15-4-2018 CHOBE RIVER, NAMIBIA - EGYPTIAN WHITE WATER LILY (Nymphaea lotus)

Nymphaea lotus, the white Egyptian lotus, tiger lotus, white lotus, or Egyptian water-lily, is a flowering plant of the family Nymphaeaceae.

It grows in various parts of East Africa and Southeast Asia. Nymphaea lotus var. thermalis was believed to be a Tertiary relict variety endemic to the thermal waters of Europe, for example, the Peţa River in Romania. DNA analysis has concluded that Nymphaea lotus var. thermalis lacks distinctiveness from Nymphaea lotus and therefore cannot be classified as a relic population.

17-10-2018 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - NORTHERN SHOVELER (FEMALE) (Spatula clypeata)

The Northern Shoveler, known in Britain simply as the shoveler, is a distinctive species with a broad, spatulate bill that sets it apart from other ducks. The male, or drake, in breeding plumage boasts an iridescent dark green head, a white chest, and chestnut flanks and belly. When in flight, one can observe the pale blue feathers on the forewing, edged with white and set against a green speculum. The female is more subdued in color, mottled brown akin to other dabblers, but her large, gray bill with orange hints is a clear identifier.

To identify the Northern Shoveler, look for the following characteristics:

Large, spatulate bill

Males: Iridescent dark green head, white chest, chestnut belly and flanks

Females: Mottled brown, similar to a female mallard but with a distinctive bill

In flight: Pale blue forewing feathers with a white border and green speculum

Size: Length of 48 cm (19 in), wingspan of 76 cm (30 in), and weight of 600 g (1.3 lb)

Habitat

The Northern Shoveler frequents open wetlands such as wet grasslands or marshes with emergent vegetation. They prefer mud-bottomed marshes rich in invertebrate life.

This species has a broad breeding range across northern Europe, the Palearctic, and most of North America. It winters in southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. It is a rare vagrant to Australia.

17-10-2018 - ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

With its yellow feet, which are used to flush prey when feeding in shallow water, the Little Egret is a distinctive member of the heron family. Little Egrets first bred in Britain in 1996 and since then have successfully colonised much of southern Britain and Ireland.

Little Egrets first bred in Britain in 1996 and since then have successfully colonised much of southern Britain and Ireland. Most of the breeding colonies have been established within existing Grey Heron colonies, the two species nesting alongside one another.

The winter distribution is also currently restricted to the southern half of Britain & Ireland, despite the fact that young birds are known to move some distance from their natal site.

The little egret, a captivating member of the heron family, Ardeidae, has long enchanted observers with its elegant appearance. Boasting a slender body, pristine white plumage, and long black legs, this bird is the epitome of grace and poise. Found throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and even as far as Australia, the little egret has a wide distribution, allowing it to grace numerous landscapes and ecosystems with its beauty.

The little egret is a medium-sized bird, typically measuring between 55 to 65 cm in length and weighing 350 to 550 grams. Some of its most distinctive features include:

White feathers that give the bird its elegant appearance

A black bill that contrasts with its bright plumage

Black legs with distinctive yellow feet

During the breeding season, the little egret adorns itself with lacy plumes on its head, neck, and back, further enhancing its already enchanting appearance.

Little egrets favor wetland environments such as marshes, swamps, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in various climates, from temperate to tropical regions. In some parts of the world, these birds are migratory, while in other regions, they maintain a more sedentary lifestyle.

An anecdote that illustrates the adaptability of the little egret can be found in the United Kingdom. Once a rare visitor, this bird has expanded its range and now breeds regularly across southern England, delighting local birdwatchers with its elegant presence.

The little egret’s diet primarily consists of fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. They employ various feeding techniques, such as:

Walking through shallow water and using their yellow feet to stir up prey

Employing a “stand and wait” strategy to ambush prey

As opportunistic feeders, little egrets are known to adapt their diet based on available food sources. In one fascinating instance, a little egret was observed using a piece of bread as bait to catch fish in an urban park, demonstrating their intelligence and resourcefulness.

17-10-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)

The western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Most taxonomic authorities lump this species and the eastern cattle egret together (called the cattle egret), but some (including the International Ornithologists' Union) separate them. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world in the last century.

It is a white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season. It nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Western cattle egrets exploit drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands and rice paddies. They often accompany cattle or other large mammals, catching insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the cattle egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.

The adult cattle egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species maintains a special relationship with cattle, which extends to other large grazing mammals; wider human farming is believed to be a major cause of their suddenly expanded range. The cattle egret removes ticks and flies from cattle and consumes them. This benefits both species, but it has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases.

The cattle egret has undergone one of the most rapid and wide reaching natural expansions of any bird species. It was originally native to parts of Southern Spain and Portugal, tropical and subtropical Africa and humid tropical and western Asia. In the end of the 19th century it began expanding its range into southern Africa, first breeding in the Cape Province in 1908. Cattle egrets were first sighted in the Americas on the boundary of Guiana and Suriname in 1877, having apparently flown across the Atlantic Ocean. It was not until the 1930s that the species is thought to have become established in that area.

The massive and rapid expansion of the cattle egret's range is due to its relationship with humans and their domesticated animals. Originally adapted to a commensal relationship with large grazing and browsing animals, it was easily able to switch to domesticated cattle and horses. As the keeping of livestock spread throughout the world, the cattle egret was able to occupy otherwise empty niches. Many populations of cattle egrets are highly migratory and dispersive, and this has helped the species' range expansion. The species has been seen as a vagrant in various sub-Antarctic islands, including South Georgia, Marion Island, the South Sandwich Islands and the South Orkney Islands. A small flock of eight birds was also seen in Fiji in 2008.

In addition to the natural expansion of its range, cattle egrets have been deliberately introduced into a few areas. The species was introduced to Hawaii in 1959. Successful releases were also made in the Seychelles and Rodrigues, but attempts to introduce the species to Mauritius failed. Numerous birds were also released by Whipsnade Zoo in England, but the species was never established.

Although the cattle egret sometimes feeds in shallow water, unlike most herons it is typically found in fields and dry grassy habitats, reflecting its greater dietary reliance on terrestrial insects rather than aquatic prey. 

17-10-2018 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.

This ibis is the most widespread of its kind, breeding in warm regions across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. It is migratory, with European birds wintering in Africa and North American birds migrating southward. The species has been expanding its range, with increasing numbers in Europe and successful breeding in Britain as of 2022.

The Glossy Ibis is known for its nomadic tendencies and dispersal movements post-breeding. Northern populations are migratory, traversing vast distances such as the Sahara Desert. The species nests in mixed colonies and forms large flocks during migration and winter. It often roosts communally with other species, sometimes in trees far from feeding areas.

The Glossy Ibis is relatively quiet, but it does produce a range of vocalizations, including croaks and grunts. A distinctive hoarse grrrr can be heard during the breeding season.

Nesting occurs above water on platforms of twigs and vegetation, with both parents incubating the 3 to 4 eggs laid. Chicks leave the nest after about a week but are fed by parents for another 6 to 7 weeks, fledging around 28 days old.

The ibis's diet is seasonal and opportunistic, feeding on a variety of prey such as insects, annelids, molluscs, crustaceans, and occasionally fish, amphibians, lizards, small snakes, and nestling birds.

The Glossy Ibis is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, it faces threats from habitat degradation and loss due to drainage, salinity changes, groundwater extraction, and invasive plant species. It is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

17-10-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

17-10-2018 DEVESA, VALENCIA - COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia)

17-10-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

In medieval falconry the kestrel was reserved for the knave, reflecting its lowly status.

Country kestrels feed almost exclusively on small rodents (particularly voles), but those living in towns will take sparrows instead.

Though rodents may be the principal diet, they will also take a wide variety of other prey, including lizards, earthworms, large insects and even bats.

Vole numbers affect kestrel numbers: in good vole years more young kestrels are fledged.

Kestrels have remarkably keen eyesight even in extremely poor light, allowing them to hunt almost until dark.

Kestrels hunt from static perches and by hovering: the latter is far more productive, but uses lots of energy, which is why they hunt mainly from perches during the winter.

Hovering gives the kestrel its country name of windhover.

Kestrels aren’t as big as they look. An adult weighs on average a mere 220gm, less than half the weight of a red-legged partridge.

16-10-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - NIGHT BLOOMING CACTUS (Cereus jamacaru)

Cereus jamacaru, known as mandacaru or cardeiro, is a cactus native to central and eastern Brazil. It often grows up to 6 metres (20 feet) high.

The plants have wooded stem succulent trees that reach about 9 m (up to 15 m) in height with segmented stems and form large crowns. The trunks reach a diameter of 45 cm with 4 to 6 slightly wavy notches and more in old age. The segmented twigs have four to six ribs 8 to 20 cm long and 5 to 7 radials 1.5 cm long, sometimes up to ten ribs due to ribs that have been pushed in with age. The ribs, which are initially about 3.5 cm high, become higher with advancing age.

Yellow to brown areoles stand on them at a distance of 2 to 4 cm. These carry about 15 to 20 yellowish to brownish spines, which are divided into 7 to 9 radial spines and 6 to 13 central spines. It is not uncommon for the total number of thorns to be reached over the course of many years. The thorns that form later are particularly tough and up to 10 cm long.

The flowers are white open at night, and about 250 mm (10 in) long, with green and white outside the petals with a brown outer edge. The outer bracts are brownish to light green, the inner ones are white. The flower buds usually appear in the middle of spring and each flower lasts only for a night. They blossom at dusk and wither by the morning.

It is endemic to the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte. It is a very common species in the semi-arid caatinga habitats. Many birds feed on the fruit, like the white-naped jay, "gralha-cancã" and the Caatinga parakeet "periquito-da-caatinga."

A thorn-less kind is used for animal feed. The most common kind is very thorny but is also used for animal feed, after burning or cutting off the thorns. Mandacaru is highly drought-resistant.

The mandacaru is featured on the flag of the city of Petrolina in the state of Pernambuco.

15-10-2018 CALPE, ALICANTE - VIOLET CABBAGE (Moricandia arvensis)

Moricandia arvensis, the purple mistress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It has a broadly western Mediterranean distribution, from the Canary Islands to northern Africa including Mauritania and Chad, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and as far as Greece, and has been introduced to France, Corsica, and Sardinia. It has an intermediate C3–C4 carbon fixation system, known as C2 photosynthesis.

A very branched herb from the base, which grows up to half a metre in height and which lives on the edges of roads, generally looking for warm areas. It is characterised by its glaucous leaves, with an entire margin and a heart-shaped base that embraces the stem. The flowers are reddish or violet in colour. The fruits are long siliques that are arranged perpendicular to the stem. It flowers in the second half of spring.

15-10-2018 CALPE, ALICANTE - WILD CARROT (Daucus carota)

Daucus carota, whose common names include wild carrot, European wild carrot, bird's nest, bishop's lace, and Queen Anne's lace (North America), is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. It is native to temperate regions of the Old World and was naturalized in the New World.

Domesticated carrots are cultivars of a subspecies, Daucus carota subsp. sativus.

The wild carrot is a herbaceous, somewhat variable biennial plant that grows between 30 and 120 cm (1 and 4 ft) tall, and is roughly hairy, with a stiff, solid stem. The leaves are tripinnate, finely divided and lacy, and overall triangular in shape. The leaves are 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long, bristly and alternate in a pinnate pattern that separates into thin segments. The flowers are small and dull white, clustered in flat, dense umbels. The umbels are terminal and about 8–15 cm (3–6 in) wide. They may be pink in bud and may have a reddish or purple flower (the "ruby") in the centre of the umbel. The lower bracts are three-forked or pinnate, which distinguishes the plant from other white-flowered umbellifers. As the seeds develop, the umbel curls up at the edges, becomes more congested, and develops a concave surface. The fruits are small, dry, bumpy, oval and flattened, with short styles and hooked spines, as well as protective hairs surrounding it. The fruit has two mericarps, or bicarpellate. The endosperm of the fruit grows before the embryo. The dried umbels detach from the plant, becoming tumbleweeds. The function of the tiny red flower, coloured by anthocyanin, is to attract insects. The flowers bloom from May to September.

15-10-2018 CALPE, ALICANTE - WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata megera)

14-10-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus)

The Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus, is a small wader, or shorebird, with a somewhat plump appearance. It boasts a dark greenish-brown back and wings, complemented by a greyish head and breast. The underparts are predominantly white, with the back featuring white spots that vary in extent depending on the season and age of the bird. The legs and short bill are a matching dark green, creating a harmonious color palette for this avian species.

When observing the Green Sandpiper, look for its distinctive flight pattern, which reveals dark wings above and below, punctuated by a striking white rump. This feature is a reliable identifier, setting it apart from its close relative, the slightly smaller Solitary Sandpiper of North America. Additionally, the Green Sandpiper's white-spotted back is most pronounced in breeding adults and less so in winter and juvenile plumage.

The Green Sandpiper is a freshwater aficionado, often found in more confined spaces than other waders, which typically prefer open vistas. It thrives in a variety of freshwater habitats, avoiding the more gregarious nature of some wader congregations.

This bird breeds across subarctic Europe and extends its range east across the Palearctic. It is migratory, seeking winter respite in southern Europe, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and tropical Africa.

14-10-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN FIELD CRICKET (Gryllus campestris))

14-10-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - EPAULET SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Orthetrum chrysostigma)

Orthetrum chrysostigma, the epaulet skimmer, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi as well as Canary Islands, Israel, and Portugal. It was recorded in the Maltese Islands in 2010. One was also spotted in Tel Aviv, Israel in August 2022.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, intermittent rivers, shrub-dominated wetlands, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and freshwater springs. The adults prey on various flying insects. The bodies of adult males are blue, and those of young and females are yellow and brown.

14-10-2018 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - WHITE STORK (Ciconia ciconia)

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a majestic bird, notable for its predominantly white plumage with contrasting black flight feathers. Adults boast impressive red legs and long, pointed red beaks. They average a length of 100–115 cm from beak to tail and have a wingspan ranging from 155 to 215 cm.

To identify the White Stork, look for its white body, black wingtips, and distinctive red legs and beak. In flight, they extend their necks and legs, presenting a stretched-out appearance. Juveniles have duller beaks and legs, which become brighter as they mature.

White Storks favor open farmlands, grassy meadows, and shallow wetlands. They avoid dense vegetation, preferring areas where they can easily spot and access their prey.

The White Stork breeds across Europe, northwestern Africa, southwestern Asia, and southern Africa. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering as far south as South Africa and on the Indian subcontinent.

These social birds can be seen in flocks, especially during migration. They are monogamous breeders, with both parents involved in nest building and care of the young. They walk with a slow, steady gait and rest with their heads hunched between their shoulders.

The White Stork is largely silent, but it is known for its bill-clattering display, which resonates from its throat pouch and serves as a form of communication.

White Storks build large stick nests, often reused for several years. Females lay clutches of usually four eggs, with both parents sharing incubation duties. The young fledge after about two months but remain dependent on their parents for a short while thereafter.

The White Stork can be confused with the yellow-billed stork, great white pelican, and Egyptian vulture when seen at a distance in flight. However, differences in beak shape, leg length, and flight posture can help distinguish these species.

As carnivores, White Storks consume a variety of prey, including insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and occasionally small birds. They forage on the ground and in shallow waters.

The White Stork is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its populations have benefited from conservation efforts, leading to reintroduction in areas where it had previously disappeared due to changes in land use and industrialization.

14-10-2018 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)

14-10-2018 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)

The ideal farmland habitat is a mixture of grass and arable fields, divided by thick hedgerows with pockets of dense scrub. They can tolerate a certain degree of urbanisation, and are found in green spaces in towns and cities, even Rome.[citation needed]

They are sedentary in nature and will often travel only 250 metres (820 ft) from their nests to forage in summer, and up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) in winter to find stubble.

2-8-2015 LAGUNA DE GALLOCANTA - COMMON SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus)

The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a species of large annual forb of the genus Helianthus. It is commonly grown as a crop for its edible oily seeds. Apart from cooking oil production, it is also used as livestock forage (as a meal or a silage plant), as bird food, in some industrial applications, and as an ornamental in domestic gardens. Wild H. annuus is a widely branched annual plant with many flower heads. The domestic sunflower, however, often possesses only a single large inflorescence (flower head) atop an unbranched stem.

Helianthus annuus (common sunflower) belong to the dicotyledonous category, distinguishing them from monocots. As dicots, sunflowers possess embryos with two veins, known as cotyledons, a characteristic feature that sets them apart. The veins in their leaves exhibit a net-like pattern, in contrast to monocots, which typically display parallel leaf veins.

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - ZAMBESI CRESTED BARBET (Trachyphonus vaillantii ssp. nobilis)

12-10-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

11-10-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LEAF BEETLE (Family Chrysomelidae)

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.

12-10-2018 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)

12-10-2018 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris rapae)

Pieris rapae is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae. It is known in Europe as the small white, in North America as the cabbage white or cabbage butterfly, on several continents as the small cabbage white, and in New Zealand as the white butterfly. The butterfly is recognizable by its white color with small black dots on its wings, and it can be distinguished from P. brassicae by its larger size and the black band at the tip of its forewings.

The caterpillar of this species, often referred to as the "imported cabbageworm", is a pest to crucifer crops such as cabbage, kale, bok choy and broccoli. Pieris rapae is widespread in Europe and Asia; it is believed to have originated in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Europe, and to have spread across Eurasia thanks to the diversification of brassicaceous crops and the development of human trade routes. Over the past two centuries, it spread to North Africa, North America, New Zealand, and Australia, as a result of accidental introductions.

12-10-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)