Northern Europe extending eastwards to Japan, but has in recent times colonised parts of southern Britain. This is apparently a rare subspecies in Ireland with less than 70 records but is in all probability under recorded.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila) female at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) is of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Aythya. This diving duck breeds in the arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. In late autumn it migrates south to spend the winter in the southern parts of its range along coasts as well as on ice free lakes and lagoons. In North America, it can be confused with Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) and similarly in Eurasia with Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), especially in the case of females or immatures. 

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 

 

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) distribution map

 

Breeding           Non breeding - winter

UND77, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

RED BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus serrator) male at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Red Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) is of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Mergus. This medium sized diving duck occurs in North America as well as in large parts of Eurasia. In the temperate areas of its range, this northern breeder, nests on the ground in secluded areas along rivers, on fresh water islands and close to lake. Before the onset of colder weather, some populations move to coastal locations and others migrate south to warmer regions for the winter.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Red Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) distribution map

 Breeding             Resident             Passage            Non breeding - winter 

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

EURASIAN TEAL (Anas crecca) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) male

Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) female

Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca) 

 

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The Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) is of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Anas. This small dabbling duck breeds in the temperate regions of the Palearctic. In the autumn northern populations migrate to spend the winter in northwest and southern Europe, parts of northern Africa including the Nile Valley, the Middle East as well as southern and southeast Asia.
The small scattered resident population in Ireland and Britain greatly increases from September when northern birds begin to arrive. Having overwintered, they begin to disperse back to their breeding grounds and most have gone by the end of March.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds  

 

 Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) distribution map 

  Breeding                Non breeding - winter           Resident

The Engineer, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

COMMON GULL or MEW GULL (Larus canus) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Common Gull (Larus canus) also known as Mew Gull in North America is a member of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus.

HOODED CROW or GREY CROW (Corvus cornix) attempting to remove a Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) from its shell at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, 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

COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) is a medium sized sandpiper of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Tringa. The breeding range of this wader or shorebird extends from northern Scotland eastwards across northern Europe and Asia. This migratory species winters in sub Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Australasia. In addition, small numbers overwinter along the coasts of northwest Africa and northwest Europe including Britain and Ireland.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) distribution map

 

 

 Breeding           Passage           Non-breeding-winter           Vagrant  

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 

BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros) immature at Balscadden Beach, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small perching bird of 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

COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita subspecies P. c. collybita) flycatching from the security fencing at the rear of Asgard Apartments, Balscadden Beach, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) is of the family Phylloscopidae which is in the genus Phylloscopus. This small insectivorous species of leaf warbler is a summer resident from mid March to October which breeds in the northern and temperate regions of Eurasia. In the autumn it migrates south to spend the winter in the Mediterranean Basin, sub Saharan Africa and southwestern Asia. Small numbers also overwinter in northwest Europe.  

There are several subspecies recognised including, Common Chiffchaff (P. c. collybita), Scandinavian Chiffchaff (P. c. abietinus) and Siberian Chiffchaff (P. c. tristis).  
 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BUFF TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus terrestris) one of four workers and a Queen nectering on Hebe Shrub Blossoms (Hebe × franciscana) on 11th January 2022 at Howth Yatch Club, Howth Harbour, Fingal, Co, Dublin, Ireland

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The Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus. This bumblebee is commonly found throughout the temperate regions of Europe, The Middle East, northern Africa and occurs as an introduced species in other countries including Australia (Tasmania), Japan as well as parts of South America. 

This species is not seen in Ireland during the colder months of the year, normally the worker bees and the males (drones) die off and the gravid Queen hibernates for the winter. In recent times, it has been on the wing all year round mainly at coastal locations where shrubs such as Hebe (Hebe × franciscana), Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica) have continued to flower in mild winters.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds