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 European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) is of the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae which is in the genus Gulosus. It occurs in northern and western Europe, the Mediterranean
Basin, parts of North Africa as well as parts of the Black Sea Coast.
This species breeds in colonies on coastal rocky cliffs and on offshore
islands. Can easily be confused with Greater Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) but unlike that species, it is very rarely found inland on lakes or rivers. Three subspecies are generally recognised :
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) distribution map Breeding Non-breeding - winter |
Tuesday, 21 January 2020
EUROPEAN SHAG (Gulosus aristotelis) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Sunday, 19 January 2020
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small member of the heron family Ardeidae
which includes Bitterns, Egrets and Herons. It is found in the temperate
parts of Eurasia and Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Over the last 60 years or so this species has greatly expanded its range
including recolonising its former breeding areas in Northern Europe, as well as Ireland. It
first bred in the Caribbean in the mid 1990’s and is increasingly being
recorded along the North American eastern seaboard. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Friday, 18 October 2019
COMMON NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles minor) from 7th to 17th October 2019 at River Maine, Corbally Road, Galgorm, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
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The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is of the family Caprimulgidae which is in the genus Chordeiles.
Wednesday, 2 October 2019
EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK [Male] (Accipiter nisus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Sunday, 23 June 2019
RED NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus) female Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Reference:
A List of Some Rarer Birds in Dublin version 5.2 - Joe Hobbs (download pdf here)
Saturday, 13 April 2019
EUROPEAN HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus ssp. L. a. argenteus) at Port Oriel Harbour, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, Ireland
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Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls The European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus. There are several subspecies recognised including the Western European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus argenteus) which is resident in Ireland, Britain and the Near Continent. |
COMMON DOG VIOLET (Viola riviniana) at Clogher Head Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Clogherhead, Co. Louth, Ireland
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The Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) or more simply Dog Violet, also known as Wood Violet, is of family Violaceae which is in the genus Viola. This perennial wild flower is native to Eurasia as well as parts of northern Africa. Separate with care from the closely related Early Dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana) and Heath Dog-violet (Viola canina) as well other European Viola.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Thursday, 11 April 2019
Sunday, 7 April 2019
GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea) at Port Oriel Harbour, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, Ireland
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Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is of the family Ardeidae and is in the genus Ardea.
It is resident in the temperate regions of Eurasia as well as eastern
and sub Saharan Africa. The more northern populations are migratory and
move south for
the winter. Wetlands are its main habitat and commonly occurs along
estuaries, streams, rivers and lakes. Aquatic as well as terrestrial
creatures are preyed upon. Prey items include amphibians, insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds which are swallowed whole. This species nests in tall trees in colonies which are known as heronries. Upto five eggs are laid and are incubated for 25 days. Fledging takes place after 60 days. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) distribution map Breeding Resident Winter Vagrant Introduced resident SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons |
Sunday, 16 December 2018
REDWING (Turdus iliacus) Loop Head Peninsula, Kilbaha South, Co. Clare, Ireland
Sunday, 8 July 2018
Saturday, 2 June 2018
GREEN VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris napi) nectering on HAWKWEED (Hieracium sp.) Giles Quay, Cooley Peninsula, Co. Louth, Ireland
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information 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.
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Sunday, 25 March 2018
EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Monday, 12 March 2018
Saturday, 3 March 2018
EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) male at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here for detailed species information Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear callsThe Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) or more simply known as a Blackbird is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus. |
Friday, 2 March 2018
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
Thursday, 1 March 2018
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
Monday, 1 January 2018
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx rhamni) [Male] Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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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.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Tuesday, 26 December 2017
COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls 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. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Monday, 27 November 2017
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. |
Saturday, 25 November 2017
Thursday, 23 November 2017
Sunday, 29 October 2017
Monday, 23 October 2017
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus ) male at Rogerstown Estuary, Rush, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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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. |
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