13-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - NORTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus)

The northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is a wading bird common through temperate Eurasia. The name lapwing has been variously attributed to the "lapping" sound the wings of these birds make in flight; from the irregular progress in flight due to their large wings or from their habit of drawing potential predators away from their nest by trailing a wing as if broken.

The northern lapwing has rounded wings and a crest. It is also the shortest-legged of the lapwings. It is mainly black and white, but the back is tinted green. The male has a long crest and a black crown, throat, and breast contrasting with an otherwise white face. Females and young birds have shorter crests and less strongly marked heads, but plumages are otherwise quite similar.

Northern lapwings are found throughout temperate Eurasia. They are highly migratory over most of their extensive range, wintering further south as far as North Africa, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of China. However, lowland breeders in the westernmost areas of Europe are residents. Northern lapwings inhabit wet grasslands, meadows, swampy heaths, bogs, marshes, other wetlands, and cultivated areas.

Outside of the breeding season, Northern lapwings are very gregarious birds. They feed in mixed flocks with Golden plovers and Black-headed gulls and often migrate in large flocks. In winter, these birds like to form huge flocks on open land, particularly arable land, and mud flats. Northern plovers prefer to feed at night when there is moonlight. They are very vocal birds in the breeding season, constantly calling during the crazed tumbling display flight performed by the male. The typical contact call of these birds is a loud, shrill ‘pee-wit’ from which they get their other name of peewit. Displaying males usually make a wheezy ‘pee-wit, wit wit, eeze wit’ during their display flight; these birds also make squeaking or mewing sounds.

Northern lapwings are serially monogamous and form pairs only for a single breeding season. They are solitary and very territorial nesters. Both parents defend noisily and aggressively the nest and young against all intruders, even cattle. The breeding season occurs between late March and early June. The female lays 3 to 4 eggs in a ground scrape and both parents incubate them for about 21-28 days. The chicks precocial; they are can walk soon after they are dry and are able to swim within 24 hours after hatching. Soon after hatching, the pair with their young leave their nest; they raise their chicks at a different site where the young can feed by themselves but both parents still brood and guard them for some time. Young Northern lapwings become reproductively mature and start to breed when they are one year old.

Population size

5.6-105 Mlnlnn

Life Span

3.5-10 years

Weight

128-330

goz

g oz 

Length

28-33

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

67-87

mft

Northern lapwings suffer from intensive agricultural techniques. In the lowlands, this includes the loss of rough grassland, conversion to arable or improved grassland, loss of mixed farms, and switch from spring- to autumn-sown crops. In the uplands, the losses may have been due to increases in grazing density. Other threats include heavy predation of nests and chicks, the loss of breeding habitats, and overhunting, especially along their winter migration routes.

According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Northern lapwing is around 5,600,000-10,500,000 individuals. The European population consists of 1,590,000-2,580,000 pairs, which equates to 3,190,000-5,170,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.

13-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a statuesque wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. It is a familiar sight in both rural and urban settings, often seen standing stoically along the water's edge. An adult Grey Heron is a large bird, reaching up to 100 cm in height, with a wingspan between 155 to 195 cm. It weighs between 1 to 2 kg. The plumage is predominantly ashy-grey above, with a greyish-white underbelly and some black on the flanks. A striking feature is the white head and neck adorned with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The beak is pinkish-yellow, long, and sharply pointed, while the legs are a brown hue.

When identifying the Grey Heron, look for the white head with the black supercilium and crest, the long grey neck, and the ashy-grey wings and back. The underparts are lighter, and the legs are long and brown. Juveniles can be distinguished by their duller grey neck and smaller crest. The beak is a useful indicator of age, being brighter in breeding adults.

Grey Herons are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of watery habitats including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, and coastal environments. They require shallow waters for foraging or areas with shelving margins where they can wade.

Native to temperate Europe and Asia, as well as parts of Africa, the Grey Heron has a broad range. Northern populations may migrate southwards in autumn, while others remain resident year-round. Vagrant sightings have occurred in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and parts of North America.

13-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)

The Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, is a wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae, known for its striking, sickle-shaped bill. This mid-sized ibis measures 48–66 cm in length, with a wingspan of 80–105 cm. Breeding adults boast reddish-brown bodies and iridescent bottle-green wings, while non-breeders and juveniles display a more subdued coloration. The species is characterized by a brownish bill, dark facial skin with blue-gray to cobalt blue borders, and red-brown legs. In flight, the ibis extends its neck and exhibits a graceful V formation.

When identifying the Glossy Ibis, look for its unique glossy feathers and the distinct shape of its bill. The bird's flight pattern is also a telltale sign, as it flies with its neck outstretched, unlike herons. Listen for its various croaks and grunts, particularly the hoarse grrrr sound during the breeding season.

The Glossy Ibis favors freshwater or brackish wetlands with tall, dense emergent vegetation such as reeds, papyrus, or rushes, and low trees or bushes. It can also be found in lagoons, floodplains, wet meadows, swamps, reservoirs, sewage ponds, rice paddies, and irrigated farmland. Coastal habitats like estuaries and salt marshes are less common for this species.

13-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)

The common moorhen, known scientifically as Gallinula chloropus, is a bird of the rail family, Rallidae. It is a bird of striking appearance, with a mix of black and brown plumage, a white under-tail, and white streaks along its flanks. Its legs are a vibrant yellow, and it sports a distinctive red frontal shield. The bill is a matching red with a yellow tip. Juveniles are a duller brown and do not have the red shield.

Adult moorhens can be identified by their red frontal shield, which has a rounded top and fairly parallel sides. The tailward margin of the red unfeathered area is smoothly curved. Their yellow legs and the combination of their black and brown plumage with white markings make them quite distinctive. The young are browner and lack the red shield, making them less conspicuous.

The common moorhen is found in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, ponds, canals, and lakes that are rich in vegetation. It is also known to inhabit city parks with suitable water bodies.

This species has a broad distribution across many parts of the Old World. It is not found in polar regions or many tropical rainforests but is otherwise widespread, often being the most common rail species in its range.

There are about five recognized subspecies of the common moorhen, which vary slightly in appearance and are distributed across different geographic regions. These subspecies include the Eurasian common moorhen (G. c. chloropus), the Indo-Pacific common moorhen (G. c. orientalis), the African common moorhen (G. c. meridionalis), the Madagascan common moorhen (G. c. pyrrhorrhoa), and the Mariana common moorhen (G. c. guami).

Moorhens are known for their secretive nature but can become quite tame in certain areas. They exhibit territorial behavior during the breeding season and are known to aggressively defend their territory against intruders.

The common moorhen emits a variety of gargling calls and will hiss loudly when threatened.

Breeding season sees moorhens becoming territorial. They construct a basket-like nest on the ground within dense vegetation. Egg-laying typically begins in spring, with clutches ranging from 5 to 8 eggs. Both parents are involved in incubation and rearing the young, which fledge after 40-50 days.

The common gallinule (Gallinula galeata) of the Americas is closely related but can be distinguished by the shape of its frontal shield and the coloration of its plumage.

Moorhens have a varied diet that includes vegetable matter and small aquatic organisms. They forage in and around water bodies, sometimes upending in the water or walking on lilypads to feed.

Globally, the common moorhen is abundant and classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, localized populations may be vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and hunting.

13-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago)

The Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago, is a small, stocky wader, part of the Scolopacidae family. It is a bird that is well adapted to its wetland habitats, with a mottled brown plumage adorned with straw-yellow stripes on its back and a paler underside. Its most distinctive feature is the very long, straight dark bill, measuring between 5.5 and 7 cm, which it uses to probe the soft mud for food. Adults measure 25–27 cm in length, with a wingspan of 44–47 cm, and weigh between 80–140 g, occasionally reaching up to 180 g prior to migration.

When identifying the Common Snipe, look for the dark eye stripe bordered by lighter stripes above and below. Its wings are pointed, and it has short greenish-grey legs. The flight is characterized by rapid, zig-zag patterns accompanied by a sharp "scape" call when flushed.

The Common Snipe frequents marshes, bogs, tundra, and wet meadows across the Palearctic, finding solace in the dense vegetation of these wetlands.

This species breeds across a vast range from Iceland and the British Isles to northern Fennoscandia, through European Russia and Siberia, extending east to Anadyr, Kamchatka, Bering Island, and the Kuril Islands. Its southern range in Europe includes parts of Portugal, France, Italy, Bulgaria, and Ukraine, while in Asia, it reaches northern Turkestan, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. The Common Snipe is migratory, with European birds wintering in southern and western Europe and Africa, and Asian migrants heading to tropical southern Asia.

The Common Snipe is a master of camouflage, often remaining undetected until one is nearly upon it. It exhibits a unique "winnowing" display during courtship, where the male flies high and dives to produce a drumming sound with its tail feathers, reminiscent of a bleating sheep or goat.

The call when flushed is a sharp "scape." The drumming sound produced during the male's display flight is a distinctive, breathy vibration that carries across its habitat.

Nesting occurs in well-hidden ground locations. The female lays four dark olive eggs, blotched with brown, and incubates them for 18–21 days. Chicks are adorned in dark maroon down and are cared for by both parents, with fledging occurring in 10–20 days.

The Common Snipe is similar to the Wilson's Snipe (G. delicata) of North America, the Pin-tailed Snipe (G. stenura), and Swinhoe's Snipe (G. megala) of eastern Asia. It can be distinguished by the number of tail feathers and the width of the white trailing edge on the wings.

The diet consists primarily of insects and earthworms, with some plant material. The snipe forages by probing soft mud with its long bill or by picking up food by sight.

The Common Snipe is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, populations on the southern edges of its range are declining due to habitat loss from field drainage and agricultural intensification. It is protected under the AEWA and is still hunted as a gamebird in many areas.

13-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)

The Cattle egret is a stocky bird. It has a relatively short, thick neck, a sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The nonbreeding adult has mainly white plumage, a yellow bill, and greyish-yellow legs. During the breeding season, adults of the nominate western subspecies develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast, and crown, and the bill, legs, and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing. The sexes are similar, but the male is marginally larger and has slightly longer breeding plumes than the female; juvenile birds lack coloured plumes and have a black bill.

Cattle egrets are native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe but they have undergone a rapid expansion in their distribution and successfully colonized much of the rest of the world in the last century. Many populations of Cattle egrets are highly migratory, while others are dispersive, and distinguishing between the two can be difficult. In many areas, populations can be both sedentary and migratory. In the Northern Hemisphere, migration is from cooler climes to warmer areas, but Cattle egrets nesting in Australia migrate to cooler Tasmania and New Zealand in the winter and return in the spring.

 Migration in western Africa is in response to rainfall, and in South America, migrating birds travel south of their breeding range in the non-breeding season. Populations in southern India appear to show local migrations in response to the monsoons. Cattle egrets inhabit wetlands, dry grassy habitats, semi-arid steppes, floodplains, freshwater swamps, shallow marshes, and mangroves. They are often found in fields, croplands, and pastures with poor drainage. When nesting, Cattle egrets are found in woodlands near lakes or rivers, in swamps, or on small inland or coastal islands.

13-12-2017 ULLAL DE BOLDOVI, VALENCIA - COMMON CHAFFINCH (MALE) (Fringilla coelebs)

The Eurasian chaffinch, or simply the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), presents a striking dichotomy in plumage between the sexes. The male is resplendent with a blue-grey cap and rust-red underparts, while the female's attire is more subdued, though both genders boast two white wing bars and white sides to their tails. The male's robust voice is a herald of spring, as he sings from exposed perches to court a mate.

To identify the male chaffinch, look for the black forehead, blue-grey crown, and rust-red breast, which fades to a pale creamy-pink on the belly. The wings feature a white panel on the coverts and a buff-white bar on the secondaries and inner primaries. Females and juveniles are more muted with grey-brown shades above and paler below, but retain the distinctive wing markings.

Chaffinches favor wooded environments, thriving in areas where the July isotherm ranges from 12 to 30°C. They are adaptable, however, and can be found in a variety of forested landscapes across their range.

This small passerine bird is widespread across Europe and parts of Asia, extending to Siberia. It is also an introduced species in some regions, such as New Zealand and South Africa.

Chaffinches are gregarious outside the breeding season, forming flocks in open countryside. They exhibit partial migration, with birds in colder regions moving south for the winter, while those in milder areas may remain sedentary.

The male chaffinch's song is a delightful mix of trills and chirps, with regional dialects adding to the chorus. Each male typically has a repertoire of two or three song types.

Monogamous by nature, chaffinches breed once they reach one year of age. The female meticulously constructs a nest in the fork of a tree, laying a clutch of 4-5 eggs that hatch in about 13 days. The fledglings take to the wing approximately 14 days later but continue to receive parental care for several weeks thereafter.

During the breeding season, chaffinches forage in trees for invertebrates, particularly caterpillars, to feed their young. Outside this period, their diet shifts to seeds and plant material found on the ground.

With its large numbers and expansive range, the Eurasian chaffinch is classified as of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There is no evidence of significant population declines at present.

Chaffinches must be vigilant against a variety of predators, including crows and squirrels, which may prey upon their eggs and nestlings. They are also susceptible to parasites such as the protozoal Trichomonas gallinae and the Fringilla coelebs papillomavirus, which can cause tumors on their feet and legs.

10-12-2017 LA FONT EN CARROS - WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)

The white wagtail is a slender bird, 16.5 to 19 cm (6.5 to 7.5 in) in length; the East Asian subspecies are slightly longer, measuring up to 21 cm (8.3 in). It has the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. Its average weight is 25 g (0.88 oz) and the maximum lifespan in the wild is about 12 years.

Wagtails are strongly patterned birds of beaches, meadows, and streamsides; they usually nest on the ground but roost in trees. The birds are so named because they incessantly wag their long tails up and down. The forest wagtail wags its entire body from side to side.

In Old World, the white wagtail eats mostly insects, including midges, crane flies, and other flies, beetles, mayflies, dragonfly larvae, caterpillars, moths, and many others. Feeds on a variety of aquatic insect larvae as well as adult insects. Also eats some spiders, earthworms, tiny fish, and seeds.

It was thought that the willie wagtail could steal a person's secrets while lingering around camps eavesdropping, so women would be tight-lipped in the presence of the bird.

Indigenous Australians believe the Willie Wagtail to be a gossiper who eavesdropped around the camps. In the Kimberley in Western Australia, legend has it that the birds would tell the spirit of the dead if anyone spoke badly of them.

The White Wagtail is a ubiquitous species occupying a wide variety of open (non-forested) habitats across Eurasia. The species is represented by a complex of nine subspecies that exhibit marked variation in plumage pattern and colouration (grey versus black) across its vast breeding range. Although the well-known White Wagtail complex includes some of the most studied birds of the Western Palearctic (e.g.,Motacilla alba albaandM. a. yarrellii), the two eastern Palearctic forms that occur regularly in North America (Alaska) remain poorly known. The easternmost subspecies, M. a. ocularis , ranges to the western edge of Alaska in the Bering Strait region, where it breeds annually in small numbers, and M. a. lugens (formerly the grey wagtail) is a rare and occasional species that breeds in the western Aleutian Islands. 

10-12-2017 LA FONT EN CARROS - MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis)

The meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis ) is a small passerine bird, which breeds in much of the Palearctic, from southeastern Greenland and Iceland east to just east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, and south to central France and Romania; an isolated population also occurs in the Caucasus Mountains. It is migratory over most of its range, wintering in southern Europe, North Africa, and south-western Asia, but is resident year-round in western Europe, though even here many birds move to the coast or lowlands in winter.

This is a widespread and often abundant small pipit, 14.5–15 cm (5+1⁄2–6 in) long and 15–22 g (0.53–0.78 oz) weight. It is an undistinguished-looking species on the ground, mainly brown above and buff below, with darker streaking on most of its plumage; the tail is brown, with narrow white side edges. It has a thin bill and pale pinkish-yellow legs; the hind claw is notably long, longer than the rest of the hind toes. The call is a weak tsi-tsi. The simple repetitive song is given in a short song flight. Birds breeding in Ireland and western Scotland are slightly darker coloured than those in other areas, and are often distinguished as the subspecies A. p. whistleri, though it intergrades clinally with nominate A. p. pratensis found in the rest of the species' range.

It is similar to the red-throated pipit A. cervinus, which is more heavily streaked and (in summer only) has an orange-red throat, and to the tree pipit A. trivialis, which is slightly larger, less heavily streaked, and has stronger facial markings and a shorter hind claw. The song of the meadow pipit accelerates towards the end while that of the tree pipit slows down.

It is primarily a species of open habitats, either uncultivated or low-intensity agriculture, such as pasture, bogs, and moorland, but also occurs in low numbers in arable croplands. In winter, it also uses saltmarshes and sometimes open woodlands. It is a fairly terrestrial pipit, always feeding on the ground, but uses elevated perches such as shrubs, fence lines, or electricity wires as vantage points to watch for predators.

The estimated total population is 12 million pairs. It is an abundant species in the north of its range, and generally the commonest breeding bird in most of upland Britain, but less common further south. Breeding densities range from 80 pairs/km2 (210 pairs/sq mi) in northern Scandinavia, to 5–20 pairs/km2 (13–52 pairs/sq mi) in grassland in the south of the breeding range, and just 1/km2 (2.6/sq mi) in arable farmland. A few isolated breeding pairs are recorded from south of the main range, in the mountains of Spain, Italy, and the northern Balkans. A general decline in the population has occurred over the past 17 years, most notable in French farmland, with a 68% drop.

10-12-2017 LA FONT EN CARROS - GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)

The Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea, is a slender bird of the wagtail family, Motacillidae, with an overall length of approximately 18–19 cm. It bears a resemblance to the Yellow Wagtail but is distinguished by the yellow on its underside being confined to the throat and vent. The male, during the breeding season, is characterized by a striking black throat.

This species can be identified by its narrow white supercilium and a broken eye ring. The upperparts are a soft grey, while the underparts are predominantly whitish, with a contrasting yellow vent. Breeding males are notable for their black throats bordered by whitish moustachial stripes.

The Grey Wagtail is invariably found in association with running water during the breeding season. It may nest in natural settings or utilize man-made structures close to streams. Outside of breeding times, it can also be observed around lakes, coasts, and other watery environments.

The Grey Wagtail has a wide distribution across Eurosiberia, with several populations breeding in this region and migrating to tropical areas in Asia and Africa. Subspecies are found in the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, and from western Europe to central, east, and northeast Asia.

These birds exhibit the characteristic wagtail behavior of tail-wagging and often fly low with undulating movements. They are known to forage either alone or in pairs, utilizing meadows, shallow water marshes, and rocks within water bodies. They may also perch in trees.

The Grey Wagtail has a sharp call, typically emitted in flight. Its song is composed of trills, and during display flights, the male produces a rapid series of high-pitched chipping notes.

Breeding occurs from April to July, with nests placed near fast-flowing streams or rivers, often between stones and roots. The clutch usually consists of 3–6 speckled eggs, and the species is capable of raising multiple broods in a season. The incubation period lasts about two weeks, with fledging occurring within a similar timeframe.

The Grey Wagtail may be confused with the Yellow Wagtail but can be differentiated by the restricted yellow coloring on its underside and the black throat of the breeding male.

The diet consists of various aquatic invertebrates, including flies, mayflies, beetles, crustaceans, and mollusks. They are often seen foraging along roadsides in winter.

The IUCN Red List classifies the Grey Wagtail as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction.

6-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - 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.

6-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (JUVENILE) (Gallinula chloropus)

The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), also known as the waterhen or swamp chicken, is a bird species in the rail family (Rallidae). It is distributed across many parts of the Old World.

The common moorhen lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere it is likely the most common rail species, except for the Eurasian coot in some regions.

The closely related common gallinule of the New World has been recognized as a separate species by most authorities, starting with the American Ornithologists' Union and the International Ornithological Committee in 2011.

The moorhen is a distinctive species, with predominantly black and brown plumage, with the exception of a white under-tail, white streaks on the flanks, yellow legs and a red frontal shield. The bill is red with a yellow tip. The young are browner and lack the red shield. The frontal shield of the adult has a rounded top and fairly parallel sides; the tailward margin of the red unfeathered area is a smooth waving line. In the related common gallinule (Gallinula galeata) of the Americas, the frontal shield has a fairly straight top and is less wide towards the bill, giving a marked indentation to the back margin of the red area.

6-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known as the European starling in North America and simply as the starling in Great Britain and Ireland, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. 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 common starling has about 12 subspecies breeding in open habitats across its native range in temperate Europe and across the Palearctic to western Mongolia, and it has been introduced as an invasive species to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa and Fiji. This bird is resident in western and southern Europe and southwestern Asia, while northeastern populations migrate south and west in the winter within the breeding range and also further south to Iberia and North Africa. The common starling builds an untidy nest in a natural or artificial cavity in which four or five glossy, pale blue eggs are laid. These take two weeks to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another three weeks. There are normally one or two breeding attempts each year. This species is omnivorous, taking a wide range of invertebrates, as well as seeds and fruit. It is hunted by various mammals and birds of prey, and is host to a range of external and internal parasites.

6-12-2017 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - COMMON CHAFFINCH (MALE) (Fringilla coelebs)

The Eurasian chaffinch, or simply the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), presents a striking dichotomy in plumage between the sexes. The male is resplendent with a blue-grey cap and rust-red underparts, while the female's attire is more subdued, though both genders boast two white wing bars and white sides to their tails. The male's robust voice is a herald of spring, as he sings from exposed perches to court a mate.

To identify the male chaffinch, look for the black forehead, blue-grey crown, and rust-red breast, which fades to a pale creamy-pink on the belly. The wings feature a white panel on the coverts and a buff-white bar on the secondaries and inner primaries. Females and juveniles are more muted with grey-brown shades above and paler below, but retain the distinctive wing markings.

Chaffinches favor wooded environments, thriving in areas where the July isotherm ranges from 12 to 30°C. They are adaptable, however, and can be found in a variety of forested landscapes across their range.

This small passerine bird is widespread across Europe and parts of Asia, extending to Siberia. It is also an introduced species in some regions, such as New Zealand and South Africa.

Chaffinches are gregarious outside the breeding season, forming flocks in open countryside. They exhibit partial migration, with birds in colder regions moving south for the winter, while those in milder areas may remain sedentary.

The male chaffinch's song is a delightful mix of trills and chirps, with regional dialects adding to the chorus. Each male typically has a repertoire of two or three song types.

Monogamous by nature, chaffinches breed once they reach one year of age. The female meticulously constructs a nest in the fork of a tree, laying a clutch of 4-5 eggs that hatch in about 13 days. The fledglings take to the wing approximately 14 days later but continue to receive parental care for several weeks thereafter.

During the breeding season, chaffinches forage in trees for invertebrates, particularly caterpillars, to feed their young. Outside this period, their diet shifts to seeds and plant material found on the ground.

With its large numbers and expansive range, the Eurasian chaffinch is classified as of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There is no evidence of significant population declines at present.

6-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - NORTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus)

The Northern Lapwing, known scientifically as Vanellus vanellus, is a distinctive bird with a notable crest on its head. It measures 28–33 cm in length, with a wingspan of 67–87 cm and a body mass ranging from 128–330 g. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; males have a pronounced crest and a stark black crown, throat, and breast, which contrasts sharply with their white face. Females and juveniles have shorter crests and less defined head markings, but their overall plumage is similar to that of the males, with a black and white coloration and a greenish tint on the back.

When identifying the Northern Lapwing, look for its rounded wings, short legs, and the characteristic crest that adorns its head. The male's long crest and contrasting black and white facial patterns are particularly striking during the breeding season. In flight, the species can be recognized by its slow wingbeats and the rounded shape of its wings.

The Northern Lapwing is a ground-nesting bird that favors open landscapes such as cultivated fields, grasslands, and wetlands. It is adaptable and can be found in a variety of temperate environments across Eurosiberia.

This bird is a widespread resident throughout temperate regions of Eurosiberia. It is highly migratory, wintering in regions as far south as North Africa and parts of Asia. Western European populations are more sedentary, while vagrants have been known to appear in North America following storms.

The Northern Lapwing is known for its acrobatic display flights, accompanied by a cacophony of calls during the breeding season. It migrates predominantly during the day, often in large flocks. The species is fiercely protective of its nest and young, boldly confronting any potential threats. In winter, it gathers in massive flocks on open land, and it is known to feed nocturnally when the moon is bright.

The Northern Lapwing is quite vocal, especially in the breeding season. Its contact call is a loud "pee-wit," which is also the origin of one of its common names. Males perform a display flight while emitting a wheezy "pee-wit, wit wit, eeze wit," and they may also produce squeaking or mewing sounds.

Breeding takes place on the ground in a simple scrape. The species typically lays 3–4 eggs, which are zealously defended against all intruders. The Northern Lapwing's breeding strategy includes feigning injury to distract predators from its nest.

Its diet consists primarily of insects and other small invertebrates. The Northern Lapwing often feeds in mixed flocks with Golden Plovers and Black-headed Gulls, the latter of which may steal food but also offer some protection against predators.

6-12-2017 ULLAL DE BOLDOVI, VALENCIA - BRAMBLING (FEMALE) (Fringilla montifringilla)

The brambling, Fringilla montifringilla, is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family, Fringillidae. Known colloquially as the cock o' the north or the mountain finch, it is a bird of striking appearance, especially the breeding-plumaged male with its black head, dark upperparts, vibrant orange breast, and white belly. Females and immature birds are less boldly marked but can be distinguished from their relatives by several key characteristics.

To identify the brambling, look for the following features:a white rump, contrasting with the grey-green of the common chaffinch, an orange breast that stands out against a white belly, orange scapular feathers, as opposed to the grey or grey-brown in chaffinches, dark-spotted flanks, which are plain in chaffinches, absence of white outer tail feathers, which are present in chaffinches, and a yellow bill in non-breeding plumages, unlike the dull pinkish bill of chaffinches.

The brambling favors open coniferous or birch woodlands for breeding.

This species has a broad range, breeding across the forests of northern Europe and extending east across the Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering in southern Europe, North Africa, northern India, Pakistan, China, and Japan. Occasionally, it strays into Alaska during migration and has been recorded across the northern United States and southern Canada.

Bramblings are known for their migratory habits, forming immense flocks in winter, sometimes numbering in the thousands or even millions, particularly when beech mast is plentiful.

Bramblings breed at one year of age, with nests placed high against tree trunks. The female constructs the nest, which is lined with soft materials. Clutches typically contain 5-7 eggs, which are incubated by the female. Both parents feed and care for the young, which fledge after about two weeks. Predation of nests can occur by species such as the carrion crow and the Siberian jay, and nests may be parasitized by the common cuckoo.

The brambling can be confused with the common chaffinch, but careful observation of the identification tips provided will help distinguish between the two.

Bramblings have a seasonal diet, feeding primarily on seeds in the winter and insects during the summer months.

6-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago)

Common snipes (Gallinago gallinago) are small, stocky waders native to the Old World. These birds are known for their courtship display in which males produce a sound that reminds the bleating of a sheep or goat; hence in many languages the Common snipe is known by names signifying "flying goat", "heaven's ram", "heather-bleater" in Scotland and in Finnish the name taivaanvuohi, "sky goat".

Common snipes have short greenish-grey legs and a very long (5.5-7 cm (2.2-2.8 in)) straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown with straw-yellow stripes on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. Their wings are pointed.

Common snipes are found throughout the Palearctic. In the north, the distribution limit extends from Iceland over the north of the British Isles and northern Fennoscandia, as well as through European Russia and Siberia. In the east, it extends to the Anadyr, Kamchatka, the Bering Island, and the Kuril Islands. In Europe, the distribution area runs through northern Portugal, central France, northern Italy, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. In Asia, it extends south to northern Turkestan, locally to Afghanistan and the Middle East, through the Altai, and further to Manchuria and Ussuri. Common snipes are mostly migratory; European birds winter in southern and western Europe and Africa (south to the Equator), and Asian migrants move to tropical southern Asia. These birds prefer to live near marshes, bogs, in the tundra, taiga, grassy edges of lakes and rivers, estuaries, ponds, rice fields, and wet meadows.

Common snipes are social birds that usually forage in small groups and may gather in flocks of up to 500 individuals at rich feeding grounds. They feed at dawn and dusk wading in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. These are shy birds that conceal themselves close to ground vegetation and flush only when approached closely. When flushed, they utter a sharp note that sounds like scape and fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators.

Common snipes are monogamous and form pairs. In order to attract the female, males perform "winnowing" courtship display; they fly high in circles and then take shallow dives to produce a "drumming" sound by vibrating their tail feathers. After the pair was formed, the birds nest in a well-hidden location on the ground, laying 4 eggs of a dark olive color, blotched and spotted with a rich brown. The eggs are incubated by the female for 18-21 days. The freshly hatched chicks are helpless and covered in dark maroon down, variegated with black, white, and buff. They are cared for by both parents and each parent looks after half the brood. The young start to fly when they are between 10 and 20 days old.

6-12-2017 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago)

Common snipes (Gallinago gallinago) are small, stocky waders native to the Old World. These birds are known for their courtship display in which males produce a sound that reminds the bleating of a sheep or goat; hence in many languages the Common snipe is known by names signifying "flying goat", "heaven's ram", "heather-bleater" in Scotland and in Finnish the name taivaanvuohi, "sky goat".

Common snipes have short greenish-grey legs and a very long (5.5-7 cm (2.2-2.8 in)) straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown with straw-yellow stripes on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. Their wings are pointed.

Common snipes are social birds that usually forage in small groups and may gather in flocks of up to 500 individuals at rich feeding grounds. They feed at dawn and dusk wading in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. These are shy birds that conceal themselves close to ground vegetation and flush only when approached closely. When flushed, they utter a sharp note that sounds like scape and fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators.

5-12-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY (Vanessa atalanta)

Red Admiral Butterfly: The red admiral butterfly is a generally perceived butterfly recognized by its dark wings decorated with red-orange groups. It may very well be seen in North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. This butterfly displays a transitory way of behaving and can be seen in different conditions, like nurseries, parks, and lush regions.

The red admiral butterfly is famous for its momentous appearance. Its wings include a dark or dull-colored base tone with dynamic red-orange groups that range across both the forewings and hindwings. Moreover, there are white spots situated on the tips of the forewings. 

Vanessa atalanta, the red admiral or, previously, the red admirable, is a well-characterized, medium-sized butterfly with black wings, red bands, and white spots. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches (5 cm). It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. The red admiral is widely distributed across temperate regions of North Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. It resides in warmer areas, but migrates north in spring and sometimes again in autumn. Typically found in moist woodlands, the red admiral caterpillar's primary host plant is the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica); it can also be found on the false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica). The adult butterfly drinks from flowering plants like Buddleia and overripe fruit. Red admirals are territorial; females will only mate with males that hold territory. Males with superior flight abilities are more likely to successfully court females. It is known as an unusually calm butterfly, often allowing observation at a very close distance before flying away, also landing on and using humans as perches.

5-12-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COMMON CHAFFINCH (FEMALE) (Fringilla coelebs)

The Eurasian chaffinch, or simply the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), presents a striking dichotomy in plumage between the sexes. The male is resplendent with a blue-grey cap and rust-red underparts, while the female's attire is more subdued, though both genders boast two white wing bars and white sides to their tails. The male's robust voice is a herald of spring, as he sings from exposed perches to court a mate.

To identify the male chaffinch, look for the black forehead, blue-grey crown, and rust-red breast, which fades to a pale creamy-pink on the belly. The wings feature a white panel on the coverts and a buff-white bar on the secondaries and inner primaries. Females and juveniles are more muted with grey-brown shades above and paler below, but retain the distinctive wing markings.

Chaffinches favor wooded environments, thriving in areas where the July isotherm ranges from 12 to 30°C. They are adaptable, however, and can be found in a variety of forested landscapes across their range.

This small passerine bird is widespread across Europe and parts of Asia, extending to Siberia. It is also an introduced species in some regions, such as New Zealand and South Africa.

Chaffinches are gregarious outside the breeding season, forming flocks in open countryside. They exhibit partial migration, with birds in colder regions moving south for the winter, while those in milder areas may remain sedentary.