Friday, 14 February 2020
12-2-2020 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)
The Cattle Egret, a member of the heron family Ardeidae, is a small white bird recognized for its association with grazing animals. It exhibits a stout build, with a wingspan ranging from 88 to 96 cm, and a body length between 46 to 56 cm. The species is relatively light, weighing between 270 to 512 grams. It is characterized by a short, thick neck, a robust bill, and a somewhat hunched posture.
Outside the breeding season, the adult Cattle Egret has predominantly white plumage, a yellow bill, and greyish-yellow legs. Come breeding time, the western variety develops striking orange-buff plumes on the back, breast, and crown, while the bill, legs, and irises turn a vivid red. The eastern variety differs slightly with buff coloration extending to the cheeks and throat during breeding, and the plumes taking on a more golden hue. Both sexes are similar in appearance, though males are marginally larger with longer breeding plumes.
Cattle Egrets are adaptable birds that exploit a variety of drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their preferred environments include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies.
Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, the Cattle Egret has seen a significant expansion in its distribution, colonizing much of the rest of the world over the last century. It is now found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones globally.
Cattle Egrets are often seen in the company of cattle or other large mammals, benefiting from the insects and small vertebrates these animals disturb. They are known for their migratory behavior, with some populations moving seasonally, while others disperse post-breeding.
Thursday, 13 February 2020
12-2-2020 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - RED CRESTED POCHARD (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.
The male emits a distinctive wheezing 'veht', while the female can be heard making a series of hoarse 'vrah-vrah-vrah' calls.
Physical Characteristics
Appearance: Males (drakes) feature a fluffy chestnut-orange crown, red bill, and black body with white sides. Females are muted brown with pale cheeks and dark, capped heads.
Size: Larger than a common pochard, with a robust build.
Flight: In flight, they display a broad white stripe along the trailing edge of the wing.
Diet and Behavior
Foraging: Primarily herbivorous, eating roots, seeds, and algae, but they will also consume small molluscs, fish, and insects.
Diving/Dabbling: They are skilled divers (often 1-2 meters deep) but also frequently "upend" like dabbling ducks to feed in shallower water.
Habitat: Prefers calm, shallow, well-vegetated freshwater lakes, lagoons, and marshes.
Social: Highly gregarious, often forming large, mixed flocks with other ducks during winter.
Breeding and Lifespan
Courtship: Males perform intense courtship displays, including head-bobbing and whistling, often gathering in groups around females.
Nesting: Nests are built in thick vegetation near water, with 6-12 eggs incubated solely by the female.
Lifespan: Generally 5-15 years, with the oldest recorded wild bird reaching nearly 13 years of age.
Population and Status
Status: Classified as Least Concern, with a stable or increasing European population.
Range: Breeds in southern Europe and Central Asia, migrating to North Africa and India for the winter. They have also established a resident population in parts of England.
Interesting Facts
Hybridization: They frequently pair with other species, including Mallards, Tufted Ducks, and Common Pochards.
Name Origin: The Latin name Netta rufina roughly translates to "red-haired duck" or "red-crested duck," referring to the male's vivid, fluffy head.
Molting: During summer (June-August), males become flightless for around four weeks while they molt.
13-2-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata megera)
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Lasiommata megera, the wall or wall brown, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae (subfamily Satyrinae). It is widespread in the Palearctic realm with a large variety of habitats and number of generations a year.
P. megera L. [— xiphie Boisd. pt (45d). Above reddish yellow, with a black mark which traverses the distal band from the cell of the forewing to the abdominal margin of the hindwing, short black stripes crossing the disc and the cell of the forewing.
The species lives in North Africa, Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, the Middle East, western Siberia, northern Tian Shan, Dzungarian Alatau, Kazakhstan and Dzungaria.
Habitats include forest edges and clearings, shrubby areas in ravines and river valleys and sparse woodlands. It is also found in mountain habitats up to 0–3,000 metres (0–9,843 ft) above sea level.
The imago flies from April to October in two or three generations depending on locality and altitude. The larva feeds on grasses in the genera Festuca, Bromus, Deschampsia, Poa, Dactylis and Brachypodium.
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