6-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)

6-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - NORTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus))

6-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - 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.

The nest is on the ground hidden in dense vegetation, with two to seven (most often three to five) eggs; the eggs hatch after 11–15 days, with the chicks fledging 10–14 days after hatching. Two broods are commonly raised each year. This species is one of the most important nest hosts of the cuckoo, and it is also an important prey species for merlins and hen harriers.

Its food is primarily insects and other invertebrates, mostly small items less than 5 mm (3⁄16 in) long. It also eats the seeds of grasses, sedges, rushes, and heather, and crowberry berries, mainly in winter.

7-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WHITE WALL ROCKET (Diplotaxis erucoides)

Diplotaxis erucoides, the white rocket or white wallrocket, is a species of annual herb of the family Brassicaceae native to West Mediterranean.

Description

Diplotaxis erucoides is an herbaceous plant up to 20–60 centimetres (8–23+1⁄2 in) tall, with green, erect stem, sparsely pubescent, and pinnatisect leaves up to 15 cm long. It has racemes of white flowers with four 6–8 mm petals, four sepals, six stamens and a style with green stigma. The fruit is a 25–33 mm siliqua containing 40–80 seeds in two parallel series.

Diplotaxis erucoides is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is in flower from May to September, and the seeds ripen from June to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

7-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - AMARYLLIS (Narcissus dubius)

Narcissus dubius (Spanish: meados de zorro) is a species of the genus Narcissus (daffodils) in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is classified in Section Tazettae and is native to northeastern Spain.

Narcissus dubius is a bulbous plant with completely white petals and trumpet, and produces up to six flowers per umbel. Genetic studies indicate that it may be a hybrid of Narcissus assoanus and Narcissus papyraceus. Its range spans Spain and France.

It may be confused with the closely related species Narcissus tazetta, which has a yellow trumpet. Narcissus dubius may also be mistaken for Narcissus papyraceus, which is similar in appearance but twice as large.

Narcissus dubius was described in 1773 by French botanist and Ichthyology Antoine Gouan in his book Illustrationes et Observationes Botanicae 22. It has 25 pairs of chromosomes.

7-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG HEADED POPPY (Papaver dubium)

7-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

The great tit (Parus major) is a small passerine bird, easily recognized by its black head and neck, striking white cheeks, olive upperparts, and vibrant yellow underparts. This bird is the most widespread species in the genus Parus, found across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of North Africa.

Males are characterized by their bright plumage, with a black bib that extends down the belly, bordered by a lemon-yellow breast. Females and juveniles are similar but have duller coloration. The black line down the belly is also narrower and sometimes broken in these birds.

Great tits favor a variety of woodland habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, and even urban parks and gardens. They are also found in riverine woodlands and, in some regions, boreal taiga.

This species is resident throughout its range, which extends from the Iberian Peninsula to the Amur Valley, and from Scandinavia to the Middle East. It is generally non-migratory, except in harsh winters when it may move to more temperate areas.

Great tits are known for their intelligence and adaptability. They exhibit a range of foraging behaviors and can solve problems with insight learning. They are also cavity nesters and are monogamous, with both parents involved in raising the chicks.

The great tit has a repertoire of up to 40 calls and songs, with the male being particularly vocal. A common call resembles the phrase "teacher, teacher," which is used to proclaim territory.

Breeding occurs once a year, with the female laying up to 12 eggs in a cavity nest. The female incubates the eggs alone, but both parents feed the chicks. In most years, the pair will raise two broods.

In summer, the diet is predominantly insectivorous, while in winter, it expands to include seeds and berries. Great tits are adept at handling large food items and are known to visit bird feeders in urban areas.

6-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

6-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - BLACK TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa)

The black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa, is a statuesque wader with a striking silhouette, characterized by its long legs and an equally long, straight bill. In its breeding attire, it dons an orange head, neck, and chest, while in the non-breeding season, it adopts a more subdued grey-brown plumage. Regardless of the season, it sports a distinctive black and white wingbar.

When observing the black-tailed godwit, look for its long, straight bill, which can range from 7.5 to 12 cm in length, and its tall, elegant stance. The bill's base is tinged with yellowish or orange-pink during the breeding season, turning pink in winter. The legs are a dark hue, varying from grey to black. In flight, the bold black and white pattern on its wings and a white rump are conspicuous markers. Compared to the bar-tailed godwit, the black-tailed has a straighter bill and longer legs, and stands taller.

The black-tailed godwit favors a range of wetland habitats for breeding, including fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands, and bogs. It is also known to adapt to human-altered landscapes such as wet grasslands and pastures.

This species has a broad breeding range that spans from Iceland across Europe to central Asia. During the northern hemisphere winter, it migrates to diverse regions including the Indian subcontinent, Australia, New Zealand, western Europe, and west Africa.

The black-tailed godwit is a sociable bird, often seen migrating in flocks. It exhibits a strong fidelity to its breeding grounds, where pairs reunite each season with remarkable punctuality. If a mate is delayed, 'divorce' may ensue.

The most frequently heard call of the black-tailed godwit is a loud and insistent "weeka weeka weeka."

These godwits are predominantly monogamous, with a tendency towards bigamy in some cases. They nest in loose colonies, with males establishing temporary territories for courtship. Both parents share the duty of incubating the olive-green to dark brown eggs, and the young are precocial, leaving the nest shortly after hatching.

The bar-tailed godwit is the species most similar in appearance to the black-tailed godwit, but differences in bill shape, leg length, and plumage, particularly in flight, aid in their distinction.

The diet of the black-tailed godwit is varied, consisting mainly of invertebrates such as beetles, flies, and worms, with the addition of aquatic plants during winter and migration. They forage by probing in the mud or picking prey from the surface.

The black-tailed godwit is classified as Near Threatened, with an estimated global population of 634,000 to 805,000 birds. Conservation efforts are in place to address the decline in numbers and to manage the pressures from hunting in certain regions.

6-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

6-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

4-2-2019 XERACO, VALENCIA - ONION LEAFED ASPHODEL (Asphodelus fistulosus)

Asphodelus fistulosus is a species of plant known as hollow-stemmed asphodel, onionweed, onion-leafed asphodel, and pink asphodel. It is native to the Mediterranean region as well as the Arabian Peninsula, Transcaucasus, and Madeira.

It is an invasive exotic weed in the United States, with significant infestations in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed by the United States Department of Agriculture. It is also a common weed in parts of Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico, and it thrives in any area with a Mediterranean climate.

It is an annual or short-lived perennial herb growing a hollow stem up to 70 cm (28 in) tall. The root system has a series of tuber-like parts at the base of the stem. The plant takes the form of a large tuft of onion-like rounded hollow leaves up to 30 cm (12 in) long. The inflorescence is a panicle with widely spaced flowers. Each flower is 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide with six tepals which are generally white or very pale pink with a neat central longitudinal stripe of brown to reddish-purple. The flowers are diurnal, closing at night and in overcast or low-light weather conditions. The fruit is a rounded capsule containing six seeds.

5-2-2019 OLIVA, VALENCIA - COMMON CHAFFINCH (MALE) (Fringilla coelebs)

4-2-2019 XERACO, VALENCIA - CATALONIA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis liolepis)

11-12-2015 BAGAN, MYANMAR - RUSSET SPARROW (MALE) (Passer cinnamomeus)

The russet sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus), also called the cinnamon or cinnamon tree sparrow, is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. A chunky little seed-eating bird with a thick bill, it has a body length of 14 to 15 cm (5.5–5.9 in). Its plumage is mainly warm rufous above and grey below. It exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the plumage of both sexes patterned similarly to that of the corresponding sex of house sparrow. Its vocalisations are sweet and musical chirps, which when strung together form a song.

Three subspecies are recognised, differing chiefly in the yellowness of their underparts. The subspecies rutilans and intensior breed in parts of eastern Asia, where they are usually found in light woodland, and the subspecies cinnamomeus breeds in the Himalayas, where it is usually associated with terrace cultivation. The russet sparrow is the typical sparrow of human habitations in towns where the house and Eurasian tree sparrows are absent. In the southern part of its range, the russet sparrow prefers higher altitudes, but in the north it breeds by the sea. The russet sparrow is known well enough in the Himalayas to have a distinct name in some languages, and is depicted in Japanese art.

This sparrow feeds mainly on the seeds of herbs and grains, but it also eats berries and insects, particularly during the breeding season. This diet makes it a minor pest in agricultural areas, but also a predator of insect pests. While breeding, it is not social, as its nests are dispersed. It forms flocks when not breeding, although it associates with other bird species infrequently. In some parts of its range, the russet sparrow migrates, at least to lower altitudes. Its nest is located in a tree cavity, or a hole in a cliff or building. The male chooses the nest site before finding a mate and uses the nest for courtship display. The typical clutch contains five or six whitish eggs. Both sexes incubate and feed the young.

3-2-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small, elegant passerine bird, a member of the family Motacillidae, which includes pipits and longclaws. This slender bird measures between 16.5 to 19 cm in length, with East Asian subspecies reaching up to 21 cm. It is characterized by its long, constantly wagging tail, a behavior that has become synonymous with the genus. Weighing an average of 25 g, the White Wagtail can live up to 12 years in the wild.

Adult White Wagtails exhibit a distinctive plumage with a combination of grey, black, and white. The bird's upper parts are generally grey, with a white face, belly, and breast. Males during the breeding season may show a darker back, and the species is known for its sharp, brisk call and more melodious song during courtship.

The White Wagtail is commonly found in open country, often in close proximity to human habitation and water sources. It shows a preference for bare areas which facilitate the sighting and pursuit of prey. This bird has adapted well to urban environments, utilizing paved areas such as parking lots for foraging.

30-1-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides)

2-2-2019 CAMI LES FONTS OLIVA, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

The Mallard, or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), is a familiar and widespread dabbling duck with a presence across temperate and subtropical regions of the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has also been introduced to parts of the Southern Hemisphere. The male is renowned for its iridescent green head and white collar, while the female sports a brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes boast a speculum—a patch of feathers with iridescent purple or blue hues bordered by white. The Mallard's length ranges from 50 to 65 cm, with a wingspan of 81 to 98 cm, and it typically weighs between 0.7 and 1.6 kg.

Males during the breeding season are unmistakable with their glossy green heads, white collars, and purple-tinged brown breasts. Females are mottled brown with buff cheeks and an eye-stripe. Both sexes have the distinctive speculum on their wings. The male's bill is yellowish-orange tipped with black, while the female's is darker, ranging from black to mottled orange and brown.

Mallards are found in a variety of wetlands, including parks, small ponds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. They prefer water depths less than 0.9 meters and are drawn to areas with aquatic vegetation.

This species is distributed across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, from Alaska to Mexico, the Hawaiian Islands, across the Palearctic, and down to southeastern and southwestern Australia and New Zealand

2-2-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - MALLARD (FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

2-2-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE & FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

2-2-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)

30-1-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)

The Cattle Egret, a member of the heron family Ardeidae, is a small white bird recognized for its association with grazing animals. It exhibits a stout build, with a wingspan ranging from 88 to 96 cm, and a body length between 46 to 56 cm. The species is relatively light, weighing between 270 to 512 grams. It is characterized by a short, thick neck, a robust bill, and a somewhat hunched posture.

Outside the breeding season, the adult Cattle Egret has predominantly white plumage, a yellow bill, and greyish-yellow legs. Come breeding time, the western variety develops striking orange-buff plumes on the back, breast, and crown, while the bill, legs, and irises turn a vivid red. The eastern variety differs slightly with buff coloration extending to the cheeks and throat during breeding, and the plumes taking on a more golden hue. Both sexes are similar in appearance, though males are marginally larger with longer breeding plumes.

Cattle Egrets are adaptable birds that exploit a variety of drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their preferred environments include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies.

Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, the Cattle Egret has seen a significant expansion in its distribution, colonizing much of the rest of the world over the last century. It is now found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones globally.

Cattle Egrets are often seen in the company of cattle or other large mammals, benefiting from the insects and small vertebrates these animals disturb. They are known for their migratory behavior, with some populations moving seasonally, while others disperse post-breeding.

At breeding colonies, the Cattle Egret emits a soft, guttural "rick-rack" call but is generally quiet outside this setting.

Breeding occurs in colonies, often near water and in the company of other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Both parents are involved in nest construction and incubation, which lasts about 23 days. Chicks are born with some down and are dependent on their parents for warmth and food.

The Cattle Egret can be confused with other white egrets, but its shorter neck, more robust build, and behavior around livestock help distinguish it.

The diet is varied, primarily consisting of insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and flies. They also consume spiders, frogs, small reptiles, and occasionally bird eggs and chicks. They are known to forage in fields, often near grazing animals, and have been observed following farm machinery to catch disturbed prey.

30-1-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides)

30-1-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - NORTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus)

1-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUG (Nezara viridula)

Nezara viridula, commonly known as the southern green stink bug (USA), southern green shield bug (UK) or green vegetable bug (Australia and New Zealand), is a plant-feeding stink bug. Believed to have originated in Ethiopia, it can now be found across the world. Because of its preference for certain species of legumes, such as beans and soybeans, it is an economically important pest on such crops.

Nezara viridula is a cosmopolitan species, living in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and Europe between 45 degrees north and 45 degrees south. Its exact origin is unknown, but it is believed to have originated from the Ethiopia region of East Africa, from where it has spread around the world due to its strong flight and human transport along trade routes.

The adult males can reach a body length (from front to elytral apex) of about 12.1 millimetres (0.48 in), while females are bigger, reaching a size of about 13.1 millimetres (0.52 in). The body is usually bright green and shield-shaped and the eyes are usually reddish, but they may also be black. There is a row of three white spots on the scutellum. They differ from the similar green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris) by the shape of their scent gland openings, which are short and wide in N. viridula, and narrow and long in the green stink bug.