30-3-2018 KYNSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN OSTRICH (Struthio camelus ssp. australis)

The South African ostrich (Struthio camelus australis), also known as the black-necked ostrich, Cape ostrich or southern ostrich is a subspecies of the common ostrich endemic to Southern Africa. It is widely farmed for its meat, eggs and feathers.

The South African ostrich is found in South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Botswana. It lives in south of the rivers Zambezi and Cunene.

It is farmed for its eggs, meat, leather and feathers in the Little Karoo area of Cape Province.

Feral South African ostriches roam the Australian outback after having escaped from farms in the 20th century. The extent of their range in Australia is not known.

31-3-2018 WILDERNESS NAT PRK, SOUTH AFRICA - COMMON BUSH BROWN BUTTERFLY (Bicyclus safitza)

Bicyclus safitza, the common bush brown or common savanna bush brown, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in all of Africa south of the Sahara. Its preferred habitat is forests and other well-wooded habitats.

The wingspan is 40–45 mm for males and 43–48 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round.

The larvae feed on various grasses, including Ehrharta erecta.

Subspecies and forms

B. s. safitza – south of Sahara except Ethiopia

wet-season form, f. safitza – south to Mpumalanga, South Africa

wet-season form, f. injusta – South African east coast regions

dry-season form, f. evenus – widespread

B. s. aethiops (Rothschild & Jordan, 1905) – Ethiopia

12-12-2014 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)

1-4-2018 BIRDS OF EDEN, SOUTH AFRICA - DOUBLE TOOTHED BARBET (Lybius bidentatus)

The double-toothed barbet (Pogonornis bidentatus) is a species of bird in the family Lybiidae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. Within Lybius bidentatus, there are two subspecies: Lybius bidentatus bidentatus and Lybius bidentatus aequatorialis.

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Pogonornis bidentatus is a barbet with black and red coloring. Its bill is large and off-white, and the skin around its eyes is yellow. The double-toothed barbet is black on the top side of its body with a patch of white feathers on its back. Its breast is red, with a white patch on its side. Females and males have similar markings, except that females have lines of black feathers on the white side patch. Juveniles of the species are duller; their feathers are dark grey..

Its song is somewhat like a cat's purr. Sometimes pairs of double-toothed barbets will sing together.

Double-toothed barbets generally live in the understory of dense woodland. They occupy the edges of the woods, riparian forest, and secondary forest. Some may go into gardens and forage for fruit.

The double-toothed barbet is most likely to be confused with the black-breasted barbet or the bearded barbet. In flight, it's ungraceful.

Pogonornis bidentatus eats fruits and insects. They search in the foliage for food, usually staying below ten meters. Of insects, they eat beetles, termites, ants, and Hemiptera, which they find in the tree bark or in clusters of leaves. Often a double-toothed barbet will capture winged ants or termites while in flight. They also eat fruits: figs, papayas, avocados, and the fruits of the umbrella tree Musanga and of Solanum. Double-toothed barbets will eat the seeds of some fruits.

These barbets can be found in pairs or small family groups with helpers; lone double-toothed barbets are rare. Their territories are large.

Double-toothed barbets roost communally, as all the barbets in a group roost in the same hole. Nests are made by excavating a tree, often rotting, at above two meters. Both barbets in a pair will dig out the nesting hole, and both will defend it. The entrance to the nest is circular, five or more centimeters across. Some nests have an entrance tunnel. At maximum, a nest is 46 cm deep.

30-11-2015 SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA - COMMON EVENING BROWN BUTTERFLY (Melanitis leda)

Melanitis leda, the common evening brown, is a common species of butterfly found flying at dusk. The flight of this species is erratic. They are found in Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia extending to parts of Australia.

Wet-season form: Forewing: apex subacute; termen slightly angulated just below apex, or straight. Upperside brown. Forewing with two large subapical black spots, each with a smaller spot outwardly of pure white inwardly bordered by a ferruginous interrupted lunule; costal margin narrowly pale. Hindwing with a dark, white-centred, fulvous-ringed ocellus subterminally in interspace two, and the apical ocellus, sometimes also others of the ocelli, on the underside, showing through.

Underside paler, densely covered with transverse dark brown striae; a discal curved dark brown narrow band on forewing; a post-discal similar oblique band, followed by a series of ocelli: four on the forewing, that in interspace 8 the largest; six on the hindwing, the apical and subtornal the largest.

Dry-season form: Forewing: apex obtuse and more or less falcate; termen posterior to falcation straight or sinuous. Upperside: ground colour similar to that in the wet-season form, the markings, especially the ferruginous lunules inwardly bordering the black sub-apical spots on forewing, larger, more extended below and above the black costa. Hindwing: the ocellus in interspace 2 absent, posteriorly replaced by three or four minute white subterminal spots.

Underside varies in colour greatly. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen in both seasonal forms brown or greyish brown: the antennae annulated with white, ochraceous at apex.

26-11-2015 BOTANICAL GARDENS, SINGAPORE - PINK WATER LILY (Nymphaea rubra)

Nymphaea rubra is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Sri Lanka and northeastern India to western and central Malesia. Additionally, it has been introduced to regions such as Southeast China, Cuba, Guyana, Hungary, and Suriname.

Nymphaea rubra has 15.1 cm long, and 7.9 cm wide rhizomes. The petiolate, orbicular leaves are 25–48 cm wide. The adaxial leaf surface is bronzy red to dark green, and the abaxial leaf surface is dark purple. The leaf venation is very prominent. The petiole is 140 cm long.

The flowers are 15–25 cm wide. The four purplish-red sepals are oblong to lanceolate. The 12-20 narrowly oval petals have a rounded apex. The androecium consists of 55 red stamens. The gynoecium consists of 16-21 carpels. The fruit bears 1.85 mm long, and 1.6 mm wide seeds. The peduncle is 116 cm long. The flowers are pleasantly fragrant.

One case of the development of a proliferating pseudanthia has been reported for a Nymphaea rubra specimen cultivated in the Botanical Garden of the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1886.

Nymphaea rubra may reproduce an apomictically.

It occurs in rivers, lakes, and ponds.

29-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LOBONYX AENEUS BEETLE (Superfamily Cleroidea)

Lobonyx aeneus is a species of soft-winged flower beetles in the family Prionoceridae, found in the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Seen climing on the exterior wall of the house in Monte Corona, Valencia, Spain.

27-3-2019 BENIARBEIG, ALICANTE - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (JUVENILE) (Carduelis carduelis)

The European goldfinch, or simply goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), is a small, vibrant passerine bird belonging to the finch family. This charming avian species is adorned with a striking red face, encircled by black markings near the eyes, and a black-and-white head. The back and flanks exhibit a warm buff or chestnut brown, while the wings are black with a prominent yellow bar. The tail is black, and the rump is a contrasting white. Males and females are similar in appearance, though the male boasts a slightly more extensive red mask.

Upon closer inspection, one can discern the male goldfinch by its larger, more vivid red mask that extends just beyond the eye. The female's red face does not reach past the eye, and her shoulder feathers are brown, as opposed to the male's black. The bill is ivory-colored, long, and pointed, and the tail is forked. Juveniles can be identified by their plain heads and greyer backs, but the yellow wing stripe is a clear indicator of their species.

The European goldfinch favors open, partially wooded lowlands and is a resident in the milder western parts of its range. In colder regions, it migrates to escape the harsh weather.

Native to Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia, the European goldfinch has also been introduced to various regions across the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, and Uruguay.

The European goldfinch is known for its sociable nature, often forming flocks in the winter. It is a frequent visitor to bird feeders, particularly in the colder months.

The goldfinch's song is a delightful, silvery twittering, while its call is a melodic tickeLIT. Its song comprises a tinkling medley of trills and twitters, always including the tri-syllabic call phrase.

The female goldfinch solely constructs the nest, which is often situated several meters above ground, camouflaged by leaves. The nest is made of mosses and lichens, lined with plant down, and secured with spider silk. Eggs are laid at daily intervals, typically resulting in a clutch of 4-6 eggs. Incubation lasts 11-13 days, with the female being fed by the male. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge 13-18 days after hatching.

Goldfinches have a preference for small seeds, such as those from thistles and teasels, but will also consume insects when feeding young. They are particularly drawn to bird feeders offering niger seed.

The European goldfinch is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population.

The European goldfinch has a long history of being kept and bred in captivity due to its attractive plumage and pleasant song. It has also been featured in various works of art and literature, symbolizing different cultural and religious themes.

27-3-2019 BENIARBEIG, ALICANTE - WHITE MUSTARD (Sinapis alba)

White mustard (Sinapis alba), also called yellow mustard, is an annual plant of the cabbage family. It is sometimes also referred to as Brassica alba or B. hirta. It is native to the Mediterranean region, Europe and Asia Tropical, but is now widespread worldwide. Grown for its seeds, it is used to make the condiment mustard, as a fodder crop, or as a green manure.

White mustard is an annual, growing to 70 centimetres (28 in) high with stalkless pinnate leaves, similar to Sinapis arvensis. The yellow flowers of S. alba contain 4 petals per flower and 4 alternating sepals. In addition, their pods are approximately 2.0–4.2 cm long.

Sinapis alba is a long day plant, which means they flower when the amount of light received exceeds their critical photoperiod. Pollen from S. alba is able to be dispersed through wind and insect pollinators, such as wild bees, bumblebees, and flower flies. Additionally, white mustard is an obligate outcrossing species, that is, white mustard is self-incompatible and cannot self-fertilize.

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - KNAPWEED (Genus Centaurea)

Centaurea (/ˌsɛntɔːˈriːə/)[1] is a genus of over 700 species of herbaceous thistle-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Members of the genus are found only north of the equator, mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere; the Middle East and surrounding regions are particularly species-rich.

Common names for this genus are centaury, centory, starthistles, knapweeds, centaureas and the more ambiguous bluets; a vernacular name used for these plants in parts of England is loggerheads (common knapweed). The Plectocephalus group – possibly a distinct genus – is known as basketflowers. Cornflower is used for a few species, but that term more often specifically means either C. cyanus (the annual cornflower) or Centaurea montana (the perennial cornflower). The common name centaury is sometimes used, although this also refers to the unrelated plant genus Centaurium.[2]

The name is said to be in reference to Chiron, the centaur of Greek mythology who discovered medicinal uses of a plant eventually called "centaury".

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)

The Eurasian coot, Fulica atra, also known as the common coot or Australian coot, is a distinctive waterbird with a slaty-black body, a glossy black head, and a striking white bill topped with a white frontal shield. This bird is a member of the Rallidae family, which includes rails and crakes. Both sexes exhibit similar plumage, making them indistinguishable in the field.

Adult Eurasian coots measure 36–38 cm in length with a wingspan of 70–80 cm. Males are slightly heavier than females, weighing around 890 g compared to the females' 750 g. The species is characterized by its white bill and frontal shield, which contrast sharply with its all-black body. Juveniles are paler with a whitish breast and lack the facial shield, which develops fully by one year of age.

The Eurasian coot is found on freshwater lakes and ponds and has adapted well to urban environments, often seen in city parks and gardens with water bodies.

This bird has a broad range across the Old World, including Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of North Africa. It is a resident in milder regions but migrates south and west from much of Asia during winter.

The Eurasian coot is less secretive than many rails, often visible on open water or grasslands. It is territorial and aggressive during the breeding season, with both parents defending their territory. In non-breeding seasons, coots may form large flocks. They are reluctant flyers, preferring to run across water surfaces, and are known for bobbing their heads while swimming.

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - NOMAD DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)

The red-veined darter or nomad (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum.

Sympetrum fonscolombii was named under the protonym Libellula fonscolombii by the Belgian entomologist Edmond de Sélys Longchamps, in 1840, in honor of the French entomologist Étienne of Fonscolombe (hence the species name). Its name is sometimes spelt fonscolombei instead of fonscolombii but Askew (2004) gives the latter as the correct spelling.

Sympetrum fonscolombii can reach a body length of 38–40 millimetres (1.5–1.6 in). This species is similar to other Sympetrum species but a good view with binoculars should give a positive identification, especially with a male.

Males have a red abdomen, redder than many other Sympetrum species. The frons and the thorax are red-brown. The eyes are brown above and blue/grey below. The wings have red veins and the wing bases of the hind-wings are yellow. The pterostigma is pale yellow with a border of black veins.

Female are similar but the abdomen is ochre yellow, not red, with two black lines along each side. The wings have yellow veins at the costa, leading edge and base, not red veins as found in the males. The legs of both sexes are mostly black with some yellow.

Immature males are like females but often with more red and a single line along each side of the abdomen.

Male S. fonscolombii can be mistaken for Crocothemis erythraea as both are very red dragonflies with yellow bases to the wings, red veins and pale pterostigma. However C. erythraea has no black on the legs, a broader body and no black on the head. Also C. erythraea females do not oviposit in tandem. The gestalt image of these two species is different and with some experience are easy to tell apart.

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - LARGE WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris brassicae)

Pieris brassicae, the large white, also called cabbage butterfly, cabbage white, cabbage moth (erroneously), or in India the large cabbage white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is a close relative of the small white, Pieris rapae.

The large white is common throughout Europe, North Africa and Asia.

The large white is common throughout Europe, north Africa, and Asia to the Himalayas often in agricultural areas, meadows and parkland. It has managed to establish a population in South Africa and in 1995 it was predicted to spread to Australia and New Zealand.

The large white is a strong flier and the British population has been reinforced in most years by migrations from the continent. Scattered reports of the large white from the north-eastern United States (New York, Rhode Island and Maine) over the past century are of a dubious nature and indicate either accidental transport or intentional release. Such introductions threaten to establish this agricultural pest in North America.

In 2010 the butterfly was found in Nelson, New Zealand where it is known as the great white butterfly.

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - SMALL 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 the latter's larger size and black band at the tip of the 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 (about 1800), North America (1860s), Hawaii (1897), New Zealand (1930), and Australia (1937), as a result of accidental introductions.

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - BLACK AND RED BUG (Lygaeus equestris)

Lygaeus equestris, common name black-and-red-bug, is a species of seed bugs belonging to the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae.

Subspecies

Subspecies include:

Lygaeus equestris equestris (Linnaeus, 1758)

Lygaeus equestris sicilianus (Wagner, 1955)

 

These bugs can reach about 11 to 12 millimetres (0.43 to 0.47 in) in length. They have a characteristic red-black pattern, fully developed wings and long, powerful legs. The hemelytra have two transverse bands that reach the margin and a round white spot on the membrane. Scutellum is without bristles but with tiny hairs. The black band close to the eye is wider than the same.

This species is very difficult to differentiate from Lygaeus simulans, that has a scutellum with long bristles, antennae with angulous tubercles and a larger red area on the head.

The red-black pattern has a deterrent effect and serves to protect the insect (Müllerian mimicry or Batesian mimicry). By storing the toxic ingredients of their food plants, they are unpalatable to potential predators.

The nymphs and the imagos feed on juices of various plants, particularly milkweed (Vincetoxicum hirundinaria), Taraxacum species, Spring pheasant's eye (Adonis vernalis) and sometimes also on dandelions. Adults overwinter.

It is mainly present in Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. It inhabits lawns, forests clearings and scrubs, generally in warm calcareous areas.

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

The Black-winged Stilt has a wide range, extending across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some populations migrate to coastal regions in winter, while others in milder climates may remain resident or engage in short-range movements.

Black-winged Stilts are often seen foraging in shallow waters, gracefully picking insects and crustaceans from the surface. They are known to nest in small groups, sometimes alongside avocets, and exhibit a variety of courtship behaviors, including intricate displays and duets.

The flight call of the Black-winged Stilt is a sharp and clear kleek, typically heard during its aerial maneuvers.

Nests are simple bare spots on the ground near water. These birds are communal nesters and may breed in loose colonies. They have been known to breed as far north as Britain, with recent successful breeding events recorded in Southern and Northern England.

The Black-winged Stilt can be confused with other stilt species, such as the Black-necked Stilt (H. mexicanus) in the Americas, the White-backed Stilt (H. melanurus), and the Pied Stilt (H. leucocephalus) in Australasia and New Zealand.

Their diet consists mainly of insects and crustaceans, which they deftly pick from the water's surface or from wet sand.

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - RED CRESTED POCHARD (MALE) (Netta rufina)

The Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina, is a striking large diving duck. Its name is drawn from the Greek word for duck, 'Netta', and the Latin 'rufina', meaning 'golden-red', a nod to the male's vibrant plumage.

Males are resplendent with a rounded orange head, a red bill, and a contrasting black breast. Their sides are a crisp white, with a brown back and a black tail. Females, on the other hand, are clad in more subdued tones, primarily pale brown with a darker back and crown, and a whitish face. During eclipse, males resemble females but retain their red bills.

These ducks favor lowland marshes and lakes, thriving in the wetland habitats of southern Europe.

The Red-crested Pochard breeds from the steppe and semi-desert regions near the Black Sea to Central Asia and Mongolia. It is a somewhat migratory species, with northern populations wintering in the Indian Subcontinent and Africa.

Gregarious by nature, Red-crested Pochards form large flocks in the winter, often mingling with other diving ducks such as the Common Pochard. They are known to both dive and dabble for their food.

The male emits a distinctive wheezing 'veht', while the female can be heard making a series of hoarse 'vrah-vrah-vrah' calls.

Nests are constructed lakeside amidst vegetation, where they lay clutches of 8–12 pale green eggs.

While unique in appearance, the male Red-crested Pochard can be confused with other pochards during eclipse plumage, but the red bill is a distinguishing feature.

Their diet consists mainly of aquatic plants. These ducks are adept at upending in the water, a method they use more frequently than most diving ducks to forage for food.

The Red-crested Pochard is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, and it is also a species protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - RED CRESTED POCHARD (MALE AND FEMALE) (Netta rufina)

The Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina, is a striking large diving duck. Its name is drawn from the Greek word for duck, 'Netta', and the Latin 'rufina', meaning 'golden-red', a nod to the male's vibrant plumage.

Males are resplendent with a rounded orange head, a red bill, and a contrasting black breast. Their sides are a crisp white, with a brown back and a black tail. Females, on the other hand, are clad in more subdued tones, primarily pale brown with a darker back and crown, and a whitish face. During eclipse, males resemble females but retain their red bills.

These ducks favor lowland marshes and lakes, thriving in the wetland habitats of southern Europe.

The Red-crested Pochard breeds from the steppe and semi-desert regions near the Black Sea to Central Asia and Mongolia. It is a somewhat migratory species, with northern populations wintering in the Indian Subcontinent and Africa.

Gregarious by nature, Red-crested Pochards form large flocks in the winter, often mingling with other diving ducks such as the Common Pochard. They are known to both dive and dabble for their food.

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

The wood sandpiper is a small wader with dark, speckled upperparts, a white underbody, and yellow legs, identified by a distinctive white stripe over its eye. It is a migratory bird that breeds in northern Europe and Asia and winters in Africa or Asia. During its spring and autumn migrations, it stops at inland freshwater wetlands to rest and refuel. Key features in flight include a square white rump and no wing bars. 

Identification

Appearance: A small, slim wader with dark grey-brown upperparts that are speckled or spotted, and a white underbody with a mottled breast.

Key features:

A conspicuous white stripe from the bill over the eye.

Yellowish legs.

Fine, straight bill.

In flight:

A square white rump is revealed.

No wing bars are visible. 

Habitat and behavior

Habitat: Prefers inland freshwater wetlands, such as ponds and pools, often with reeds, grass, and other emergent vegetation.

Behavior:

Can be found singly or in small flocks.

Is wary and will fly away if disturbed, often in a zig-zag pattern.

The flight is strong with clipped wing beats, and they may call with a quickly repeated, reedy whistle. 

Migration

Migration routes: They are passage migrants in spring and autumn, traveling between their breeding grounds in northern Europe and Asia and their wintering grounds in Africa and southern Asia.

Stopovers: They use small, shallow wetlands to refuel during their long journeys.

Flight: Capable of flying non-stop for long distances, storing up to half their body weight in fuel for the journey. 

Distribution

Breeding: Primarily breeds across northern Europe and Asia, including Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, and Russia.

26-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MONTPELIER CISTUS (Cistus monspeliensis)

Cistus monspeliensis is a species of rockrose known by the common name Montpellier cistus or narrow-leaved cistus. It is native to southern Europe and northern Africa, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecosystems of matorral—maquis shrublands.

Cistus monspeliensis is a shrub with narrow evergreen leaves and a hairy, glandular, sticky surface. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped, green, with a rugose, wrinkled upper surface, up to 5 centimeters long. In cultivation, C. monspeliensis attains a height of around one meter and a width of 1.5 metres.

The plant's inflorescence is generally a panicle of 2 to 8 flowers, each with five sepals and five white petals.

It is mainly distributed throughout the western Mediterranean Basin (Portugal, including Madeira; Spain, including the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands; Morocco; southern France, including Corsica; Italy, including Sardinia and Sicily; Malta; Algeria; Tunisia) but it is also present in Croatia; Serbia; Albania; Montenegro; Greece and Cyprus.

The plant has been reported elsewhere as an introduced species, and in California as an invasive species.

26-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY (Vanessa atalanta)

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

In northern Europe, it is one of the last butterflies to be seen before winter sets in, often feeding on the flowers of ivy on sunny days. The red admiral is also known to hibernate, re-emerging individuals showing prominently darker colors than the first brood. The butterfly also flies on sunny winter days, especially in southern Europe.

Male red admirals are territorial and perch during the afternoon until sunset. Larger territories are optimal and subject to intrusion by other males more frequently than smaller territories. Territories tend to be oval, 8–24 feet (2.4–7.3 m) long and 13–42 feet (4.0–12.8 m) wide. Males patrol their territory by flying around the perimeter between 7 and 30 times per hour. On average, territory holders interact with intruders 10 to 15 times per hour.

When another male encroaches on a red admiral's territory, the resident chases away the intruder, often in a vertical, helical path to disorient or tire out the intruder while minimizing the horizontal distance it travels from its perch. The red admiral immediately returns to its territory after chasing off encroaching males. Time spent patrolling increases as number of the intruder interactions increases.

Patrolling behavior is correlated with warmer air temperatures, so males begin patrolling early and continue later on warmer days. Overcast skies usually led to patrolling later in the day. It is not clear whether this later start time is due to lower air temperature or a direct effect of decreased solar radiation. Another theory is that males believe it is earlier in the morning on cloudy days because of the reduced solar radiation.

Mating usually occurs in late autumn or early winter following collective migration to southern regions with a warmer climate. The red admiral's main host plant, stinging nettle, is most abundant during this migration. Larval development proceeds through winter and adults are first sighted in early spring. The new generation of adults migrates north before mating, because food is usually diminished by late spring. In Europe, the cyclic nature of this migration has been confirmed by analysing stable isotopes of wing samples. In spring, individuals arriving at northern Europe (Kaliningrad) were of a southern origin, while in autumn the isotope analyses revealed that samples came from the surrounding area or northern latitudes. During migration, the red admiral flies at high altitudes where high-speed winds carry the butterfly, reducing energy expenditure.

26-3-2019 OLIVA, VALENCIA - CHINESE WISTERIA (Wisteria sinensis)

Wisteria sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese wisteria, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, native to China, in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Yunnan. Growing 20–30 m (66–98 ft) tall, it is a deciduous vine. It is widely cultivated in temperate regions for its twisting stems and masses of scented flowers in hanging racemes, in spring.

Wisteria sinensis clings to supporting plants or man-made structures by counterclockwise-twining stems. The leaves are shiny, green, pinnately compound, 10–30 cm in length, with 9-13 oblong leaflets that are each 2–6 cm long.

The flowers are white, violet, or blue, produced on 15–20 cm racemes before the leaves emerge in spring. The flowers on each raceme open simultaneously before the foliage has expanded, and have a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes. Though it has shorter racemes than Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria), it often has a higher quantity of racemes.

The fruit is a flattened, brown, velvety, bean-like pod 5–10 cm long with thick disk-like seeds around 1 cm in diameter spaced evenly inside; they mature in summer and crack and twist open to release the seeds; the empty pods often persist until winter. However seed production is often low, and most regenerative growth occurs through layering and suckering.

All parts of the plant contain a glycoside called wisterine which is toxic if ingested and may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea. Wisterias have caused poisoning in children of many countries, producing mild to severe gastroenteritis.

Wisteria sinensis was unknown in the west before 1816, when several agents of the East India Company working in China sent cuttings back to England. Over the next several decades the plant became, and remains, one of the quintessential ornamental vines in temperate gardens worldwide. A 200-year-old specimen, growing at Griffin's Brewery in Chiswick, London, is often cited as the UK's oldest living wisteria plant.

26-3-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN FIREBUG (Pyrrhocoris apterus)

The firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae. Easily recognizable due to its striking red and black coloration, it may be confused with the similarly coloured though unrelated Corizus hyoscyami (cinnamon bug or squash bug). Pyrrhocoris apterus is distributed throughout the Palaearctic from the Atlantic coast of Europe to northwest China. It has also been reported from the United States, Central America, and India, and is also found in Australia. It has been reported as recently expanding its distribution northwards into mainland United Kingdom and eastward on to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. They are frequently observed to form aggregations, especially as immature forms, containing from tens to perhaps a hundred individuals.

Firebugs generally mate in April and May. Their diet consists primarily of seeds from lime trees and mallows. They can often be found in groups near the base of lime tree trunks, on the sunny side.

They can be seen in tandem formation when mating which can take from 12 hours up to 7 days. The long period of copulating is probably used by the males as a form of ejaculate-guarding under high competition with other males.

P. apterus was the subject of an unexpected discovery in the 1960s when researchers who had for ten years been rearing the bugs in Prague, Czech Republic, attempted to do the same at Harvard University in the United States. After the fifth nymphal instar, instead of developing into adults, the bugs either entered a sixth instar stage, or became adults with nymphal characteristics. Some of the sixth instars went on to a seventh instar, but all specimens died without reaching maturity. The source of the problem was eventually proven to be the paper towels used in the rearing process; the effect only happened if the paper towels were made in America. The researchers could replicate these results with American newspapers such as the New York Times, but not European newspapers such as The Times. The cause was found to be hormones found in the native balsam fir tree (Abies balsamea) used to manufacture paper and related products in America, and in some other North American conifers. This hormone happened to have a profound effect on P. apterus, but not on other insect species, showing the diversification of hormone receptors in the insects. The most potent chemical component was later identified as juvabione, the methyl ester of todomatuic acid, which is produced by the trees in response to wounding; it mimics juvenile hormone closely at the chemical level, defending against vulnerable pests.

25-3-2019 VAL DE ENCANTADA, ALICANTE - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

25-3-2019 VAL DE ENCANTADA, ALICANTE - COMMON POPPY (Papaver rhoeas)

Papaver rhoeas, with common names including common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, red poppy, and Odai, is an annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to north Africa and temperate Eurasia and is introduced into temperate areas on all other continents except Antarctica.

It is regarded as an agricultural weed (hence the common names including "corn" and "field"). As the plant thrives in areas of disturbed soil, it was often abundant in agricultural fields before the advent of herbicides. Flushes of poppies may still appear in fields where herbicides are not used, as well as those in fallow. The corn poppy and its cultivars such as the Shirley poppy are widely grown in gardens, and are frequently found in packets of seed labelled "wildflower mixes". Since World War I, it has been used in the Commonwealth as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers because it commonly grew in fields disturbed by war.