Bird, bug, butterfly and a wild variety of photos from Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain by Irish wildlife photographer Patrick J. O'Keeffe and invited guests

Sunday, 13 June 2021

CRYPTIC WOOD WHITE BUTTERFLY (Leptidea juvernica) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland


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The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea.

Saturday, 12 June 2021

LARGE RED DAMSELFLY (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) male Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland


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The Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Pyrrhosoma. It is commonly found in Europe, smaller populations occur in northern Africa and western Asia. It is on the wing from April to early September.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Friday, 11 June 2021

Thursday, 10 June 2021

COMMON BANDED HOVERFLY or HUMMING SYRPHUS HOVERFLY (Syrphus ribesii) female, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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 Click external link here to see a Beginners Guide to Irish Hoverflies 
 
The Common Banded Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) or Humming Syrphus Hoverfly is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Syrphus. This is a common and widespread species which is found throughout the temperate regions of the Holarctic. Separate with care from Syrphus vitripennis and Syrphus torvus which are almost identical in appearance. 
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Reference and highly recommended reading: 
Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris

Wednesday, 9 June 2021

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER DRAGONFLY or FOUR SPOTTED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Libellula quadrimaculata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly (Libellula quadrimaculata) is of the family Aeshnidae which is in the genus Libellula. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It is also found in North America where it is known as the Four-spotted Skimmer. The flight season is from mid April to early September. 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Tuesday, 8 June 2021

COMMON DOG VIOLET (Viola riviniana) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 
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The Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) or more simply Dog Violet, also known as Wood Violet, is of family Violaceae which is in the genus Viola. This perennial wild flower is native to Eurasia as well as parts of northern Africa. Separate with care from the closely related Early Dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana) and Heath Dog-violet (Viola canina) as well other European Viola.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday, 7 June 2021

COMMON REED BUNTING (Emberiza schoeniclus) male, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 The Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) or more simply known as a Reed Bunting is of the bunting family Emberizidae which is in the genus Emberiza.

Sunday, 6 June 2021

NETTLE WEEVIL (Phyllobius pomaceus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus) is of the family Curculionidae which is in the genus Phyllobius. This small beetle has a scattered distribution in Britain and Ireland but can be locally common in some areas. It overwinters as a pupa and emerges as an adult in late April. The adults feed on the leaves of Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) and Meadow Sweet (Filipendula ulmaria) until late June.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds