6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - PLAIN BACKED PIPIT (Anthus leucophrys)

The plain-backed pipit or plain pipit (Anthus leucophrys) is a medium-sized passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.

It is found in open habitats, especially short grassland and cultivation. It builds its cup-shaped nest on the ground and usually lays three eggs. Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous.

The plain-backed pipit is a large pipit at 17 cm, but is otherwise an undistinguished looking species, faintly streaked grey-brown above and pale below with light breast streaking. It has a strong white supercilium, and dark moustachial stripes. It has long legs and tail, and a long dark bill. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have warmer brown upperparts.

Some care must be taken to distinguish this species from wintering tawny pipits, Anthus campestris. The plain-backed pipit is sturdier and darker than the Tawny, and stands more upright. Perhaps the best distinction is the characteristic "ssissik" call, quite different from the tawny pipit's "tchilip".

The plain-backed pipit is a medium-sized, insectivorous bird found in open habitats across sub-Saharan Africa, including short grasslands, cultivated land, and savannas. It has a plain, dark olive or grey-brown back, buffy underparts with streaking, and a cup-shaped nest built on the ground. Its diet consists mainly of insects like moths and grasshoppers, though it also eats seeds. 

Identification

Size: About 17cm long and weighs around 28g.

Plumage: Has uniform dark olive or grey-brown upper parts with streaked or mottled crowns. The breast and flanks are buff with dark streaks, and the belly is whiter.

Features: Has buffy outer tail feathers and a white eyebrow. Its legs are pink and its bill is strong with a yellowish, rather than pink, base, differentiating it from similar species. 

6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - COPPERY TAILED COUCAL (Centropus cupreicaudus)

17-6-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - MALLARD (FEMALE AND YOUNG) (Anas platyrhynchos)

Whilst laying, the female needs a lot of nutrition so will leave the nest, sometimes for longer periods of time to feed and rest. Once all her eggs are laid she will rarely leave the nest; unlike osprey, the male does not bring food to the female whilst she incubates. This means that when she does require a short break to feed, toilet and stretch her legs the eggs are left alone. Whilst she is away, the nest is it at risk to predators such as crows, jays, mink, foxes and rats. The female will always cover her nest with vegetation such as leaves and grass to hide the eggs. One of the reasons which mallards lay so many eggs, is because there is a significant chance not all the young will reach maturity. This way there is hope that one or two of her chicks will survive. Mallards will also often lay more than one clutch in a season to increase the chances of their offspring reaching maturity.

The chicks hatch after 23-30 days, and despite being laid separately, they will all hatch around the same time. The chicks are mobile and ready to feed very soon after hatching, they will stay in the nest for just 10 hours to learn how to use their legs. Once ready to leave the nest the female will lead them to the nearby water body.

17-6-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

A great tit clutch can be anything from five to 11 eggs, with the female doing all the incubation.

The cock helps the female with feeding the brood: the chicks usually leave the nest around 20 days after hatching.

Though great tits living in oakwoods rarely have a second brood, it's not uncommon for them to do so in pinewoods.

Most individuals are sedentary, rarely moving far from where they hatched, but there is a tendency for them to move more in years when the beech crop fails.

It is becoming increasingly rare for British-ringed great tits to be recovered abroad. This is thought to be because of the increase in the amount of food available in gardens.

The most widespread of all the species of tit, it is found across almost all of Europe and east to Japan and south to Indonesia. It is also found in North Africa.

Though widely distrubuted throughout the British Isles, the great tit is a rarity in the Hebrides and Shetlands.

There are no fewer than 30 different races of great tit, many of which are predominately grey and black and lack the bright yellow of European birds.

Britain's population of around 2 million pairs puts it in 8th place in Europe. Germany has the most: an estimated 8 million pairs.

The great tit owes much of its success to its adaptability, while increasing numbers in Britain may well be because it is an enthusiastic user of garden feeding stations.

Because of its wide range and the fact that it often lives in close proximity to man, it is one of the most intensely studied of all birds.

The readiness of great tits to use nest boxes is one of the reasons they are such popular birds to study.

The longest running study started in Wytham Wood near Oxford in the 1930s and continues to this day. The university manages it.

The male's distinctive double-note song is one of the most familiar sounds of spring.

There are, however, a huge number of variations of the song, and a typical cock great tit will use around 40 variations.

If you hear a bird song that you can't identify, then there’s a good chance it will be a great tit.

It has been found that the individual birds with the greatest repertoire of songs enjoy the most success with the girls.

Many old country names for this species reflect its song. One of the best is sharp-saw, from Norfolk.

The most successful and dominant cocks tend to have the thickest black stripes down the center of the underparts.

In the 1960s, when sparrowhawk numbers had been decimated by pesticide poisoning, the most dominant great tits were also the heaviest. However, these fatter birds are the most vulnerable to sparrowhawks, so once the latter's population recovered, the dominant males lost their excess weight.

Great tits invariably nest in holes, but here they can be remarkably inventive, often using manmade sites such as post boxes.

6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN PIED KINGFISHER (Ceryle rudis ssp rudis)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_kingfisher

6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE) (Panthera pardus pardus)

The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course of habitat conversion. Leopards have also been recorded in North Africa as well.

The African leopard exhibits great variation in coat color, depending on location and habitat. Coat colour varies from pale yellow to deep gold or tawny, and sometimes black, and is patterned with black rosettes while the head, lower limbs and belly are spotted with solid black. Male leopards are larger, averaging 58 kg (128 lb) with 90 kg (200 lb) being the maximum weight attained by a male. Females weigh about 37.5 kg (83 lb) on average.

The African leopard is sexually dimorphic; males are larger and heavier than females. Between 1996 and 2000, 11 adult leopards were radio-collared on Namibian farmlands. Males weighed 37.5 to 52.3 kg (83 to 115 lb) only, and females 24 to 33.5 kg (53 to 74 lb). The heaviest known leopard weighed about 96 kg (212 lb), and was recorded in South West Africa.

6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SAVANNAH ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana)

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - RED BILLED BUFFALO WEAVER (Bubalornis niger)

The Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis niger) is a robust bird, the largest within the Ploceidae family, with males averaging a body mass of 82.1 grams and females slightly lighter at 70.7 grams. The species exhibits a modest sexual dimorphism; males are adorned with dark chocolate brown plumage, accented with white flecks on the wing edges and tips, and a distinctive red bill. Females share the same rich brown coloration but lack the white wing markings and feature broad white hems on their chin and throat feathers. Juveniles present a paler brown hue as they mature.

To identify the Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, look for its red bill, which sets it apart from its cousin, the White-billed Buffalo Weaver. The male's red bill contrasts with his dark plumage and reddish-brown feet, while the female's lighter brown legs and white throat markings are key distinguishing features.

This species thrives in the dry savannas and sparse woodlands, often in areas influenced by human activity and grazing livestock.

The Red-billed Buffalo Weaver is found across eastern and southern Africa, where it has adapted well to environments altered by humans.

These birds are social, living in colonies, and can be seen in small family units or large flocks. Males are polygamous, with a hierarchy where dominant males control more nest chambers and females. Aggressive displays and loud calls are used for defense, while some males may cooperate in nest building and chick rearing.

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - PLAINS ZEBRA (Equus quagga)

The Plains zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchellii) is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. It is the most recognizable grazing animal on the African continent. Their closest relatives are donkeys and horses. The sparkling coat of zebras reflects more than 70% of incoming heat, which is likely to help them survive under the scorching African sun. Each of these animals has its own unique stripe pattern, which helps identify individuals. Additionally, the striped coat is used as ideal camouflage, allowing zebras to remain unspotted by predators in the grass.

The Plains zebra is dumpy bodied with relatively short legs and a skull with a convex forehead and a somewhat concave nose profile. The neck is thicker in males than in females. The ears are upright and have rounded tips. As with all wild equids, the Plains zebra has an erect mane along the neck and a tuft of hair at the end of the tail. It is boldly striped in black and white and no two individuals look exactly alike. Compared to other species, the Plains zebra has broader stripes. The stripes are vertical on the fore part of the body and tend towards the horizontal on the hindquarters. Northern zebra populations have narrower and more defined striping; southern populations have varied but lesser amounts of striping on the under parts, the legs, and the hindquarters. Southern populations also have brown "shadow" stripes between the black and white coloring. These are absent or poorly expressed in northern zebras. The natal coat of a foal is brown and white and the brown darkens with age.

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - HIPPOPOTAMUS (Hippopotamus amphibius)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/42149-Hippopotamus-amphibius

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - HELMETED GUINEA FOWL (Numida meleagris)

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN LION (JUVENILE) (Panthera leo ssp. melanochaita)

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN LION (FEMALE) (Panthera leo ssp. melanochaita)

Panthera leo melanochaita is a lion subspecies in Southern and East Africa. In this part of Africa, lion populations are regionally extinct in Lesotho, Djibouti and Eritrea, and are threatened by loss of habitat and prey base, killing by local people in retaliation for loss of livestock, and in several countries also by trophy hunting. Since the turn of the 21st century, lion populations in intensively managed protected areas in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe have increased, but declined in East African range countries. In 2005, a Lion Conservation Strategy was developed for East and Southern Africa.

Results of a phylogeographic study indicate that lion populations in southern and eastern Africa form a major clade distinct from lion populations in West Africa, Central Africa and Asia. In 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group subsumed lion populations according to the major clades into two subspecies, namely P. l. leo and P. l. melanochaita. Within P. l. melanochaita three subclades are clearly distinguishable. One from northeastern Africa, another one from southwestern Africa and a third one from southeastern Africa.

The type specimen for P. l. melanochaita was a black-maned lion from the Cape of Good Hope, known as the Cape lion. Phylogeographic analysis of lion samples from Gabon and the Republic of the Congo indicate their close genetic relation to P. l. melanochaita samples from Namibia and Botswana. It has been referred to as the Southern lion, Southern African lion, East-Southern African lion and the "southern subspecies". Lions usually hunt in groups and prey foremost on ungulates such as gemsbok (Oryx gazella), Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), common eland (Tragelaphus oryx), greater kudu (T. strepsiceros), nyala (T. angasii), roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), sable antelope (H. niger), plains zebra (Equus quagga), bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus), common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), hartebeest (Alcephalus buselaphus), common tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), kob (K. kob) and Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii). 

Their prey is usually in the range of 190–550 kg (420–1,210 pounds). In the Serengeti National Park, lions were observed to also scavenge on carrion of animals that were killed by other predators, or died from natural causes. They kept a constant lookout for circling vultures, apparently being aware that vultures indicate a dead animal.[80] Faeces of lions collected near waterholes in Hwange National Park also contained remains of climbing mice (Dendromus) and common mice (Mus).

In Botswana's Chobe National Park, lions also prey on young and subadult African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana). They successfully attacked 74 elephants between 1993 and 1996, of which 26 were older than nine years, and one bull over 15 years old. In October 2005, a pride of up to 30 lions killed eight African bush elephants that were between four and eleven years old.

5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SAVANNAH ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana)

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant, is a species of elephant native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of three extant elephant species and, along with the African forest elephant, one of two extant species of African elephant. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with fully grown bulls reaching an average shoulder height of 3.04–3.36 metres (10.0–11.0 ft) and a body mass of 5.2–6.9 tonnes (5.7–7.6 short tons); the largest recorded specimen had a shoulder height of 3.96 metres (13.0 ft) and an estimated body mass of 10.4 tonnes (11.5 short tons). The African bush elephant is characterised by its long prehensile trunk with two finger-like processes; a convex back; large ears which help reduce body heat; and sturdy tusks that are noticeably curved. The skin is grey with scanty hairs, and bending cracks which support thermoregulation by retaining water.

The African bush elephant inhabits a variety of habitats such as forests, grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and agricultural land. It is a mixed herbivore feeding mostly on grasses, creepers, herbs, leaves, and bark. The average adult consumes about 150 kg (330 lb) of vegetation and 230 L (51 imp gal; 61 US gal) of water each day. A social animal, the African bush elephant often travels in herds composed of cows and their offspring. Adult bulls usually live alone or in small bachelor groups. During the mating season, males go through a process called musth, a period of high testosterone levels and heightened aggression. For females, the menstrual cycle lasts three to four months, and gestation around 22 months, the longest of any mammal.

5-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - WHITE BROWED COUCAL (Centropus superciliosus)

5-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - LESSER STRIPED SWALLOW (Cecropis abyssinica)

The lesser striped swallow is a denizen of wooded, primarily lowland areas. It shows a preference for less open environments and is commonly found in proximity to human settlements.

This swallow measures between 15 to 19 cm in length. It boasts dark blue upperparts, a striking red rump, and a rufous-chestnut crown, nape, and sides of the head. The underparts are white, adorned with dark streaking. The wings are blackish-brown, with tawny underwing coverts. The tail is blackish with elongated outer feathers, which are marginally longer in males. Juvenile birds present a duller brown plumage with less contrast and shorter tail feathers.

Look for the heavy streaking on the underparts, the rufous ear coverts, and the deep red rump to distinguish the lesser striped swallow from its relatives. These features are more pronounced than those of the greater striped swallow.

The lesser striped swallow breeds across Sub-Saharan Africa, from Sierra Leone and southern Sudan down to eastern South Africa. It exhibits partial migratory behavior, with South African populations moving north during the winter, and West African birds vacating the northern part of their range in the dry season.

This species is known for its erratic flight as it hunts for flying insects, although it occasionally consumes small fruits. Its call is a distinctive nasal "zeh zeh zeh zeh zeh."

The lesser striped swallow constructs a bowl-shaped mud nest with a tubular entrance, often on the underside of a structure such as a building, bridge, or culvert. The nest, which may be reused in subsequent years, is lined with soft materials for comfort. The species tends to select elevated sites for nesting. Typically, a clutch comprises three glossy white eggs, sometimes speckled with brown. Incubation is carried out by the female for 14 to 16 days, followed by both parents feeding the chicks. Fledging occurs after another 17 to 19 days, though the young may return to the nest to roost for a short period post-flight.

The greater striped swallow is similar in appearance but can be differentiated by its larger size, lighter head color, and less extensive underpart streaking.

The lesser striped swallow primarily feeds on flying insects, supplementing its diet occasionally with small fruits.

5-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN GROUND HORNBILL (Bucorvus leadbeateri)

5-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - CHACMA BABOON (Papio ursinus)

Chacma baboons are found throughout southern Africa, ranging from South Africa north to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique. They live in diverse habitats from woodlands to savannas, steppes, and sub-deserts. Chacma baboons are found in the Kalahari Desert as well as on the alpine slopes of the Drakensberg. They usually sleep on hills, cliffs, or large trees and during the day, avoid arid areas with a lack of water.

The Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) is a member of the Old World monkey family. It is one of the largest of all monkeys. Located primarily in southern Africa, the chacma baboon has a wide variety of social behaviors, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings. In general, the species is not threatened, but hunting, trapping, and accidents kill or remove many baboons from the wild, thereby reducing their numbers and disrupting their social structure.

5-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN BLACK WINGED KITE (Elanus caeruleus ssp. caeruleus)

The Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus, is a small diurnal raptor with a striking appearance. It is characterized by its long wings and a contrasting pattern of white, grey, and black plumage. The bird's forward-facing eyes with red irises are reminiscent of an owl's gaze, lending it a distinctive look among birds of prey.

Adults of this species can be identified by their black shoulder patches, wingtips, and the distinctive eye stripe. In flight, the long wings extend beyond the tail, which is short and square, lacking the fork seen in typical kites like those in the genus Milvus. When perched, the bird may adjust its wings and jerk its tail, as if maintaining balance. Both sexes have similar plumage.

The Black-winged Kite is typically found in open land and semi-deserts, favoring open grasslands where it can easily spot prey. It is also seen on grassy slopes at higher elevations in parts of Asia.

This species has a wide range that includes sub-Saharan Africa, tropical Asia, and parts of Europe. It has been observed at altitudes as high as 3,650 meters in Sikkim and is known to be a winter visitor in some regions, such as the Western Ghats.

The Black-winged Kite is known for its habit of hovering over grasslands, much like kestrels. It is not migratory but displays nomadic behavior in response to weather and food availability. It is capable of raising multiple broods in a year, taking advantage of surges in rodent populations.

The calls of the Black-winged Kite are high-pitched squeals or soft whistles, mainly heard during the breeding season and at communal roost sites.

Breeding occurs at various times across its range, with nests being a loose platform of twigs. The species lays 3 to 4 pale creamy eggs with deep red spots. Both parents incubate, but the male takes on a more significant role in foraging as the chicks grow.

The Black-winged Kite can be confused with the closely-related Australian Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) and the White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) of North and South America, which together form a superspecies.

Its diet consists of large insects, lizards, and rodents, with occasional small snakes and frogs. The kite hunts by flying slowly or hovering like a harrier and sometimes hunts prey in flight.

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-winged Kite as Least Concern, indicating a stable population trend. However, it benefits from human activities such as agriculture and livestock rearing, which have contributed to its range expansion in southern Europe.

16-6-2019 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)

16-6-2019 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GREENFINCH (Chloris chloris)

The European greenfinch, or simply greenfinch, is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family Fringillidae. Exhibiting a predominantly green plumage with yellow accents on the wings and tail, the male is a vibrant sight, while the female and juveniles are more subdued with brownish tones. This bird measures approximately 15 cm in length with a wingspan ranging from 24.5 to 27.5 cm, resembling the size and shape of a house sparrow.

To identify the European greenfinch, look for its thick and conical bill, a characteristic of seed-eating birds. The male's plumage is a striking green with yellow flashes on the wings and tail, whereas the female and young birds are more muted with brownish backs. The male's display flight is akin to a butterfly, a dance to charm its mate.

The greenfinch favors woodland edges, farmland hedges, and gardens with dense vegetation for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes within these habitats.

This bird has a broad range across Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. It is mainly sedentary, but some populations in the northernmost regions migrate southwards in colder months. The species has also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, and Argentina.

16-6-2019 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides

The Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a diminutive member of the heron family, measuring a mere 44–47 cm in length, with a compact body of 20–23 cm and a wingspan stretching 80–92 cm. This species is adorned with a buff-brown back and, during the summer months, adults boast elongated neck feathers that add to their allure.

In the field, one may identify the Squacco Heron by its stocky build, abbreviated neck, and stout bill. Its back is cloaked in a buff-brown hue. When in flight, the heron undergoes a remarkable transformation, revealing a predominantly white plumage that contrasts starkly with its resting appearance.

The Squacco Heron favors marshy wetlands in temperate regions for its habitat, where the water is warm and inviting.

16-6-2019 POTRIES, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

Female house sparrows are plainer than males, appearing as a dusty brown with a pale eyebrow stripe. They are smaller and can live up to 14 years, weighing around 30g, and are highly social, omnivorous birds that nest in colonies and are common in human-inhabited areas. 

Appearance

Plumage: A duller, dusty brown overall with streaked backs and pale underparts. They lack the distinct head markings, gray crown, white cheeks, and black bib of the male.

Head Markings: A pale buff eyebrow stripe is a key identifier.

Year-round consistency: Their appearance is similar year-round, unlike males who have a more vibrant breeding plumage. 

Behavior and lifestyle

Social: They are very social birds, living and nesting in small, communal groups called colonies.

Diet: They are omnivores, eating a variety of seeds, grains, buds, berries, and insects. They are also opportunistic feeders that readily consume human scraps and food left out for other birds.

Nesting: They build communal nests from dry grass, straw, feathers, and other found materials in places like dense bushes, eaves of buildings, and nest boxes.

Reproduction: A female typically lays 2-5 eggs per clutch, which both parents incubate. Both parents share incubation duties.

16-6-2019 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - FLOATING PRIMROSE WILLOW (Ludwigia peploides)

16-6-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - WAVYLEAF MULLEIN (Verbascum sinuatum)

Verbascum sinuatum, commonly known as the scallop-leaved mullein,[2] the wavyleaf mullein, or Candela regia, is a species of perennial herbaceous plants in the genus Verbascum (mullein), growing in heavy soils in Central Asia and the Mediterranean region. It grows to 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft). The plant has an erect inflorescence stem, and is entirely covered with stellate hairs (trichomes) which are not pleasant to the touch.

In the winter, a rosette of broad-leaves grows at the base of the Scallop-leaved mullein and spreads itself on the ground (length 30–50 cm). In the spring, a leafless stalk grows from the base of the plant, splitting into many diagonal stems that can grow as much as 50 to 100 cm. in length, on which the flowers are located. The plant bears simple, emarginate leaves, and has a yellow lamp-shaped flower (hence its name Candela) of 5 petals, blossoming mostly in late May to August, although sometimes as late as October.

The plant's leaves are alternate, rosette, entire, dentate or serrate.

The plant has a broad Irano-Turanian distribution, as well as a broad Mediterranean distribution (stretching from the Mediterranean coastal regions to West and South Iran). The plant is native to Israel, where it grows in the Golan, the Hermon, the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, Gilboa, Carmel, Samarian Mountains, Judean Mountains, the Jordan Valley, the Sharon valley, Shephelah, Northern Negev, and Eilat Mountains, and the Arabah, typically found in waste habitats, along waysides, and in open chaparrals (shrublands) and phrygana.