BIRDWALKERMONDAY WILDLIFE BLOG

This Blog contains Wildlife, Plants and Bird Photos from Walks, Safaris, Birding Trips and Vacations. Most of the pictures have been taken with my Nikon P900 and P950X cameras. Just click on any image for a larger picture. On the right column under the Blog Archive are the entries by date. Below that under Animal categories all the diffent species of Animals, Birds, Insects and Plants contained in the website are listed. Clicking on any entry will show all the entries for that species.

Sunday, 2 May 2021

1-4-2015 MUMBAI, INDIA - HOUSE CROW (Corvus splendens)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/8031-Corvus-splendens

The house crow (Corvus splendens), also known as the Indian, greynecked, Ceylon or Colombo crow, is a common bird of the crow family that is of Asian origin but now found in many parts of the world, where they arrived assisted by shipping. It is between the jackdaw and the carrion crow in size (40 cm (16 in) in length) but is slimmer than either. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are a richly glossed black, whilst the neck and breast are a lighter grey-brown in colour. The wings, tail and legs are black. There are regional variations in the thickness of the bill and the depth of colour in areas of the plumage.

2-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FRUIT AND FLOWER CHAFER (Valgus hemipterus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/338214-Valgus-hemipterus

Friday, 30 April 2021

30-4-2021 MARXUQUERA, VALENCIA - BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is a migratory passerine bird, recognized as the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It is a distinctive bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail, known for its graceful flight and agile maneuvers. The adult male of the nominate subspecies is 17–19 cm in length, including elongated outer tail feathers, and has a wingspan of 32–34.5 cm. It is adorned with a rufous forehead, chin, and throat, which are set apart from the off-white underparts by a broad dark blue breast band. The outer tail feathers are elongated, contributing to the iconic "swallow tail."

The barn swallow can be identified by its steel blue upperparts, a rufous face, and a dark blue breast band that separates the rufous from the off-white underparts. The deeply forked tail is a key characteristic, with a line of white spots across the upper tail's outer end. Females resemble males but have shorter tail streamers and less glossy blue coloring. Juveniles are browner with paler rufous faces and whiter underparts, lacking the adult's long tail streamers.

30-4-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE ROCK THRUSH (MALE) (Monticola solitarius)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13141-Monticola-solitarius

28-4-2021 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - WHITE CAMPION (Silene latifolia)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/79109-Silene-latifolia

28-4-2021 DEVESES PLAYA, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4943-Egretta-garzetta

28-4-2021 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - GREATER FLAMINGO (JUVENILE) (Phoenicopterus roseus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/73222-Phoenicopterus-roseus

28-4-2021 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (Tarentola mauritanica)

Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It has been introduced to Madeira and Balearic Islands, and the Americas (in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and California). A nocturnal animal with a predominantly insectivorous diet, it is commonly observed on walls in urban environments in warm coastal areas; it can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as an insect hunter. A robust species, up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, its tubercules are enlarged and give the species a spiny armoured appearance.

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is also known as moorish gecko, crocodile gecko, European common gecko, and, regionally, as osga (in Portuguese), salamanquesa (in Spanish) and dragó (in Catalan).

The Common wall gecko is a small lizard native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It is commonly observed on walls in urban environments, mainly in warm coastal areas. However, the Common wall gecko can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as insect hunter. This little creature is brownish-grey or brown in color with darker or lighter spots. These colors change in intensity according to the light. When geckos are active by day their color is darker than during the night.

28-4-2021 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - MALLARD (FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

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.

28-4-2021 DEVESES, VALENCIA - BOAT BUG (Enoplops scapha)

Enoplops scapha is a squashbug in the family Coreidae, measuring 11-13 mm in length. Key facts include its dark gray coloration with creamy spots on the sides, a diet of plant juices from plants in the Boraginaceae and Asteraceae families, and its habitat of coastal dunes and cliffs in certain regions of Europe. It is distinguished from similar species like Coreus marginatus by its more pointed abdominal tergites and narrower "shoulders".

Native range: Europe, including Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands

Habitat: Coastal cliffs and sand dunes

Distribution in Britain: Confined to coastal areas between Kent and North Wales, with additional populations on the North Yorkshire coast

Other locations: Records also exist from North Africa and China

Behavior and life cycle

Behavior: Feeds by sucking plant fluids from leaves and ripening fruits

Mating and oviposition: Occurs in May and June

Eggs: Laid on the basic leaves of host plants

Nymphs: Appear from June to September

Communication: Can produce vibrations to communicate

Thursday, 29 April 2021

28-4-2021 ESTANY CULLERA, VALENCIA - 28-4-2021 EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)

The Eurasian coot, Fulica atra, also known as the common coot or Australian coot, is a distinctive waterbird with a slaty-black body, a glossy black head, and a striking white bill topped with a white frontal shield. This bird is a member of the Rallidae family, which includes rails and crakes. Both sexes exhibit similar plumage, making them indistinguishable in the field.

Adult Eurasian coots measure 36–38 cm in length with a wingspan of 70–80 cm. Males are slightly heavier than females, weighing around 890 g compared to the females' 750 g. The species is characterized by its white bill and frontal shield, which contrast sharply with its all-black body. Juveniles are paler with a whitish breast and lack the facial shield, which develops fully by one year of age.

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.

28-4-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CASE BEARING LEAF BEETLE (Genus Lachnaia)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/319265-Lachnaia

28-4-2021 DEVESES PLAYA, VALENCIA - EAST IBERIAN PSAMMODROMUS LIZARD (Psammodromus edwarsianus)

The East Iberian sand racer or East Iberian psammodromus (Psammodromus edwarsianus) is a species of lizards in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Spain and France.

The East Iberian psammodromus (Psammodromus edwarsianus) is a tiny, fast-moving lizard native to eastern Spain and southern France. Growing to a total length of ≈ 12-13 cm, it thrives in arid scrublands, meadows, and areas bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Its maximum lifespan is roughly two years.

Key Facts

Size and Appearance: Adults measure about 37 to 50 mm in snout-to-vent length, with tails extending about 1.5 times the body size. They feature pointed heads and unique dorsal patterns.

Distinctive Traits: It was previously grouped with the Spanish Psammodromus (Psammodromus hispanicus) but is classified as a distinct species. It can be identified by its smaller body size and the presence of a supralabial scale located below the subocular scale, which separates it from the lip.

Habitat: Found almost exclusively in Mediterranean-influenced coastal and inland areas. It prefers dry scrubland, short grasses, and gentle slopes covered with large stones and rocks that serve as shelter.

Behavior: These lizards move in short, fast bursts to avoid predators, though they will often stay motionless to blend into their environment using their natural camouflage. In warmer coastal habitats, they are known to remain active all year round.

28-4-2021 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Lanius senator)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12039-Lanius-senator

28-4-2021 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - (JUVENILE) (Tadorna tadorna)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7067-Tadorna-tadorna

28-4-2021 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON SHELDUCK (FEMALE) (Tadorna tadorna)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7067-Tadorna-tadorna

28-4-2021 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN GULL (ichthyaetus melanocephalus)

The Mediterranean gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus ) is a small gull. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus Ichthyaetus is from ikhthus, "fish", and aetos, "eagle", and the specific melanocephalus is from melas, "black", and -kephalos "-headed".

This gull breeds almost entirely in the Western Palearctic, mainly in the south east, especially around the Black Sea, and in central Turkey. There are colonies elsewhere in southern Europe, and this species has undergone a dramatic range expansion in recent decades. As is the case with many gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genus Larus.

Formerly restricted to the Black Sea and the eastern Mediterranean this species has now expanded over most of Europe as far as Great Britain and Ireland, with 37 sites: 543–592 pairs in the United Kingdom in 2008. In Ireland breeding has been recorded in at least four counties. Breeding has also occurred in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Balkans.