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 30 November 2020

Sunday 29 November 2020

ALDER BUCKTHORN WILDPLANT (Frangula alnus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland



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The Alder Buckthorn Wildplant (Frangula alnus) is of the family Rhamnaceae which is in the genus Frangula. This deciduous shrub or small tree is uncommon in Ireland and is typically found in acidic soils. It mainly occurs in a band which stretches from Co. Kildare, in the midlands, westwards into eastern Co. Galway as well as parts of Co. Clare where a prostrate form grows in the limestone soils of the Burren.
This species and the Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticas) are the larval food plants of the Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni).
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Distribution map of Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus)
 
File:Frangula alnus range.svg 

Legend:            Native range.   Isolated population.

 Map source:

Caudullo, G., Welk, E., San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., 2017. Chorological maps for the main European woody species. Data in Brief 12, 662-666. DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.05.007

Friday 27 November 2020

CRYPTIC WOOD WHITE BUTTERFLY (Leptidea juvernica) on HERB ROBERT WILDFLOWER (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Cryptic Wood White Butterfly information
Click here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information
 
The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea.
The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.

Thursday 26 November 2020

COMMON SNOUT HOVERFLY (Rhingia campestris) female on HERB ROBERT WILDFLOWER (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Common Snout Hoverfly information
Click here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information  
 
The Common Snout Hoverfly (Rhingia campestris) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Rhingia. It commonly occurs in the Palaearctic region. The flight season is from late March to mid November and there are two generations. This is a very striking species with a long snout and its larvae are found in dung or silage.
The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Reference and highly recommended reading:
Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris

Monday 23 November 2020

LESSER DIVING BEETLE (Acilius sulcatus) [female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Lesser Diving Beetle (Acilius sulcatus) is of the family Dytiscidae which is in the genus Acilius. Also known as the Grooved Diving Beetle, it occurs on all continents of the world except Antarctica. In Ireland this water beetle has a very scattered distribution but as in other countries it is probably under recorded due to its aquatic life style. Separate with care from the almost identical but rarer Acilius canaliculatus by differences in face pattern. As a strong flier, it is not confined to a single body of water. It overwinters deep under water as an adult.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 22 November 2020

RAGGED ROBIN WILDFLOWER (Silene flos-cuculi) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Ragged Robin Wildflower (Lychnis flos-cuculi) is of the family Caryophyllaceae which is in the genus Lychnis. This perennial wildflower occurs in Europe, Asia and as an invasive species in parts of Canada and United States. The flowering season is from May to late August.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Saturday 21 November 2020

YELLOW BARRED BOG HOVERFLY (Sericomyia silentis) on Blackberry Plant (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland




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Yellow-barred Bog Hoverfly information
Click here for detailed Blackberry Plant information
 
The Yellow-barred Bog Hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis) or Bog Hoverfly is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Sericomyia.
The Blackberry Plant (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) is of the family Rosaceae which is in the genus Rubus.
 
Reference and highly recommended reading:
Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris

Thursday 19 November 2020

HAIRY SHIELDBUG (Dolycoris baccarumm) on COMMON HAWKWEED (Hieracium lachenalii syn H. vulgatum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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detailed Hairy Shieldbug information
Click here to see identification guide to British and Irish Shieldbugs
Click here for detailed Common Hawkweed information
  
The Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum) or Sloe Bug, is of the family Pentatomidae which is in the genus Dolycoris. Shieldbugs go through five instar stages before becoming adults.
The Common Hawkweed Wildflower (Hieracium lachenalii syn H. vulgatum) is of the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Hieracium.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Tuesday 17 November 2020

COMMON FIELD GRASSHOPPER (Chorthippus brunneus) [4th instar nymph] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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 The Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) is of the family Acrididae which is in the genus Chorthippus. Like all species of grasshopper, it goes through five instar stages before becoming an adult.

Sunday 15 November 2020

RINGLET BUTTERFLY (Aphantopus hyperantus) on HEDGE BINDWEED WILDFLOWER (Calystegia sepium) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Ringlet Butterfly information
Click here for detailed Hedge Bindweed Wildflower information  
 
The Ringlet Butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Aphantopus. This species has a widespread distribution in the Palearctic region, but is absent from northern latitudes. The flight season is from mid June to late July, peaking in late June. It overwinters as a larva (caterpillar).
The Hedge Bindweed Wildflower (Calystegia sepium) is of the family Convolvulaceae which is in the genus Calystegia.   
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Friday 13 November 2020

Sunday 8 November 2020

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [female with prey] on MEADOW BUTTERCUP WILDFLOWER (Ranunculus acris) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Flower Crab Spider information
Click here for detailed Meadow Buttercup Wildflower information
 
The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena.
The Meadow Buttercup Wildflower (Ranunculus acris) is of the family Ranunculaceae which is in the genus Ranunculus.

Thursday 5 November 2020

Tuesday 3 November 2020

LADYBIRD / SEVEN SPOTTED LADYBUG (Sympetrum striolatum) [fresh adult] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Seven Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata), also known as Seven Spotted Ladybug in North America, is of the family Coccinellidae which is in the genus Coccinella.

Monday 2 November 2020

SEVEN SPOT LADYBIRD / SEVEN SPOTTED LADYBUG (Sympetrum striolatum) [late stage pupa] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Seven Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata), also known as Seven Spotted Ladybug in North America, is of the family Coccinellidae which is in the genus Coccinella.

Sunday 1 November 2020

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [female] on DEVIL'S BIT SCABIOUS WILDFLOWER (Succisa pratensis) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Flower Crab Spider information
Click here for detailed Devil's-bit Scabious Wildflower information
 
The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena.
The Devil's-bit Scabious Wildflower (Succisa pratensis) is of the family Caprifoliaceae which is in the genus Succisa.

Saturday 31 October 2020

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [male] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and North America where it is known as Goldenrod Crab Spider or more simply Flower Spider. 
Only the female can change colour normally either from white to yellow or visa versa but this can be a protracted process. The minute black and white male can be a real challenge to locate.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Friday 30 October 2020

SMALL TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY (Aglais urticae) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Aglais urticae) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Aglais. It has a widespread distribution in the Palearctic region but is absent from southern Asia. The caterpillars (larvae) feed on Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). Overwintering as an adult, its cryptic under wing pattern helps to avoid detection. It emerges from hibernation in late spring to lay eggs on its larval plant.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Thursday 29 October 2020

Tuesday 27 October 2020

HAIRY SHIELDBUG (Dolycoris baccarumm) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see identification guide to British and Irish Shieldbugs 
 
The Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum) or Sloe Bug, is of the family Pentatomidae which is in the genus Dolycoris. Shieldbugs go through five instar stages before becoming adults.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 26 October 2020

FLOWER CRAB SPIDER (Misumena vatia) [Female] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) is of the family Thomisidae which is in the genus Misumena. It occurs in the temperate regions of Europe and North America where it is known as Goldenrod Crab Spider or more simply Flower Spider. 
Only the female can change colour normally either from white to yellow or visa versa but this can be a protracted process. The minute black and white male can be a real challenge to locate.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 25 October 2020

SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY (Argynnis paphia) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 
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The Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly (Argynnis paphia) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Argynnis. This very large species occurs throughout the temperate regions of the Palearctic. In Britain, it is found in the southern half of England and Wales. It has a very scattered distribution in Ireland.
Eggs are laid in tree crevices close of it's larval foodplant Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana). The larvae hatch in August and immediately hibernate. They emerge the following April and then feed on the foodplant. Pupation occurs during May and the adult flight season is from July to late September.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Friday 23 October 2020

LESSER GARDEN SPIDER (Metellina segmentata) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 
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The Lesser Garden Spider (Metellina segmentata) is of the family Tetragnathidae which is in the genus Metellina.This is a common late summer and autumn species of orb spider. Seperate with care from the extremely similiar
Summer Orbweaver (Metellina mengei) which tends to occure earlier in the season but they can overlap. 
 On female Lesser Garden Spider the black strip beneath the abdomen ends at the epigyne. On Summer Orbweaver the black stripe is more extensive and the male has long hairs on the underside of the fore tarsi. Examination by microscope is the only 100% reliable means of 
identification of these two species.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / RAW birds

 

Wednesday 21 October 2020

PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Aglais io) at Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Aglais. It overwinters as an adult with its wings closed and the dark cryptic under wing pattern help it avoid detection by predators.
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday 19 October 2020

MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY (Maniola jurtina) on COMMON KNAPWEED WILDFLOWER (Centaurea nigra) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 
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Click here for detailed Meadow Brown Butterfly information
Click here for detailed Common Knapweed Wildflower information
 
The Meadow Brown Butterfly (Maniola jurtina) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Maniola.
The Common Knapweed Wildflower (Centaurea nigra) or Lesser Knapweed is of the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Centaurea.