19-11-2025 CAMPO DE ARROZ, SOLLANA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae. It is a white bird with a slender black beak, long black legs and, in the western race, yellow feet. As an aquatic bird, it feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of small creatures. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed. A clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents for about three weeks. The young fledge at about six weeks of age.

Its breeding distribution is in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. A successful colonist, its range has gradually expanded north, with stable and self-sustaining populations now present in the United Kingdom.

In warmer locations, most birds are permanent residents; northern populations, including many European birds, migrate to Africa and southern Asia to over-winter there. The birds may also wander north in late summer after the breeding season, and their tendency to disperse may have assisted in the recent expansion of the bird's range. At one time common in Western Europe, it was hunted extensively in the 19th century to provide plumes for the decoration of hats and became locally extinct in northwestern Europe and scarce in the south. Around 1950, conservation laws were introduced in southern Europe to protect the species and their numbers began to increase. By the beginning of the 21st century the bird was breeding again in France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Britain. Its range is continuing to expand westward, and the species has begun to colonise the New World; it was first seen in Barbados in 1954 and first bred there in 1994. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the bird's global conservation status as being of "least concern".

19-11-2025 CAMPO DE ARROZ, SOLLANA - WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)

The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in the Palearctic zone in most of Europe and Asia and parts of North Africa; it also has a toehold in western Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies of M. alba; in Ireland and Great Britain, the black-backed subspecies known as the pied wagtail (M. a. yarrellii) predominates.

The white wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas, it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and human-made structures. 

This species breeds throughout Eurasia up to latitudes 75°N, only being absent in the Arctic from areas where the July isotherm is less than 4 °C. It also breeds in the mountains of Morocco and western Alaska. It occupies a wide range of habitats, but is absent from deserts. White wagtails are residents in the milder parts of its range such as western Europe and the Mediterranean, but migratory in much of the rest of its range. Northern European breeders winter around the Mediterranean and in tropical and subtropical Africa, and Asiatic birds move to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Birds from the North American population also winter in tropical Asia.

It is the national bird of Latvia and has featured on the stamps of several countries. It is listed as being 'of least concern' by IUCN.

19-11-2025 CAMPO DE ARROZ, SOLLANA - GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)

The grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae, measuring around 18–19 cm overall length. The species looks somewhat similar to the yellow wagtail but has the yellow on its underside restricted to the throat and vent. Breeding males have a black throat. The species is widely distributed, with several populations breeding in Eurosiberia and migrating to tropical regions in Asia and Africa. 

The species is always associated with running water when breeding, although they may use man-made structures near streams for the nest. Outside the breeding season, they may also be seen around lakes, coasts and other watery habitats. Like other wagtails, they frequently wag their tail and fly low with undulations and they have a sharp call that is often given in flight.

18-11-2025 BARX, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)

The European robin (Erithacus rubecula), known simply as the robin or robin redbreast in Great Britain and Ireland, is a small insectivorous passerine bird, a member of the chat subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family. It is a plucky little bird, with a length of about 12.5–14.0 cm and a weight of 16–22 g. Both sexes are similarly adorned with an orange breast and face, lined with grey, brown upper-parts, and a whitish belly.

Adult robins can be identified by their orange breast and face, bordered by a bluish-grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish, or olive-tinged in British birds, and the belly is whitish. The bill and eyes are black. Juvenile robins are distinguishable by their spotted brown and white plumage, with patches of orange gradually appearing as they mature.

The European robin is a bird of diverse habitats, found in woodlands, gardens, and parks across its range. It is particularly associated with areas where the soil is dug or disturbed, allowing it easy access This bird has a wide distribution across Europe, extending east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa. It is sedentary in most of its range except the far north, where it is migratory.

17-11-2025 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - EURASIAN GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Great cormorants are large, black waterbirds that are expert divers to catch fish using their long, hooked bills and webbed feet. They are found in wetlands and on coastlines worldwide, except for the central Pacific. They often dry their feathers by holding their wings outstretched after diving because their feathers are not waterproof. 

Appearance and physical traits

Size: Large birds, measuring about 100 cm (3.5 ft) in length.

Plumage: Mostly shiny black, though juveniles are dark brown above and white below. They can develop a white patch on their thigh or throat during the breeding season.

Bill: Long, thin, and hooked at the tip, with a yellowish base.

Eyes: Emerald green.

Feet: Webbed feet for swimming. 

16-11-2025 GUARDAMAR LA SAFOR, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

Large wader (approx 102 cm or 3.5 ft) with an also large wingspan (approx 175 cm or 5.5 ft). Stylized silhouette and long neck. Greyish plumage in general. White head in adults with black forelock and long, black feathers like a plume. Light neck with dark lines. Ashen back and dark spot on the shoulders. Lighter belly. Long, sharp, yellow bill. Yellow legs. Silhouette in flight with neck folded in the shape of an "s" and stretched legs.

Its habitats are principally Wetlands, River and Riverside

It lives in all types of wetlands with salty or fresh water in winter. In the breeding season it needs wetlands with nearby tree vegetation. Also in Reservoirs, lagoons, ditches and irrigation ponds, stream banks, coast line.

This pecies is present in the province all year round, both as a wintering one and in the breeding period. There are also specimens in migratory passage. Gregarious during the reproductive season and lonelier during the rest of the year. Nest in trees or groves of riparian vegetation. One laying of 2 to 5 eggs. The Grey Heron feeds on fish, micromammals, small reptiles, including snakes, amphibians and insects. It shows a very calm behaviour when foraging. This bird explores the water while being very still, waiting for a prey to appear. Once sighted, it shoots the bill as if it were a harpoon.

15-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SICKLE BEARING LEAF KATYDID (Phaneroptera sparsa)

The Sickle-bearing Leaf Katydid (\(Phaneroptera\) \(sarsa\)) is a medium-sized, green insect with a widespread distribution in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Asia. It is known for its excellent camouflage, feeding on flowers and other plants, and is most active at dusk and night. A distinctive feature is its "tzzp..tzzp.." call, and it reproduces by laying eggs along the edges of living leaves. 

Size: Medium-sized, with a body length of around \(30\) mm.

Color: Primarily green with green, unstriped abdomens.

Wings: Opaque green forewings and hindwings with a tan stripe, which extend beyond the forewings.

Habitat: Found in a wide range of habitats including grasslands, scrub, gardens, forests, and urban environments.Camouflage: Its leaf-like appearance provides excellent camouflage, helping it blend into its surroundings. 

Behavior and reproduction Activity: Most active in the late afternoon, evening, and at night. Males typically call about three hours after sunset.Call: A short and sharp "tzzp..tzzp..", which can be hard to identify.

Diet: Herbivorous, feeding primarily on flowers and other parts of plants.

Reproduction: Mating involves the transfer of a large spermatophore by the male. Females use an upturned ovipositor to lay eggs along the edges of living leaves.Life Cycle: Develops through a three-stage process: egg, nymph, and adult, with a process called incomplete metamorphosis. 

16-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, 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 

16-11-2025 CANOPY FEEDER CAM, PANAMA - SPOT CROWNED BARBET (Capito maculicoronatus)

The spot-crowned barbet is a colorful bird found in lowland forests of Panama and western Colombia. Males have black and white speckled crowns, white throats, yellow-to-orange breasts, and black-spotted bellies, while females are similar but have black throats and breasts. They eat fruit and arthropods and are important seed dispersers in their habitat. 

Appearance

Size: 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 inches) long.

Male: Mostly black above with a white-spotted crown, white throat, and a yellow to orange breast.

Female: Similar to the male but has a black throat and upper breast.

Other features: Both sexes have black spots on the lower breast and belly and a yellow to orange splash on the flanks. 

Habitat and behavior

Habitat: They live in the canopy of lowland subtropical or tropical moist forests and in degraded former forests.

Location: Found in Colombia and Panama.

Social structure: Usually seen in pairs or small groups. 

Diet and role in ecosystem

Diet: Primarily eat fruit and arthropods like insects, scorpions, and centipedes.

Seed dispersal: Considered important seed dispersers in tropical forests.

Regurgitation: Regurgitate indigestible parts of their food, such as seed pits. 

4-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - TAWNY EAGLE (Aquila rapax)

The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a large bird of prey, belonging to the family Accipitridae. It is characterized by heavily feathered legs, indicative of its membership in the subfamily Aquilinae, or booted eagles. Exhibiting a polymorphic plumage, the Tawny Eagle's coloration ranges from dark grey-brown to rufous-tawny, with a strong and bold bill, well-proportioned frame, and fierce countenance. This eagle is known for its opportunistic feeding habits, engaging in both active predation and scavenging.

The Tawny Eagle can be identified by its long neck, large bill without a deep gape, and moderately long wings with pronounced "fingers." Its tail is shortish and square-ended, resembling that of a vulture. Adults may have variably colored eyes from yellow to pale brown, with a yellow cere and feet at all ages. The species is polymorphic, with individuals varying in plumage from dark brown to rufous and buffish-yellow.

Tawny Eagles favor open dry habitats such as semideserts, deserts steppes, or savanna plains. They are seldom found in areas completely devoid of trees, as they require perches for hunting and nesting.

The Tawny Eagle has a discontinuous breeding range across much of the African continent and the Indian subcontinent, with rare residency in the southern Middle East.

14-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RED PALM WEEVIL (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)

The palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is one of two species of snout beetle known as the red palm weevil, Asian palm weevil or sago palm weevil. The adult beetles are relatively large, ranging between 2 and 4 centimetres (1 and 1+1⁄2 inches) long, and are usually a rusty red colour—but many colour variants exist and have often been classified as different species (e.g., R. vulneratus). Weevil larvae can excavate holes in the trunks of palm trees up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) long, thereby weakening and eventually killing the host plant. As a result, the weevil is considered a major pest in palm plantations, including the coconut palm, date palm and oil palm.

Originally from tropical Asia, the red palm weevil has spread to Africa and Europe, reaching the Mediterranean in the 1980s. It was first recorded in Spain in 1994, and in France in 2006. Additional infestations have been located in Malta, Italy (Tuscany, Sicily, Campania, Sardinia, Lazio, Marche, Puglia and Liguria), Croatia and Montenegro. It is also well established throughout most of Portugal, especially in the South. It also has established in Morocco, Tunisia, and other North African countries. The weevil was first reported in the Americas on Curaçao in January 2009 and sighted the same year in Aruba. It was reported in the United States at Laguna Beach, California late in 2010 but this was a misidentification of the closely related species, R. vulneratus, and it did not become established.It was reported in Uruguay in March 2022, and has since spread to many parts of the country.

Larvae of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus are considered a delicacy in Southeast Asian cuisine. In some regions, however, larvae farming is strictly prohibited to prevent the potential devastation of plantation crops.

13-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE CENTIPEDE (Scutigera coleoptrata)

Scutigera coleoptrata, also known as the house-centipede, is a species of centipede that is typically yellowish-gray and has up to 15 pairs of long legs. Originating in the Mediterranean region, it has spread to other parts of the world, where it frequently lives in and around human homes. It is an insectivore, preying on insects and arachnids by envenomating them. Their venom is not dangerous to humans.

The body of an adult Scutigera coleoptrata is typically 25 to 35 mm (1.0 to 1.4 in) in length, although larger specimens are sometimes encountered.[6] Up to 15 pairs of long legs are attached to the rigid body. Together with the antennae they give the centipede an appearance of being 75 to 100 mm (3 to 4 in) in length. The delicate legs enable it to reach surprising speeds of up to 0.4 meters per second (1.3 ft/s) running across floors, up walls and along ceilings. Its body is yellowish-gray and has three dark dorsal stripes running down its length; the legs also have dark stripes. S. coleoptrata has developed automimicry in that its tail-like hind-legs present the appearance of antennae. When the centipede is at rest, it is not easy to tell its cranial end from its caudal end.

Unlike most other centipedes, house-centipedes and their close relatives have well-developed faceted eyes.

14-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GROUND BEETLE (Genus Olisthopus)

Olisthopus is a genus of ground beetle native to the Palearctic (including Europe), the Near East and North Africa. It contains the following species:

Olisthopus brevicornis Casey, 1913

Olisthopus elburzensis (Morvan, 1977)

Olisthopus elongatus Wollaston, 1854

Olisthopus ericae Wollaston, 1854

Olisthopus filicornis Casey, 1913

Olisthopus fuscatus Dejean, 1828

Olisthopus glabratus Brulle, 1839

Olisthopus glabricollis (Germar, 1817)

Olisthopus hispanicus Dejean, 1828

Olisthopus humerosus Wollaston, 1858

Olisthopus inclavatus Israelson, 1983

Olisthopus innuens Casey, 1913

Olisthopus iterans Casey, 1913

Olisthopus maderensis Wollaston, 1854

Olisthopus micans Leconte, 1848

Olisthopus palmensis Wollaston, 1864

Olisthopus parmatus (Say, 1823)

Olisthopus pusio Casey, 1913

Olisthopus rotundatus (Paykull, 1790)

Olisthopus sibiricus J.Sahlberg, 1880

Olisthopus sturmii (Duftschmid, 1812)

Olisthopus yasujensis Azadbakhsh & Kirschenhofer, 2017

12-11-2025 CATARROJA, ALBUFERA - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Black Redstart (\(Phoenicurus\) \(ochruros\)) is a small bird, about the size of a robin, known for its dark plumage and bright red tail. It is adaptable and can be found in both natural rocky habitats and urban environments like cities and quarries. Its diet consists mainly of insects, spiders, and worms, supplemented by seeds and berries, and some populations migrate in winter. 

Appearance Size: Approximately \(14.5\) cm in length, with a wingspan of \(23-26\) cm.Males: Dark grey body with a black face and throat, and a white patch on the wings.Females and Juveniles: Grey-brown all over.Tail: Both sexes have a bright red tail with a single black band down the middle. Habitat and Behavior Habitat: Found in warm, sunny rocky areas, quarries, cliffs, and urban settings like cities and villages.Behavior: They are often seen hopping on the ground and frequently sing from high perches on buildings or rocks.Diet: Primarily insectivores, they eat insects, larvae, spiders, and worms. In the late summer and autumn, they also eat seeds and berries.Hunting: They can catch insects in the air, but also hunt by hopping on the ground, rocky outcrops, and rooftops. 

12-11-2025 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum striolatum)

The common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae native to Eurasia. It is one of the most common dragonflies in Europe, occurring in a wide variety of water bodies, though with a preference for breeding in still water such as ponds and lakes. In the south of its range adults are on the wing all year round.

Sympetrum species are not easy to tell apart and in most areas more than one Sympetrum species will occur. Females and teneral individuals have light yellow thorax and abdomen. Males turn red as they mature. Females darken with age, becoming a dark chocolate brown, and sometimes develop a blue colouration to the bottom of the abdomen. The wings also develop a brown tinge with age. In all cases the legs have a cream or yellow stripe on a black background - this is a diagnostic feature of this species. The pterostigma of the females can be red, blue, pale blue or brown.

12-11-2025 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

European starlings are social, iridescent birds known for their ability to mimic a wide range of sounds and for forming massive flocks called murmurations. They are omnivores, eating insects, fruits, and seeds, and are highly adaptable to various environments, including urban areas. Originally from Eurasia, they were introduced to North America in 1890 and are now a widespread and common species there, where they are considered invasive and can outcompete native birds for nesting sites. 

Their glossy black feathers have an iridescent sheen of purple and green. In winter, new feathers have white tips that wear off by spring, leaving them speckled.

The bill is dark in winter and turns bright yellow during the breeding season. Males have a blue base to their bill, while females have a pink base.

They are stocky birds, typically 8-9 inches long with a wingspan of about 16 inches. 

They are famous for forming large, synchronized flocks that create spectacular aerial displays, which can help protect them from predators.

12-11-2025 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.

Within the colony, Great Egrets are territorial and aggressive, defending their space with sharp bill jabs and harsh calls.

The great egret is generally a very successful species with a large and expanding range, occurring worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. It is ubiquitous across the Sun Belt of the United States and in the Neotropics. In the Nordic countries, it was historically a rare visitor. 

They primarily feed on aquatic animals like fish, frogs, and crustaceans. Small mammals, birds, and insects are also part of their diet. Great Egrets hunt by wading in shallow water, using their sharp bills to catch prey. Their diet varies depending on the season and location, adapting to available food sources.

Nests are made of sticks and twigs; the nests are large — up to a yard across and a foot deep. They are often built in trees above water. A clutch has up to 6 eggs, which are incubated for 23–27 days; after hatching the young stay at the nest for 21–25 days. Great egrets can live to be at least 22 years old.

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.

12-11-2025 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, ALBUFERA - WHITE WAGTAIL (JUVENILE) (Motacilla alba)

Small terrestrial bird (about 18 cm or 7 in) with a characteristic long black tail, constantly wagging. Grey upperparts, white underparts and black wings with white stripes. Black head (throat and nape) and white face (forehead and flanks of the face). Black legs and bill.

Present in different types of habitats, most of them linked to water. Wet meadows, farmlands, coastal shores, banks, reservoirs, lagoons, temporary ponds, parks and gardens and even the urban environment.

Species present in the province all year round mostly as a wintering bird, although there are individuals which come to breed during the summer months and also birds in migratory passage. It breeds from April with up to three layings of 4 to 6 eggs. Nest in hollows of slopes and banks. Insectivore that forages actively, pecking on the ground, and in groups. Very linked to the ground and walker with a typical swing of the tail.

11-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SONG THRUSH (Turdus philomelos)

The song thrush breeds in most of Europe (although not in the greater part of Iberia, lowland Italy or southern Greece), and across Ukraine and Russia almost to Lake Baikal. It reaches to 75°N in Norway, but only to about 60°N in Siberia. Birds from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia winter around the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East, but only some of the birds in the milder west of the breeding range leave their breeding areas. The song thrush has been sighted in North America as a rare vagrant, with records from Quebec in Canada, Greenland, as well as in Alaska, California, and Washington in the United States. It has also been sighted in various Atlantic islands and West Africa. In South America, there is a record of a song thrush from Colombia.

In Great Britain song thrushes are commonly found where there are trees and bushes. Such areas include parks, gardens, coniferous and deciduous woodland and hedgerows.

The song thrush typically nests in forest with good undergrowth and nearby more open areas, and in western Europe also uses gardens and parks. It breeds up to the tree-line, reaching 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) in Switzerland. The island subspecies T. p. hebridensis breeds in more open country, including heathland, and in the east of the song thrush's Eurasian range, the nominate subspecies is restricted to the edge of the dense conifer forests.

In intensively farmed areas where agricultural practices appear to have made cropped land unsuitable, gardens are an important breeding habitat. In one English study, only 3.5% of territories were found in farmland, whereas gardens held 71.5% of the territories, despite that habitat making up only 2% of the total area. The remaining nests were in woodlands (1% of total area).

The winter habitat is similar to that used for breeding, except that high ground and other exposed localities are avoided; however, the island subspecies T. p. hebridensis will frequent the seashore in winter.

The song thrush typically nests in forest with good undergrowth and nearby more open areas, and in western Europe also uses gardens and parks. It breeds up to the tree-line, reaching 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) in Switzerland. The island subspecies T. p. hebridensis breeds in more open country, including heathland, and in the east of the song thrush's Eurasian range, the nominate subspecies is restricted to the edge of the dense conifer forests.

In intensively farmed areas where agricultural practices appear to have made cropped land unsuitable, gardens are an important breeding habitat. In one English study, only 3.5% of territories were found in farmland, whereas gardens held 71.5% of the territories, despite that habitat making up only 2% of the total area. The remaining nests were in woodlands (1% of total area).

The winter habitat is similar to that used for breeding, except that high ground and other exposed localities are avoided; however, the island subspecies T. p. hebridensis will frequent the seashore in winter.

The song thrush is not usually gregarious, although several birds may roost together in winter or be loosely associated in suitable feeding habitats, perhaps with other thrushes such as the blackbird, fieldfare, redwing and dark-throated thrush. Unlike the more nomadic fieldfare and redwing, the song thrush tends to return regularly to the same wintering areas.

11-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Sympetrum striolatum)

The common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae native to Eurasia. It is one of the most common dragonflies in Europe, occurring in a wide variety of water bodies, though with a preference for breeding in still water such as ponds and lakes. In the south of its range adults are on the wing all year round.

Sympetrum species are not easy to tell apart and in most areas more than one Sympetrum species will occur. Females and teneral individuals have light yellow thorax and abdomen. Males turn red as they mature. Females darken with age, becoming a dark chocolate brown, and sometimes develop a blue colouration to the bottom of the abdomen. The wings also develop a brown tinge with age. In all cases the legs have a cream or yellow stripe on a black background - this is a diagnostic feature of this species. The pterostigma of the females can be red, blue, pale blue or brown.

11-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

Native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and much of Asia, the house sparrow has been introduced to various regions worldwide, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most widely distributed wild birds.

10-11-2025 GANDIA GRAU, VALENCIA - MULLET (Genus Chelon)

Chelon is a genus of mullets found in coastal marine waters, estuaries and rivers in the Atlantic Ocean and Arabian Sea.

Chelon possesses the elongated body and dorsal fins typical of the order Mugiliformes, with frontal fins defined by four spines and anal fins with soft rays. The maximum sizes described vary between 15 cm (5.9 in) for the Cape Verde mullet and 32 cm (13 in) for the thicklip grey mullet.

They are catadromous fishes, meaning that they can be found in lagoons and rivers as well as the sea during the reproductive season, fundamentally feeding on algae and diatoms.

Recent cladistic analysis recovered Chelon as paraphyletic with respect to Liza, so some species of Liza were reassigned to Chelon and Liza synonymized with Chelon.

As most species of fish, the thicklip grey mullet is infected by a variety of parasite species. A 2023 paper showed that it harbors eleven species of Myxobolus (Myxozoa).

10-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN BLACKCAP (MALE) (Sylvia atricapilla)

The Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla, is a common and widespread typical warbler known for its distinctive cap and melodious song. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with males sporting a black cap and females a chestnut one. The upperparts are generally olive-grey, while the underparts are pale grey. This bird is small and agile, measuring around 13 cm in length with a wingspan of 7–8 cm.

Males can be identified by their black caps and light grey underparts, while females have a reddish-brown cap and a slightly browner hue to their grey upperparts. Juveniles resemble females but have a rufous tinge to their upperparts and a more olive tone on the breast and flanks. The blackcap's tail is dark grey with an olive edge to each feather, and it has a grey bill and legs with a reddish-brown iris.

The blackcap favors mature deciduous woodlands with a well-developed understory. It also occupies parks, large gardens, and overgrown hedges, provided there are tall trees for songposts and dense shrubs for nesting.

This warbler breeds across much of Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa. It is a partial migrant, with northern populations wintering in northwestern Europe, around the Mediterranean, and in tropical Africa. Some have adapted to wintering in British and Irish gardens.

Blackcaps are territorial during the breeding season, with males establishing and defending their territories through song and display. They are mainly monogamous and may raise one to two broods per season. The species is known for its leap-frog migration pattern, where northern populations migrate further south than those from the Mediterranean.

9-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - DESERT DARTER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Sympetrum sinaiticum )

34-37 mm. Medium-sized dragonfly of the Libellulidiae family; it is distributed throughout the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, with a tendency to expand its peninsular distribution.

Sexual dimorphism is present in mature males, which have brown upper eyelids and light gray lower eyelids. Their thorax is brown on top and lighter on the sides, with black-edged sutures. The abdomen is pale red on top with orange sides. The sides of segments S1 to S3 are pale and have a distinctive elongated black spot. The last segments are also spotted with black on the sides. The wings are hyaline with a bright red leading edge and a reddish (sometimes pale yellow) pterostigma. The leading edge of the wing is somewhat colored. 

The legs are edged in black, and the rest of the plumage is straw-colored to brownish with a light blue interior. The female is straw-yellow, lacking any orange coloration. She has the same black markings on the sides of her abdomen as the male, which helps in identification. The only other feature she shares with the male is the eye color, although it is somewhat duller.

It inhabits open spaces in warm areas, in all types of stagnant or slow-moving water.

It feeds on all kinds of small flying insects, which are captured in the air; it is a dragonfly that tends to return to the same perch after each flight; flights are usually short in order to patrol its small territory or hunt; it normally lands on a plant near water, less frequently on the ground.

Young adults emerge in June and after 2-3 weeks, they leave the water and move away from it during the summer, being possible to find them in forests, shrubby areas or even urbanizations, after this period of drought or maturation, in September they return to areas with water, begin courtship and mate, the eggs are laid in autumn and the adults die at the end of autumn.

This species reproduces in standing water bodies that make pools. These are clear sunny areas of the rivers and streams, reservoirs, dams and man-made ponds.Way of life

The adults emerge at the beginning of spring and go away from water to get mature. Sometimes they fly far away to the mountains, forests or thickets, and even in urban areas. They come back to the places where they were bred at the end of summer or in autumn, and this is the moment when they can easily be spotted. They rest on the ground, and on plants, holding their wings forward over the thorax. They get really attached to these homes, so they come back often after flying short distance, hunting or patrolling.

9-11-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata megera)

Lasiommata megera, the wall or wall brown, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae (subfamily Satyrinae). It is widespread in the Palearctic realm with a large variety of habitats and number of generations a year.

P. megera L. [— xiphie Boisd. pt (45d). Above reddish yellow, with a black mark which traverses the distal band from the cell of the forewing to the abdominal margin of the hindwing, short black stripes crossing the disc and the cell of the forewing.

The species lives in North Africa, Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, the Middle East, western Siberia, northern Tian Shan, Dzungarian Alatau, Kazakhstan and Dzungaria.

Habitats include forest edges and clearings, shrubby areas in ravines and river valleys and sparse woodlands. It is also found in mountain habitats up to 0–3,000 metres (0–9,843 ft) above sea level.

The imago flies from April to October in two or three generations depending on locality and altitude. The larva feeds on grasses in the genera Festuca, Bromus, Deschampsia, Poa, Dactylis and Brachypodium.

"The egg is pale green when first laid, and in shape it is almost spherical, but rather higher than broad; it is finely ribbed and reticulated, but unless examined through a lens it appears to be quite smooth. The caterpillar when full grown is whitish-green, dotted with white. From the larger of these dots on the back arise greyish bristles; the three lines on the back (dorsal and sub-dorsal) are whitish, edged with dark green; the line on the sides (spiracular) is white, fringed with greyish hairs; anal points green, hairy, extreme tips white. Head larger than the first ring (first thoracic segment), green dotted with white and hairy, jaws marked with brownish. The chrysalis is green, with yellow-tinted white markings on the edge of the wing covers and ridges; the spots on the body are yellowish, or sometimes white. Occasionally the chrysalids are blackish, with white or yellow points on the body".