Raw Birds

Saturday 23 February 2013

GARGANEY (Female) Anas querquedula Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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Friday 22 February 2013

GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)at The Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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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

BLACK HEADED WEAVER Ploceus melanocephalus

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Thursday 21 February 2013

COMMON LINNET (Linaria cannabina) male, Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Co.Louth, Ireland

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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)