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

Monday 25 March 2013

SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET (Leptophyes punctatissima) male on 2nd September 2012 at Ireland's Eye, Howth, Fingal,Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) is of the family Tettigoniidae which is in the genus Leptophyes. This flightless insect occurs across most of Europe as well as parts of the Middle East. 
In Ireland it is very uncommon and apparently has a very restricted range in the southeastern as well as southern regions but in all probability is under recorded. It occurs in a wide variety of vegetative habitats, including hedgerows, parks and gardens where its cryptic colouration help it to avoid predation. In late autumn, eggs are laid on plant stems and on tree bark. They hatch out as nymphs in May the following year. The adult stage is from August to early November. A bat detector set to 40khz can be used to locate calling adults.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 24 March 2013

EURASIAN BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) female, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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 The Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia.

WHITE TAILED BUMBLEBEE (Bombus lucorum) National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus  lucorum) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Bombus.

HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY (Celastrina argiolus) female Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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The Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenids which is in the genus Celastrina. It is a widespread species and occurs in North America as well as Eurasia but is absent from the colder northern parts of this range. Up to 14 subspecies are generally recognised. There are two generations and it is one of the earliest blue butterflies to be seen, emerging in late spring. Later in the season, it can be confused with similar coloured species but it has very distinctive black speckling on its under wing.  
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Saturday 23 March 2013

COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) 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

YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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Wednesday 20 March 2013

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) Dojlidy Ponds, Bialystok, Poland

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The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is of the family Podicipedidae which is in the genus Podiceps.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) Dojlidy Ponds, Bialystok, Poland

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The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is of the family Podicipedidae which is in the genus Podiceps.

Sunday 17 March 2013

RED BACKED SHRIKE (Female) Lanius collurio Bialowieza Forest, Poland

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RED NECKED FOOTMAN (Atolmis rubricollis) Saint Johns Lake, Kiltybardan, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

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The Red Necked Footman (Atolmis rubricollis) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Atolmis.

POPLAR HAWK MOTH (Laothoe populi) Saint John's Lake, Kiltybarden, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, Ireland


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The Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) is a macro moth of the family Sphingidae which is in the genus Laothoe. It is commonly found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East . It is quiet large and has a wing span of up to 100mm.
This distinctively shaped moth is on the wing from May to September and can be double brooded. The adults do not feed and the species overwinters as a pupa. It is readily attracted to outdoor lights.


 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laothoe_populi

Monday 11 March 2013

EURASIAN KESTRELor COMMON KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) female, Co. Sligo, Ireland

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The Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a small bird of prey of the family Falconidae which is in the genus Falco. Alternative names include European Kestrel, Common Kestrel or simply referred to as a Kestrel. This falcon occurs throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. 
More recently, the British and Irish populations have been in serious decline which may be as a result of changes in agricultural practices and  increased use of rodenticides (rat poisons). Nest predation by Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Grey Crow (Corvus cornix), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) and Common Raven (Corvus corax), whose populations have increased, may also be a factor.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Saturday 9 March 2013

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) Biebrza Marshes, Goniądz, Poland

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The Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is of the family Passeridae which is in the genus Passer.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) Biebrza Marshes, Goniądz, Poland

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The Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is of the family Passeridae which is in the genus Passer.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) Biebrza Marshes, Goniądz, Poland

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The Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is of the family Passeridae which is in the genus Passer.

Monday 4 March 2013

LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small member of the heron family Ardeidae which includes Bitterns, Egrets and Herons. It is found in the temperate parts of Eurasia and Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand. Over the last 60 years or so this species has greatly expanded its range including recolonising its former breeding areas in Northern Europe, as well as Ireland. It first bred in the Caribbean in the mid 1990’s and is increasingly being recorded along the North American eastern seaboard.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 3 March 2013

BLACK TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa subspecies L .l. islandica) at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) is of the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Limosa. This large, long-legged and long-billed shorebird's breeding range extends from Iceland through central Europe as well as central and northeastern Asia. In the autumn, it migrates south to spend the winter in southern and western Europe, sub Saharan Africa, southern Asia and parts of coastal Australia. The species breeds in fens, damp meadows, moorlands and bogs. In the winter, it occurs on estuaries, lake shores, and in damp coastal fields.
 
There are three subspecies recognised; 
  •  Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa islandica) 
  • European Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa limosa) 
  • Asian Black-tailed Godwit - (Limosa limosa melanuroides)

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) distribution map
 
LimosalimosaWorldDistribution.jpg
Yellow breeding     Blue wintering     Green breeding resident
 
J. Schroeder, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Saturday 2 March 2013

GOLDCREST (Regulus regulus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is of the family Regulidae which is in the genus Regulus.
  
 

GOLDCREST (Regulus regulus) collecting dog hairs for nest lining material Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is of the family Regulidae which is in the genus Regulus.