The Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) or more simply known as a Redshank is of the sandpiper family Scolopacidae which is in the genus Tringa.
Saturday 12 March 2022
COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus) feeding at low tide in the south east corner of Howth Harbour, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) distribution map
Resident - year round Breeding Passage Non-breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Friday 11 March 2022
BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros) immature at Balscadden Beach, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small perching bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae which is the genus Phoenicurus. It is a locally common resident in central and southern Europe as well as northern Africa. It also occurs in western and central Asia. In the warmer parts of its range it is sedentary. The northern populations migrate in the autumn to spend the winter in southern and western Europe, northern Africa and the Indian sub continent.
In
Ireland, it is a very uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant, in
addition very small numbers overwinter at traditional coastal locations.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Thursday 24 February 2022
EUROPEAN SHAG (Gulosus aristotelis) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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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 :
- G. a. aristotelis – occurs in northwestern European Atlantic Ocean coasts
- G. a. desmarestii – occurs in the Mediterranean Basin and Black Sea coasts
- G. a. riggenbachi – occurs in northwestern African coasts
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) distribution map
Breeding Non-breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Wednesday 23 February 2022
EUROPEAN SHAG (Gulosus aristotelis) with a European Flounder (Platichthys flesus) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) is of the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae which is in the genus Gulosus. This species breeds in colonies on coastal rocky cliffs and offshore islands. It occurs in northern and western Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, parts of North Africa as well as parts of the Black Sea Coast. Can easily be confused with Greater Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) but unlike that species, it's very rarely found inland on lakes or rivers.
Three subspecies are generally recognised :
- G. a. aristotelis – occurs in northwestern European Atlantic Ocean coasts
- G. a. desmarestii – occurs in the Mediterranean Basin and Black Sea coasts
- G. a. riggenbachi – occurs in northwestern African coasts
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) distribution map
Breeding Non-breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Monday 21 February 2022
EUROPEAN SHAG (Gulosus aristotelis) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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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 :
- G. a. aristotelis – occurs in northwestern European Atlantic Ocean coasts
- G. a. desmarestii – occurs in the Mediterranean Basin and Black Sea coasts
- G. a. riggenbachi – occurs in northwestern African coasts
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) distribution map
Breeding Non-breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Friday 18 February 2022
EURASIAN SISKIN (Spinus spinus) female at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Dublin, Ireland
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The Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Spinus.
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) distribution map
Breeding Resident Non breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsSunday 13 February 2022
EURASIAN SISKIN (Spinus spinus) male at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Dublin, Ireland
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The Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Spinus.
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) distribution map
Breeding Resident Non breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Wednesday 9 February 2022
LITTLE GREBE or DABCHICK (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 1st winter plumage at Howth Harbour, Howth, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) or more commonly known as a Dabchick, is a small waterbird in the family Podicipedidae which is in the genus Tachybaptus.
Nine subspecies are generally recognised whose range extends in a band
over most of Europe across southern and eastern Asia. It also occurs in
northern and sub Saharan Africa. Worldwide there were 23 species of
grebe but Alaotra Grebe (Tachybaptus rufolavatus), which was last seen in 1985 at Lake Alaotra in Madagascar, is now considered to be extinct.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) distribution map
Breeding Resident Non-breeding-winter Vagrant
Breeding Resident Non-breeding-winter Vagrant
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Monday 7 February 2022
ICELAND GULL (Larus glaucoides) 2nd winter from 31st January to at least 1st February 2022 at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) is of the family Laridae which is in the genus Larus.
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) distribution map
Cephas, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Sunday 6 February 2022
SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) 1st winter male at Bray Promenade, Bray, Co. Wicklow, 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 5 February 2022
MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) immature or 1st winter at Bray Promenade, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
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The
first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200
pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and
the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish
population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there
is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has
been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in
late spring.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map
Breeding Breeding resident Non breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Friday 4 February 2022
MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) sub adult or 2nd winter at Bray Promenade, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
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The first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200 pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in late spring.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map
Breeding Breeding resident Non breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Thursday 3 February 2022
MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) two adults at Bray Promenade, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
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The
first breeding record for Britain was in 1968 and now in excess of 1200
pairs breed. In 1995 a pair was discovered breeding in Co. Antrim and
the following year a pair bred in Co. Wexford. Since then the Irish
population has gradually increased to over 60 pairs. In the autumn there
is an influx of continental birds from Europe for the winter which has
been proven by colour ringing and then a return migration takes place in
late spring.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) distribution map
Breeding Breeding resident Non breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Wednesday 2 February 2022
GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo subspecies P. c. carbo) immature at Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is of the family Phalacrocoracidae which is in the genus Phalacrocorax. It has a scattered distribution in parts of North America, Eurasia, Africa and Australasia.
There are a number subspecies recognised including the ground nesting Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo carbo) which occurs in Britain and Ireland that breeds on coastal rocky outcrops and on off shore islands. The tree nesting Continental Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) which breeds in Northern Europe extending eastwards to Japan, but has in recent times colonised parts
of southern Britain. This is apparently a rare subspecies in Ireland
with less than 70 records but is in all probability under recorded.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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