24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERES - AMERICAN POKEWEED (Phytolacca americana)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytolacca_americana

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERES - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (FEMALE) (Saxicola rubicola)

The European stonechat is a small passerine bird with a distinctive "stone-tapping" call. Males have a black head, brown back, white half-collar, and orange-red breast, while females are duller brown. They inhabit open areas with low vegetation like heathland, feed on invertebrates and seeds, and often perch on gorse bushes. 

Appearance

Males: Black head, brown back, a white half-collar on the neck, and an orange-red breast.

Females and juveniles: Paler and more mottled brown than males.

Size: Roughly robin-sized, about 13 cm (5 inches) long, with a large head and short tail. 

Behavior

Call: Makes a sharp, loud call that sounds like two small stones being tapped together, which is where its name comes from.

Posture: Often seen sitting upright on top of bushes, frequently flicking its wings.

Migration: Some northern populations migrate south for winter, while others are resident, especially in warmer climates. 

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERES - IBERIAN GREY SHRIKE (Lanius meridionalis)

The Iberian grey shrike, Lanius meridionalis, is a captivating bird, a member of the shrike family. It bears a resemblance to its relative, the great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor, yet it presents subtle distinctions in plumage. This bird is slightly smaller and darker than its great grey counterpart.

When observing the Iberian grey shrike, look for a bird that is somewhat diminutive and darker compared to the great grey shrike. Its plumage is generally similar, but keen birdwatchers will note the differences that set it apart.

The Iberian grey shrike is a bird of preference for dry, open country. It thrives in the southern European landscapes where it resides year-round.

This species is a resident bird of southern Europe, where it can be found throughout the year, gracing the open habitats with its presence.

The Iberian grey shrike is known for its unique feeding habits. It hunts large insects, small birds, and rodents from prominent perches. In a rather macabre display, it is known to impale its prey on thorns or barbed wire, creating a "larder" for later consumption.

The breeding habits of the Iberian grey shrike include the laying of eggs, as evidenced by the specimens collected and preserved in natural history museums.

The Iberian grey shrike is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Conservation efforts are essential to ensure the survival of this species.

The diet of the Iberian grey shrike consists of large insects, small birds, and rodents. Its method of feeding involves hunting from vantage points and storing food in a grisly fashion, skewering its catch on sharp points for later consumption.

24-9-2019 PLASENCIA, ESPANA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.

The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away from human development. For sustenance, the house sparrow routinely feeds at home and public bird feeding stations, but naturally feeds on the seeds of grains, flowering plants and weeds. However, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches insects, their larvae, caterpillars, invertebrates and many other natural foods.

24-9-2019 PLASENCIA, ESPANA - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)

The European Goldfinch is a small, 12 cm bird with a striking red, white, and black face, a brown back, and black wings with a bright yellow band. They primarily eat seeds, using their pointed bill to access them from plants like thistles and burdocks, but also consume insects and buds. Known for their melodic song and social, flocking behavior, they inhabit open woodlands, parks, gardens, and fields across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. 

Identification

Adult: Features a bright red face mask, a black and white head, a brown back, and black wings with a vibrant yellow stripe. Males often have a larger red mask.

Juvenile: Has a plain brown head but is identifiable by the bold yellow-and-black wing pattern.

Size: Roughly 12 cm (4.7 inches) long with a wingspan of 21–25 cm (8.3–9.8 inches). 

Diet

Primarily feeds on seeds from plants like thistles, sunflowers, and burdocks.

Also eats buds, flowers, and fruits.

Consumes small insects, especially to feed their young during the breeding season. 

Habitat and behavior

Habitat: Prefers open habitats like woodland edges, orchards, parks, gardens, and grasslands with scattered trees. They avoid dense forests and completely treeless areas.

Flocking: Are highly social and often form large flocks, particularly in winter, to feed in weedy fields.

Flight: Flies in an undulating pattern and frequently calls while in flight.

Vocalization: Known for their pleasant, tinkling, and bubbling songs and calls.

Migration: Some populations are migratory, moving south for the winter. 

Breeding and lifespan

Breeding: Breeds in April, and can have two or three clutches per year, with each clutch containing 4 to 6 eggs.

Incubation: The hen incubates the eggs for about 12–14 days.

Fledging: The young fledge when they are around 14 days old.

Lifespan: Can live for around 2 years on average in the wild, with the oldest recorded individual living for over 10 years. 

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERES - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

Native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and much of Asia, the house sparrow has been introduced to various regions worldwide, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most widely distributed wild birds.

House sparrows are social birds, often seen in flocks. They exhibit a range of behaviors, including dust or water bathing and communal roosting. Males are known to be territorial around their nesting sites.

The house sparrow's vocalizations are predominantly variations of a simple chirping call. Males may sing or give an "ecstatic call" during the breeding season, and the species uses a variety of calls for different social interactions.

House sparrows are generally monogamous and may mate for life. They can breed in the season following their hatching and often produce multiple clutches per year, with each clutch containing up to five eggs. Nest sites are varied, with a preference for cavities.

The house sparrow can be confused with other seed-eating birds, such as the Eurasian tree sparrow, which has a chestnut crown and a black cheek patch.

An opportunistic feeder, the house sparrow's diet consists mainly of seeds from grains and weeds, but it also consumes insects and other invertebrates, especially during the breeding season when feeding young.

Despite its widespread distribution and abundance, the house sparrow has experienced declines in some areas. However, it is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERES - WHINCHAT ( Saxicola rubetra)

The Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) is a small, migratory passerine bird, characterized by its short tail and an affinity for hopping rapidly on the ground. It exhibits a strong supercilium and mottled brownish upper parts, with a pale throat and breast, and a distinctively blackish tail with white bases to the outer tail feathers. During the breeding season, the male sports an orange-buff throat and breast, adding a splash of color to its otherwise muted tones.

To identify the Whinchat, look for the following features: a strong white supercilium and malar stripe, brownish upper parts with darker mottling, and a pale buff to whitish belly. The male, in breeding plumage, has a blackish face mask encircled by the white supercilium, a bright orange-buff throat and breast, and small white wing patches. Females are duller with a browner face mask and smaller or absent white wing patches. Adult males retain white wing patches throughout the year.

The Whinchat favors open grassy country with rough vegetation and scattered small shrubs. It thrives in habitats with high plant species richness and heterogeneous vegetation structure, often found in low-elevation areas with a high density of perches and tussocks.

This species breeds across Europe and western Asia, from Ireland to the Ob River basin and from northern Norway to the Caucasus Mountains. It winters in central Africa, from Senegal to Kenya and south to Zambia. The Whinchat's migration is marked by important stopover sites that aid in crossing barriers like the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea.

The Whinchat is largely solitary, forming small family groups in autumn. It exhibits a typical behavior of perching on elevated spots to scan for food and display territorial signals. Breeding occurs in late April and May, with the nest built on the ground by the female. Both parents feed the young, which fledge at about eighteen days old and remain dependent for another fortnight.

The Whinchat's main call is a soft "hue-tac-tac," with the male's song being a whistling, crackly but soft melody, often including mimetic phrases from other bird species' songs. The song is used for breeding from April to July and is occasionally heard on the wintering grounds.

Nesting occurs in dense low vegetation, with the female laying a clutch of four to seven eggs. Incubation lasts about thirteen days, and fledging takes place around eighteen days after hatching. The species is known to breed once they reach one year of age.

The Whinchat can be confused with the European stonechat or the Siberian stonechat, but it can be distinguished by its conspicuous supercilium, whiter belly, and longer wingtips, which are adaptations to its long-distance migration.

The diet consists mainly of insects and other small invertebrates, with occasional fruit consumption. Whinchats perch on elevated spots to make sallies for ground insects or flying insects, displaying their white tail and wing flashes while perched.

The Whinchat is classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN, though some populations, particularly in Western Europe, are in decline due to agricultural intensification. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable habitat and mitigating the impacts of land use changes.

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERES - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola)

24-9-2019 SALVATIERRA DE TORMES, CACERES - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

The Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.

 The Сommon starling is a medium-sized bird. It has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of the year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the color of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown, or grey in females.

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERAS - EURASIAN WREN (Troglodytes troglodytes)

The Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) or northern wren is a very small insectivorous bird, and the only member of the wren family Troglodytidae found in Eurasia and Africa (Maghreb). In Anglophone Europe, it is commonly known simply as the wren. It has a very short tail which is often held erect, a short neck and a relatively long thin bill. It is russet brown above, paler buff-brown below and has a cream buff supercilium. The sexes are alike.

The species was once lumped with Troglodytes hiemalis of eastern North America and Troglodytes pacificus of western North America as the winter wren. The Eurasian wren occurs in Europe and across the Palearctic – including a belt of Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan across to Japan. It is migratory in only the northern parts of its range. It is also highly polygynous, an unusual mating system for passerines.

The Eurasian wren is a plump, sturdy bird with rounded wings and a short tail, which is usually held cocked up. The adult bird is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) in length and has a wingspan of 13–17 cm (5.1–6.7 in).[18] It weighs around 10 g (0.35 oz).[19] It is rufous brown above, greyer beneath, and indistinctly barred with darker brown and grey, even on the wings and tail. The bill is dark brown and the legs are pale brown, the feet having strong claws and a large hind toe. Young birds are less distinctly barred and have mottled underparts. The plumage is subject to considerable variation, and where populations have been isolated, the variation has become fixed in one minor form or another.

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERAS - WOODLARK (Lullula arborea)

The woodlark or wood lark (Lullula arborea) is the only extant species in the lark genus Lullula. It is found across most of Europe, the Middle East, western Asia and the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident (non-migratory) in the west of its range, but eastern populations of this passerine bird are more migratory, moving further south in winter.

There are two subspecies of woodlark, L. a. arborea and L. a. pallida. The former is native to northern regions of Europe, while the latter can be found in the south of the woodlark's range. Their diet is mostly composed of seeds but also includes insects during the breeding period. A comparatively small bird, the woodlark is between 13.5 and 15 centimetres long and roughly 20% shorter than the skylark. It is a brown bird with a pale underside and has a white-tipped tail.

Found mainly in Europe, the mountains of northern Africa and western Asia, the woodlark is present across much of its range. In Europe, the bird seems most at home in the sandy heaths of Belgium, where its density was 7.5 pairs per square kilometre (km2) in 1988. In the same year, densities in East Germany ranged from 0.29 to 5.0 pairs per km2 and between 0.1 and 0.25 pairs per km2 in southern England, with more optimal habitats being more densely populated. However, populations fluctuated across Europe in the 1990s and 2000s and more up-to-date density figures are unavailable. 

The extent of the woodlark's range is England in the west, parts of northern Egypt to the south, Iran and Turkmenistan to the east and the Scandinavian Peninsula in the north. Declining populations have resulted in the woodlark's range contracting, for example in Britain it once bred in Wales and central England but is now found only in southern England. Within its range it is mainly resident in the west, with eastern populations migrating south in the winter.

The woodlark's natural habitat is heathland and open spaces sparsely populated with trees. They prefer clearings in pine forests and heathland and like newly planted areas with pine saplings. Experimental work showed that annual ground‐disturbance can increase Woodlark abundance within lowland grass‐heaths. The bird can also be found more rarely in urban areas. For example, in 1950 a pair were recorded on a main road near Putney Heath, London.

22-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOUSE SPIDER (Scotophaeus blackwalli)

Scotophaeus blackwalli, also known as the mouse spider, is a species of spider belonging to the family Gnaphosidae.

It is a ground spider and does not create webs. Instead it hunts for insects and other spiders at night and uses its enlarged spinnerets to produce a sticky silk to subdue its prey. It is also an opportunistic scavenger.

Females also use their silk to build protective nests for their eggs.

The adult males of these spiders reach 9mm in length, maturing in the early summer, while females reach 12mm, and can be found until autumn.

The carapace is dark brown while the abdomen is brown/grey with hairs resembling the body of a mouse, hence the common name of 'mouse spider'. The legs are brown with thick pubescence. The male has a small scutum on the dorsum of the abdomen.

Scotophaeus blackwalli is native to Europe, the Caucasus, Turkey and Iran. It has been introduced to North America, Peru, and Hawaii. It is commonly found around and inside houses in Britain, usually in the Autumn, and also under bark and in holes in walls in warmer parts of Europe. It hunts nocturnally.

22-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - DOUBLE STRIPED PUG MOTH (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

The double-striped pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a widespread and common species, being found throughout the Palearctic region, including the Near East and North Africa.

This is a variable species but always easy to recognize due to the two prominent dark fascia across each forewing which give the species its common name. The forewing ground colour ranges from light to dark reddish brown. The crosslines are distinct. The inner margin of the pale white sub-marginal line bears black marks. The hindwings are pale grey with darker fringes, darker lines and a small black discal spot. There is a dark band across the basal segments of the abdomen. The wingspan is 15–19 mm.

The caterpillars reach a length of up to 17 millimeters and have a very variable basic colouration. It ranges from whitish to yellowish green, brown, red to purple. On the back there is a pale band marked with a series of dark diamonds or triangles. The drawing resembles a rear-facing trident, is sometimes crow-foot-like and can occasionally be only weakly formed. The head is yellowish brown.

Two, sometimes three, broods are produced each year and the adults are on the wing in April and May (sometimes earlier), July and August, and sometimes later in the autumn. Later broods are more heavily marked. It flies at night and is attracted to light and flowers, both of its food plants and others.

The larva feeds on the flowers of a huge range of plants (see list below) and has also been known to feed on the larvae of other lepidoptera. The species overwinters as a pupa.

22-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPHINX MOTH (Sphinx pinastri ssp. maurorum)

21-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - JUMPING SPIDER (Menemerus semilimbatus)

21-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LEAF BEETLE ( Genus Timarcha)

Timarcha is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, with more than 100 described species in three subgenera. The most widely known species is T. tenebricosa, the bloody-nosed beetle. All species are black, wingless organisms. Timarcha are herbivorous species, living mostly on plants belonging to Rubiaceae and Plumbaginaceae, although a few can feed on Brassicaceae and Rosaceae. Timarcha is the only member of the tribe Timarchini.

Beetles of the genus Timarcha are flightless leaf beetles, widely recognized for their distinctive black appearance and their defensive mechanism of "reflex bleeding" of a bright red, foul-tasting hemolymph when threatened. 

Key Facts About the Genus Timarcha

Appearance: All species in the genus are entirely black, often with a bluish sheen, and have a dome-shaped body. They typically measure between 10-20 mm in length.

Flightless: Their elytra (forewings) are fused together, rendering them incapable of flight. This is considered an apomorphic (derived) character.

Defense Mechanism: They are popularly known as "bloody-nosed beetles" in Europe because they ooze a red, distasteful liquid (hemolymph) from their mouths when disturbed. This toxic fluid deters predators such as birds and lizards. North American species, being primarily nocturnal, do not exhibit this specific behavior.

Diet: Timarcha species are herbivorous and generally specialize in feeding on plants from only a few families, most commonly Rubiaceae (e.g., bedstraws like Galium verum and Galium mollugo) and Plumbaginaceae. North American species mainly feed on Rosaceae, such as strawberry and bramble bushes.

Distribution: The genus has a unique disjunct Holarctic distribution, with the majority of species in the Western Palaearctic region (Europe, North Africa, Western Asia) and a few species along the west coast of North America (British Columbia to California).

Habitat: They inhabit a broad range of environments, including high mountains, humid forests, grasslands, and sandy coastal areas.

Life Cycle: They are long-lived as adults (up to 10-14 months) and typically have an annual, univoltine life cycle. Larvae and adults feed on host plants, with pupation occurring in the soil.

21-9-2019 RIO SERPIS, GANDIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)

The Eurasian hoopoe, with its scientific name Upupa epops, is a bird of unmistakable appearance. It boasts a warm cinnamon plumage, contrasted by striking black and white wings, and a prominent black-tipped, fan-like crest which it can raise and lower. Its tail features a broad white band across a black background. The hoopoe's long, narrow bill curves downwards, adept for probing the soil, and is black with a fawn base.

When identifying the Eurasian hoopoe, look for its unique silhouette, characterized by its long, tapering bill and erectile crest. In flight, its broad and rounded wings display a bold black and white pattern, and its undulating flight is reminiscent of a large butterfly. The hoopoe's size ranges from 25 to 32 cm in length, with a wingspan of 44 to 48 cm, and it weighs between 46 and 89 grams.

The hoopoe is adaptable, favoring habitats with bare or lightly vegetated ground for foraging and vertical surfaces with cavities for nesting. These can include heathlands, wooded steppes, savannas, grasslands, and forest glades.

This species is native to Europe, Asia, and the northern half of Africa. It is migratory in the northern parts of its range, with European and north Asian birds wintering in the tropics. African populations tend to be sedentary throughout the year.

Hoopoes are known for their sunbathing and dust-bathing behaviors, often spreading their wings and tail against the ground. They are solitary foragers, predominantly feeding on the ground with occasional aerial pursuits.

The hoopoe's call is a soft, melodic "oop-oop-oop," which may vary between two to four syllables. This call is the likely origin of both its English and scientific names.

Hoopoes are monogamous, with pair bonds lasting a single season. They nest in cavities, with the female solely responsible for incubation. Clutch sizes vary geographically, with larger clutches in higher latitudes. The eggs are initially milky blue, becoming discolored in the nest.

While the hoopoe's appearance is quite distinctive, its call can be confused with that of the Himalayan cuckoo in certain regions.

The hoopoe's diet consists mainly of insects, but it may also consume small reptiles, frogs, seeds, and berries. It uses its bill to probe the soil for larvae, pupae, and insects, which are then beaten against a surface to remove indigestible parts.

The Eurasian hoopoe is classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. However, there has been a noted decline in populations since 2008, attributed to habitat loss and over-hunting in certain areas. Conservation efforts are in place in regions where the species is threatened.

20-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GEOMETER MOTH (Dyscia penulataria)

Dyscia penulataria is a moth in the family Geometridae, known for its medium size and pale grey to beige coloration. Key facts include its characteristic wing shape, the absence of a proboscis (unlike other geometrid moths), and its host plants, such as fennel and wormwood. It belongs to the genus Dyscia, which was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1825. 

Size: It is a medium-sized moth.

Color: The coloration is typically pale grey to beige, though the genus includes some reddish species.

Wing shape: The outer margin of the forewings is slightly concave, which is a distinguishing feature.

Other features: It lacks a proboscis, and its male genitalia can be distinguished from other species by the width-to-length ratio of the valvae and the absence of an uncus. 

Habitat and diet

Host plants: It feeds on plants like fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), wormwood (Artemisia), and Dorycnium.

Geographical distribution: While the specific range for D. penulataria is not detailed here, the genus Dyscia is found in Europe and parts of Asia. 

20-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CATALONIA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis liolepis)

Podarcis liolepis, the Columbretes wall lizard or Catalan wall lizard, is very similar to the other lizards in the genus Podarcis. This species was formerly described as a subspecies of the Iberian wall lizard, but has now been elevated to species status. These are slender lizards with long tails, narrow tapered heads and long thin toes, and stout legs. Colours are variable, although generally grey-brown.

Often very subtle spots and stripes along the back and flanks can be seen and these can be more distinguished in the female. The underside is a much lighter cream or beige with sometimes a reddish tint. Adults grow 15–20 cm in length from the nose to tip of the tail. Body length can be a little as one third of the total body length, the tail making up the other two thirds.

19-9-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)