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

Saturday 17 May 2014

WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Lanius senator) Dehesa de Abajo, Seville, Andalucia, Spain

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The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) is a medium sized migratory perching bird in the family Laniidae and is one of 31 species of shrike  found worldwide. It is a summer resident in southern Europe, the Middle East and north western Africa which spends the winter in sub Saharan Africa.



SPINY FOOTED LIZARD Acanthodactylus erythrurus El Acebuche Visitor Centre, Parque Nacional de Doñana, Almonte, Huelva, Spain

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Wednesday 14 May 2014

IBERIAN (WESTERN) YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava subspecies m.f. iberiae) male, Dehesa de Abajo, Seville, Andalucia, Spain

 
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The Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) is of the family Motacillidae which includes longclaws, pipits and wagtails. It is a summer resident in the temperate regions of Western Asia and Europe which migrates south in early autumn to winter in southern Asia and Africa. Up to 20 subspecies are recognised including the Iberian Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava iberiae).
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 28 April 2014

EURASIAN KESTREL or COMMON KESTRAL (Falco tinnunculus) male at Doñana National Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain

 
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  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.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 27 April 2014

EURASIAN KESTREL or COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus female at Doñana National Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain

 

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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 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