9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)

The common moorhen, known scientifically as Gallinula chloropus, is a bird of the rail family, Rallidae. It is a bird of striking appearance, with a mix of black and brown plumage, a white under-tail, and white streaks along its flanks. Its legs are a vibrant yellow, and it sports a distinctive red frontal shield. The bill is a matching red with a yellow tip. Juveniles are a duller brown and do not have the red shield.

Adult moorhens can be identified by their red frontal shield, which has a rounded top and fairly parallel sides. The tailward margin of the red unfeathered area is smoothly curved. Their yellow legs and the combination of their black and brown plumage with white markings make them quite distinctive. The young are browner and lack the red shield, making them less conspicuous.

The common moorhen is found in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, ponds, canals, and lakes that are rich in vegetation. It is also known to inhabit city parks with suitable water bodies.

This species has a broad distribution across many parts of the Old World. It is not found in polar regions or many tropical rainforests but is otherwise widespread, often being the most common rail species in its range.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/5017-Bubulcus-ibis

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - COMPASS JELLYFISH (Chrysaora hysoscella)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/360314-Chrysaora-hysoscella

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - WHITE HEADED DUCK (MALE) (Oxyura leucocephala)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7081-Oxyura-leucocephala

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - CHILOE WIGEON (Mareca sibilatrix)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/558442-Mareca-sibilatrix#Distribution_and_habitat

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - GREAT WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus onocrotalus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4327-Pelecanus-onocrotalus

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62528-Butorides-striata

 

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - SCARLET IBIS (Eudocimus ruber)

The scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) is a species of ibis in the bird family Threskiornithidae. It inhabits tropical South America and part of the Caribbean. In form, it resembles most of the other twenty-seven extant species of ibis, but its remarkably brilliant scarlet coloration makes it unmistakable. It is one of the two national birds of Trinidad and Tobago, and its Tupi–Guarani name, guará, is part of the name of several municipalities along the coast of Brazil.

This medium-sized wader is a hardy, numerous, and prolific bird, and it has protected status around the world. Its IUCN status is Least Concern. The legitimacy of Eudocimus ruber as a biological classification, however, is in dispute. Traditional Linnaean taxonomy classifies it as a unique species, but some scientists have moved to reclassify it as a subspecies of a more general American ibis species, along with its close relative, the American white ibis (Eudocimus albus).

The range of the scarlet ibis is very large, and colonies are found throughout vast areas of South America and the Caribbean islands. Native flocks exist in Brazil; Colombia; French Guiana; Guyana; Suriname; and Venezuela, as well as the islands of the Netherlands Antilles, and Trinidad and Tobago. Flocks gather in wetlands and other marshy habitats, including mud flats, shoreline and rainforest. Outlying colonies have been identified in the coastal areas of the states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo (for example in the Santos-Cubatão mangroves of the Baixada Santista district), Paraná and Santa Catarina. In recent years, bird colonies can be seen as far south as in the coastal areas of Joinville and the island of São Francisco do Sul.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - EURASIAN WIGEON (FEMALE)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/558441-Mareca-penelope

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - EURASIAN WIGEON (FEMALE) (Mareca penelope)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/558441-Mareca-penelope

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - DEMOISELLE CRANE (Anthropoides virgo)

The demoiselle crane (Grus virgo) is a species of crane found in central Eurosiberia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and Northeast China. There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. These cranes are migratory birds. Birds from western Eurasia will spend the winter in Africa while the birds from Asia, Mongolia and China will spend the winter in the Indian subcontinent. The bird is symbolically significant in the culture of India, where it is known as Koonj or Kurjaa.

The demoiselle crane lives in a variety of different environments, including desert areas and numerous types of grasslands (flooded, mountain, temperate and tropical grassland) which are often within a few hundred metres of streams or lakes. However, when nesting, they prefer patchy areas of vegetation which is tall enough to conceal them and their nests, yet short enough to allow them look out for predators whilst incubating their eggs.

Demoiselle cranes have to take one of the toughest migrations in the world. In late August through September, they gather in flocks of up to 400 individuals and prepare for their flight to their winter range. During their migratory flight south, demoiselles fly like all cranes, with their head and neck straight forward and their feet and legs straight behind, reaching altitudes of 16,000–26,000 feet (4,900–7,900 metres). Along their arduous journey they have to cross the Himalayan mountains to get to their over-wintering grounds in India. Many die from fatigue, hunger and predation from golden eagles. Simpler, lower routes are possible, such as crossing the range via the Khyber Pass. However, their presently preferred route has been hard-wired by countless cycles of migration. At their wintering grounds, demoiselles have been observed flocking with common cranes, their combined totals reaching up to 20,000 individuals. Demoiselles maintain separate social groups within the larger flock. In March and April, they begin their long spring journey back to their northern nesting grounds.

In Khichan, Rajasthan in India, villagers feed the cranes on their migration and these large congregations have become an annual spectacle.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

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

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62529-Platalea-ajaja

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)

The Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world. These birds have a stocky appearance as if hunched over, the head tucked down into the shoulders, and they are usually seen with this posture. They are most active at dusk or at night when their ghostly forms fly from their daytime roosts to the wetlands where they forage.

Adult birds have a black crown and back with the remainder of the body white or grey, red eyes, and short yellow legs. They have pale gray wings and white under parts. Two or three long white plumes, erected in greeting and courtship displays, extend from the back of the head. The sexes are similar in appearance although the males are slightly larger. Black-crowned night herons do not fit the typical body form of the heron family. They are relatively stocky with shorter bills, legs, and necks than their more familiar cousins, the egrets and "day" herons. Their resting posture is normally somewhat hunched but when hunting they extend their necks and look more like other wading birds. Immature birds have dull grey-brown plumage on their heads, wings, and backs, with numerous pale spots. Their underparts are paler and streaked with brown. The young birds have orange eyes and duller yellowish-green legs.

Black-crowned night herons are social throughout the year, often associating with other species. In the winter, they roost together. A migrating species, it will fly at night and rest during the day. Black-crowned night herons feed by standing still at the water's edge and waiting to ambush prey, mainly at night or early morning. They also engage in bait fishing; luring or distracting fish by tossing edible or inedible buoyant objects into water within their striking range - a rare example of tool use among birds. During the day they rest in trees or bushes. Young leave their perches to huddle in the nest when it is cold. Black-crowned night herons are territorial and will defend their feeding and nesting territories. Their normal call sounds like 'qua,' 'quak,' or 'quark.' Such calls are most often made during flight or when perching.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - NORTHERN PINTAIL (FEMALE) (Anastasia acuta)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/6933-Anas-acuta

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anastasia acuta)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/6933-Anas-acuta