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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 and 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. Text © www.rawbirds.com |
Saturday 22 December 2012
BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros) West Pier, Howth, Fingal, Co, Dublin, Ireland
Friday 21 December 2012
GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co.Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is of the family Ardeidae and is in the genus Ardea.
It is resident in the temperate regions of Eurasia as well as eastern
and sub Saharan Africa. The more northern populations are migratory and
move south for
the winter. Wetlands are its main habitat and commonly occurs along
estuaries, streams, rivers and lakes. Aquatic as well as terrestrial
creatures are preyed upon. Prey items include amphibians, insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds which are swallowed whole. This species nests in tall trees in colonies which are known as heronries. Upto five eggs are laid and are incubated for 25 days. Fledging takes place after 60 days. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) distribution map %20distribution%20map.jpg) Breeding Resident Winter Vagrant Introduced resident SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons |
GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) at Skerries Millpond, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is of the family Ardeidae and is in the genus Ardea.
It is resident in the temperate regions of Eurasia as well as eastern
and sub Saharan Africa. The more northern populations are migratory and
move south for
the winter. Wetlands are its main habitat and commonly occurs along
estuaries, streams, rivers and lakes. Aquatic as well as terrestrial
creatures are preyed upon. Prey items include amphibians, insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds which are swallowed whole. This species nests in tall trees in colonies which are known as heronries. Upto five eggs are laid and are incubated for 25 days. Fledging takes place after 60 days. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) distribution map Breeding Resident Winter Vagrant Introduced resident SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons |
COMMON MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) Skerries Millpond, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a member of the rail family Rallidae which is in the genus Gallinula. It is commonly encountered in wetlands, ponds, lakes, canals as well as wet areas in reed beds. It occurs in most of Europe and in many parts of Asia and Africa. There are several sub species recognised. The former sub species found in the Americas, the Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata), is now treated as a full species. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) world distribution map 
Yellow: breeding summer visitor.
Green: breeding resident.
Blue: non-breeding winter visitor
Source: Map By Viktor Kravtchenko - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) world distribution map based on data from Handbook of the Birds of the World (del Hoyo et al), Birds of the Western Palearctic (Snow et al) and regional field guides. Updated with the split in 2011 by the American Ornithologists Union of Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) which occurs in the Americas that was formally treated as a subspecies of Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) |
COMMON MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) Skerries Millpond, Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a member of the rail family Rallidae which is in the genus Gallinula. It is commonly encountered in wetlands, ponds, lakes, canals as well as wet areas in reed beds. It occurs in most of Europe and in many parts of Asia and Africa. There are several sub species recognised. The former sub species found in the Americas, the Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata), is now treated as a full species. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) world distribution map
Yellow: breeding summer visitor.
Green: breeding resident.
Blue: non-breeding winter visitor
Source: Map By Viktor Kravtchenko - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) world distribution map based on data from Handbook of the Birds of the World (del Hoyo et al), Birds of the Western Palearctic (Snow et al) and regional field guides. Updated with the split in 2011 by the American Ornithologists Union of Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) which occurs in the Americas that was formally treated as a subspecies of Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) |
RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceus) Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
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RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceus) Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
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Thursday 20 December 2012
Wednesday 19 December 2012
TWITE (Carduelis flavirostris) Blackrock, Co. Louth, Ireland
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Tuesday 18 December 2012
EURASIAN SISKIN (Carduelis spinus) male feeding on pine cones at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, 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 |
EURASIAN SISKIN (Spinus spinus) female feeding on pine cones at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, 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 |
Monday 17 December 2012
Sunday 16 December 2012
SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) male at Balcarrick, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, 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 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'Keeffe / Raw Birds
SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) male at Balcarrick, Donabate, Fingal, Co Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here for detailed species information Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls
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. | |||
| 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 |
BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulous) December 2012, at Kilbarrack, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is of the family Bombycillidae which is in the genus Bombycilla. This
eruptive species breeds in the coniferous forests of North America and
Eurasia. Northern populations migrate to spend the winter in the
southern parts of its home range. In years when there is a poor winter
berry crop in northern latitudes, all of the population disperses
further south and can be found either singly or in flocks feeding on
berries or rose hips in parks, gardens and along hedgerows. In Ireland, Bohemian Waxwing is an irregular or scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulous) December 2012, Kilbarrack, Co.Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is of the family Bombycillidae which is in the genus Bombycilla. This
eruptive species breeds in the coniferous forests of North America and
Eurasia. Northern populations migrate to spend the winter in the
southern parts of its home range. In years when there is a poor winter
berry crop in northern latitudes, all of the population disperses
further south and can be found either singly or in flocks feeding on
berries or rose hips in parks, gardens and along hedgerows. In Ireland, Bohemian Waxwing is an irregular or scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus) male standing on freshly killed Greenfinch, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Eurasian Sparrowhawk
(Accipiter nisus), alternative
names include Northern Sparrowhawk
or simply Sparrowhawk, is a
small bird of prey of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Accipiter. It
has a widespread distribution across the temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World.
It is a partial migrant and in the more northern and colder parts of its range,
it disperses south for the winter. The preferred habitats include open type
wood land, hedge rows, parks and gardens where a wide variety of small to
medium sized perching birds are preyed upon. Males are up to 25% smaller than
females and tend to prey upon sparrow sized passerines but can include starlings
and thrushes. Females, on the other hand, can tackle larger prey including doves,
pigeons and magpies.
This species is the most commonly encountered bird of prey in Ireland. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) male, 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.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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