17-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN KATYDID (Phaneroptera nana)

Phaneroptera nana, common name southern sickle bush-cricket, is a species in the family Tettigoniidae and subfamily Phaneropterinae. It has become an invasive species in California where it may be called the Mediterranean katydid.

This bush cricket is native to mainland Europe, the Near East and North Africa. The Indo-Malayan species Phaneropera subcarinata, classified by Bolívar, is morphologically similar to P. nana, and was classified under the P. nana name by Carl Brunner von Wattenwyl. As an invasive species, it has spread to the San Francisco Bay Area and may be widespread in the Los Angeles Basin, with records of its presence in California dating from at least 1952. In addition, it has been recorded in South America and hypothesized in the Annals of Carnegie Museum to have spread via shipping.

It mainly inhabits sunny and dry habitats, especially shrubs and low branches of trees.

The Mediterranean katydid (Phaneroptera nana) female sings in response to the male, prompting the male to move towards the female. This is unique to the species, because in other species of katydids, it is usually the female moving towards the male in response to hearing their chirps. However, because the females stay static while the males move to locate them, the females are at less risk of encountering threats and predators. However, the males will not decide to interact with a female unless they illicit a response within 60 milliseconds, ensuring that the female is close enough to them.

The females are selective of the males they respond to, and generally they prefer longer chirps. At least two chirps from the males are needed for the female to entertain the males and reply to them. However, more chirps than that from the males do not make the females more likely to duet with the males.

The female Mediterranean katydids lay their eggs in the lamina of plants. the female does this by bending her abdomen and chewing on the lamina to create an opening. The eggs she lays around 3mm in size on average. Those eggs usually hatch in summertime but that can vary. The timing means that P. nana is usually easily encountered through the summer and fall seasons. 

15-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLADETAIL (Genus Machimus)

Bladetails is the common name for Machimus, a widespread genus of predatory robber flies in the family Asilidae. Known for their exceptional eyesight and aggressive hunting, they use a darting tactic to catch other insects in mid-air and inject them with paralyzing, digestive saliva.Key Facts About Machimus (Bladetails)Global Distribution: Found nearly worldwide, though they are notably absent from Australia and New Zealand. They are most diverse in the Palearctic ecozone and southern Asia.

Physical Characteristics: Medium to large flies with stout, bristly legs and a distinct, prominent "moustache" of bristles. Their bodies are often grey or brown with subtly patterned (tessellated) abdomens. Males typically feature a distinct tab or elongated, decurved projection (epandrium) on the tip of their abdomen.

Ferocious Predators: Bladetails utilize a sit-and-wait hunting strategy. They dart out from perches to ambush prey—often other flies, wasps, or even dragonflies—which they stab with a strong, piercing proboscis.

Life Cycle: Female Machimus deposit eggs on low-lying vegetation or within soil and crevices. The larvae live in the soil or decaying matter, where they feed on other insect larvae and soft-bodied prey.

Diverse Species: The genus includes over 100 species such as the Kite-tailed Robberfly (M. atricapillus) in Europe, the Black-legged Bladetail (M. maneei) in North America, and the Manx Robber Fly (M. cowini) native to the British Isles.

15-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ROUND NECKED LONGHORN BEETLE (Stromatium auratum)

Stromatium fulvum is a highly destructive, polyphagous longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) known for boring into dry, dead wood and processed timber throughout the Mediterranean, Near East, and Caucasus. It causes severe structural damage to wooden, furniture, and, with a 2+ year life cycle, acts as a major pest. 

Key Facts About Stromatium fulvum:

Appearance: Adults are 12–32 mm long, characterized by a brownish color, with elytra that are relatively shiny, punctured, and often feature two longitudinal costae.

Damage Profile: As a severe pest of "wood-in-use," larvae tunnel through dry timber, often leaving no visible external traces until adults emerge.

Diet: Extremely polyphagous, attacking various, primarily deciduous, dry wood types.

Life Cycle: The life cycle typically lasts 2 or more years.

Distribution: Primarily found in the Mediterranean region, Near East, Caucasus, and Iran.

16-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BATH WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pontia daplidice)

Pontia daplidice, the Bath white, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites, which occurs in the Palearctic region. It is common in central and southern Europe, migrating northwards every summer, often reaching southern Scandinavia and sometimes southern England.

The Bath white is a small white butterfly with a wingspan of 45 to 50 mm. The underside of the hindwing has a pattern of greenish blotches, which is characteristic of the Bath whites and easily identifies it from other pierids.

Sexes can be differentiated by markings on the forewing. The male is differentiated from the female by the markings on the upperside of the forewing. The apex of the forewing is black with white spots and lines. There is a black spot at the end of the cell. In the case of the female, there is an additional discal spot in 1b. The female also has an obscure row of terminal and marginal spots on the upper hindwing. 

15-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus)

The greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus, stands as the most widespread and largest member of the flamingo family. This majestic bird is adorned with pinkish-white plumage, save for the red wing coverts and contrasting black primary and secondary flight feathers. The bill is a striking pink with a black tip, and the legs are a uniform pink, completing the iconic look of this species.

Adult greater flamingos can be identified by their height, ranging from 110 to 150 cm, and their weight between 2 and 4 kg. The largest males can reach up to 187 cm tall and weigh 4.5 kg. Observers should note the distinctive coloration, with the majority of the body being pinkish-white, red wing coverts, and black flight feathers. The pink bill with a black tip and entirely pink legs are also key identification features. The call of the greater flamingo is reminiscent of a goose-like honking.

Greater flamingos favor mudflats and shallow coastal lagoons with saline water, where they can be seen stirring the mud with their feet in search of food.

This species is common in the Old World, with a range that includes Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, the Levant, and Southern Europe. Notably, they are found in coastal regions and along water bodies such as the Nile River, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean.

15-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta)

The pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta, presents a striking silhouette with its bold black and white plumage. This large wader, belonging to the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae, is adorned with a distinctive black cap and black markings on its wings and back, contrasting sharply against its otherwise white body. The species is noted for its elegant, upturned bill and elongated, bluish legs, which add to its graceful demeanor.

Adult pied avocets measure approximately 16.5–17.75 inches in length, with a wingspan stretching around 30–31.5 inches. Their long legs and upturned bills, measuring about 2.95–3.35 inches and 3–4 inches respectively, are key features for identification. Both sexes appear similar, while juveniles can be distinguished by their more greyish and sepia tones.

These birds favor shallow lakes with brackish water and exposed mudflats, which provide ideal foraging and breeding grounds.

The pied avocet breeds across temperate Europe and extends across the Palearctic to Central Asia and the Russian Far East. It is a migratory species, with most individuals wintering in Africa or southern Asia. Some, however, remain in the milder parts of their range during winter, such as southern Spain and southern England.

Pied avocets forage in shallow waters or on mudflats, often employing a unique side-to-side scything motion with their bills to capture prey. They primarily consume crustaceans and insects. During the breeding season, they nest on open ground, often forming small groups and sometimes associating with other wader species. Their nests are typically lined scrapes or mounds of vegetation, where they lay three to five eggs.

The avocet's call is a distinctive, melodious "kluit kluit," which carries far across their watery habitats.

Pied avocets establish breeding territories in shallow brackish waters, where they lay their eggs in simple ground nests. These nests may be lined with materials or placed on mounds of vegetation to protect them from flooding.

While the pied avocet's unique plumage and bill shape make it quite distinctive, it could potentially be confused with other avocet species within the genus Recurvirostra. However, its black and white coloration and habitat preferences are usually sufficient for accurate identification.

The diet of the pied avocet consists mainly of crustaceans and insects, which they adeptly capture with their specialized bill.

The IUCN Red List classifies the pied avocet as Least Concern, indicating that, at present, the species does not face any imminent threats to its survival on a global scale.

17-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SARDINIAN WARBLER (MALE) (Sylvia melanocephala)

The Sardinian warbler (Curruca melanocephala) is a common and widespread Sylviidae warbler from the Mediterranean region. Like most Curruca species, it has distinct male and female plumages. The adult male has a grey back, whitish underparts, black head, white throat and red eyes. Plumages are somewhat variable even in the same locality, with the intensity of a reddish hue on upper- and/or underside that varies from absent to (in some subspecies) pronounced. The female is mainly brown above and buff below, with a grey head. The Sardinian warbler's song is fast and rattling, and is very characteristic of the Mediterranean areas where this bird breeds.

17-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

The Great tit (Parus major) is a widespread and common songbird throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and east across the Palearctic to the Amur River, south to parts of North Africa. It has adapted well to human changes in the environment and is a common and familiar bird in urban parks and gardens. It is also an important study species in ornithology.

The Great tit has a distinctive appearance that makes it easy to recognize. The nominate race has a bluish-black crown, black neck, throat, bib, and head, and white cheeks and ear coverts. The breast is bright lemon-yellow and there is a broad black mid-line stripe running from the bib to the vent. There is a dull white spot on the neck turning to greenish yellow on the upper nape. The rest of the nape and back are green-tinged with olive. The wing-coverts are green, and the rest of the wing is bluish-grey with a white wing bar. The tail is bluish-grey with white outer tips. The plumage of the female is similar to that of the male except that the colors are overall duller.

Great tits have a wide distribution across much of Eurasia. They can be found across all of Europe except for Iceland and northern Scandinavia, including numerous Mediterranean islands. In North Africa, they live in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. They also occur across the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan to Mongolia, as well as across northern Asia from the Urals as far east as northern China and the Amur Valley. Great tits inhabit open deciduous woodland, mixed forests, forest edges, and gardens. In northern Siberia, they live in boreal taiga. In North Africa, they prefer oak forests as well as stands of Atlas cedar and even palm groves. In the east of their range, Great tits favor riverine willow and birch forest, as well as low scrubland and oases. 

15-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - GREATER FLAMINGO (JUVENILE) (Phoenicopterus roseus)

The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread and largest species of the flamingo family. Common in the Old World, they are found in Northern (coastal) and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent (south of the Himalayas), the Middle East, the Levant, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe.

It is found in parts of Northern Africa (including coastal areas of northern Algeria, Egypt further inland along the Nile River, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia), portions of Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda), Southern Asia (coastal Bangladesh,India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), the Western Asia (Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Iran, Oman, Israel, Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates) and Southern Europe (including Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, France in the Camargue and Corsica, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain and the Balearic Islands, and Turkey).

15-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - BLACK HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

The Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small and one of the most abundant gulls in much of Europe and Asia, and also in eastern Canada. It displays a variety of compelling behaviors and adaptations. Some of these include removing eggshells from one's nest after hatching, begging co-ordination between siblings, differences between sexes, conspecific brood parasitism, and extra-pair paternity.

The summer adult has a chocolate-brown head (not black, although does look black from a distance), a pale grey body, black tips to the primary wing feathers, and a red bill and legs. The hood is lost in winter, leaving just two dark spots. Immature birds have a mottled pattern of brown spots over most of the body and a black band on the tail. There is no difference in plumage between the sexes. In flight, the white leading edge to the wing is a good field mark. First-year birds have a black terminal tail band, more dark areas in the wings, and, in summer, a less fully developed dark hood.

Black-headed gulls breed in much of Europe, Asia, and in coastal eastern Canada. Most of their populations are migratory and winter further south, but some birds reside in the milder westernmost areas of Europe. Some Black-headed gulls also spend the winter in northeastern North America. They breed in large reed beds or marshes, or on islands in lakes, rivers, lagoons, deltas, and estuaries. They may also occur in ponds, canals, and flood lands, nesting on the heather moors, sand dunes, or beaches. During the winter these birds are found in estuaries with sandy or muddy beaches, ploughed fields, moist grasslands, reservoirs, urban parks, farmland, and gardens.

15-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius)

The little ringed plover (Thinornis dubius) is a small plover native to the Old World. It has mostly brown upperparts, a black neckband and a black mask around the eye with a noticeable yellow eyering. Its forehead, belly and the rest of the breast are white. A migratory species, it breeds in open gravel areas near freshwater, including gravel pits, islands and river edges. Its diet consists mainly of insects and worms, which it forages for in muddy areas.

The little ringed plover was formally described in 1786 as Chadrius dubius by the Austrian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli. The specific dubius is Latin meaning "doubtful", "uncertain" or "dubious" since French naturalist Pierre Sonnerat in 1876 had thought this bird might be just a variant of the common ringed plover. The little ringed plover is now one of seven plovers placed in the genus Thinornis that was introduced in 1789 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek this meaning "beach" or "sand" with ornis meaning "bird".

15-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic realm. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tircis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The color of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The existence of these subspecies is due to variation in morphology down a gradient corresponding to a geographic cline. 

The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream, or a tawny orange. The speckled wood feeds on a variety of grass species. The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling. The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions. The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.

15-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - NOMAD DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)

The Red-veined darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), commonly known as the nomad, is a highly migratory, 38–40mm dragonfly known for rapid colonization of new water bodies, including temporary ponds. Males are distinguished by bright red abdomens, blue-grey eyes, and red wing veins. They are often found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. 

Key Facts about the Nomad Dragonfly

Migratory Nature: The name "nomad" stems from its ability to travel long distances, migrating from southern, warmer climates to northern Europe, including Britain and Ireland.

Rapid Life Cycle: Sympetrum fonscolombii is capable of having more than one generation per year, with fast-developing larvae that can quickly populate newly formed, temporary habitats.

Distinctive Appearance: Males have a bright red abdomen, red-brown thorax, and blue-grey eyes underneath with brown on top. A key diagnostic feature is the presence of bright red veins on their wings. Females are mostly ochre yellow with black lines along their abdomen.

Habitat and Behavior: They prefer warm, shallow standing water (ponds, lakes) but also inhabit rivers. They are a red-veined darter that flies from early spring into autumn, with males acting highly territorial.

Egg-Laying: Pair mating is common, where the pair stays in tandem for egg-laying, with the female dipping her abdomen into the water to deposit eggs.

Conservation Status: The IUCN lists the species as "Least Concern," as populations are widespread and stable, though they are potentially threatened by climate change. 

15-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)

The Common Tern, Sterna hirundo, is a slender seabird with a circumpolar distribution, breeding in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It is a migratory species, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. Adults display light grey upperparts, white to very light grey underparts, and a black cap. Their legs are orange-red, and they possess a narrow pointed bill, which varies in color between subspecies.

To identify the Common Tern, look for its pale grey upper wings, which develop a dark feather shaft as the season progresses, creating a grey wedge. The rump and tail are white, and the tail extends no further than the folded wingtips when the bird is standing. The bill is mostly red with a black tip or entirely black, depending on the subspecies. In non-breeding adults, the forehead and underparts become white, and the bill turns black.

Common Terns are found nesting on flat, poorly vegetated surfaces close to water, such as beaches, islands, and artificial substrates like floating rafts. They adapt to a variety of habitats, from the taiga to tropical shores, and avoid excessively rainy, windy, or icy areas.

This species has a wide breeding range, encompassing Europe, North Africa, Asia, and North America. It migrates to winter along the coasts of Central and South America, Africa, and southern Asia, with some populations remaining partially migratory in the Caribbean.

Common Terns are agile flyers, capable of rapid turns, hovering, and vertical take-off. They are known for their powerful, direct flight and can fly at speeds averaging 30 km/h, increasing during migration. They breed in colonies, often alongside other seabird species, and exhibit strong territorial behavior.

The Common Tern has a distinctive alarm call, a KEE-yah, and a repertoire of other vocalizations used for communication within the colony and with their chicks. Parents and chicks recognize each other's calls, aiding in maintaining family bonds.

Breeding involves aerial courtship displays and ground rituals. Nests are shallow scrapes, sometimes lined with debris. Clutch size is typically three eggs, camouflaged with blotchy patterns. Both sexes incubate, and chicks fledge in 22–28 days. Adults are defensive of their nest and young, often harassing intruders.

The Common Tern can be confused with the Arctic Tern, Roseate Tern, and Forster's Tern, but differences in plumage details, leg and bill color, and vocalizations aid in distinguishing them.

The diet consists mainly of fish, which they catch by plunge-diving, but may also include molluscs, crustaceans, and large insects. They forage up to 15 km from the breeding colony and may follow schools of fish or predatory fish to locate prey.

The Common Tern is classified as Least Concern, with a large population and extensive breeding range. However, threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and disturbance have led to declines in some areas, particularly in North America. Conservation efforts include habitat management and protection from human disturbance.

15-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

The Grey Heron is a distinctive species with grey, black, and white plumage. It is often seen along rivers or lake margins, or standing in flooded fields.

In flight their large size, impressive wingspan, long legs, and folded neck give them an unmistakable silhouette. Largely silent away from colonies, flight is sometimes accompanied by a harsh 'kraank' call.

Grey Herons gather to nest in treetop sites called heronries, some of which have been occupied for many decades. These have been monitored in the UK since 1928 through the Heronries Census. Overall the UK's breeding population has increased, with numbers peaking in the early 2000, but with some more recent declines.

Grey Herons are large, solitary, or colonial wading birds known for their patient hunting, standing perfectly still in shallow water before striking fish and amphibians with their dagger-like bills. They are active at dawn and dusk, frequently breeding in large, loud colonies called heronries, often in tall trees. 

Hunting and Feeding Behaviour

Wait-and-Strike: They are primarily ambush predators, standing motionless—often on one leg—to wait for prey, or stalking slowly through water, this is from Animal Diversity Web. 

Diet: While they eat fish, frogs, small mammals, insects, and eels, they are opportunistic and will visit garden ponds for easy prey. 

Handling Prey: Larger prey is stabbed or shaken to death. They often manipulate prey to swallow it head-first, this is from the BDI. 

Active Hunting Times: Main hunting occurs at dawn and dusk, though they can be active throughout the day.

15-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)

Great Egrets usually stay in habitats that have areas of either saltwater or freshwater nearby. They are seen near marshes, ditches, canals, ponds, tidal flats, rivers, streams, swamps, lakes, estuaries (or water passages where the ocean tide meets a river current), and flooded farm fields. Great Egrets are usually solitary birds when not nesting. But they also can gather together from surrounding areas to form a place where a large group can rest or sleep, called a communal roost. Frequently, several pairs build nests in the same tree and form a colony; but occasionally a pair may nest alone. Great Egrets often share colonial nesting sites, or rookeries, with other egret species, herons, and other wading birds as well.

They build their nests in trees, thickets, or shrubs 10-90 feet above water or ground. Nesting colonies are usually located in extremely tall trees. Great Egrets build large platform-style nests using sticks and line the nests with plant material. Both parents help to build the nest, incubate (to sit on and keep the eggs warm) the eggs, and feed their young. The young will be able to fly in 6-7 weeks after hatching.

15-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - COLLARED PRATINCOLE (Glareola pratincola)

The collared pratincole (Glareola pratincola), also known as the common pratincole or red-winged pratincole, is a wader in the pratincole family, Glareolidae. As with other pratincoles, it is native to the Old World.

The collared pratincole was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae. He placed it with the swallows and swifts in the genus Hirundo and coined the binomial name Hirundo pratincola. The collared pratincole is now placed in the genus Glareola that was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760. The genus name is a diminutive of Latin glarea, "gravel", referring to a typical nesting habitat for pratincoles. The species name pratincola means an inhabitant of meadows, from Latin pratum, prati, "meadow" and incola, "inhabitant", from incolere, "to inhabit".

Two subspecies are recognised:

Glareola pratincola pratincola, (Linnaeus, 1766) – southern Europe & North Africa to south Pakistan

Glareola pratincola fuelleborni, Neumann, 1910 – sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to central Ethiopia and south Somalia south to east South Africa (includes erlangeri and riparia)

Description

This pratincole is 24–28 cm (9.4–11.0 in) long with a 60–70 cm (24–28 in) wingspan. It has short legs, long pointed wings, a long forked tail, and a short bill, which is an adaptation to aerial feeding. The back and head are brown, and the wings are brown with darker flight feathers. The belly is white. The underwings are chestnut, but look dark below.

Very good views are needed to distinguish this species from other pratincoles, such as the black-winged pratincole and the oriental pratincole, which may occur in its range. The latter species also has a chestnut underwing, but is shorter-tailed.

he collared pratincole is a bird of open country, and is often seen near water in the evening, hawking for insects. It is found in the warmer parts of Europe, southwest Asia and Africa. It is migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, and is rare north of the breeding range. It has been recorded as a vagrant in Brazil and Barbados.

Pratincoles are unusual among waders in that they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground.

The nesting is colonial. The nest is a shallow scrape on open ground often near water. The clutch is 2–4 eggs which have a cream background with black or dark brown blotches, spots or streaks. On average the eggs measure 32 mm × 24 mm (1.26 in × 0.94 in) and weigh 10 g (0.35 oz). Beginning after the last egg is laid, they are incubated by both parents and hatch synchronously after 17-19 days. The young are precocial and nidifugous. They leave the nest after 2–3 days and are then cared for by both parents who feed them with regurgitated food for the first week. The young fledge when they are 25–30 days of age.

The collared pratincole (Glareola pratincola) is a unique, medium-sized migratory wader (24–28 cm long, 60–70 cm wingspan) that acts like a swallow, hunting insects in agile aerial acrobatics over wetlands and marshes. Recognizable by a forked tail, long pointed wings, and a black-bordered buff throat, they breed in warm, sparse-vegetation areas of southern Europe and Asia before wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Hunting Behavior: Unlike most waders that feed in mud, this species feeds on insects in the air, similar to terns or swallows.

Appearance: They have a sandy-brown back, a white belly, and distinctive chestnut-coloured underwings. They also have short legs and a short, red-based bill.

Breeding & Nesting: Breeding occurs from April to June in colonies, usually near water, on bare ground, salt pans, or in agricultural fields. They make a simple scrape in the ground, laying 2–4 eggs.

Habitat: They prefer warm climates and low-altitude areas with wetlands, salt pans, marshes, or newly burned land.

Migration: They are strict migrants, wintering in tropical Africa, though some populations exist in parts of Africa year-round.

Vocalization: They make shrill, staccato, and trilled calls while in flight, often described as a "stwick".

Conservation Status: While not threatened globally, they are considered rare or near-threatened in specific regions like South Africa due to habitat loss and disturbance. 

15-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

The black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a widely distributed, very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family Recurvirostridae. Its scientific name, Himantopus himantopus, is sometimes used to generalize a single, almost cosmopolitan species. Alternatively, it is restricted to the form that is widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa, which equals the nominate group of H. himantopus sensu lato. Meanwhile, the black-necked (H. mexicanus) and white-backed stilts (H. melanurus) both inhabit the Americas; the pied stilt (H. leucocephalus) ranges from Australasia and New Zealand. Today, most sources accept between one and four actual species. The taxonomic name Himantopus comes from Greek, meaning "strap-foot" or "thong-foot".

Adults are 33–36 cm (13–14 in) long, with long, pink legs, and a long, rather thin black bill. The birds are generally black above and white below, with a white head and neck (with a varying amount of black, species-dependent). Males have a black back, often with a greenish gloss or sheen. Females' backs have a brownish hue, contrasting with the black remiges. In populations where the top of the head is normally white (at least in winter), females tend to have less black on the head and neck the entire year-round, while males often have much more black, particularly in summer. This difference is not clear-cut, however, and males usually grow all-white head feathers in winter.

Immature birds are grey, instead of black, and have a markedly sandy hue on their wings, with light feather fringes appearing as a whitish line in flight.

These birds pick up their food from sand or water. They eat mainly insects and crustaceans.

The nest site is a bare spot on the ground near water. These birds often nest in small groups, sometimes with avocets.

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.

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

The breeding habitat of all these stilts is marshes, shallow lakes and ponds. Some populations are migratory and move to the ocean coasts in winter; those in warmer regions are generally resident or short-range vagrants. In Europe, the black-winged stilt is a regular spring overshoot vagrant north of its normal range, occasionally remaining to breed in northern European countries. Pairs successfully bred in Britain in 1987, and after a 27-year hiatus there were two instances of successful breeding in Southern England in 2014. 13 young were fledged in southern England in 2017. Four chicks were successfully fledged in northern England in 2022; this is believed to be the most northerly breeding success for the black-winged stilt.

15-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - 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.

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

Originating from the Old World, the Squacco Heron breeds in the southern reaches of Europe and extends into the Greater Middle East. When not breeding, it migrates to winter in the African continent.

This species is migratory by nature, seeking the warmer climates of Africa to spend the winter. It is seldom seen north of its breeding grounds. The Squacco Heron has been observed as a vagrant in the Fernando de Noronha islands and, on rarer occasions, in mainland South America. It nests in modest colonies, often in the company of other wading birds, and constructs its nests from sticks on platforms in trees or shrubs.

The Squacco Heron selects freshwater locales across Europe and the Middle East to breed, later migrating southward to the Sub-Saharan African region. During the breeding season, they lay a clutch of three to four eggs.

Adept at foraging, the Squacco Heron feeds on a diet consisting of fish, frogs, and insects, making the most of its wetland environment.

15-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - EURASIAN HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH (Macroglossum stellatarum)

The hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a species of hawk moth found across temperate regions of Eurasia. The species is named for its similarity to hummingbirds, as they feed on the nectar of tube-shaped flowers using their long proboscis while hovering in the air; this resemblance is an example of convergent evolution.

The hummingbird hawk-moth was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. As of 2018, its entire genome and mitogenome have been sequenced.

The hummingbird hawk-moth is distributed throughout the northern Old World from Portugal to Japan, but it breeds mainly in warmer climates (southern Europe, North Africa, and points east). Three generations are produced in a year in Spain. There is evidence that the population in the British Isles is actively expanding its range, as numbers have been consistently increasing. In addition, it is believed that this population is becoming resident instead of migratory, as warmer temperatures due to climate change are allowing individuals to overwinter.

15-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - OLD WORLD SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY (Papilio machaon)

Papilio machaon, the Old World swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. The butterfly is also known as the common yellow swallowtail or simply the swallowtail (a common name applied to all members of the family, but this species was the first to be given the name). It is the type species of the genus Papilio. This widespread species is found in much of the Palearctic (it is the only swallowtail in most of Europe) and in North America.

This species is named after Machaon (Ancient Greek: Μαχάων, romanized: Makháōn) a figure in Greek mythology. He was a son of Asclepius.

This butterfly is present throughout the entire Palearctic region, ranging from Russia to China and Japan, (including the Himalayas and Taiwan), and across into Alaska, Canada, and the United States, and thus, is not restricted to the Old World, despite the common name. In Asia, it is reported as far south as Saudi Arabia, Oman, the high mountains of Yemen, Lebanon, Iran and Israel. In southern Asia, it occurs in Pakistan and Kashmir, northern India (Sikkim, to Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, Bhutan, and northern Myanmar.

This butterfly is widespread in Europe. In the United Kingdom, it is limited to a few areas in the Norfolk Broads of East Anglia. It is the UK's largest resident butterfly. The monarch (Danaus plexippus) is slightly larger, but is only a rare vagrant.

As P. machaon is widespread throughout Eurasia and often common, it is not threatened as a species. It is listed as "vulnerable" in the South Korean and Austrian Red Data Books, and in the Red Data Book of the former Soviet Union. In Armenia the species demonstrates stable population trend and is assessed as Least Concern.

In some countries, P. machaon and its subspecies are protected by law. Papilio machaon machaon is protected by law in six provinces of Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. The species is protected in the United Kingdom, and subspecies verityi is protected in India.

The butterfly has a strong and fast flight, but frequently pauses to hover over flowering herbs and sip nectar. It frequents alpine meadows and hillsides, and males are fond of 'hilltopping', congregating near summits to compete for passing females. At lower elevations, it can be seen visiting gardens.

15-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

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.

15-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Colias croceus)

Colias croceus, clouded yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites.

Colias croceus is one of the most widespread species in Europe. The common clouded yellow's breeding range is North Africa and southern Europe and eastwards through Turkey into the Middle East, but it occurs throughout much of Europe as a summer migrant, in good years individuals reaching Scandinavia. In Asia, its range extends into central Siberia in the north and barely into India in the south; it is not found in Central Asia.

This species is primarily an immigrant to the UK, originating from southern Europe and northern Africa. In the UK they can be seen on the south coast almost every year in varying numbers, and regularly breed there. Occurrence in the rest of the UK varies considerably from year to year, but they are increasingly observed as far north as Dumfries and Galloway. It has also been recorded in Ireland from the Raven, Co. Wexford, to Belfast, Co. Down.

A truly migratory European butterfly, this species is famous for occasional mass migrations and subsequent breeding, which are often referred to in the United Kingdom as "clouded yellow years". Notable clouded yellow years include 1877, 1947, 1983, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2000.

These butterflies may live in any open area in the countryside, including downland, coastal cliffs and fields containing the caterpillar's host plants, at an elevation up to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level.

15-7-2020 SUECA, ALBUFERA - LITTLE BITTERN (Ixobrychus minutus)

Little Bitterns were once widespread in Central Europe. In the meantime it is a poorly distributed breeding bird of the lowlands, sporadically up to low mountain ranges. It occurs from Europe (without regular breeding in Great Britain, Ireland or Scandinavia) to West Siberia up to 56° N. It also occurs in North Africa and southern Iran and south of the Sahara to southern Africa. Isolated populations also exist in Madagascar and Australia. The total population of Europe is about 60,000-120,000 breeding pairs, with occurrences of> 5000 breeding pairs in Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Turkey. In Central Europe (around 2000) about 5300-7800 pairs are breeding, most of it in Hungary. The formerly large population in Germany has decreased to just over 100 breeding pairs. However, inventory information is particularly unreliable for this very secret species.

The little bittern is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies.

The little bittern is crepuscular, skulking and normally solitary. It feeds on fishes, amphibians and insects which are caught within reedbeds or at their edges by the bird slowly stalking the prey. The male claims a territory in the Spring, advertising his presence with a deep barking or croaking call and the monogamous pair remain together for at least one breeding season. Eggs are laid in a nest situated in dense reedbeds, rushes or bushes above the water from the middle of May and there is a single brood which is normally 5-6 eggs. These are incubated for 17–19 days and the chicks are fledged after 25–30 days.

In Europe the little bittern is a migratory species, crossing the Mediterranean from Africa in the early Spring and arriving in their breeding wetlands from mid April onwards. The return to Africa occurs in August and September and there are normally only a few juveniles left in Europe by October. The European breeders migrate as far south as the Eastern Cape and Transvaal.

The little bittern or common little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus ) is a wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. Ixobrychus is from Ancient Greek ixias, a reed-like plant and brukhomai, to bellow, and minutus is Latin for "small".

The little bittern has a length of 33–38 centimetres (13–15 in) and a wing span of 52–58 centimetres (20–23 in). It is the smallest of the breeding herons of Europe and is characterised by its tiny size, long and sharp bill and thick neck. The males are distinctively patterned and both sexes show pale forewing panels. 

The males have black with a faint green sheen on the crown, nape, back, tail and scapulars. The underparts are pale buff and the wing has a pinkish buff oval shaped panel which contrasts with the otherwise black wings and is formed by the inner wing coverts. The underwing is completely whiteish in colour. The female is duller than the male and has brownish black upperparts with paler feather margins visible at close range. The underparts of the female are not as clean as those of the male and are streaked with dark buff and brown. The female's wing panel is less obvious than the male's. The juveniles are duller and more rufous than the females and are more heavily streaked on both their upperparts and underparts, including their wing coverts.