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

Monday 24 April 2017

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata) Boquer Valley, Formentor Peninsula, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain


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

Saturday 15 April 2017

BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus) Male on left + juvenile Salinas d'Es Trenc, Salinas de Lavante, Campos, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain


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The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is one of three species of stilt, the others two are Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) and Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus). It is resident in Africa and also breeds across the temperate parts of Europe and Central Asia where it is a summer resident that migrates south for the winter to sub Saharan Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. Within the warmer parts of this range, there is a sedentary population.  

In addition, there are also four subspecies or races recognised, which some authorities consider to be full species:
  • Hawaiian Stilt (Himantopus himantopus knudseni) is resident on the Hawaiian Islands. 
  •  Black-necked Stilt (H. h.  mexicanus) occurs in the southern part of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the northern part of South America, including the Galapagos Islands
  • White-backed Stilt (H. h.  melanurus) occurs in central and southern South America
  • White-headed Stilt (H. h.  leucocephalus) occurs in Australasia, the Java Peninsula and the Philippines.

Monday 27 March 2017

SCARLET DARTER DRAGONFLY [Male] (Crocothemis erythraea) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain


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The Scarlet Darter Dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a member of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Crocothemis. It is a common species in southern Europe and throughout Africa as well as western Asia as far as southern China. The adult male’s bright scarlet red abdomen has a striking flattened profile which distinguishes it from other "red" darters. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax.

Wednesday 8 March 2017

SARDINIAN WARBLER [Male] (Sylvia melanocephala) Boquer Valley, Formentor Peninsula, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain


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The Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) is a small mainly insectivorous warbler of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia. It is commonly encountered in southern and eastern Europe and around the Mediterranean Basin as well as on the Canary Islands. Up to five subspecies are recognised by some authorities. The female, typically of most sylvia warblers, has drabber plumage, it is grey headed with brownish upper parts and the under parts are washed buff. This species normally occurs in shrubby type habitat as well as in parks and gardens. 

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

Friday 3 March 2017

WESTERN [PURPLE] SWAMPHEN (Porphyrio porphyrio) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain


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Click here to see tha former distribution map of Purple Swamphen subspecies  and to hear calls
The Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a large member of the rail family Rallidae which is in the genus Porphyrio. This chicken-sized bird, with its large feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily recognisable in its native range. It used to be considered the nominate subspecies of the Purple Swamphen which has now been split into six full species  It is found in Iberia, France, Sardinia and  northwest Africa to Tunisia.

The Purple Swamphen has been split into the following species:
  •     Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) - southwest Europe and northwest Africa
  •     African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) - sub-Saharan  Africa and   Madagascar
  •     Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) - Middle East, through the Indian subcontinent to southern China and northern Thailand, introduced Florida, USA
  •     Black-backed Swamphen (Porphyrio indicus) - southeast Asia to Sulawesi
  •     Philippine Swamphen (Porphyrio pulverulentus) - Philippine islands
  •     Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) - Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_swamphen

Wednesday 22 February 2017

RED VEINED DARTER DRAGONFLY [Male] (Sympetrum fonscolombii) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain


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The Red Veined Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a member of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum. It has a wide spread distribution and is commonly found in Africa, western, central and southern Asia as well as most of Europe. This species is nomadic by nature and since the 1990’s has greatly expanded its European range as far north as southern Scandinavia.  

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

Monday 20 February 2017

CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Colias croceus) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain


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The Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) is a migratory butterfly of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Colias. It is one of the most-widespread species in Europe. The breeding range extends from North Africa and southern Europe eastwards through Turkey into the Middle East. It occurs throughout the rest of Europe as a summer migrant, in good years individuals reaching Scandinavia. In Asia, its range extends into central Siberia in the north and into India in the south but it is absent from Central Asia.

Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colias_croceus

Friday 10 February 2017

EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain


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The Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) is a member of the rail and crake family Rallidae which is in the genus Fulica. It occurs in Eurasia, northern Africa and Australia. It has recently expanded its range into New Zealand. In the milder parts of its range, it is sedentary but in the northern more colder region, it migrates further south and west for the winter.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_coot