GREEN VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris napi) nectering on HAWKWEED (Hieracium sp.) Giles Quay, Cooley Peninsula, Co. Louth, Ireland

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The Green-veined White Butterfly (Pieris napi) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Pieris. It commonly occurs in Eurasia as well as North America. This species is on the wing from March to October, over several generations, but in Ireland the normal flight season extends from mid April to mid September. It hibernates during the winter as a chrysalis.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a member of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Carduelis. It breeds in most of Europe and Western Asia but is absent from the colder northern parts of that region. It has a scattered distribution in North Africa and occurs as an introduced species in south eastern Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay. It can be commonly found in gardens, particularly in winter, where it readily comes to bird feeders.
   
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) male, 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 BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) male at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) or more simply known as a Blackbird is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus.

REDWING (Turdus iliacus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is a species of thrush in the family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus. It breeds in the northern parts of Eurasia extending eastwards from Iceland to eastern Russia. Small numbers have also recently been found breeding in Greenland. In the autumn, this highly migratory species leaves the colder parts of its breeding range to winter further south in Europe as well as parts of North Africa and the Middle East extending to northern Iran. 

Text: Patrick J. O'Keeffe /Raw Birds

FIELDFARE (Turdus pilaris) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a species of thrush in the family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus. This Palearctic species breeds in woodlands of Northern Scandinavia, Central Europe as well as Northern and Central Asia. In the autumn, it migrates south to winter in Southern and Western Europe and the Middle East extending to Northern India.

Text: Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx rhamni) [Male] Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

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The Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) is of the family Pieridae which is in genus Gonepteryx. It occurs in Europe, Asia and parts of northern Africa. The presents of its larval host plants, Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) and Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus carthartica) influences its geographic range and distribution. This butterfly can live for up to a year and the flight season is from April to August. It then overwinters as an adult and emerges, after seven months, from hibernation.

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COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) or more simply known as a Redpoll is of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Acanthis. 

 There are several subspecies recognised including the Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis flammea caberet) which is resident in Ireland and Britain. It also breeds in Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia where it is a partial migrant, which moves south and west to more temperate regions for the winter.

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MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis) Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) is of the family Motacillidae which is in the genus Anthus.

SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) male at West Pier, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is of the longspur family Calcariidae which is in the genus Plectrophenax. This circumpolar species breeds mainly in the arctic mountainous regions of North America and Eurasia. Isolated populations also breed south of this range in upland areas.   

Apart from small numbers breeding in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland, this is an uncommon and local winter visitor, from October to March, at coastal locations in Britain and Ireland. It occurs singularly or  in small flocks at shingle beeches near the edges of sand dunes, harbour piers and headlands. Feeding close to the ground, it can be easily overlooked and difficult to locate as cryptic colouration helps it blend into the background.

 

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