Thursday, 9 July 2020
8-7-2020 L'ESTANY DE CULLERA, VALENCIA - MALLARD X MUSKOVY DUCK (Anas platyrhynchos × cairina moschata)
The cross between a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and a Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) produces a unique hybrid often called a Mulard or Mule Duck. Because these two species belong to different genera, their offspring are almost always sterile, meaning they cannot reproduce.Quick Comparison & Hybrid Types
Mule Duck: Produced when the father is a Muscovy and the mother is a Mallard (or Mallard-derived breed like a Pekin). These are typically larger and used in the commercial meat industry.
Hinny: Produced when the father is a Mallard and the mother is a Muscovy. These are less common and generally smaller than Mule Ducks.
Key Facts & CharacteristicsAppearance:
Hybrids often exhibit a "mixed" look. They may have the iridescent green sheen of a Mallard head but with the larger body and slight red or black caruncles (fleshy growths) around the bill typical of a Muscovy.
Voice: They are generally quieter than Mallards. While female Mallards are famous for their loud quack, these hybrids may only produce soft hisses, trills, or muffled quacks.
Behavior: They often display a blend of habits. They may prefer terrestrial foraging like a Muscovy but are also capable swimmers like a Mallard.
Commercial Use: In agriculture, Mulards are highly valued for their meat and foie gras production. They are considered hardier and grow faster than many purebred ducks.
Commonality: While rare in the wild, they are frequently seen in urban parks and lakes where domestic ducks of both species are often abandoned and interbreed.
8-7-2020 L'ESTANY DE CULLERA, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)
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The Mallard, or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), is a familiar and widespread dabbling duck with a presence across temperate and subtropical regions of the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has also been introduced to parts of the Southern Hemisphere. The male is renowned for its iridescent green head and white collar, while the female sports a brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes boast a speculum—a patch of feathers with iridescent purple or blue hues bordered by white. The Mallard's length ranges from 50 to 65 cm, with a wingspan of 81 to 98 cm, and it typically weighs between 0.7 and 1.6 kg.
Males during the breeding season are unmistakable with their glossy green heads, white collars, and purple-tinged brown breasts. Females are mottled brown with buff cheeks and an eye-stripe. Both sexes have the distinctive speculum on their wings. The male's bill is yellowish-orange tipped with black, while the female's is darker, ranging from black to mottled orange and brown.
Mallards are found in a variety of wetlands, including parks, small ponds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. They prefer water depths less than 0.9 meters and are drawn to areas with aquatic vegetation.
8-7-2020 L'ESTANY DE CULLERA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN COOT (FEMALE AND JUVENILE) (Fulica atra)
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.
This species is known for its noisy demeanor, producing a variety of crackling, explosive, or trumpeting calls, which are often heard at night.
Coots build bulky, sometimes floating nests, concealed in vegetation or in the open. Both sexes construct the nest, with the male gathering materials. Clutches typically contain 6-10 buff-colored eggs speckled with black or dark brown. Both parents incubate the eggs, which hatch after 21-24 days. Chicks are precocial and nidifugous, with distinctive orange-red tips on their down.
8-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
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The Little Grebe, or Tachybaptus ruficollis, known colloquially as the dabchick, is the smallest European member of the grebe family. This diminutive water bird measures a mere 23 to 29 centimeters in length and is a common sight in open bodies of water across its range.
In the summer, the adult Little Grebe is a sight to behold with its dark upper parts and a striking rufous coloration on the neck, cheeks, and flanks, complemented by a bright yellow gape. Outside of the breeding season, the plumage turns to a more subdued brownish-grey. Juveniles can be identified by their yellow bills tipped with black and streaked cheeks. In winter, the species is recognizable by its buff plumage, darker back and cap, and distinctive rear end.
Tuesday, 7 July 2020
2-7-2020 ROSSELL, CASTELLON - ROCK GRAYLING BUTTERFLY (Hipparchia alcyone)
The Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone or H. semele) is a master-camouflage butterfly found in dry, rocky, and woodland habitats across Europe, particularly in the south and Finland. It rarely shows its dark brown and orange-spotted upper wings, preferring to keep them closed to blend into stones or bark.
Key Facts about the Rock Grayling Butterfly
Camouflage Specialist: Their wings have an intricate grey-and-black pattern underneath (cryptic coloring) that mimics bark or stone, making them nearly invisible when resting.
Behavior: They almost never open their wings, preferring to sit in sunny spots to regulate body temperature.Habitat: They favor warm, dry environments, particularly pine woods, oak groves, and rocky areas, often seen in southern Europe and mountainous regions (up to 1900 m).
Diet: Caterpillars feed on grasses such as Festuca and Arrhenatherum.
Life Cycle: They are univoltine, meaning they produce one generation per year, flying from June to August.
Identification: They have a large wingspan (\(4.6 - 6\text{ cm}\)) and feature prominent black "eyespots" with white centers on their forewings, used to startle predators.
Conservation: While not immediately threatened globally, their populations are experiencing declines, particularly in northern Europe.
2-7-2020 ROSSELL, CASTELLON - GREAT BANDED GRAYLING BUTTERFLY (Brintesia circe)
The Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe) is a large, distinctive Nymphalidae butterfly found in Central/Southern Europe and Western Asia, recognized by its white-banded, dark wings. Active from June to October in dry, sunny grasslands, it often rests with closed wings, using cryptic coloration for camouflage.
These butterflies fly in one generation from June to September feeding on nectar of flowers. Larvae feed on various herbaceous plants (mainly on Anthoxanthum, Bromus, Festuca and Sesleria species). The young larvae overwinter.
The species can be found in central and southern Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Greece, southern Germany and Poland), in Anatolia and the Caucasus up to Iran.
These butterflies prefer light woodland, grasslands bordering forest edges and generally dry and bushy environments, at an altitude of 0–1,600 metres (0–5,249 ft) above sea level.
Key Facts about the Great Banded Grayling:
Appearance: Large wingspan (\(65–80\text{ mm}\)), with females generally larger. The wings are dark brown/black with a prominent, broad white band across both wings and a black, white-ringed eyespot on the forewing.
Habitat: Prefers sunny, dry, and shrubby areas, including light woodlands, rocky hillsides, and flower-rich grasslands at altitudes from \(0\) to \(1,600\) meters.
Behavior: Known for a strong, rapid flight. They rarely open their wings while resting, camouflaging against rocky or dry ground. Males frequently consume mineralized moisture from damp patches.
Flight Period: Generally flies in one generation from late June to mid-October.
Lifecycle & Diet: The larva feeds on various grasses, including Festuca, Bromus, and Lolium. The species overwinters as a caterpillar.Adaptation: As a response to hot, dry summers, some populations, particularly females, may undergo a period of aestivation, reducing activity during peak heat.
Distribution: Found across Southern and Central Europe (e.g., France, Italy, Spain, Croatia) and Western Asia (Turkey, Caucasus, Iran).
Appearance Note: It is frequently mistaken for other graylings like the Woodland Grayling (Hipparchia fagi) or Rock Grayling (Hipparchia hermione), but the white band is a key identifier.
2-7-2020 ROSSELL, CASTELLON - MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY (Maniola jurtina)
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The meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) is a butterfly found in the Palearctic realm. Its range includes Europe south of 62°N, Russia eastwards to the Urals, Asia Minor, Iraq, Iran, North Africa and the Canary Islands. The larvae feed on grasses.
There is marked sexual dimorphism in this species. The upperside of the male is uniformly light brown with a black ocellus centered white at the apex of the forewing, while the female has a tawny patch more or less extended around this ocella. The underside forewing is ochre-colored bordered with dark beige with the same ocelli at the apex in the male, while the hindwing is greyish to brown with a more or less orange band in the female. The males are also much more active and range far about, while females fly less and often may not move away from the area where they grew up.
30-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN PALE GLOW-WORM (Nyctophila reichii)
Nyctophila reichii (Mediterranean firefly/glow-worm) is a common Lampyrid beetle found in the Mediterranean region (Iberia, France, Italy, Balkans). Known for, sexual dimorphism, females are flightless, larger, and glow green to attract flying males in summer. Larvae are predatory, feeding on snails and slugs, and can emit light.
Key Facts about Nyctophila reichii:
Appearance & Dimorphism: Females are roughly 4 cm long, larvae-like (larviform), and wingless, while males are smaller and winged.
Luminescence: Both larvae and adult females glow to attract mates, producing a cold green light from the last abdominal segments.
Habitat: Commonly found in Mediterranean, mountainous, and semi-arid regions.
Diet: Larvae are specialized predators of snails and slugs.
Activity Period: Adults are active from the second half of June to the second half of August.
Defense: They possess eversible organs that help protect them against predators.
Commonality: They are among the most common glow-worms in Catalonia and the southern/eastern Iberian Peninsula.
Interaction: They are non-toxic to humans.
30-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Scopula minorata)
Scopula minorata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1833. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula and on the islands of the Indian Ocean.Furthermore, it is found in southern Europe. It can be distinguished from Scopula lactaria only by examination of its genitalia.
The wingspan is 15–20 millimetres (0.59–0.79 in).
Monday, 6 July 2020
5-7-2020 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - BROAD SCARLET DRAGONFLY (Crocothemis erythraea)
The scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Its common names include broad scarlet, common scarlet-darter, and scarlet darter.
The scarlet dragonfly is a common species in southern Europe and throughout Africa. It also occurs across western Asia as far as southern China. It is a very rare vagrant in Britain. Its first record in the country was at Hayle Kimbro Pool, The Lizard, Cornwall, on 7 August 1995. Since then there have been a few further records at scattered locations throughout Britain.
A wide range of both running and standing waters, except those that are shaded. Adults may be found some distance from water in habitats ranging from desert to open woodland; absent from dense forest.
Crocothemis erythraea can reach a length of 33–44 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in). These dragonflies haves a flattened and rather broad abdomen. The adult male scarlet dragonfly has a bright scarlet red, widened abdomen, with small amber patches at the bases of the hindwings. Also the veins on the leading edges of the wings are red. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax.
5-7-2020 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - COPPER DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (FEMALE) (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis)
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Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis is a species of damselfly in the family Calopterygidae known by the common names copper demoiselle and Mediterranean demoiselle.
This species is native to the western Mediterranean Basin in Europe (Iberia, southern France, Italy, Monaco) and North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). It is common in much of its range.
It lives along rivers and streams, but also in sunny larger waters. Though it may be affected by habitat changes such as water pollution.
Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis can reach a body length of about 45–48 millimetres (1.8–1.9 in). The abdomen length is of about 34–43 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in) in males, of 31–43 millimetres (1.2–1.7 in) in females. The length of the wings is of 23–32 millimetres (0.91–1.26 in) in males, of 25–37 millimetres (0.98–1.46 in) in the females.
The males have a dark, metallic shining body, the color of which can be red-violet, golden or copper-colored. On the underside of the last three abdominal segments there red area, the so-called "red lantern" (hence the Latin species name haemorrhoidalis, meaning "blood flow"). The wings of males show a large dark area, while the females have a brown band to the wing tip and a metallic-green to bronze-colored body, with a brown belt on the back.
The flight time of this species ranges from May to September. The males have a characteristic mating dance, showing the abdomen end and spreading their wings wide. The male of this species is territorial, defending sites where females may choose to lay eggs.
This species can hybridize with Calopteryx splendens.
5-7-2020 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)
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The Eurasian hoopoe, with its scientific name Upupa epops, is a bird of unmistakable appearance. It boasts a warm cinnamon plumage, contrasted by striking black and white wings, and a prominent black-tipped, fan-like crest which it can raise and lower. Its tail features a broad white band across a black background. The hoopoe's long, narrow bill curves downwards, adept for probing the soil, and is black with a fawn base.
When identifying the Eurasian hoopoe, look for its unique silhouette, characterized by its long, tapering bill and erectile crest. In flight, its broad and rounded wings display a bold black and white pattern, and its undulating flight is reminiscent of a large butterfly. The hoopoe's size ranges from 25 to 32 cm in length, with a wingspan of 44 to 48 cm, and it weighs between 46 and 89 grams.
The hoopoe is adaptable, favoring habitats with bare or lightly vegetated ground for foraging and vertical surfaces with cavities for nesting. These can include heathlands, wooded steppes, savannas, grasslands, and forest glades.
This species is native to Europe, Asia, and the northern half of Africa. It is migratory in the northern parts of its range, with European and north Asian birds wintering in the tropics. African populations tend to be sedentary throughout the year.
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Hoopoes are known for their sunbathing and dust-bathing behaviors, often spreading their wings and tail against the ground. They are solitary foragers, predominantly feeding on the ground with occasional aerial pursuits.
The hoopoe's call is a soft, melodic "oop-oop-oop," which may vary between two to four syllables. This call is the likely origin of both its English and scientific names.
Hoopoes are monogamous, with pair bonds lasting a single season. They nest in cavities, with the female solely responsible for incubation. Clutch sizes vary geographically, with larger clutches in higher latitudes. The eggs are initially milky blue, becoming discolored in the nest.
The hoopoe's diet consists mainly of insects, but it may also consume small reptiles, frogs, seeds, and berries. It uses its bill to probe the soil for larvae, pupae, and insects, which are then beaten against a surface to remove indigestible parts.
5-7-2020 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - EPAULET SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Orthetrum chrysostigma)
Another pruinose Skimmer species, said to be one of Africa’s most common dragonflies, that has made it up into Spain.
Orthetrum chrysostigma, the epaulet skimmer, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Israel, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi as well as Canary Islands, and Portugal. It was recorded in the Maltese Islands in 2010.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, intermittent rivers, shrub-dominated wetlands, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and freshwater springs. The adults prey on various flying insects. The bodies of adult males are blue, and those of young and females are yellow and brown.
Very widespread and occurs virtually throughout Africa, including North Africa. It also occurs in parts of Southern Europe and the Middle East. In South Africa it occurs virtually throughout, but is scarce in the dry central regions.
Sunday, 5 July 2020
5-7-2020 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (MALE) (Turdus merula)
The Common Blackbird, Turdus merula, is a true thrush and a familiar sight in gardens and woodlands. The male is distinguished by its all-black plumage, bright yellow eye-ring, and orange-yellow bill, which darkens slightly during winter. Females and juveniles are more demure in their attire, sporting mainly dark brown feathers.
Adult males are entirely black with the exception of the yellow eye-ring and bill. Females are sooty-brown with a duller bill, and juveniles resemble females but have pale spots on their upperparts. The very young may also exhibit a speckled breast.
The Common Blackbird thrives in a variety of habitats including woodlands with dense undergrowth, gardens, parks, and hedgerows. It shows a preference for deciduous trees and areas with thick vegetation.
This species is widespread across Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. It has also been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. Its range varies from resident populations in the milder regions to partially or fully migratory populations in areas with more severe winters.
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