Sunday, 17 March 2019
17-3-2019 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)
The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a water bird in the order Pelecaniformes and the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The scientific name derives from Ancient Greek plegados and Latin, falcis, both meaning "sickle" and referring to the distinctive shape of the bill.
This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean regions of the Americas. It is thought to have originated in the Old World and spread naturally from Africa to northern South America in the 19th century, from where it spread to North America. The glossy ibis was first documented in the New World in 1817 (New Jersey). Audubon saw the species just once in Florida in 1832. It expanded its range substantially northwards in the 1940s and to the west in the 1980s.
This species is migratory; most European birds winter in Africa, and in North America birds from north of the Carolinas winter farther south. Though generally suspected to be a migratory species in India, the glossy ibis is resident in western India. Birds from other populations may disperse widely outside the breeding season. It is increasing in Europe. It disappeared as a regular breeding bird in Spain in the early 20th century, but re-established itself in 1993 and has since rapidly increased with thousands of pairs in several colonies. It has also established rapidly increasing breeding colonies in France, a country with very few breeding records before the 2000s. An increasing number of non-breeding visitors are seen in northwestern Europe, a region where glossy ibis records historically were very rare. For example, there appears to be a growing trend for birds to winter in Britain and Ireland, with at least 22 sightings in 2010. In 2014, a pair attempted to breed in Lincolnshire, the first such attempt in Britain. The first successful breeding in Britain was a pair which fledged one young in Cambridgeshire in 2022. A few birds now spend most summers in Ireland, but there is no present evidence of breeding.
In New Zealand, a few birds arrive there annually, mostly in the month of July; recently a pair bred amongst a colony of royal spoonbill. Glossy ibis have been a breeding species in Australia since the 1930s. In India, they are now a breeding species with colonies now seen in agricultural areas, in forested areas with bamboo thickets and breeding alongside other colonially nesting waterbirds. Year-long studies have also shown glossy ibises to be foraging in agricultural wetlands and flooded farmlands in western India.
Glossy ibises undertake dispersal movements after breeding and are highly nomadic. The more northerly populations are fully migratory and travel on a broad front, for example across the Sahara Desert. Glossy ibis ringed in the Black Sea seem to prefer the Sahel and West Africa to winter, those ringed in the Caspian Sea have been found to move to East Africa, the Arabian peninsula and as far east as Pakistan and India. Numbers of glossy ibis in western India varied dramatically seasonally with the highest numbers being seen in the winter and summers, and drastically declining in the monsoon likely indicating local movements to a suitable area to breed. Populations in temperate regions breed during the local spring, while tropical populations nest to coincide with the rainy season. Nesting is often in mixed-species colonies. When not nesting, flocks of over 100 individuals may occur on migration, and during the winter or dry seasons the species is usually found foraging in small flocks. Glossy ibises often roost communally at night in large flocks, with other species, occasionally in trees which can be some distance from wetland feeding areas.
Glossy ibises feed in very shallow water and nest in freshwater or brackish wetlands with tall dense stands of emergent vegetation such as reeds, papyrus (or rushes) and low trees or bushes. They show a preference for marshes at the margins of lakes and rivers but can also be found at lagoons, flood-plains, wet meadows, swamps, reservoirs, sewage ponds, paddies and irrigated farmland. When using farmlands in western India, glossy ibis exhibited strong scale-dependent use of the landscape seasonally. They preferred using areas with >200 ha of wetlands during the summer, and using areas that had intermediate amounts of wetlands (50-100 ha) in the other seasons, though did not necessarily forage in the wetlands. It is less commonly found in coastal locations such as estuaries, deltas, salt marshes and coastal lagoons. Preferred roosting sites are normally in large trees which may be distant from the feeding areas. When human persecution is absent they roost in cities, even using trees beside busy highways and other roads.
The nest is usually a platform of twigs and vegetation positioned at least 1 m (3.3 ft) above water, sometimes up to 7 m (23 ft) high, in dense stands of emergent vegetation, low trees, or bushes. 3 to 4 eggs (occasionally 5) are laid, and are incubated by both male and female birds for between 20 and 23 days. The young can leave the nest after about 7 days, but the parents continue to feed them for another 6 or 7 weeks. The young fledge in about 28 days.
The diet of the glossy ibis is variable according to the season and is very dependent on what is available. Prey includes adult and larval insects such as aquatic beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, grasshoppers, crickets, flies and caddisflies, Annelida including leeches, molluscs (e.g. snails and mussels), crustaceans (e.g. crabs and crayfish) and occasionally fish, amphibians, lizards, small snakes and nestling birds.
17-3-2019 ADOR CAMPO, VALENCIA - IBERIAN GREEN FROG (Pelophylax perezi)
The Perez's frog (Pelophylax perezi), also known as Iberian waterfrog, Iberian green frog or Coruna frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is native to southern France, Portugal, Spain, and has been introduced to the Canary and Balearic Islands, Madeira, the United Kingdom, and the Azores. In the Iberian Peninsula it is widespread and common.
Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, sandy shores, arable land, and urban areas. It is not considered threatened by the IUCN. A medium-sized, stout frog; snout-vent length is usually from 40 to 70 mm, but sometimes is longer than 10 cm (Docampo and Milagrosa-Vega 1988; González de la Vega 1988). The head is as long as wide, with prominent eyes located in dorsal position very close to each other. The tympanum is well marked, about 1/2 to 3/4 the eye diameter (Salvador and García-París 2001). Toes have well developed webbing. Skin is either smooth or slightly rough, with well-formed dorsolateral folds.
The dorsal coloration is very variable, usually green but also brown or grayish to dark gray. They usually show a vertebral stripe, mostly yellow or green. Two irregular rows of dark, rectangular spots are present on both sides of the vertebral stripe. These spots are also present on the rear limbs, sometimes forming a banded pattern. Some individuals lack both the spots and the vertebral stripe. Ventrally they are white with a variable number of dark spots. Males are smaller than females and have stronger forelimbs. They have gray vocal sacs than can be appreciated even when they are not in use.
Tadpoles grow up to 111 mm total length (Salvador 1985), but usually measure between 60-70 mm (Barbadillo et al. 1999). The spiracle is sinistral and the anus open on the right side of the base of the tail. Marginal papillae are absent from the upper side of the mouth. Denticles are arranged in a variable number of single rows (Llorente et al. 1994), but the most common formula is 2(2)/3. The dorsal fin is low, starting at the level of the spiracle. The tip of the tail is pointed. Ground coloration is green or light brown, with small, dark dots. These dots are denser and larger in the tail fin. The tail presents a typical pattern with three longitudinal dark stripes. The ventral coloration is white.
Saturday, 16 March 2019
16-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)
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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 invertebrates such as insects and their larvae, caterpillars, and many other natural foods.
24-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN YELLOW HAIRED SUN FLY (Myathropa florea)
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Myathropa florea, sometimes referred to as the Batman hoverfly, is a very common European and North African species of hoverfly. Adults may be seen on flowers from May to September. It is of a similar size to the common drone fly (Eristalis tenax), but Myathropa are generally more yellow, with two light bands to the thorax, interrupted with a black central smudge. In museum specimens, any yellow colour soon fades to brown after death. Like most species in the tribe Eristalini, Myathropa are rather variable in size, shape and colour.
The species has a wing length of 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in). Thorax dorsum with a characteristic "skull" black pattern. Abdomen black with yellow patterning. Legs pale and black. The larvae of the species were described and figured by Graham E. Rotheray in 1993.
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Myathropa florea is found in the Palearctic from Fennoscandia south to Iberia and the Mediterranean basin, and from Ireland eastwards across Europe and Russia. It has been adventive on the Pacific coast of North America since 2005.
They occur in deciduous forests, fen carr, farmland with trees, parks, and gardens.
They visit many different species of flowers, including umbellifers, Castanea, Convolvulus, Crataegus, Chaerophyllum, Euonymus, Filipendula, Hedera, Rhododendron, Rubus, Sambucus, Solidago, Sorbus, and Viburnum opulus.
The flight period is May to October. Larvae feed on bacteria in organic waterlogged detritus, often in the shallow rot holes of tree stumps.
15-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SOUTHERN BROAD BELLIED BUG BUG (Eurygaster austriaca)
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The Southern Broad-bellied Bug, Eurygaster austriaca, is a shield bug (family Scutelleridae) found in the Palaearctic Region. This insect is a broad, oval-shaped bug, about 12 mm long, with a chitinous scutellum that covers its entire abdomen and wings. It is known for feeding on cereal crops and other grasses.
Family: Scutelleridae (shield bugs or jewel bugs)
Genus: Eurygaster
Broad and oval body shape.
About 12 mm (0.5 inches) in length.
Chitinous, broad scutellum that covers the wings and abdomen.
Color can vary, but is often light brown.
Widely distributed throughout the Palaearctic Region, including parts of Europe and Asia.
Life Cycle:
Adults overwinter in forests.
Females lay eggs in batches of seven eggs.
Nymphs molt five times while feeding on host plants.
Feeding: Feeds on cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and oats, as well as other perennial grasses.
Mating: Mating and egg-laying occur in the spring and early summer.
Migration: Adults are capable of significant migrations.
Impact: It is a pest that can have high damaging activity, especially in forest-steppe zones.
28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - PINK NECKED GREEN PIGEON (Treron vernans)
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The pink-necked green pigeon (Treron vernans ) is a species of bird of the pigeon and dove family, Columbidae. It is a common species of Southeast Asia, found from Myanmar and Vietnam south through to the major islands of Indonesia and the Philippines (where it is called "punay"). It is a medium-sized pigeon with predominantly green plumage; only the male has the pink neck that gives the species its name. The species lives in a wide range of forested and human-modified habitats and is particularly found in open habitats. Its diet is dominated by fruit, in particular figs. Pairs lay two eggs in a flimsy twig nest in a tree, shrub, or hedge, and work together to incubate the eggs and raise the chicks. The species is thought to be an important disperser of fruit seeds. The species has adapted well to human changes to the environment, and can be found in crowded cities as long as fruiting trees are present. It is not considered to be at risk of extinction.
Friday, 15 March 2019
13-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SOUTHERN BROAD BELLIED JEWEL BUG (Eurygaster austriaca)
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TheEurygaster austriaca, Commonly known as the cereal bug or wheat bug , it is a hemipteran insect of the family ScutelleridaeIt is recognized as a major agricultural pest for cereal crops such as wheat and barley, as its feeding damages the grains and reduces their baking quality.
Physical Description
Size: Adults measure between 11 and 14 mm in length.
Coloration: They exhibit highly variable coloration, generally yellowish-brown with darker spots. The body is broadly oval and finely dotted.
Distinguishing features: They have a pointed head, and the genae (cheeks) fuse together, closing the anterior portion of the head, which is key to their identification. The scutellum is very large and covers most of the abdomen and wings. They often display three light-colored spots on the scutellum: two small, comma-shaped spots and a slightly keeled central longitudinal line.
13-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (idaea cervantaria)
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1.4 to 2.2 cm wingspan. Straw-coloured, with yellowish wings with scattered dark, brown or greyish scales. On each wing it has a wavy line with small pointed spots, pointing backwards. Sometimes these details are barely noticeable. Between these lines and the rear edge, it has dark spots that may have a light wavy stripe. It has a spot on each wing but those on the front wings may go unnoticed.
There are other similar species that are impossible to distinguish externally, so for a correct and safe identification, genital analysis must be used. Several of them have been found in the province of Malaga, although I. cervantaria is currently the most common and the only one that has been observed in urban environments.
The caterpillars feed on dry leaves of herbaceous plants and in captivity on petals of different Asteraceae and sea alder (Lobularia maritima), the latter common in our province, especially in sunny areas of the limestone mountains, and occasionally used in gardening for the showiness of its inflorescences.
Thursday, 14 March 2019
28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - JAVA SPARROW (Padda oryzivora)
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The Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora) is a small passerine bird. It is a popular cage bird and has been introduced into many other countries.
The adult Java sparrow is unmistakable, with its grey upperparts and breast, pink belly, white-cheeked black head, red eye-ring, pink feet, and thick red bill. The male and the female are similar. Immature birds have brown upperparts and pale brown underparts, and a plain head. Very young birds have a black beak with a pink base.
These birds do not migrate and are found throughout the year in Java, Bali, and Bawean in Indonesia. They inhabit open woodlands, open grasslands, savannas, cultivated areas, villages, and towns.
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Java sparrows are diurnal and very gregarious birds that live and forage in flocks. Outside of the breeding season flocks may travel short distances in search of better feeding areas. The call of Java sparrows is a ‘chip’, and their song is a rapid series of call notes ‘chipchipchipchipchipchip’.
Java sparrows are herbivores (granivores). They feed mainly on grain and various seeds.
Java sparrows are monogamous birds that form pairs. During the breeding season, males sing songs in order to attract females. Java sparrows construct their nests in a tree or building. Females lay up to 8 eggs and incubation takes approximately 14 days. The chicks are protected by both parents and start to breed when they are 1 year old.
14-3-2019 CAMI LES FONTS OLIVA, VALENCIA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)
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The Western Cattle-Egret is a gregarious, white, upland ardeid (Ardeidae), easily recognized by its foraging association with grazing animals and its exaggerated, head-pumping strut. It differs from the Eastern Cattle-Egret (Ardea coromanda) in having less buff-orange breeding plumage in the head and neck regions.
Small, compact white heron with relatively short yellow bill. More frequently seen in dry habitats than other egrets. In breeding season, look for pale salmon color on head and breast and brighter bill. Leg color varies from reddish or yellow during the breeding season to black during the nonbreeding season. Juveniles have dark bill. Always note relatively short, thick neck and short legs compared with other egrets. Often gathers in flocks, frequently following cattle or tractors in fields.
The Western Cattle-Egret is a gregarious, white, upland heron ( Ardeidae ), easily recognized by its foraging association with grazing animals and its exaggerated head-waving. It is distinguished from the Eastern Cattle-Egret (Ardea coromanda) due to having less buffy-orange breeding plumage on the head and neck regions. Its preference for grasslands, lawns, pastures, and grazing animals is quite distinct from that of other herons and egrets, which usually feed in or beside water and not in close association with livestock. In Britain and Europe, it is also known as the buffalo heron, referring to the color of its breeding plumes; but in many languages, it is simply called the cow crane, cow heron, or cowbird, or named after the wild grazing animal with which it is usually associated, e.g., elephant bird, rhinoceros egret, or hippopotamus egret.
13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - MOUNTAIN SANDWORT (Arenaria montana)
Arenaria montana, the mountain sandwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to mountainous regions of southwestern Europe, from the Pyrenees to Portugal. The Latin specific epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains.
Arenaria montana is an evergreen perennial growing 14–22 cm (6–9 in) tall, with lanceolate or ovate green to grayish-green opposite leaves 10–30 mm (0.4–1.2 in) in length.
From mid to late Spring it produces dense clumps of white to near-white flowers approximately 25 mm (1 in) in diameter borne on cymes of 2 to 10 flowers each.
Arenaria montana prefers well drained, sandy to sandy loam soils, of moderate (pH 5.5 to 7.5) acidity. It also prefers moist soils, as its shallow root system leaves it vulnerable to drought.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Wednesday, 13 March 2019
13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - HENBIT DEADNETTLE (Lamium amplexicaule)
Lamium amplexicaule, commonly known as henbit dead-nettle, is a species of Lamium native to most of Europe, Asia and northern Africa. The specific name refers to the leaves, which are amplexicaul (clasping the stem).
It is a low-growing annual plant growing to 10–25 cm (4–10 in) (rarely to 40 cm) tall, thinly pubescent with soft, finely hairy stems. The leaves are opposite, rounded to kidney-shaped, 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄4 in) diameter, with a lobed margin, and often with long internodes. The lower leaves are stalked and the upper ones stalkless, often fused, and clasping the stems. The flowers are pink to purple, relatively large, 1.5–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) long, and form a few-flowered terminal spike with axillary whorls. The calyx is regular with five lobes and closes up after flowering. The corolla is purplish-red, fused into a usually erect tube 15 to 20 mm (1⁄2 to 3⁄4 in) long. The upper lip is convex, 3 to 5 mm (1⁄8 to 3⁄16 in) long and the lower lip has three lobes, two small side ones and a larger central one 1.5 to 2.5 mm (1⁄16 to 1⁄8 in) long. There are four stamens, two long and two short. The gynoecium has two fused carpels and the fruit is a four-chambered schizocarp.
This plant flowers very early in the spring even in northern areas, and for most of the winter and early spring in warmer locations such as the Mediterranean region. At times of year when there are not many pollinating insects, the flowers self-pollinate.
13-3-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - WILD CLARY (Salvia verbenaca)
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Salvia verbenaca, also known as wild clary or wild sage, is native to the British Isles, the Mediterranean region in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Near East, and in the Caucasus. It can be found as an introduced species that has naturalized in many parts of the world, including the Eastern United States, California, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Southern Africa, Tasmania, New Zealand and China.
S. verbenaca is a tall perennial herb with hairy stems and branches that erectly sprawl out. Its leaves are basal and toothed that vary from 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) long. It has soft purple to violet flowers in mid summer. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The flowers are bisexual and are pollinated by bees. Some are also cleistogamous and pollinate themselves.
The plant is noted for attracting pollinators and wildlife. It prefers neutral and alkaline soils and needs full sun. This aromatic sage is used as a flavoring in foods and to make tea; the flowers can be added to salads.
In China, where it has been known by the synonym Salvia weihaiensis, it grows along the seashore in Shandong province.
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