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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. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Sunday 31 March 2013
SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) 1st winter male at Ballyieragh South, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) 1st winter male at Ballyieragh South, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, 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. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) juvenile, Big Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Lesser Yellowlegs
(Tringa flavipes) is a medium sized shorebird or wader of the family Scolopacidae which is the genus Tringa.
It is a common long distant migrant which
breeds in wetland areas in the boreal forests of Central and North West Canada as well as Alaska. In early
autumn it migrates south to its wintering areas in the Gulf of Mexico and South
America. It is also a very rare but annual autumn vagrant to North West Europe, including
Ireland.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Saturday 30 March 2013
Friday 29 March 2013
EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) juvenile at Glen West, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
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Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory member of the family Columbidae, which includes doves as well as pigeons and is in the genus Streptopelia. It is a summer breeding resident in Europe (including the Canary Islands), parts of the Middle East, as well as western Asia and north Africa. It is absent as a breeding species from Iceland, Ireland (formally bred) and most of Scandinavia but does occur in spring and autumn as
an uncommon/rare overshooting migrant. Over much of its northern range,
there has been a very sharp decline in its population. In the autumn,
it migrates south to spend the winter in southern Africa. |
EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur) juvenile at Glen West, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland
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The European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory member of the genus Columbidae, which includes doves and pigeons. It is a summer breeding resident in Europe (including the Canary Islands), parts of the Middle East, as well as western Asia and north Africa. It is absent as a breeding species from Iceland, Ireland (formally bred) and most of Scandinavia but does occur in spring and autumn as
an uncommon/rare overshooting migrant. Over much of its northern range,
there has been a very sharp decline in its population. In the autumn,
it migrates south to spend the winter in southern Africa. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Thursday 28 March 2013
Tuesday 26 March 2013
REDWING (Turdus iliacus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is a species of thrush in the family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus. It breeds in the northern parts of Eurasia extending eastwards from Iceland to eastern Russia. Small numbers have also recently been found breeding in Greenland. In the autumn, this highly migratory species leaves the colder parts of its breading range to winter further south in Europe as well as parts of North Africa and the Middle East extending to northern Iran. |
Monday 25 March 2013
DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis) Inisbofin Island, Co. Galway, Ireland
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The Dunnock (Prunella modularis) which was formally known as Hedge Sparrow or Hedge Accentor is of the family Prunellidae which is in the genus Prunella. The name Dunnock comes from the ancient English word dunnākos, meaning "little brown one". It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe, parts of Western Asia and as an introduced species in New Zealand. |
SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET (Leptophyes punctatissima) female on 16th October 2009 at Ballyieragh North, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co.Cork, Ireland
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information 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. |
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