13-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

Grey herons are large, grey-plumaged birds that are solitary feeders but nest in colonies called heronries. They have long legs and necks, a yellow bill, and a distinctive black eye-stripe. Herons are excellent fishers, using their long beaks to spear prey, and they live near freshwater habitats like lakes and rivers, though they can also be found along coasts and at fish farms. 

Physical characteristics

Appearance: Grey plumage on their back and greyish-white underneath, with a long, white neck and a bright yellow, dagger-shaped bill. They have a black eye-stripe that extends into black feathers at the back of their head.

Size: They can stand up to a meter tall and weigh up to 2 kilograms, making them one of the tallest birds in Britain. 

Habitat and diet

Habitat: They prefer freshwater environments such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshlands, but can also adapt to saltwater habitats and feed in flooded fields.

Diet: They mainly eat fish but also prey on frogs, insects, and other small creatures. They use their long necks and beaks to snatch prey from the water.

Hunting: Once they catch prey, they often toss it in the air and swallow it head-first. 

Behavior and reproduction

Nesting: Grey herons nest in large colonies called heronries, typically in treetops.

Breeding: They breed in the spring, laying 3 to 6 eggs that are about the size of a chicken egg. Both parents feed the chicks by regurgitating fish.

Flight: In flight, they retract their long necks into a characteristic "S" shape, unlike storks which fly with their necks outstretched.

Lifespan: The average lifespan is about five years, though some can live much longer. 

Adaptability and intelligence

Adaptability: They are a highly successful species due to their biological flexibility, which allows them to live in a wide variety of habitats and take advantage of different food sources, including those created by humans.

Solitary vs. social: They are solitary feeders but come together to nest, a combination that allows them to take advantage of both strategies. 

13-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

The common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, is a bird of prey from the kestrel group within the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In the United Kingdom, it is often simply referred to as the "kestrel." This raptor is small compared to other birds of prey but larger than most songbirds, with long wings and a distinctive long tail.

Males and females exhibit sexual dimorphism in their plumage. The male has a blue-grey cap and tail with a black tip bordered by a narrow white rim. Its back is chestnut with black spots, and the underside is buff with black streaks. The female is larger and lacks the blue-grey coloring, having a brown back with black bars and a similar underside to the male. Both sexes have a prominent black malar stripe, bright yellow cere, feet, and eye-ring, with dark toenails, bill, and iris.

The common kestrel favors open habitats such as fields, heaths, shrubland, and marshland. It does not require woodland but needs alternative perching and nesting sites like rocks or buildings. It thrives in treeless steppes and can adapt to human settlements and various landscapes, from wetlands to arid savannas.

This species has a vast range, being widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and occasionally reaching the east coast of North America. It has colonized some oceanic islands, though vagrant individuals are generally rare.

The common kestrel is diurnal and can be sedentary or migratory, depending on the region. It is known for its characteristic hunting behavior, hovering 10-20 meters above the ground before diving steeply onto prey. It is also capable of seeing ultraviolet light, which aids in detecting the urine trails of small mammals.

Breeding occurs in spring or the start of the dry season, with the kestrel preferring cavity nests in cliffs, trees, or buildings. Clutches typically consist of 3-7 eggs, which are incubated by both parents. The young fledge after 4-5 weeks and stay with the family for a short period thereafter.

The common kestrel's diet consists almost exclusively of mouse-sized mammals, such as voles, shrews, and true mice. It may also consume small birds, particularly during the summer when fledglings are abundant. Invertebrates and arthropods can be significant food sources seasonally.

The IUCN lists the common kestrel as Least Concern. Its population has fluctuated but remains generally stable, with an estimated 1-2 million pairs globally. Some subspecies, such as those in the Canary Islands, are rarer and number less than 1000 adult birds.

13-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

The Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, is a medium-sized passerine bird characterized by its glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen. Throughout the year, the plumage is speckled with white, though less so during the breeding season. Adults measure approximately 20 cm in length, with pink legs and a seasonally changing bill color—black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles display browner plumage compared to adults.

To identify the Common Starling, look for its iridescent black feathers, which may appear purple or green when reflecting light. The bird's bill is black in the winter and transitions to yellow in the summer, aiding in identification. The starling's flight is strong and direct, with pointed wings that are distinctive in the air. On the ground, its waddling gait is notable.

Common Starlings are highly adaptable, favoring urban and suburban areas where they find ample nesting and roosting opportunities. They also inhabit grasslands, such as farmlands and pastures, where short grass makes foraging for invertebrates easier.

Native to temperate Europe and western Asia, the Common Starling has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, North America, and other regions. Its range extends from Europe to northern Africa and across the Palearctic to western Mongolia.

The Common Starling is a gregarious bird, especially in autumn and winter, forming large flocks known as murmurations. These flocks are thought to be a defense against predators. On the ground, starlings forage in groups, often following grazing animals to feed on disturbed invertebrates.

The Common Starling's song is a varied mix of melodic and mechanical sounds, including mimicked noises from other bird species and the environment. Males sing to attract mates and defend their territory. Calls include a harsh alarm scream and a variety of social chatters.

Breeding occurs in the spring and summer, with the female laying four to five glossy, pale blue eggs in a nest built within a natural or artificial cavity. Both parents share incubation duties, and the young fledge after about three weeks.

Omnivorous, the Common Starling's diet includes a wide range of invertebrates, seeds, and fruit. They employ various foraging techniques, such as probing the ground and catching flying insects.

Despite declines in some European populations, the Common Starling's global population is not considered to be declining significantly. It is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

13-2-2019 ULLAL DE BOLDOVI, VALENCIA - LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

The Little Grebe, or Tachybaptus ruficollis, known colloquially as the dabchick, is the smallest European member of the grebe family. This diminutive water bird measures a mere 23 to 29 centimeters in length and is a common sight in open bodies of water across its range.

In the summer, the adult Little Grebe is a sight to behold with its dark upper parts and a striking rufous coloration on the neck, cheeks, and flanks, complemented by a bright yellow gape. Outside of the breeding season, the plumage turns to a more subdued brownish-grey. Juveniles can be identified by their yellow bills tipped with black and streaked cheeks. In winter, the species is recognizable by its buff plumage, darker back and cap, and distinctive rear end.

The Little Grebe favors heavily vegetated areas of freshwater lakes for breeding. It is adept at using this dense vegetation as a cover.

This bird has a broad range, breeding across Europe, much of Asia down to New Guinea, and most of Africa. In winter, many individuals move to open or coastal waters, and it becomes migratory in regions where waters freeze.

13-2-2019 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.

13-2-2019 BONAIRE, 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.

13-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - BLUETHROAT (MALE) (Luscinia svecica)

The Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) is a small and enchanting passerine, reminiscent of the European robin in stature, measuring 13-14 cm in length. The males are particularly striking with their vibrant throat plumage, which boasts a rich blue central patch framed by black and rust-colored borders, evoking the hues of the Swedish flag. Above, they are a modest brown, save for the black tail adorned with red side patches, and they possess a pronounced white supercilium that stands out against their plumage.

To identify the Bluethroat, look for the male's resplendent throat, which is its most distinguishing feature. Females and juveniles are more subdued, with the females typically displaying a blackish crescent on a cream throat and breast. Juveniles are freckled and spotted with dark brown above. All share the characteristic white supercilium and black tail with red side patches.

The Bluethroat favors wet birch woods or bushy swamps for breeding, finding solace in the dense undergrowth where it can nest in tussocks or low bushes.

This migratory bird breeds across the Palearctic and has a foothold in western Alaska. When the cold season approaches, it retreats to warmer climes, wintering in the Iberian Peninsula, northern Africa, and southern Asia, including the Indian subcontinent.

The Bluethroat is a bird of secretive nature, often found flitting through dense vegetation. It is migratory, with moulting beginning in July after breeding and completed in 40-45 days before the birds embark on their long journey to wintering grounds.

The male Bluethroat is a skilled vocalist with a song that is both varied and highly imitative. Its call is a characteristic chat "chack" noise, which can be heard amidst the underbrush where it dwells.

Bluethroats nest in tussocks or low in dense bushes, preferring the sheltered environment of wet woodlands or swampy areas.

As an insectivorous bird, the Bluethroat's diet consists primarily of insects, which it seeks out in its wetland and swampy habitats.

13-2-2019 BONAIRE, VALENCIA - SPOTLESS STARLING (Sturnus unicolor)

The Spotless Starling, known scientifically as Sturnus unicolor, is a member of the starling family, Sturnidae. It bears a striking resemblance to its cousin, the Common Starling, but is distinguished by its slightly larger size, measuring 21-23 cm in length and weighing between 70-100 grams. Its plumage is a glossy, oily black, which may exhibit purple or green iridescence under bright light. Notably, during the spring and summer, its feathers are completely devoid of spots, while in winter, it sports only minuscule pale spots.

To identify the Spotless Starling, look for its longer throat feathers, which are double the length of those on the Common Starling, creating a pronounced "beard" especially visible when the bird vocalizes. Its legs are a vivid pink, and the bill color changes with the seasons: yellow with a bluish or pinkish base in summer, and a duller, often blackish hue in winter. Juveniles present a dull brown plumage, darker than their common counterparts, with a black bill and brown legs.

The Spotless Starling is quite adaptable, inhabiting a variety of open environments from farmlands and olive groves to urban areas. It thrives particularly well in open grazed holm oak woods and in cities like Gibraltar, where it is a common sight.

This bird has a more restricted range compared to the Common Starling, being native to the Iberian Peninsula, Northwest Africa, southernmost France, and the islands of Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia. It is largely sedentary, with its population having expanded northward in recent decades.

13-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (FEMALE) (Saxicola rubicola)

The European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola, is a small, charming passerine bird, once thought to be a member of the thrush family but now placed within the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. This species exhibits a striking sexual dimorphism, with males donning a black plumage with vibrant orange throats and females wearing a more subdued brown.

Males in their summer plumage are unmistakable with their black heads, orange throats, and white bellies. They also sport a distinctive white half-collar and small white patches on the wings and rump. Females, on the other hand, are predominantly brown with less pronounced white wing patches. Both sexes have notably short wings, which are shorter than those of their migratory relatives.

The European stonechat favors heathlands, coastal dunes, and open grasslands dotted with shrubs, brambles, and heather. These habitats provide the perfect backdrop for their active foraging and breeding behaviors.

13-2-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - COMMON KINGFISHER (MALE) (Alcedo atthis)

The Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a small kingfisher widely distributed across Eurasia and North Africa. It is amongst the most colorful birds but despite its extraordinary colors, sometimes the Common kingfisher is difficult to see when it is in a dappled shade, and its colors are also not very obvious in flight. Furthermore, due to its shy nature, the Common kingfisher often remains hidden from a human's eye.

The Common kingfisher has the typical short-tailed, dumpy-bodied, large-headed, and long-billed shape. The adult male of the western European subspecies, A. a. ispida has green-blue upperparts with pale azure-blue back and rump, a rufous patch by the bill base, and a rufous ear patch. It has a green-blue neck stripe, white neck blaze and throat, rufous underparts, and a black bill with some red at the base. The legs and feet are bright red. The female is identical in appearance to the male except that her lower mandible is orange-red with a black tip. The juvenile is similar to the adult but with duller and greener upperparts and paler underparts. Its bill is black, and the legs are also initially black. Feathers are moulted gradually between July and November with the main flight feathers taking 90-100 days to moult and regrow. Some that moult late may suspend their moult during cold winter weather.

14-11-2016 YANDOBA, MYANMAR - WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)

The White wagtail is a slender bird with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. There are a number of other subspecies, some of which may have arisen because of partial geographical isolation, such as the resident British and Irish form, the pied wagtail M. a. yarrellii, which now also breeds in adjacent areas of the neighbouring European mainland. The Pied wagtail exchanges the grey colour of the nominate form with black (or very dark grey in females), but is otherwise identical in its behaviour. Other subspecies, the validity of some of which is questionable, differ in the colour of the wings, back, and head, or other features. Some races show sexual dimorphism during the breeding season. As many as six subspecies may be present in the wintering ground in India or Southeast Asia and here they can be difficult to distinguish.

White wagtails breed throughout Eurasia, only being absent in the Arctic. They also breed in the mountains of Morocco and western Alaska. These birds are residents in the milder parts of their range such as western Europe and the Mediterranean, but migratory in much of the rest of their range. Northern European breeders winter around the Mediterranean and in tropical and subtropical Africa, and Asiatic birds move to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Birds from the North American population also winter in tropical Asia. White wagtails occupy a wide range of habitats but are absent from deserts. They inhabit grasslands, seashores, rocky shorelines, sand beaches, tidepools, rivers, lakeshores, farmland, gardens, and parks. They are also often found in towns and villages.

12-2-2019 OLIVA, VALENCIA - DOUBLED GOATFOOT SORREL (Oxalis pes-caprae f. pleniflora)

The 'Doubled Goatfoot Sorrel' (Oxalis pes-caprae f. pleniflora) is a double-flowered form of the Bermuda Buttercup, native to South Africa but considered an invasive weed in many parts of the world. It is known for its bright yellow, multi-petaled flowers and its ability to spread rapidly via underground bulbils. 

Key Facts

Scientific Name: Oxalis pes-caprae forma pleniflora.

Common Names: Also known as Bermuda buttercup, African wood-sorrel, Bermuda sorrel, sourgrass, or soursob.

Appearance: This specific form features "doubled" or multi-petaled yellow flowers, in contrast to the typical single-petaled flowers of the common variety. The leaves are long-stalked and divided into three clover-like leaflets, often featuring a brown spot.

Origin & Habitat: It is indigenous to the Cape of Good Hope region of South Africa but has become a widespread, naturalized weed in other regions, including parts of the U.S. (especially coastal California), Europe, and Australia.

12-2-2019 OLIVA, VALENCIA - STORKS BILL (Genus Erodium)

Erodium is a genus of flowering plants in the botanical family Geraniaceae. The genus includes about 120 species with a subcosmopolitan distribution, native to Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia, and more locally in North and South America. They are perennials, annuals, or subshrubs, with five-petalled flowers in shades of white, pink, and purple, that strongly resemble the better-known Geranium (crane's-bills). In English-speaking areas of Europe, the species are known as stork's-bills. In North America they are known as filarees or heron's bill.

Erodium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the pasture day moth.

11-2-2019 JALON, ALICANTE - RED VALERIAN (Centranthus ruber)

Red valerian, or Centranthus ruber, is a low-maintenance perennial with bright red, pink, or white flowers that blooms for a long period. Native to the Mediterranean, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, can tolerate poor conditions, and self-seeds easily, making it a popular plant for garden walls and rocky areas. It attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies and is also known as Jupiter's Beard. 

Botanical and growing facts

Botanical Name: Centranthus ruber

Common Names: Red valerian, Jupiter's Beard, Keys of Heaven

Native Range: Mediterranean region

Growth Habit: Herbaceous perennial, grows to about 2-3 feet tall and 18-24 inches wide, with a woody base as it matures.

Flowers: Dense clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that are typically red, pink, or white. They bloom from late spring through autumn.

Leaves: Opposite, oval, and pale green.

Soil: Prefers well-drained, alkaline soil, but is very adaptable and tolerates poor soil conditions.

11-2-2019 JALON, ALICANTE - EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)

The European robin (Erithacus rubecula), known simply as the robin or robin redbreast in Great Britain and Ireland, is a small insectivorous passerine bird, a member of the chat subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family. It is a plucky little bird, with a length of about 12.5–14.0 cm and a weight of 16–22 g. Both sexes are similarly adorned with an orange breast and face, lined with grey, brown upper-parts, and a whitish belly.

Adult robins can be identified by their orange breast and face, bordered by a bluish-grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish, or olive-tinged in British birds, and the belly is whitish. The bill and eyes are black. Juvenile robins are distinguishable by their spotted brown and white plumage, with patches of orange gradually appearing as they mature.

The European robin is a bird of diverse habitats, found in woodlands, gardens, and parks across its range. It is particularly associated with areas where the soil is dug or disturbed, allowing it easy access This bird has a wide distribution across Europe, extending east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa. It is sedentary in most of its range except the far north, where it is migratory.

11-2-2019 JALON, ALICANTE - PINE PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

Pine processionary caterpillars are a danger to humans and animals due to their urticating (stinging) hairs, which can cause severe rashes, eye irritation, and in pets, potentially fatal reactions. They are known for forming long, single-file processions when descending trees to pupate. These caterpillars build silky nests in pine trees during the fall and winter and emerge as moths in the summer. 

Key facts

Appearance: They are typically 3 to 4 cm long and orange to brown in color.

Behavior: They form long, single-file "processions" from head to tail, especially when moving from the tree to the ground to burrow and pupate.

Nests: They construct large, silken, tent-like nests on pine trees, often in the branches.

Diet: They feed on pine needles.

Life cycle: Adult moths lay eggs on pine trees in late summer. Caterpillars hatch, grow in nests, and then descend in procession in late winter or early spring to pupate in the soil.

Habitat: Native to the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa, they have been spreading north due to climate change. 

Dangers and risks

Urticating hairs: Each caterpillar has hundreds of thousands of tiny, barbed, stinging hairs that can be easily released into the air.

Human contact: Direct contact can cause a rash that is itchy, painful, and can last for weeks. The hairs can cause inflammation and irritation, and severe reactions, including anaphylactic shock, are possible.

Animal contact: Pets, especially dogs, are at a high risk. They can experience severe reactions if they come into contact with the hairs on their nose or mouth. Symptoms can include swelling, excessive drooling, and chomping. In severe cases, this can lead to tissue damage and requires immediate veterinary care.

Tree damage: They can defoliate trees, weakening them and making them vulnerable to other pests and diseases. 

Safety and prevention

Avoid contact: The best way to stay safe is to avoid areas with pine processionary caterpillars, especially in the spring.

Keep pets on a leash: Keep pets on a leash in wooded areas and be vigilant.

Handle with care: If you must remove nests, avoid touching them and wear protective gear.

Disposal: If you find a procession, do not stand on them or scatter them, as this can release the hairs. Spray the procession with hairspray to disable the hairs, then douse the ground with soapy water and brush thoroughly before disposal.

Emergency: If you or a pet has a reaction, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately. 

11-2-2019 JALON, ALICANTE - WILD DAFFODIL (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)

Narcissus pseudonarcissus, commonly named the wild daffodil or Lent lily (Welsh: Cennin Pedr), is a perennial flowering plant.

This species has pale yellow tepals, with a darker central trumpet. The long, narrow leaves are slightly greyish green in colour and rise from the base of the stem. The plant grows from a bulb. The flowers produce seeds which, when germinated, take five to seven years to produce a flowering plant. (Sexual seed reproduction mixes the traits of both parent flowers, so if garden hybrid cultivars are planted close to wild populations of Narcissus pseudonarcissus, there is a danger that the new seedlings, having hybrid vigour, could out-compete the wild plants.

The species is native to Western Europe from Spain and Portugal east to Germany and north to England and Wales. It is commonly grown in gardens and populations have become established in the Balkans, Australia, New Zealand, the Caucasus, Madeira, British Columbia, Ontario, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Oregon, Washington state, much of the eastern United States, and the Falkland Islands. Wild plants grow in woods, grassland and on rocky ground. In Britain native populations have decreased substantially since the 19th century due to intensification of agriculture, clearance of woodland and uprooting of the bulbs for use in gardens. In Germany it was a subject of a national awareness campaign for the protection of wildflowers in 1981.

11-2-2019 JALON, ALICANTE - PLANTAIN FAMILY (Antirrhinum controversum)

Antirrhinum controversum is a subshrub species native to southern Spain, Portugal, and northern Morocco that produces pale-pink flowers and grows between February and November. It thrives in rocky or calcareous soils in sunny to partially shaded, mild-winter areas and can reach heights of 35 to 150 cm. As a species of snapdragon (Antirrhinum), it is part of the Plantaginaceae family and has specific adaptations to its native subtropical environment. 

Physical characteristics

Type: Subshrub

Height: Grows 35 to 150 cm tall

Flowers: Produces dense inflorescences of pale-pink flowers at the end of its stems

Bloom Time: February to November in its native range 

Habitat and ecology

Native Range: Southeastern and southern Spain, Portugal, and northern Morocco

Biome: Favors subtropical biomes

Soil: Indifferent to soil type but has a preference for calcareous soils; it grows in rocky areas, crevices, and on walls

11-2-2019 JALON, ALICANTE - MEDITERRANEAN PALE GLOW-WORM (Nyctophila reichii)

Nyctophila reichii, commonly known as the Mediterranean firefly, is a species of firefly. The species is very common in the southern and eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula.

The Mediterranean firefly is a small beetle, typically measuring 15-18 mm for the male and up to 4 cm for the female. Its body coloration is predominantly black or brown.

These organisms exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, with females tending to have a morphology more similar to that of larvae, while males have a more classic beetle shape.

Females, therefore, are flightless, although they have vestigial wings and have an elongated shape. They are characterized by the ability to generate a large amount of greenish light in the ventral region of the last three abdominal segments. Furthermore, they can expose more of the bioluminescent region by twisting the terminal area of ​​their body.

Males, on the other hand, have a more classic beetle shape, with elytra that cover the entire abdomen and membranous wings that allow flight. Their pronotum is wide, light-colored, with a reddish spot on its surface, and conceals well-developed eyes for detecting the bioluminescence of females. It's worth noting that, unlike other fireflies, these males are not capable of generating bioluminescence.

10-2-2019 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - 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.

10-2-2019 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)

It is the only ibis which is native to Europe. In Spain, a stable reproductive population has settled in the Guadalquivir marshes.

They are easily recognised because they usually fly in a V formation as a group.

This bird usually measures between 55 and 65 centimetres.

The eggs that the glossy ibis lays are greenish blue.

It has a long, curved bill. Adults mostly dark with iridescent green and reddish tones. Very thin white border surrounding the dark facial skin. Dark eyes. Usually gregarious, it is found mainly in salty marshes and shallow wetlands. Unmistakable in most of its range, though American birds are best distinguished from White-faced Ibis by distribution and facial pattern.

10-2-2019 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus)

The booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) is a medium-sized mostly migratory bird of prey with a wide distribution in the Palearctic and southern Asia, wintering in the tropics of Africa and Asia, with a small, disjunct breeding population in south-western Africa. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae.

The booted eagle has breeding populations in many different regions in both the northern and southern hemisphere. These include southern Europe, North Africa and across Asia, and also in western South Africa and Namibia. The northern populations are migratory spending November to February in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, while the small southern African populations is sedentary. This is a species of wooded, often hilly countryside with some open areas. It breeds in rocky, broken terrain but migrants will use almost any type of habitat other than dense forest. The birds of the Palearctic breeding population tend to nest in coniferous or deciduous woodlands and often in trees.

10-2-2019 OLIVA PLAYA, VALENCIA - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small, charismatic passerine bird, exhibiting a blend of dark and vibrant plumage. Males are distinguished by their dark grey to black upperparts and breast, with a striking orange-red rump and tail. Females and juveniles are more subdued in color, with grey to grey-brown feathers and the same vivid tail coloration that is the hallmark of the species.

Adult males are easily identified by their dark upperparts and black breast, contrasting with the orange-red lower rump and tail. The belly and undertail may vary from blackish-grey to orange-red, depending on the subspecies. Females and juveniles are less conspicuous, with overall greyer tones and a distinctive orange-red rump and tail. The presence of pale fringes on the secondaries forms a whitish wing panel in some subspecies.

The Black Redstart has adapted remarkably to urban environments, often found nesting in crevices or holes within buildings. Originally a dweller of stony mountainous regions, it now thrives in industrial areas with similar structural features.

This species is widely distributed across south and central Europe, Asia, and north-west Africa. It is a resident in milder regions, while populations in the northeast migrate to warmer areas during winter.

The Black Redstart is known for its robin-like movements, including quick ducks of the head and body, and frequent tail flicking. Males possess a rattling song and a tick call, adding to their distinctive presence.

8-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

Male house sparrows are distinguished by their vibrant head and throat markings, including a gray crown, white cheeks, and a black bib that can vary in size with age and dominance. They have a brown back with black markings, a black bill, and grey undersides. 

Identification

Head: Grey crown and white cheek patches.

Throat and Chest: A black bib that can be larger in older or more dominant males.

Back: Brown with black markings.

Undersides: Pale grey.

Bill: Black, especially during the breeding season. 

Behavior and diet

Diet: Omnivorous, eating seeds, grains, berries, and insects.

Social: Live in colonies, often in large groups, and forage in flocks for safety.

Dominance: The size of the black bib is thought to be an indicator of a male's dominance.

Aggression: Can be aggressive at garden feeders, sometimes dominating other birds. 

9-2-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN SPOTTED CHAFER (Oxythyrea funesta)

Oxythyrea funesta is a phytophagous beetle species belonging to the family Cetoniidae, subfamily Cetoniinae.

Common name “White spotted rose beetle”.

This beetle is present in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic realm, and in the Near East.

Larvae are up to 30 mm long, they feed on plant roots and can remain until next spring in the soil.

The adults appear early in the spring, they grow up to 8–12 millimetres (0.31–0.47 in) and can mostly be encountered from May through July. They are considered an insect pest that do not just feed on pollen, but rode the floral organs, especially damaging light in color buds and flowers.

Their colour is black, more or less bronzed. Most of the specimens show six white spots in two longitudinal rows on the pronotum and many others on the elytra. They are completely covered with white pubescence (easily visible in profile). Older specimens usually have no hairs, as they are rubbed off with time.