SHORT EARED OWL (Asio flammeus) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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    The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is a member of the owl family Strigidae which is in the genius Asio. It occurs on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Worldwide, there are 216 species of owl. 

    In Ireland, it is mainly a scarce winter visitor to northern, eastern and southern coastal locations. Historically, the absence of voles from the Irish landscape has prevented it from becoming a breeding resident. Elsewhere in Europe, breeding success is heavily dependent upon an abundance of voles which is an important prey item fed to young owlets. Probably as a result of accidental introduction, Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) has now become established in southwestern Ireland and subsequently this species of owl has bred on a number of occasions in that region. 

    More recently, a small breeding population of Short-eared Owl has become established in northeastern Ireland.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SANDWICH TERN (Thalasseus sandvicensis) Skerries, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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In Europe, Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)  is a summer resident  which breeds in coastal colonies and spends the winter in Africa

PURPLE SANDPIPER (Calidris maritima) East Pier, Howth Harbour, Howth, Fingal, Co.Dublin, Ireland

 

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MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) in 2nd winter or 3rd year plumage at Gormanston Beach, Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland

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 The Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Ichthyaetus. This species has greatly expanded its range in the last 60 years from Eastern Europe. 

The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map

Breeding      Breeding resident     Non breeding - winter

 

SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

ROSEATE TERN (Juvenile) (Sterna dougallii) Gormanston Beach, Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland

 

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In Europe, the Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) is a rare summer visitor which breeds in a small number of coastal colonies and spends the winter in West Africa

SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY (Argynnis paphia) Clogherhead Village, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, Ireland

 

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The Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly (Argynnis paphia) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Argynnis. This very large species occurs throughout the temperate regions of the Palearctic. In Britain, it is found in the southern half of England and Wales. It has a very scattered distribution in Ireland.

Eggs are laid in tree crevices close of it's larval foodplant Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana). The larvae hatch in August and immediately hibernate. They emerge the following April and then feed on the foodplant. Pupation occurs during May and the adult flight season is from July to late September.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

DUNLIN (Juvenile in moult to winter plumage) (Calidris alpina) Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin

 

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PACIFIC BLACK DUCK Anas superciliosa ssp. A. s. rogersi Chinese Garden of Friendship, Pier Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW , Australia

 

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CHINESE GARDEN OF FRIENDSHIP, Pier Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

 

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The Chinese Garden of Friendship is located in Chinatown, Sydney, Australia. Modeled on the typical private gardens of the Ming Dynasty, the garden offers an insight into Chinese heritage and culture. The gardens were officially opened in 1988 as part of Sydney's bicentennial celebrations and they were named the Garden of Friendship symbolizing the bond established between China and Australia.

 

 

 

CURLEW SANDPIPER (Adult summer plumage) (Calidris ferruginea) Kalloni Salt Pans, Lesvos Island, Greece

 

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WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola) Kalloni Salt Pans, Lesvos Island, Greece

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The Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) is a medium sized shorebird or wader in the family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Tringa .  It is a summer resident which breeds across a wide band that stretches eastward from the uplands of Scotland, (where 10 to 25 pairs breed annually), to Scandinavia and to the Pacific coast of Asia. This long distant migrant spends the winter in sub Saharan Africa, southern Asia and parts of Australia.  During spring and autumn, it is irrregularly encountered outside its normal range as a scarce/rare overshooting migrant. 

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com

YELLOW BROWED WARBLER (Phylloscopus inornatus) Knockanacohig, Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

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The Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) is one of smallest leaf warbler in the genus Phylloscopus. This insectivorous species is a summer breeding resident in the temperate regions of Asia. In the autumn, it migrates south to winter in the tropical regions of south east Asia. Small numbers also winter in western and southern Europe, as far south as the Canary Islands. In Ireland, it is a scarce or rare annual autumn passage migrant to coastal headlands and offshore islands. This individual was trapped, ringed (banded) and then released under license from The Irish Wildlife Service.

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / RawBirds.com

RED BELLIED JUMPING SPIDER (Philaeus chrysops) Skala Kallonis, Lesvos Island, Greece

 

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The Red Bellied Jumping Spider (Philaeus chrysops) is a spider of the family Salticidae which is in the genus Philaeus. It occurs in the warmer parts of the Palearctic, from Portugal in the west to China in the east. This conspicuous species with its striking black and red colouration can grow up to 12mm in length and is commonly encountered in warm open type habitat. A wide variety of small invertebrates are preyed upon. On Lesvos, it can be seen from late March until early autumn.

SPOTLESS STARLING Sturnus unicolor Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, Nature Reserve, Fuente de Piedra, Andulusia ,Spain

 

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LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charadrius dubius Poda Nature Reserve, Burgas, Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria

 

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Summer resident in Europe which winters in Africa

PYGMY SKIPPER BUTTERFLY Gegenes pumilio Aspro Pools, Mandria, Cyprus

 

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LITTLE OWL Athene noctua Ria Formosa Natural Park ,Tavira, Portugal

 

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OLIVE TREE PEARL MOTH (Palpita vitrealis) Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co.Cork, Ireland

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The Olive Tree Pearl Moth (Palpita vitrealis) or Jasmine Moth is a micro moth of the family Crambidae which is in the genus Palpita. This widespread species occurs in southern Europe as well as Africa, Asia, Australia and America. The larvae feed on a number of plant species including Olive Trees (Olea europea) and Jasmine (Jasminum officinale). This migratory species has a wingspan of 27–31 mm. In Europe, it is on the wing from June to December and also occurs as a rare but regular migrant further north in Europe, including to coastal locations in southwest Ireland.

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com

SLOW WORM Anguis fragilis Aire de Ruesga, Mentera-Barruelo, Cantabria, Spain

 

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EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris male on left with juvenile, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is of the family Sturnidae which is in the genus Sturnus.

EURASIAN CRAG MARTIN Ptyonoprogne rupestris Paisaje Protpegido del Rio Tinto, Huelva, Spain.

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ZITTING CISTICOLA Cisticola juncidis Paphos Lighthouse, Paphos, Cyprus

 

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BROWN HAWKER DRAGONFLY (Female) (Aeshna grandis) The Raven, Nature Reserve, Co. Wexford, Ireland

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Female Brown Hawker dragonfly (Aeshna grandis) ovidepositing (egg laying).

RAFT SPIDER (Dolomedes fimbriatus) Girley Bog, Drewstown Woods, County Meath, Ireland

 

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The Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a semi-aquatic member of the family Pisauridaeone which is in the genus Dolomedes. It is one of Ireland’s largest spiders. Also known as the Hunting Spider or the Jesus Christ spider for its ability to walk on water. It occurs in sphagnum bogs. Main prey items include aquatic and terrestrial  insects, invertebrates as well as tadpoles which it detects using its forelegs to sense any vibrations on the water surface. If threatened, it can submerge itself under water for up to 60 minutes.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos Seatown Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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IBERIAN WALL LIZARD (Podarcis hispanica) Parque Natural, Collados del Asón, Cantabria, Spain

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IBERIAN WALL LIZARD Podarcis hispanica Collados del Asón, Cantabria, Spain

 

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GRIFFIN VULTURE Gyps fulvus Los Barrios Dump, Cadiz, Andalusia, Spain

 

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YELLOW LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis subspecies L. m. atlantis) adult at Los Barrios Dump, Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain

 

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The Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus. Up until recently it was considered as a race of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) but has now been given full species status. Post breeding populations disperse north and east. From July onward it occurs in good numbers in southern Britain but is an uncommon and scarce species in Ireland.

 

There are two subspecies recognised:

• Larus michahellis michahellis - breeds in parts of western and southern Europe, as well as the Mediterranean Basin.  

• Larus michahellis atlantis - known as Atlantic Gull, breeds on the Atlantic coasts of France, Iberia, Morocco, Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores where a dark headed form occurs.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

Yellow Legged Gull (Larus michahellis) distribution map

 

  Year round resident         Breeding        Non breeding-winter

 

Cephas, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER DRAGONFLY Libellula quadrimaculata Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Nature Reserve, Lullymore West, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland,

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