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It is mainly a summer resident in the temperate regions of southern Europe, Morocco in northwest Africa as well as parts of western, central and eastern Asia. Its range extends from the Iberian Peninsula eastwards to Japan. There are also non migratory populations resident in tropical Africa and in South East Asia. This insectivorous species feeds exclusively on small flying insects, mainly flies and midges. Outside of the breeding season, it is a very rare but annual overshooting spring and autumn migrant to northern Europe. The European, Moroccan and northern Asian populations migrate south in the autumn to spend the winter in sub Saharan Africa, the India sub-continent and northern Australia. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com |
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
RED RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, Crete, Greece
Saturday, 13 August 2016
LESSER KESTREL [Male] (Falco naumanni) Katholiko Monastory, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
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The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small migratory bird of prey of the family Falconidae which is in the genus Falco. It is a summer resident which occurs across a narrow band that stretches from the Iberian Peninsula eastwards as far as Mongolia and north western China. This colonial breeder has a patchy distribution in southern Europe. It arrives back from its wintering areas in sub Saharan Africa and Pakistan during April and early May. In addition, there are small non migratory populations mainly in southwest Spain and northwest Africa. Prey items include small birds, invertebrates, reptiles, mice, shrews and voles. It remains in the breeding areas until late August and early September when the return migration south begins. Where their ranges overlaps, it can be easily confused with the closely related Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) especially the females as they are very similar in appearance. The European population is in serious decline probably as a result of overuse of pesticides and rodenticides. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com |
Friday, 5 August 2016
RED AND BLACK SOLDIER BEETLE (Trichodes creticus) feeding on COMMON BRIGHTEYES (Reichardia picroides subspecies R. p. galatsida) Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
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The Red and Black Soldier Beetle (Trichodes creticus) is a species of soldier beetle or checkered beetle of the family Cleridae which is in the genus Trichodes. It is endemic to the Greek island of Crete. It relies on its warning coloration to deter predators. The larvae are parasites of bees and wasps. On Crete, there are a number of very similar beetles but the dark line along the inner edges of the elytra that join the black patches on the back readily identifies this species. The adults prey on small invertebrates and are also commonly found feeding on the pollen of a variety of flowers, including Common Brighteyes (Reichardia picroides subspecies R. p. galatsida), from April to August.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
Saturday, 30 July 2016
COMMON LINNET (Linaria cannabina subspecies L. c. mediterranea) male, Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
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 Linnet (Linaria cannabina) or Common Linnet is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Linaria. It derives its name from its fondness for the seeds of the flax plant which is used to make linen. This small finch occurs in Europe as well as Western Asia but is absent from northern latitudes and has a limited
distribution in North West Africa and the Middle East.
There are seven subspecies :
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_linnet |
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
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Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Sunday, 24 July 2016
CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata) Akrotiri Peninsula, Chania, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is a small songbird and is one of 82 species of lark in the family Alaudidae which is in the genus Galerida. It is commonly found across most of the temperate regions of Europe and Asia but is absent from northwest and northern Europe as well as northern Asia. It also occurs in the northern half of Africa as far south as Niger. It is sedentary by nature and is only a rare vagrant outside the normal range. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com |
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Thursday, 21 July 2016
EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola subspecies S. r. rubicola) female at Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Crete, Greece
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The European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is of the chat family Muscicapidae which is in the genus Saxicola. Preferred habitats include rough grassland, sand dunes and heathland where it is typically seen perched on brambles, gorse or shrubs within the breeding area. In the temperate part of its range, nesting
commences in late March and up to three broods are raised. It is a partial migrant. Populations from the colder regions move to spend the winter in southern Europe and northern Africa. Successive hard winters, as was the case in 2009/10 and 2010/11 caused severe losses in the mainly sedentary northwestern populations. There are two
subspecies generally recognised, Saxicola rubicola rubicola occurs in
central, eastern and southern Europe as well as northern Morocco and
southeastern Turkey. Saxicola rubicola hibernans occurs in
northwestern Europe including Britain, Ireland, France and Norway. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Sunday, 17 July 2016
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
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The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a large wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae which is in the genus Plegadis. This migratory species occurs in the warmer regions of North America, Eurasia, Africa and Australia.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Saturday, 16 July 2016
PALE SHOULDER MOTH (Acontia lucida) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
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The Pale Shoulder (Acontia lucida) is a macro moth in the family Noctuidae which is in the genus Acontia. This day flying moth is commonly found in southern Europe and western Asia as fast east as India. There are also records from northwest Africa and from further north in Europe where it has occurred as a rare autumn migrant. There are two generations which are on the wing in April/May and again in July/August. The wingspan is 26–30 mm. The food plants of the lavae include Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis).
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
PALE SHOULDER MOTH (Acontia lucida) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
PALE SHOULDER MOTH (Acontia lucida) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
Saturday, 9 July 2016
PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
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The Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is a migratory butterfly in the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Vanessa. It is one of the most widespread butterflies in the world and occurs on every continent except the Antarctic.
Having over wintered in North Africa, this species migrates north and arrives back in Southern Europe in early spring. It then gradually progresses further north and recolonizes the rest of Europe over a number of generations, reaching the extreme northern part of the range by July. In the autumn, it migrates south at higher altitudes where higher wind speeds greatly assist this southerly movement to its overwintering areas.
In the rest of its World range, similar spring and autumn migrations are undertaken but as is the case in Europe there are small sedentary populations in the tropical parts of its range.
Alternatively known as the Thistle Butterfly and the Cosmopolitan Butterfly in North America.
Text © www.rawbirds.com
Having over wintered in North Africa, this species migrates north and arrives back in Southern Europe in early spring. It then gradually progresses further north and recolonizes the rest of Europe over a number of generations, reaching the extreme northern part of the range by July. In the autumn, it migrates south at higher altitudes where higher wind speeds greatly assist this southerly movement to its overwintering areas.
In the rest of its World range, similar spring and autumn migrations are undertaken but as is the case in Europe there are small sedentary populations in the tropical parts of its range.
Alternatively known as the Thistle Butterfly and the Cosmopolitan Butterfly in North America.
Text © www.rawbirds.com
Thursday, 7 July 2016
PURPLE MILK THISTLE (Galactites tomentosa) Pelekaniotikos River, Koundoura, Crete, Greece
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The Purple Milk Thistle (Galactites tomentosa) is a biennial herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Galactites. The genus name derives from the Greek γάλα meaning milk and refers to the dense white hairs covering the stems and leaves. The species name tomentosa means hairy in Latin. It grows up to 1 metre tall and the flowering period extends from April to July. The flower colour varies from white or pink to lilac-purple. It grows on uncultivated or barren ground, waste places, well-drained soils, pastures and roadsides. It occurs in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactites_tomentosa
Saturday, 2 July 2016
COMMON CHAFFINCH [Female] (Fringilla coelebs subspecies F. c. schiebeli) Agia Marina, Crete, Greece
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
CLEOPATRA BUTTERFLY [Male] (Gonepteryx cleopatra subspecies G. c. insularis) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
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The Cleopatra Butterfly (Gonepteryx cleopatra) or simply called Cleopatra is a medium sized butterfly of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Gonepteryx. It occurs in Southern Europe, Northwest Africa as well as Turkey and parts of the Middle East. In Europe, this long lived species is on the wing from April to August. There are 10 subspecies recognised and the subspecies Gonepteryx cleopatra insularis is endemic to the Greek island of Crete.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
The Cleopatra Butterfly is divided into the following subspecies:
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
The Cleopatra Butterfly is divided into the following subspecies:
- Gonepteryx cleopatra cleopatra – North Africa, Portugal, Spain, Sicily
- Gonepteryx cleopatra balearica – Balearic Islands
- Gonepteryx cleopatra petronella – Ibiza
- Gonepteryx cleopatra italica – Italy, France, Corsica, Sardinia
- Gonepteryx cleopatra dalmatica – Dalmatian coast, western Balkans
- Gonepteryx cleopatra citrina – southern Greece
- Gonepteryx cleopatra insularis – Crete
- Gonepteryx cleopatra fiorii – Rhodes
- Gonepteryx cleopatra taurica – Anatolia, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus
- Gonepteryx cleopatra palmata – Cyrenaica, Libya
Saturday, 25 June 2016
WESTERN HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera) on PURPLE MILK THISTLE (Galactites tomentosa) Pelekaniotikos River, Koundoura, Crete, Greece
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The Western Honey Bee or European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common of the seven species of honey bee, though historically, from six to eleven species have been recognized. The genus name Apis is Latin for "bee" and mellifera means "honey-bearing", referring to the species' tendency to produce a large quantity of honey for storage over the winter. Like all honey bees, the Western Honey Bee is eusocial, creating colonies with a single fertile female (or "queen"), many sterile females or "workers" and small proportion of fertile males or "drones". Individual colonies can house tens of thousands of bees. Colony activities are organized by complex communication between individuals, through both odors and the dance language.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_honey_bee
Tuesday, 21 June 2016
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata) Pelekaniotikos River, Koundoura, Crete, Greece
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The Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
is a small Old World passerine in the family Muscicapidae which is in the genus Muscicapa. It is the commonest and the most widespread flycatcher found in
Europe and western Asia. It is one of five species of migratory flycatcher
which are summer breeding residents in Europe. In late spring, it
returns from its wintering areas in southern Africa and southwestern
Asia. Its preferred habit is open deciduous woodland. Main prey
items include small flying invertebrates and caterpillars. By September
with its food supply in decline, the return migration south begins.
Text © www.rawbirds.com
Text © www.rawbirds.com
Saturday, 18 June 2016
(EASTERN) SUBALPINE WARBLER (Sylvia cantillans subspecies S. c. albistriata) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
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The Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans) is a migratory passerine in the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia. It breed in Northwest Africa, Southern Europe and Western Turkey. It feeds on small invertebrates as well as soft fruits. In the autumn, it migrates south to spend the winter in sub Saharan Africa. There are four subspecies which are divided into two groups:
Text © rawbirds.com |
Map of the breeding ranges of all five former taxa of the Subalpine Warbler
complex. The grey zone in the north of Italy is of the intergradation
between subalpina and cantillans. The points are
locations with proven cases of sympatry. The map constructed by Lars
Svensson from Shirihai et al (2001), Brambilla et al (2006), and
comments from M. Ullman (© Lars Svensson).
Source:
Svensson, L. (2013a): A taxonomic revision of the Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 133: 240-248.
Svensson, L. (2013b): Subalpine Warbler variation and taxonomy. British Birds106: 651-668.
Friday, 17 June 2016
PHALASARNA, Cape Kutri, Kisamos district, Crete, Greece
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The Secrets of Ancient Phalasarna (Falasarna)
For most people Phalasarna is one of the best beaches in Crete and nothing more. And yet, right there on the core of the Gramvousa Peninsula, the ruins of ancient Phalasarna reveal a secret millennia-old world.
Source: http://www.crete-kreta.com/phalasarna
For most people Phalasarna is one of the best beaches in Crete and nothing more. And yet, right there on the core of the Gramvousa Peninsula, the ruins of ancient Phalasarna reveal a secret millennia-old world.
Source: http://www.crete-kreta.com/phalasarna
Saturday, 11 June 2016
COMMON MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
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The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) or Waterhen is a member of the rail family Rallidae which is in the genus Gallinula. Its name derives from the old English name word 'moor' meaning 'marsh' as it doesn't occur on moorland. It is commonly encountered in marshlands, ponds, lakes, canals, estuaries as well as wet areas in reed beds. This species is a partial migrant and the northern populations move south for the winter. It occurs in most of Europe and in many parts of Asia and Africa. There are several sub species recognised. The former sub species found in the Americas, the Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata), is now treated as a full species. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) world distribution map |
Yellow: breeding summer visitor.
Green: breeding resident.
Blue: non-breeding winter visitor
Source: Map By Viktor Kravtchenko - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) world distribution map based on data from Handbook of the Birds of the World (del Hoyo et al), Birds of the Western Palearctic (Snow et al) and regional field guides. Updated with the split in 2011 by the American Ornithologists Union of Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) which occurs in the Americas that was formally treated as a subspecies of Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
ITALIAN SPARROW [Female] (Passer italiae) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
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The Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) or Cisalpine Sparrow is a small perching bird in the family Passeridae which is in the genus Passer. It is very closely related to and is intermediate in appearance between House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis). Some authorities treat it as a subspecies of House Sparrow but recent DNA research strongly supports its status as a full species. The Italian Sparrow occurs in Italy and small populations are also found in the adjoining countries of Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland. It is also resident on the Greek island of Crete and other Mediterranean islands including Corsica and Malta. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com |
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON [1st summer] (Nycticorax nycticorax) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
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The
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), more commonly known
as Night Heron, is a medium sized heron in the family Ardeidae which is
in the genus Nycticorax. It is the most widespread heron in the world
but is absent from large parts of North Africa, Northern Eurasia and
Australasia as well as the more northern and colder regions. There are
four subspecies or races generally recognised. The northern populations
are migratory and winter in the southern parts of the range.
Friday, 3 June 2016
PERSIAN BUTTERCUP (Ranunculus asiaticus) Cape Kutri, Kisamos district, Crete, Greece
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The Persian Buttercup or Turban Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus) is in the family Ranunculaceae which is in the genus Ranunculus. This perennial plant is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, including the Greek island of Crete. It is in bloom from March to May, height from 25 to 70mm and flower colour can be white, yellow, pink, purple or scarlet. It is widely grown as a garden cultivar.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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