Friday, 26 March 2021
Thursday, 25 March 2021
24-3-2021 SALINAS DE BONMATI, ALICANTE - SLENDER BILLED GULL (Chroicocephalus genei)
The Slender-billed Gull, Chroicocephalus genei, presents a graceful figure, slightly larger than the familiar Black-headed Gull. It measures 37 to 40 cm in length with a wingspan stretching from 90 to 102 cm. Its plumage is a pale grey, complemented by a white head and breast, and accented with black tips on the primary wing feathers. The bird's head and dark red bill are elongated, contributing to its slender appearance, and it possesses a notably long neck. The legs are a matching dark red, while the iris of the eye is a striking yellow. During the summer months, one may observe a subtle pink blush upon its breast. This species attains full maturity over two years, typical for gulls. Juveniles can be identified by a black band at the tail's end and darker wing markings.
To identify the Slender-billed Gull, look for its distinctive elongated head and bill, and the dark red coloration of both the bill and legs. The pale grey body contrasts with the white head and breast, and the black wingtip markings are a key feature. In flight, the bird's long neck and slender profile are particularly noticeable.
This gull favors the lagoons and lakes in the vicinity of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as similar environments along the northwestern Indian Ocean. It is known to breed on islands and coastal lagoons, where the absence of predators and human disturbance allows for successful nesting.
The Slender-billed Gull breeds very locally around the Mediterranean and the northern reaches of the western Indian Ocean, including Pakistan. It exhibits migratory behavior, wintering to the south as far as North Africa and India. Occasionally, individuals have been recorded as vagrants in western Europe and as far afield as Antigua.
The Slender-billed Gull is a sociable bird, especially in winter, when it can be seen feeding and roosting in groups. It is not an oceanic bird and is seldom observed far from land. It breeds in colonies, with nests on the ground, and feeds by diving from the air into the water to catch fish or by probing mud for invertebrates. The gull also captures insects mid-flight. After a 25-day incubation period, the young take their first flight approximately 25 days later.
Wednesday, 24 March 2021
Monday, 22 March 2021
Sunday, 21 March 2021
21-3-2021 RIO JUCAR, CULLERA - EURASIAN GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)
The Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds. Many fishermen see in the Great cormorant a competitor for fish. Because of this, it was hunted nearly to extinction in the past but luckily due to conservation efforts, its numbers increased.
The Great cormorant is a large black bird, but there is a wide variation in size in the species' wide range. Males are typically larger and heavier than females. It has a longish tail and yellow throat patch. Adults have white patches on the thighs and on the throat in the breeding season. In European waters, the Great cormorant can be distinguished from the Common shag by its larger size, heavier build, thicker bill, lack of a crest, and plumage without any green tinge. In eastern North America, it is similarly larger and bulkier than the Double-crested cormorant, and the latter species has more yellow on the throat and bill and lack the white thigh patches frequently seen on great cormorants.
Great cormorants occur throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and northeastern coastal North America. They may be both resident and migratory. Throughout the year in some areas, large groups remain within the breeding range. Greta cormorants frequent open marine environments and inland waters. They inhabit sandy or rocky sheltered coasts and estuaries and are rarely seen any distance from the coast. This species breeds on cliffs and inshore islands, among boulders and man-made structures. Birds that nest inland will breed on trees, bushes, and reedbeds, and even on bare ground.
Great cormorants are active during the day and are social birds, usually leaving roosts to forage early in the morning and returning within an hour. Little time each day is spent foraging, although parents with young tend to forage for longer. Much of the day is spent resting and preening near foraging areas or at roosts. Great cormorants generally are not aggressive towards one another, apart from at nest sites, where they exhibit territorial behavior. There may be dominance hierarchies. Outside of the breeding season, they usually gather in mixed-age, mixed-sex groups.
Great cormorants are carnivores (piscivores); they mainly eat numerous kinds of fish, and when fishing in freshwater, will also eat crustaceans, amphibians, and insects.
Saturday, 20 March 2021
17-3-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea eugeniata)
%2020.jpg)
The wingspan is 21–22 mm for males and 24–25 mm for females.
The larvae are polyphagous and have been recorded feeding on various herbaceous plants.[2]
Subspecies
Idaea eugeniata eugeniata
Idaea eugeniata algeriaca (Culot, 1917)
11-1-2021 SEO WEBCAM BINACED, HUESCA - RED KITE (Milvus milvus)
The red kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium to large bird of prey, belonging to the family Accipitridae. This elegant raptor is recognized by its rufous plumage, contrasting white underwing flight feathers, and a deeply forked tail which it maneuvers with grace. The species is sexually dimorphic in size, with females being slightly larger than males.
Adult red kites measure 60 to 70 cm in length and boast a wingspan of 175–179 cm. Males typically weigh between 800–1,200 grams, while females range from 1,000–1,300 grams. The species exhibits a dihedral flight posture with long, angled wings and a distinctive long, forked tail that twists fluidly as the bird changes direction. The body, upper tail, and wing coverts are a rich rufous color, while the black wingtips and dark secondaries provide a stark contrast to the white primary feathers.
Red kites are often found in broadleaf woodlands, pastures, mixed farmland, valleys, and wetland edges. They are adept at navigating a variety of landscapes, from open countryside to urban fringes.
The red kite is native to the western Palearctic, with its breeding range primarily in Europe. Historically, the species also bred in parts of west Asia and northwest Africa, but these populations have largely disappeared. Today, red kites are most commonly found across Europe, from Spain and Portugal to central Russia, and from southern Scandinavia to southern Italy.
Friday, 19 March 2021
Thursday, 18 March 2021
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)