View allAll Photos Tagged BookDepository
**IN EXPLORE**
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
A quiet moment on Dollymount Strand, Dublin during the summer months.
Taken with a Yashinon Auto 5cm lens on a Canon A1, and with Kodak Portra 160 film.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European Siskin, Common Siskin or just Siskin. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.
It can be distinguished from other similar finches by the color of the plumage. The upper parts are greyish green and the under parts grey-streaked white. Its wings are black with a conspicuous yellow wing bar, and the tail is black with yellow sides. The male has a mainly yellow face and breast, with a neat black cap. Female and young birds have a greyish green head and no cap. It is a trusting, sociable and active bird. The song of this bird is a pleasant mix of twitters and trills. For these reasons it is often raised in captivity.
These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behavior are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations. (wikipedia)
This male was busy feeding on the same fruit trees as the Waxwings that were in a suburban North Dublin estate. There was an influx of Siskin in Dublin suburbs recenlty, wtih two flocks of 100 birds each near where I live. Beautiful and noisy finches.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) is a small species of passerine bird that breeds in western Europe on rocky coasts. It has streaked greyish-brown upperparts and buff underparts, and is similar in appearance to other European pipits. There are three subspecies, of which only the Fennoscandian form is migratory, wintering in shoreline habitats further south in Europe. The Eurasian rock pipit is territorial at least in the breeding season, and year-round where it is resident. Males will sometimes enter an adjacent territory to assist the resident in repelling an intruder.
Its population is large and stable, and it is therefore evaluated as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Rock Pipit is closely related to the Water Pipit and the Meadow Pipit, and is rather similar in appearance. Compared to the meadow pipit, the rock pipit is darker, larger and longer-winged than its relative, and has dark, rather than pinkish-red, legs. The water pipit in winter plumage is also confusable with the rock pipit, but has a strong supercilium and greyer upperparts; it is also typically much warier. The rock pipit's dusky, rather than white, outer tail feathers are also a distinction from all its relatives. The habitats used by rock and water pipits are completely separate in the breeding season, and there is little overlap even when birds are not nesting. (wikipedia)
This individual was along the base of the East PIer, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin Bay.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged predatory wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.
Standing up to a metre tall, adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg (2.2 to 4.4 lb). They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish-white, with some black on the flanks. The long, sharply pointed beak is pinkish-yellow and the legs are brown.
The birds breed colonially in spring in "heronries", usually building their nests high in trees. A clutch of usually three to five bluish-green eggs is laid. Both birds incubate the eggs for a period of about 25 days, and then both feed the chicks, which fledge when seven or eight weeks old. Many juveniles do not survive their first winter, but if they do, they can expect to live for about five years.
The main call is a loud croaking "fraaank", but a variety of guttural and raucous noises are heard at the breeding colony. Grey herons have the ability to live in cities where habitats and nesting space are available. In the Netherlands, the grey heron has established itself over the past decades in great numbers in urban environments. In cities such as Amsterdam, they are ever present and well adapted to modern city life. They hunt as usual, but also visit street markets and snackbars. Some individuals make use of people feeding them at their homes or share the catch of recreational fishermen. Similar behaviour on a smaller scale has been reported in Ireland (Dublin, Galway and Cork). (wikipedia)
A lovely adult bird perched out along the River Tolka in Dublin.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Eurasian Wigeon is a medium-sized duck with large rounded head, small bill and pointed tail. The males has a russet head and neck with a creamy yellow crown and forehead. The breast is pinkish-grey, and the rest of the body is grey and white with a black stern. The female is a greyish brown colour with various mottled patterns. Speculum dull, dark.
This species grazes on coastal seagrass and algae, particularly on Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp., and also feeds regularly on grasslands and cereal crops.
The species is widespread in Ireland in winter where they occur on coastal marshes, freshwater and brackish lagoons, estuaries, bays. Many are found on inland wetlands, lakes, rivers and turloughs. The Icelandic breeding component of this population winters mostly in Ireland and western Britain, though some continue on to parts of continental Europe. (Birdwatch Ireland)
The species can be found in small numbers at the outflow to the water treatment facility in Poolbeg, Dublin Bay, during the winter months. This is a male bird in flight showing the dark speculum. There are Black-tailed Godwits in the background.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
A quick stroll to take a break from work and the quiet streets of Dublin in December 2020 belie the menace about to spring up in the new year. This road is on Ranelagh Road with a view of the dome of the Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinners Roman Catholic church in Rathmines. The dome was built in Glasgow and was believed to have been destined for a Russian Orthodox church in St Petersburg prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Taken with an Olympus XA on Kosmo Foto 100 black and white film.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It breeds in much of the Old World and the Atlantic coast of North America. In European waters it can be distinguished from the Common Shag by its larger size, heavier build, thicker bill, lack of a crest and plumage without any green tinge. In eastern North America, it is similarly larger and bulkier than Double-crested Cormorant, and the latter species has more yellow on the throat and bill. Great Cormorants are mostly silent, but they make various guttural noises at their breeding colonies.
Many fishermen see in the Great Cormorant a competitor for fish. Because of this it was nearly hunted to extinction in the past. Thanks to conservation efforts its numbers increased.
Cormorant fishing is practiced in China, Japan, and elsewhere around the globe. In it, fishermen tie a line around the throats of cormorants, tight enough to prevent swallowing, and deploy them from small boats. The cormorants catch fish without being able to fully swallow them, and the fishermen are able to retrieve the fish simply by forcing open the cormorants' mouths, apparently engaging the regurgitation reflex.
In North Norway, cormorants are traditionally seen as semi-sacred. (wikipedia)
There are many Cormorants that fish along the shoreline of Dublin Bay. This adult was coming into the base of the east pier, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
A fantastic piece by Shane Sutton in Portobello, Dublin 2.
Taken with a Leitz Elmar 50mm f2.8 lens on a Leica M4-P camera body, using Lomography Metropolis film, shot at 400 ISA. Developed and scanned by the excellent John Gunn Camera Shop on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
Lunchtime on Grafton Street in Dublin when the first lockdown was no more than a week old, back in March 2020. Eerily quiet.
Taken with a Canon A1 and a Helios 44M-4 f2 58mm lens on Kodak Gold 200 film.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small white heron. Until the 1950s, the Little Egret was restricted to southern Europe. Over the next few decades it became increasingly common in western France and later on the north coast. It bred in the Netherlands in 1979 with further breeding in the 1990s.
In Ireland, the species bred for the first time in 1997 at a site in County Cork.
This bird was feeding in a recently flooded piece of marshland at Turvey Nature Park, Rogerstown, Co. Dublin.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Whimbrel is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is the one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic North America, Europe and Asia as far south as Scotland.
This is a migratory species wintering on coasts in Africa, South America, south Asia into Australasia and southern North America. It is also a coastal bird during migration. It is fairly gregarious outside the breeding season.
Similar in appearance to the Curlew, but slightly smaller. Whimbrel has a similar downcurved bill, but this is slightly shorter than that of the Curlew. When seen well, distinctive "striped" head pattern can be discerned - formed by a dark crown, with a pale streak through the centre, a pale supercillium and a dark eyestripe. The call is also one of the best ways of finding a flock of migrating Whimbrels passing overhead.
This bird was photographed on the North Bull Island, Dublin, probably stopping over to feed before heading to southern Spain or along the west African coast to southern Africa for winter. A few Whimbrel winter in coastal areas of Ireland, mainly along the south and east coast. A magical bird for me.
On the third floor of the abandoned book depository in Detroit, a forest is taking root. Not just some saplings, either -- full fledged trees are growing out of the decaying books and dirt.
I think this is simply fantastic. It took my breath away to see it.
Nature takes over.
Life goes on.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a small member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae. The species looks similar to the Yellow Wagtail but has the yellow on its underside restricted to the throat and vent. Breeding males have a black throat. The species is widely distributed, with several populations breeding in Europe and Asia and migrating to tropical regions in Asia and Africa. They are usually seen on open marshy ground or meadows where they walk solitarily or in pairs along the ground, capturing insects that are disturbed. Like other wagtails, they frequently wag their tail and fly low with undulations and they have a sharp call that is often given in flight.
This slim wagtail has a narrow white supercilium and a broken eye ring. The upperparts are grey and the yellow vent contrasting with whitish underparts makes it distinctive. The breeding male has a black throat that is edged by whitish moustachial stripes. They forage singly or in pairs on meadows or on shallow water marshes. They also use rocks in water and will often perch on trees. They have a clear sharp call note and the song consists of trills. (wikipedia)
This is a male taken in Kilbogget Park, in Co. Dublin.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Stock Dove is a widespread resident throughout Ireland favouring areas of cereal cultivation.
A small pigeon, about the same size as Rock Dove and similar to that species. Adult Stock Doves are dark grey all over, with only the breast a salmon-pink colour. The is a small greenish patch on the side of the neck, but this is only visible in good light. Like Woodpigeon, Stock Doves have a large amount of black on the wing, but lack that species broad white band. Juveniles are similar to adults, but are slightly paler grey and lack the greenish neck patch.
They are generally silent when seen in Ireland. Song is a monotonous series of "ooo-u".
Breeds in lowlands of eastern and southern Ireland, almost invariably near agricultural areas, especially cereal. Nests in holes in trees. Has declined as a breeding species in Ireland and is now on the red list here, meaning it is of high conservation concern. (BirdWatch Ireland)
There are better images of Stock Doves in existence, but this is one of a pair of Stock Doves breeding close to my suburban Dublin home. A real treat to see to Stock Doves, let alone urban birds.
Last May I was in Hamburg for the launch of my book and I had the pleasure of meeting Samuel Lin Taro (@lin.taro), who recorded us for his 'On the Street with' series for his Youtube channel. It was very challenging to shoot, think in English, walk and talk at the same time, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed our talk. Tks a lot, Samuel. You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmgQnJgJ7_k&fbclid=IwAR3ZrAQz...
By the end of the video, one can see a bif of the opening of the exhibition, and if someone is interested the book is available through the following links:
edition.lammerhuber.at/en/books/maximum-shadow-minimal-light
www.bookdepository.com/Maximum-Shadow-Minimal-Light-Gusta...
www.amazon.de/MAXIMUM-SHADOW-MINIMAL-LIGHT-Gustavo/dp/390...
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird. This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean region of the Americas. This species is migratory; most European birds winter in Africa, and in North America birds from north of the Carolinas winter farther south. Birds from other populations may disperse widely outside the breeding season. While generally declining in Europe it has recently established a breeding colony in Southern Spain. (wikipedia)
A near annual vagrant to Ireland in small numbers. This bird was found at Turvey/Rogerstown Nature Reserve in North Co. Dublin. Always a treat to see. The light conditions that morning were ticky and the bird only stayed for 5 minutes.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Linnet, Carduelis cannabina, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It derives its scientific name from its fondness for hemp and its English name from its liking for seeds of flax, from which linen is made.
This bird breeds in Europe, western Asia and north Africa. It is partially resident, but many eastern and northern birds migrate further south in the breeding range or move to the coasts. There are seven recognised subspecies.
Open land with thick bushes is favoured for breeding, including heathland and garden.
This species can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixed with other finches, such as Twite, on coasts and salt marshes.
It is a slim bird with a long tail. The summer male has a grey nape, red head patch and red breast. The Linnet is IUCN Red-listed as threatened. From 1980-2009, according to the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme, the European population decreased by 62%. (wikipedia)
This image was taken along the coastal path of Birdwatch Ireland's East Coast Nature Reserve, Wicklow in the early Spring morning.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Sardinian Warbler, Sylvia melanocephala, is a common and widespread typical warbler from the Mediterranean region. Like most Sylvia species, it has distinct male and female plumages. The adult male has a grey back, whitish underparts, black head, white throat and red eyes. Plumages are somewhat variable even in the same locality, with the intensity of a reddish hue on upper- and/or underside varies from absent to (in some subspecies) pronounced. The female is mainly brown above and buff below, with a grey head.
The Sardinian Warbler's song is fast and rattling, and is very characteristic of the Mediterranean areas where this bird breeds. (wikipedia)
The most common passerine in and around Sagres, with the exception of Iberian Magpie. However, they were still very wary. Such lovely warblers.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) is the most widespread species of the genus Upupa. It is a distinctive cinnamon coloured bird with black and white wings, a tall erectile crest, a broad white band across a black tail, and a long narrow downcurved bill. Its call is a soft "oop-oop-oop". It is native to Europe, Asia and the northern half of Africa. It is migratory in the northern part of its range. It spends most of the time on the ground probing for grubs and insects.
The Eurasian hoopoe is widespread in Europe, Asia, and North Africa and northern Sub-Saharan Africa. Most European and north Asian birds migrate to the tropics in winter. Those breeding in Europe usually migrate to the Sahel belt of sub-Saharan Africa. The birds predominantly migrate at night. (Wikipedia)
I watched the parents of this recently fledged Hoopoe fly back and forth to the nest hole on the grounds of the hotel we were staying in on a family holiday in June 2024 in Portugal. The successfully fledged at least 2 birds. This is one of them. Fantastic to see.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Stock Dove is a widespread resident throughout Ireland favouring areas of cereal cultivation.
A small pigeon, about the same size as Rock Dove and similar to that species. Adult Stock Doves are dark grey all over, with only the breast a salmon-pink colour. The is a small greenish patch on the side of the neck, but this is only visible in good light. Like Woodpigeon, Stock Doves have a large amount of black on the wing, but lack that species broad white band. Juveniles are similar to adults, but are slightly paler grey and lack the greenish neck patch.
They are generally silent when seen in Ireland. Song is a monotonous series of "ooo-u".
Breeds in lowlands of eastern and southern Ireland, almost invariably near agricultural areas, especially cereal. Nests in holes in trees. Has declined as a breeding species in Ireland and is now on the red list here, meaning it is of high conservation concern. (BirdWatch Ireland)
There are better images of Stock Doves in existence, but this is one of a pair of Stock Doves breeding close to my suburban Dublin home. A real treat to see to Stock Doves, let alone urban birds, especially on the ground.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in most of Europe and western Asia, and is migratory, wintering in Africa and southwest Asia. It is declining in parts of its range.
This is an undistinguished looking bird with long wings and tail. The adults have grey-brown upperparts and whitish underparts, with a streaked crown and breast, giving rise to the bird's common name. The legs are short and black, and the bill is black and has the broad but pointed shape typical of aerial insectivores. Juveniles are browner than adults and have spots on the upperparts.
Formerly a common bird of Irish parks, larger gardens and woodland edges, since the 1960s the population has been falling at an alarming rate for reasons that are not fully clear. There are probably several factors at work, including drought in the species' wintering grounds and a general drop in the number of insects here in Europe. (wikipedia and BirdWatch Ireland)
Taken in Birdwatch Ireland's East Coast Nature Reserve near Blackditch, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. A pair bred locally and had 2 fledglings in tow. It was great seeing them being fed at close quarters, without a care in the world.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea), is one of two species of night heron in genus Nyctanassa. Unlike the black-crowned night heron, which has a worldwide distribution, the yellow-crowned is restricted to the Americas. It is s a rather stocky wading bird, ranging from 55 to 70 cm and from 650 to 850 g (1.43–1.87 lb), the females being a little smaller than the males. The yellow-crowned night heron has a wingspan ranging from 101 to 112 cm. The neck, slim when extended, exposes its large head (compared to its body), with a large and heavy bill.
The body and back are a smooth grey-blue, with a black scaled pattern on the wings. The long legs are yellow and turn coral, pink or red during courtship. The most characteristic part of the yellow-crowned night heron is the head: black and glossy, with white cheeks and a pale yellow crown going from the bill, between the eyes and to the back of the head, giving the bird its common name. Such colours make the face appear striped in a horizontal black-white-black-white pattern. Long, thin, white feathers grow to the back of the crown during mating season. The bill, also black, is thick and deeply set under the eyes which are dark orange or red.
Subspecies and populations that are insular or live in warmer areas are confirmed to be sedentary. The tropical subspecies and populations migrate, but to an extent that is still unclear for lack of data. Migration occurs in mid-March in lower latitude, and from mid-March to April in higher latitude. (wikipedia)
New of this species turning up in Belcarra, an inland village in Co. Mayo, sent the Irish birdwatching world into a tizzy. I managed to get to see the bird a week after it was reported. It seems to have been present for quite a while, and probably since last autumn's storms. Only the 2nd record for Europe (a bird was in Portugal in 2020). A fantastic sight in a most beautiful setting. Worth leaving the house at 2.30am for!
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
There are Lions loose in Dublin town.
Taken with a Canon A1 camera with a Canon FD 50mm f1.8 on Fujicolour (which is really rebranded Kodak Gold) 200 film, and developed and scanned by the good folk in Gunns on Wexford Street.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa. The male's song is composed of random chattering phrases and can include mimicry of other species. The Sedge Warbler is mostly insectivorous.
The song is varied, rushed and chattering, with sweeter phrases and some mimicry, typical of the Acrocephalus warblers. It is composed of phrases in random order, so that it is never the same. Male Sedge Warblers which have the widest repertoire mate with the largest number of females.
All Sedge Warblers spend winter in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and as far south as the eastern Cape Province of South Africa and northern Namibia. The route taken on the southward migration, and eventual wintering grounds, correspond to the birds' breeding grounds. Birds ringed in the United Kingdom and Netherlands are later found from south-west Iberia to Italy; birds from Sweden are recovered in central Europe and Italy; while Finnish birds are found in north-east Italy and Malta east to the Aegean region. Sedge Warblers from the former Soviet Union take routes via the eastern Mediterranean Sea and Middle East. Loss of wetland areas for feeding on migration, and the expansion of the Sahara desert, pose threats to the Sedge Warbler's breeding population. Birds begin leaving Africa in late February, fatten up at wetlands before and probably after crossing the Sahara, and arrive in Europe from March onwards. (wikipedia)
The reed beds and surrounding hedgerows in Pollardstown Fen, Co. Kildare, were full of Sedge Warbler recently when I stopped in on my way back to Dublin from Cork. Fantastic to see and hear so many.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a species of hawk moth found across temperate regions of Eurasia. The species is named for its similarity to hummingbirds, as they feed on the nectar of tube-shaped flowers using their long proboscis while hovering in the air; this resemblance is an example of convergent evolution.
Similar to Bee hawk moths in flight but the Hummingbird Hawk-moth has orange-brown hindwings, which is evident in flight. It has forewings that are greyish-brown and a black and white chequered body.
The caterpillars can be found from June to October, but most frequently found in August. They overwinter as adults in unheated outbuildings and in crevices and holes in walls and trees, pupating in a cocoon spun close to the ground, among the foliage of the foodplant or in leaf litter.
The hummingbird hawk-moth is distributed throughout the northern Old World from Portugal to Japan, but it breeds mainly in warmer climates (southern Europe, North Africa, and points east).
It is a strong flier, dispersing widely in the summer. However it rarely survives the winter in northern latitudes (e.g. north of the Alps in Europe, north of the Caucasus in Russia).
Hummingbird hawk-moths have been seen as a lucky omen. In particular, a swarm of the moths was seen flying across the English Channel on D-Day, the day of the Normandy landings in the Second World War. (wikipedia)
I saw two of these magnificent moths in Fota Arboretum recently. They are an immigrant moths in Ireland, appearing during the summer months having flown from continental Europe. They are such amazing fliers. Love seeing them.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, also known as Eurasian Kingfisher or River Kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter. This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptions to enable it to see prey under water. There are seven subspecies differing in the hue of the upperparts and the intensity of the rufous colour of the underparts; size varies across the subspecies by up to 10%.
Only a quarter of the young survive to breed the following year, but this is enough to maintain the population. Likewise, only a quarter of adult birds survive from one breeding season to the next. Very few birds live longer than one breeding season. This is in part due to cold winters, predators such as rats and mink, and fledged young drowning during their first forays as the king of fishers. (wikipedia)
A stunning bird which I always enjoy seeing. This male (lower mandible is orange on female) was fishing along a small stretch of the River Dodder near Dublin city. Branches everywhere make it difficult to get a clean image of the bird, but happy to see one at close quarters nonetheless.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a large species in the dove and pigeon family. The three Western European Columba pigeons, common wood pigeon, stock dove, and rock pigeon, though superficially alike, have very distinctive characteristics; the common wood pigeon may be identified at once by its larger size and weight, and the white on its neck and wing. It is otherwise a basically grey bird, with a pinkish breast. Adult birds bear a series of green and white patches on their necks, and a pink patch on their chest.
Juvenile birds do not have the white patches on either side of the neck. When they are about six months old (about three months out of the nest) they gain small white patches on both sides of the neck, which gradually enlarge until they are fully formed when the bird is about 6–8 months old (approx. ages only). Juvenile birds also have a greyer beak and an overall lighter grey appearance than adult birds. The call is a characteristic cooing, coo-COO-coo-coo-coo.
In the colder northern and eastern parts of Europe and western Asia the common woodpigeon is a migrant, but in southern and western Europe it is a well distributed and often abundant resident. In Ireland, woodpigeons are commonly seen in parks and gardens and are seen with increasing numbers in towns and cities.
For birds that survive the first year the typical lifespan is thus only three years, but the maximum recorded age is 17 years and 8 months for a bird ringed and recovered on the Orkney Islands. (wikipedia)
An adult Woodpigeon in the gloaming, Dublin.
Maybe it is time to bring the Superman back to the front of the photostream for my new contacts...
Saturday night in Cardiff, Wales.
"Cardiff After Dark" book: on Amazon UK, on amazon .com, worldwide on bookdepository.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on the bird's wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, with a 155–215 cm (61–85 in) wingspan. The two subspecies, which differ slightly in size, breed in Europe (north to Finland), northwestern Africa, southwestern Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan) and southern Africa. The white stork is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa from tropical Sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as South Africa, or on the Indian subcontinent. When migrating between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea and detours via the Levant in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar in the west, because the air thermals on which it depends for soaring do not form over water.
A carnivore, the white stork eats a wide range of animal prey, including insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and small birds. It takes most of its food from the ground, among low vegetation, and from shallow water. It is a monogamous breeder, but does not pair for life. Both members of the pair build a large stick nest, which may be used for several years. (wikipedia)
We were fortunate that the flight path of a pair of White Stork was right by our apartment balcony in Portugal. Amazing birds.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a small wading bird, one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria. It is now classified in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae but was formerly sometimes placed in the plover family Charadriidae. It is a highly migratory bird, breeding in northern parts of Eurasia and North America and flying south to winter on coastlines almost worldwide. It is the only species of turnstone in much of its range and is often known simply as Turnstone.
At all seasons, the plumage is dominated by a harlequin-like pattern of black and white. Breeding birds have reddish-brown upper parts with black markings. The head is mainly white with black streaks on the crown and a black pattern on the face. The breast is mainly black apart from a white patch on the sides. The rest of the underparts are white. In flight it reveals a white wingbar, white patch near the base of the wing and white lower back, rump and tail with dark bands on the uppertail-coverts and near the tip of the tail. The female is slightly duller than the male and has a browner head with more streaking.
Non-breeding adults are duller than breeding birds and have dark grey-brown upperparts with black mottling and a dark head with little white. Juvenile birds have a pale brown head and pale fringes to the upperpart feathers creating a scaly impression. (wikipedia)
This was taken along the Great South Wall at Poolbeg, Dublin Bay. The birds have come in from Iceland and other northern parts to spend the winter along the Irish coasts. Always busy feeding, chattering and can be quite tame.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The oystercatchers are a group of waders forming the family Haematopodidae, which has a single genus, Haematopus. They are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions and some tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia. The exceptions to this are the Eurasian oystercatcher, the South Island oystercatcher, and the Magellanic oystercatcher, which also breed inland, far inland in some cases.
The Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) is also known as the common pied oystercatcher, or (in Europe) just oystercatcher. It has striking black and white plumage, a long straight orange-red bill, red eyes and relatively short dull pink legs. The sexes are similar in appearance but the bill of the female is longer than that of the male.
It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with three races breeding in western Europe, central Eurosiberia, Kamchatka, China, and the western coast of Korea. No other oystercatcher occurs within this area.
Despite its name, oysters do not form a large part of its diet. The bird still lives up to its name, as few if any other wading birds are capable of opening oysters.
This oystercatcher is unmistakable in flight, with white patches on the wings and tail, otherwise black upperparts, and white underparts. Young birds are more brown, have a white neck collar and a duller bill. The call is a distinctive loud piping.
The bill shape varies; oystercatchers with broad bill tips open molluscs by prising them apart or hammering through the shell, whereas pointed-bill birds dig up worms. Much of this is due to the wear resulting from feeding on the prey. Individual birds specialise in one technique or the other which they learn from their parents. It shows clinal variation with an increase from west to east. The subspecies longipes has distinctly brownish upperparts and the nasal groove extends more than halfway along the bill. In the subspecies ostralegus the nasal groove stops short of the half-way mark. The osculans subspecies lacks white on the shafts of the outer 2–3 primaries and has no white on the outer webs of the outer five primaries. (wikipedia)
In Ireland, approximately 60,000 Oystercatchers spend the winter around the Irish coast, which is a decline of around 28% since the early 2000's. This photograph was taken on Dalkey Island, Dublin Bay, Co. Dublin.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Eurasian Jay is a corvid widely spread throughout the Western Palearctic. Eight racial groups (33 subspecies in total) were recognised by Steve Madge & Hilary Burn in 1994. There are nine subspecies recognised in Europe alone.
In Portugal, where this bird was photographed, it is mainly resident, and occurs across the country with an almost uniform distribution, attending several wooded areas, such as oak, montado landscapes, pine forests and urban parks and gardens. in Portugal Jays are a protected species, and this is because of the benefits that they bring to the ecology of the area. They are far more numerous than is widely recognized.
Its food is diverse and consists of invertebrates, seeds and fruits.
The scientific name of the Jay – Garrulus glandarius – alludes to two important features of the species: garrulus is a Latin term meaning “chatty” or “noisy”, emphasizing its strident vocalization, moreover, recognized as the “alarm of the woods”; glandarius refers to ability to harvest acorns (glandis).
I came across several Jay just after dawn near freshwater and small wooded areas near Faro, Portugal. A beautiful, loud, and charismatic bird, that looks slightly different than the race of Eurasian Jay we have in Ireland.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Dunlin, Calidris alpina, is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints", in Erolia. It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. Birds that breed in northern Europe and Asia are long-distance migrants, wintering south to Africa and southeast Asia. Birds that breed in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic migrate short distances to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America, although those nesting in Northern Alaska overwinter in Asia.
In Ireland, it is a summer visitor from NW Africa/SW Europe, winter visitor from Scandinavia to Siberia, and passage migrant from Greenland (heading south to winter in Africa). The largest flocks of Dunlin occur in Ireland during the mid-winter period.(wikipedia)
Taken in teh gloaming at Broadmeadows Estuary, Co. Dublin.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Stock Dove is a widespread resident throughout Ireland favouring areas of cereal cultivation.
A small pigeon, about the same size as Rock Dove and similar to that species. Adult Stock Doves are dark grey all over, with only the breast a salmon-pink colour. The is a small greenish patch on the side of the neck, but this is only visible in good light. Like Woodpigeon, Stock Doves have a large amount of black on the wing, but lack that species broad white band. Juveniles are similar to adults, but are slightly paler grey and lack the greenish neck patch.
They are generally silent when seen in Ireland. Song is a monotonous series of "ooo-u".
Breeds in lowlands of eastern and southern Ireland, almost invariably near agricultural areas, especially cereal. Nests in holes in trees. Has declined as a breeding species in Ireland and is now on the red list here, meaning it is of high conservation concern. (BirdWatch Ireland)
There are better images of Stock Doves in existence, but this is one of a pair of Stock Doves breeding close to my suburban Dublin home. A real treat to see to Stock Doves, let alone urban birds. Taken under license from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The black-headed weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), also known as yellow-backed weaver. It occurs in West, Central, and East Africa, but it has also been introduced to the Iberian Peninsula. It is found in savanna and similar habitats, typically near water. It often lives on an Acacia tree 3 meter away from land to prevent predation.
Breeding males have a black head and yellow nuchal collar. The pale yellow underpart plumage is suffused with a variable amount of chestnut.
The female and non-breeding male lack the black head, and resemble a female masked weaver, except that they have dark eyes and a darker bill. Their buffy breast plumage also distinguishes them from non-breeding golden-backed weavers.
The nests are round, slightly larger than a tennis ball and woven into the reeds at a height of about one and a half mts. (wikipedia)
Black-headed Weaver were common along the coast near Faro, Portugal, wherever there was a reed bed (big or small). A beautiful, loud, and charismatic bird.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole of Europe and the Mediterranean countries, part of northern Asia and also North America. It winters in eastern and southern Africa, South America and South Asia. It is known as Bank Swallow in North America, and as Collared Sand Martin in South Asia, and sometimes as European Sand Martin.
Its brown back, white throat, small size and quick jerky flight separate it at once from similar swallows, such as the House Martin (Delichon urbicum) in Europe. (wikipedia)
This was taken along the Wooden Bridge, North Bull Island, Dublin. The birds were coming in to coax their recently fledged youngsters out from the crevices in the wall supporting the bridge.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), also known as the Eurasian jackdaw, European jackdaw, or simply jackdaw, is a passerine bird in the crow family. Found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, it is mostly resident, although northern and eastern populations migrate south in winter. Four subspecies are recognised, which mainly differ in the colouration of the plumage on the head and nape.
The Western Jackdaw is a black-plumaged bird with a grey nape and distinctive pale-grey irises. It is gregarious and vocal, living in small groups with a complex social structure in farmland, open woodland, on coastal cliffs, and in urban settings. An omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, it eats a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates, as well as food waste from urban areas. Western jackdaws are monogamous and build simple nests of sticks in cavities in trees, cliffs, or buildings.
Names in English dialects are numerous. Scottish and north English dialects have included ka or kae since the 14th century. The Midlands form of this word was co or coo. Caddow is potentially a compound of ka and dow, a variant of daw. Other dialectal or obsolete names include caddesse, cawdaw, caddy, chauk, college-bird, jackerdaw, jacko, ka-wattie, chimney-sweep bird (from their nesting propensities), and sea-crow (from the frequency with which they are found on coasts). It was also frequently known quasi-nominally as Jack.
In some cultures, a jackdaw on the roof is said to predict a new arrival; alternatively, a jackdaw settling on the roof of a house or flying down a chimney is an omen of death, and coming across one is considered a bad omen. A jackdaw standing on the vanes of a cathedral tower is said to foretell rain. (wikipedia)
I am a big fan of Jackdaws. They have great character and are quite handsome birds.
My new book, Suburbia : the Familiar and Forgotten, is released today.
It features photographs from the north, south, east and west of Melbourne this time, unlike my earlier book, which was solely dedicated to the western suburbs, just like this site.
The bulk of the images have never seen the light of day before now.
It’s a 160 page large format hardback book, 297 x 263 mm.
You can have a sneak peek here on the publisher's website, who offer free delivery within Australia.
Also available throughout Australia in all 'good' bookshops
For those of you overseas who may be interested, this is your cheapest option, with free postage worldwide! Now also available from the UK as well.
And, as of August 6, 2019, also in the US.
Online from Amazon
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) is the most widespread species of the genus Upupa. It is a distinctive cinnamon coloured bird with black and white wings, a tall erectile crest, a broad white band across a black tail, and a long narrow downcurved bill. Its call is a soft "oop-oop-oop". It is native to Europe, Asia and the northern half of Africa. It is migratory in the northern part of its range. It spends most of the time on the ground probing for grubs and insects.
The Eurasian hoopoe is widespread in Europe, Asia, and North Africa and northern Sub-Saharan Africa. Most European and north Asian birds migrate to the tropics in winter. Those breeding in Europe usually migrate to the Sahel belt of sub-Saharan Africa. The birds predominantly migrate at night. (Wikipedia)
I watched the parents of this recently fledged Hoopoe fly back and forth to the nest hole on the grounds of the hotel we were staying in on a family holiday in June 2024 in Portugal. The successfully fledged at least 2 birds. This is one of them. Fantastic to see.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
markThe Iberian Magpie (Cyanopica cooki) is a bird in the crow family. It is similar in overall shape to the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) but is more slender with proportionately smaller legs and bill. It has a glossy black top to the head and a white throat. The underparts and the back are a light grey-fawn in colour with the wings and the feathers of the long tail are an azure blue.
The Iberian magpie occurs in southwestern and central parts of the Iberian Peninsula, in Spain and Portugal. However, it can sometimes be spotted also in south-western France, and recently its presence has been reported even in north-western Italy. It inhabits various types of coniferous (mainly pine) and broadleaf forest, including parks and gardens in the eastern populations.
This taxon is sometimes treated as conspecific with the azure-winged magpie (C. cyana), but this population is 5400 miles (9,000 km) away from those in eastern Asia. Genetic analyses have suggested that Iberian and azure-winged magpies are distinct at species level.
This species usually nests in loose, open colonies with a single nest in each tree. (wikipedia)
Iberian Magpie were common along the coast near Faro, Portugal, and in the scrublands. A beautiful and charismatic bird.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Purple Sandpiper, Calidris maritima, is a small shorebird. These birds occur in winter in good numbers principally along the east coast, where they favour rocky shorelines adjacent to the sea. They are late migrants and move to rocky ice-free Atlantic coasts in winter. most go no further south than North Carolina and northern Portugal. They are fairly gregarious, forming small flocks, often with Ruddy Turnstones. This species is tame and approachable.
These birds forage on rocky coasts, picking up food by sight. They mainly eat arthropods and mollusks, also some plant material.
Adults have short yellow legs and a medium thin dark bill with a yellow base. The body is dark on top with a slight purplish gloss and mainly white underneath. The breast is smeared with grey and the rump is black.
Their breeding habitat is the northern tundra on Arctic islands in Canada and coastal areas in Greenland and northwestern Europe. (wikipedia)
These are remarkably tough birds and not a lot is known of their biology. Taken along the Great South Wall, Dublin Bay, on the rising tide.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small white heron. Until the 1950s, the Little Egret was restricted to southern Europe. Over the next few decades it became increasingly common in western France and later on the north coast. It bred in the Netherlands in 1979 with further breeding in the 1990s.
In Ireland, the species bred for the first time in 1997 at a site in County Cork.
This individual was photographed at Harper's Island Reserve in Cork Harbour.