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

Saturday 13 March 2021

SONG THRUSH (Turdus philomelos) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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 The Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is of the thrush family Turdidae which is in the genus Turdus.

Friday 12 March 2021

EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) male at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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.

Thursday 11 March 2021

EUROPEAN HONEY BEE or WESTERN HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera) on FLOWERING CHERRY TREE (Prunus x yedoensis) blossoms, Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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 The European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) or Western Honey Bee is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Apis. Honey bees live in a social colony containing a single egg laying queen, up to 60,000 sterile female worker bees and during the summer months also includes over 500 male bees known as drones.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Wednesday 10 March 2021

EURASIAN SKYLARK (Alauda arvensis) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) is a member of the lark family Alaudidae which is in the genus Alauda.

Tuesday 9 March 2021

EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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

Monday 8 March 2021

HOODED CROW or GREY CROW (Corvus cornix) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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          The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) also known as Grey Crow is a member of the crow family Corvidae which is in the genus Corvus. Four subspecies are generally recognized. Despite the fact that it is heavily persecuted, it occurs throughout Western Asia including parts of the Middle East as well as along the Nile Valley in North Africa. It is also commonly encountered and has a widespread distribution in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. It is resident in Ireland, Isle of Man and Northern Scotland. In the rest of Britain as well as Southwestern and Western Europe, it is replaced by the closely related Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) from which it was split in 2002 and was recognised as a separate species. Where their breeding ranges overlap, they may hybridise. Some of the northern populations are migratory and move south for the winter.

   Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 7 March 2021

MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) pair, Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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 The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck of the family Anatidae which is in the genus Anas.

Saturday 6 March 2021

EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) female at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, 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.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Wednesday 3 March 2021

COMMON BUZZARD (Buteo buteo) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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 The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium sized bird of prey of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Buteo.

Monday 1 March 2021

EURASIAN BLUE TIT (Cyanistes caeruleus) Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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 The Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is of the family Paridae which is in the genus Cyanistes.