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Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Monday, 28 April 2014
EURASIAN KESTREL or COMMON KESTRAL (Falco tinnunculus) male at Doñana National Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain
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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 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. |
Sunday, 27 April 2014
EURASIAN KESTREL or COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus female at Doñana National Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain
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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 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. |
Saturday, 26 April 2014
Friday, 25 April 2014
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
PALACIO DEL ACEBRON /CENTRO DE VISITANTES DE El ACEBRON Parque Nacional de Doñana, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for more site information |
Monday, 21 April 2014
Sunday, 20 April 2014
GRIFFON VULTURE (Gyps fulvus) José Antonio Valverde Visitor Centre, Doñana National Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain
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The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) or Eurasian Griffon is a large Old World bird of prey in family Accipitridae which is in the genus Gyps. It breeds on crags in mountains in southern Europe, North Africa and Asia. Griffon vultures may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident. Juveniles and immature individuals may migrate far or embark on long distance movements. Like other vultures, it is a scavenger, feeding mostly on the carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over open areas, often moving in flocks. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffon_vulture Distribution map 
Source: By The Engineer - Own work based on: BlankMap-World-NoAntarctica.png by user Sting, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=131341
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Thursday, 17 April 2014
SQUACCO HERON Ardeola ralloides Lucio de la Rianzuela, Dehesa de Abajo, Seville, Andalucia, Spain
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
The Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) is resident south of the Sahara Desert in western, eastern and south eastern Africa, including Madagascar. There is also a small population in Morocco and Tunisia on the North West African coast. This small heron occurs as a summer resident in central and southern Europe as well as in western central Asia. In the autumn, it migrates back to Africa to spend the winter months there. Its diet includes frogs, lizards, small fish and a wide variety of invertebrates. Text © www.rawbirds.com |
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
LUCIO DE LA RIANZUELA, Dehesa de Abajo, Saville, Andalucia, Spain
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for more site information |
GREATER FLAMINGO [Immature] (Phoenicopterus roseus) Lucio de la Rianzuela, Dehesa de Abajo, Seville, Spain
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Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread flamingo of the family Phoenicopteridae which is in the genus Phoenicopterus. It is found in parts of Africa, southern Asia, the Middle East and southern Europe. Sub-adult flamingos are whitish-grey and only attain the pink coloration several years into their adult life. The coloration comes from the carotenoid pigments in the organisms that live in their feeding grounds. Secretions of the urpoygial gland also contain carotenoids. During the breeding season, Greater Flamingos increase the frequency of their spreading of uropygial secretions over their feathers and thereby enhance their colour.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_flamingo
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Monday, 14 April 2014
GREATER FLAMINGO [Adult] (Phoenicopterus roseus) Charco de la Boca, Doñana National Park, Almonte, Huelva, Spain
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The Greater Flamingo
(Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread
flamingo of the family Phoenicopteridae which is in the genus Phoenicopterus. It
is found in parts of Africa, southern Asia, the Middle East and southern Europe.
Sub-adult flamingos are whitish-grey and only attain the pink coloration several
years into their adult life. The coloration comes from the carotenoid pigments in the organisms that live in their feeding grounds.
Secretions of the urpoygial gland also
contain carotenoids. During the breeding season, Greater Flamingos increase the
frequency of their spreading of uropygial secretions over their feathers and
thereby enhance their colour.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_flamingo
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Saturday, 12 April 2014
Thursday, 10 April 2014
CHARCO DE LA BOCA Doñana National Park, El Rocio, Almonte, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain
.JPG) |
| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed site information |
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
Monday, 31 March 2014
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
GLAUCOUS GULL [1st winter] (Larus hyperboreus) Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Co.Louth, Ireland
.JPG) |
The Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) is a large gull of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus. It breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This migratory species wintering in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans as far south as the British Isles and northernmost states of the United States as well as on the Great Lakes. There are four subspecies generally recognised. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaucous_gull |
Friday, 21 March 2014
GLAUCOUS GULL [1st winter] (Larus hyperboreus) Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Co.Louth, Ireland
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) is a large gull of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus. It breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This migratory species wintering in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans as far south as the British Isles and northernmost states of the United States as well as on the Great Lakes. There are four subspecies generally recognised. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaucous_gull |
Monday, 17 March 2014
HOODED CROW or GREY CROW (Corvus cornix) Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Co.Louth, Ireland
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Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) also known as Grey Crow is a member of the crow family Corvidae which is in the genus Corvus. Four subspecies are generally recognized. Despite the fact that it is heavily persecuted, it occurs throughout Western Asia including parts of the Middle East as well as along the Nile Valley in North Africa. It is also commonly encountered and has a widespread distribution in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. It is resident in Ireland, the Isle of Man and Northern Scotland. In the rest of Britain as well as Southwestern and Western Europe, it is replaced by the closely related Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) from which it was split in 2002 and was recognised as a separate species. Where their breeding ranges overlap, they may hybridise. Some of the northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter. |
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Friday, 14 March 2014
BLACK TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa subspecie. L .l. islandica) juvenile in transition to 1st winter plumage at the Horse Marsh, Broadmeadow Estuary, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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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 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;
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) distribution map  Yellow breeding Blue wintering Green breeding resident |
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Sunday, 9 March 2014
Thursday, 6 March 2014
GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo) adult summer plumage at Bullock Harbour, Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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| 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 There are a number subspecies recognised including the ground nesting Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo carbo) which occurs in Britain and Ireland that breeds on coastal rocky outcrops and on off shore islands. The tree nesting Continental Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) which breeds in Northern Europe extending eastwards to Japan, but has in recent times colonised parts
of southern Britain. This is apparently a rare subspecies in Ireland
with less than 70 records but is in all probably under recorded. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) in 1st winter or 2nd year plumage at Bullock Harbour, Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information 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 |
Monday, 3 March 2014
MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) in 2nd winter or 3rd year plumage at Bullock Harbour, Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information 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 |
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