6-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY (Ceratitis capitata)

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is one of the world's most destructive agricultural pests. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, it ravages over 250 species of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, turning the pulp of vulnerable produce—such as citrus, peaches, and tomatoes—into inedible, maggot-infested mush.

Appearance & IdentificationSize: Slightly smaller than a common housefly (roughly 3.5 to 5.0 mm in length).

Wings: Clear with a distinct mosaic-like pattern of yellow and brown bands, spots, and dots.

Body: Features a blackish thorax with silver markings and a tan abdomen crossed by darker silver or brown stripes.

Larvae: Creamy-white, carrot-shaped maggots that develop and feed inside the fruit.

6-5-2026 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - 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.

7-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CAPE DAISY (Dimorphotheca jucunda)

 Dimorphotheca jucunda, the delightful African daisy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, and introduced to Ireland and Tasmania. As its synonym Osteospermum jucundum, it and two of its cultivars, 'Blackthorn Seedling' and 'Langtrees' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

8-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (idaea cervantaria)

 1.4 to 2.2 cm wingspan. Straw-coloured, with yellowish wings with scattered dark, brown or greyish scales. On each wing it has a wavy line with small pointed spots, pointing backwards. Sometimes these details are barely noticeable. Between these lines and the rear edge, it has dark spots that may have a  light wavy stripe. It has a spot on each wing but those on the front wings may go unnoticed.

There are other similar species that are impossible to distinguish externally, so for a correct and safe identification, genital analysis must be used. Several of them have been found in the province of Malaga, although I. cervantaria is currently the most common and the only one that has been observed in urban environments.

The caterpillars feed on dry leaves of herbaceous plants and in captivity on petals of different Asteraceae and sea alder (Lobularia maritima), the latter common in our province, especially in sunny areas of the limestone mountains, and occasionally used in gardening for the showiness of its inflorescences. 

8-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GOLDWING MOTH (Synthymia fixa)

 The Goldwing moth (Synthymia fixa) is a small, specialized moth known for its striking, hidden coloration and limited habitat range in southern Europe and North Africa. It belongs to the Erebidae family, specifically within the subfamily often referred to as underwing moths. 

Here are key facts about the Goldwing moth (Synthymia fixa):

Physical Characteristics

Appearance: They are small, with a wingspan of only 37–40 mm. The forewings are typically brown, providing excellent camouflage when at rest.

Hidden Colors: When disturbed, they reveal bright orange or golden hindwings. This sudden flash of color is a defense mechanism intended to surprise predators.

Appearance in Flight: They are often described as small brown moths that appear bright orange when flying in the countryside. 

24-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca)

The magpie shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus), also known as the African long-tailed shrike, is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Urolestes. It is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa, where its natural habitats are dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It has a very wide range and is common in places, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

The magpie shrike is found in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It inhabits open savannah with scattered acacia trees, close-grazed turf and bare ground, in parts of southern and central Africa where precipitation mainly occurs between November and April. Arid areas are avoided but semi-arid areas may be favoured. It also occurs in woodland, particularly riparian areas, and in the Kruger National Park is found in river valleys with thorny mopane trees.

6-5-2026 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - RED CRESTED POCHARD (FEMALE) (Netta rufina)

The red-crested pochard (Netta rufina) is a large diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek Netta "duck", and Latin rufina, "golden-red" (from rufus, "ruddy"). Its breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes in southern Europe and it extends from the steppe and semi-desert areas on the Black Sea to Central Asia and Mongolia, wintering in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. It is somewhat migratory, and northern birds winter further south into north Africa.

The adult male is unmistakable. It has a rounded orange head, red bill and black breast. The flanks are white, the back brown, and the tail black. The female is mainly a pale brown, with a darker back and crown and a whitish face. Eclipse males are like females but with red bills. They are gregarious birds, forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks, such as common pochards. They feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants, and typically upend for food more than most diving ducks.

6-5-2026 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - 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.

6-5-2026 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - FALSE GRASS-POLY (Lythrum junceum)

Lythrum junceum (creeping loosestrife) is a Mediterranean perennial herb known for its sprawling habit, solitary pink-purple flowers, and preference for wet habitats. It is often found in wetlands, stream banks, and damp areas, blooming from spring to autumn. It can be distinguished by its 12 stamens and 6 petals.

Key Facts about Lythrum junceum

Common Names: Creeping loosestrife, rose loosestrife, Mediterranean loosestrife.

Appearance: A glabrous (smooth) herb with trailing, angular stems that can reach 50-70 cm long. The leaves are generally narrow, alternating on the stem, and 1–4 cm long.

Flowers: Features solitary, deep pink-to-purple flowers in the leaf axils, blooming from March to September. The flowers are trimorphic (three different lengths of style) and have six petals.

Habitat: Thrives in freshwater wetlands, riparian areas, and moist, non-saline, or acidic soils.

5-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO

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).

5-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED FOOTMAN MOTH (Coscinia cribraria)

Coscinia cribraria, the speckled footman, is a species of moth belonging to the subfamily Arctiinae within the large family Erebidae. This moth has a widespread distribution in the Palearctic.

Coscinia cribraria has a forewing which has a background colour of dirty white marked with black streaks along the wings and crossbands made up of dark dots, both of which vary in extent. The subspecies arenaria has an almost pure white forewing.[6] The speckled footman has a wingspan of between 30 and 35 mm (1.2 and 1.4 in).

Coscinia cribraria has a wide Palearctic distribution being found from Northwestern Africa Iberia and southern Great Britain east to China and Mongolia. In Europe, north of the Alps, the speckled footman is typically found on sandy heaths and open sandy pine forests. To the south of the Alps, it inhabits on dry mountain meadows with stony or rocky areas and around the Mediterranean this species can be found in habitats like maquis and in open forests.

6-5-2026 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - RUBY TIGER MOTH CATERPILLAR

Phragmatobia fuliginosa, the ruby tiger, is a moth of the family Erebidae.

Phragmatobia fuliginosa can be found in the Palearctic realm. It is present in most of Europe, in North Africa, Russia, Central Asia, Tibet, and in northern areas of North America.

This species inhabits moist open forest and meadow areas, mixed hardwood forests at low elevations, open meadows or prairies and in agricultural areas at low elevations. It is common on low-growing plants, on high-roads, railway embankments and waste fields. On warm days in the winter the larvae sometimes leave their hiding-places and are then found on fieldpaths and roads, running about quickly.

Phragmatobia fuliginosa has a wingspan of 35–45 mm. The ruby tiger has the thorax and forewings dark reddish brown with a blackish comma-shaped spot at the apex of the cell, edged with carmine. Hindwings are carmine, more or less hyaline in the costal area, with more or less confluent black spots before the margin and at the apex of the cell.

The name-typical form ''Phragmatobia fuliginosa L. has the forewing rather densely scaled and the hindwing bright rose-red with distinct black spots. Underside strongly suffused with purple-pink.

The eggs are reddish grey. The larva is light or dark grey with a black brown head. The entire body is covered with foxy red hairs. These hairs are always more black brown in placida, and sometimes so in fuliginosa. The pupa is black with the abdomen marked with yellow in the segmental incision.

6-5-2026 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (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.

5-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CENTAURIES (Blackstonia grandiflora)

Blackstonia grandiflora, often known as Large-flowered Blackstonia, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Gentianaceae family. It is primarily found across the Mediterranean region and is recognized for its vibrant yellow flowers and distinct perfoliate leaves.

Key Biological Facts

Scientific Classification: While often treated as a distinct species, it is also classified as a subspecies of the common Yellow-wort, specifically Blackstonia perfoliata subsp. grandiflora.

Appearance: It typically grows between 30 to 70 cm tall. Its flowers are larger than other subspecies (20–30 mm in diameter) and can feature up to 12 floral parts.

Native Habitat: It thrives in the subtropical biomes of the Western and Central Mediterranean, including Spain (Balearic Islands), Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It prefers dry grasslands, rocky slopes, and basic (alkaline) substrates.

Etymology: The genus Blackstonia is named after John Blackstone, an 18th-century English botanist. The species name grandiflora is Latin for "large-flowered".

Traditional Uses: In some regions, it has been used in traditional medicine to treat ailments like fever and stomachaches, similar to other members of the Gentian family known for their "bitters".

5-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOARY MULLEIN (Verbascum pulverulentum)

Verbascum pulverulentum, the hoary mullein, is a species of flowering plant in the family Scrophulariaceae. It is native to western, central and southern Europe north to England (where its main range is in East Anglia) and southern Wales. It has been introduced to Austria, Madeira, and Washington state in the USA. It is a specialist on coastal shingle, and so is preadapted to human-influenced habitats such as old quarries and gravel pits, road verges, railway embankments, and similar disturbed stony ground.

It is a stout biennial or monocarpic perennial herb growing up to 1.5 m tall, producing flowers and seeds only once, during its second or a later year. The stems and leaves are densely woolly with pale grey to glaucous pubescence. The flowers are yellow, 18–25 mm diameter, with 5 orange stamens, all the stamen stems with dense white hairs. It can best be distinguished from the similar great mullein (V. thapsus) in all five stamens having dense white hairs on the stem; in V. thapsus, the lower two of the five stamens are hairless or only thinly hairy.

It is the main food plant for the moth Nothris verbascella (Norfolk snout).

5-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PLANTAIN FAMILY (Antirrhinum controversum)

Antirrhinum controversum is a species of perennial flowering plant in the genus Antirrhinum (common snapdragons) in the family Plantaginaceae. Native to southeastern and southern Spain, Portugal, and northern Morocco, it is a subshrub that favors subtropical biomes. The species produces stems that grow between 35 cm (14 in) and 150 cm (59 in) tall. Growing, flowering, and fruiting between February and November within its native range, the plant produces dense inflorescences of ten to 40 pale-pink flowers at the end of each stem.

Antirrhinum controversum has a native range that spans southeastern and southern Spain, Portugal, and northern Morocco. The species favors subtropical biomes. A. controversum is natively found at elevations between 20 m (66 ft) and 1,600 m (5,200 ft) above sea level.

5-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui)

Vanessa cardui is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan.

V. cardui occurs in any temperate zone, including mountains in the tropics. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates in spring, and sometimes again in autumn. It migrates from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Britain and Europe in May and June, occasionally reaching Iceland, and from the Red Sea basin, via Israel and Cyprus, to Turkey in March and April. The occasional autumn migration made by V. cardui is likely for the inspection of resource changes; it consists of a round trip from Europe to Africa.

For decades, naturalists have debated whether the offspring of these immigrants ever make a southwards return migration. Research suggests that British painted ladies do undertake an autumn migration, making 14,500 km (9,000 mi) round trip from tropical Africa to the Arctic Circle in a series of steps by up to six successive generations. The Radar Entomology Unit at Rothamsted Research provided evidence that autumn migrations take place at high altitude, which explains why these migrations are seldom witnessed. In recent years, thanks to the activity of The Worldwide Painted Lady Migration citizen science project, led by the Barcelona-based Institute of Evolutionary Biology (Catalan: Institut de Biologia Evolutiva), the huge range of migration has begun to be revealed. For example, some butterflies migrated from Iceland to the Sahara desert, and even further south.

V. cardui is known for its distinct migratory behaviour. In California, they are usually seen flying from north to north-west. These migrations appear to be partially initiated by heavy winter rains in the desert where rainfall controls the growth of larval food plants. In March 2019, after heavy rain produced an abundance of vegetation in the deserts, Southern California saw these butterflies migrating by the millions across the state.

Similarly, heavier than usual rain during the 2018-2019 winter seems to have been the cause of the extraordinarily large migration observed in Israel at the end of March, estimated at a billion individual butterflies. Painted lady migration patterns are highly erratic and they do not migrate every year. Some evidence suggests that global climatic events, such as el Niño, may affect the migratory behaviour of the painted lady butterflies, causing large-scale migrations. The first noticeable wave of migration in eastern Ukraine was noted in the 20s of April 2019. From May 15, numbers began to grow and it was possible to observe hundreds of this species in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, including in the city streets of Kharkiv.

3-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ROUND NECKED LONGHORN BEETLE (Stenopterus rufus)

Stenopterus rufus is a beetle species of round-necked longhorns belonging to the family Cerambycidae, subfamily Cerambycinae.

Stenopterus rufus can reach a length of 7–16 millimetres (0.28–0.63 in). The body has a velvet-like hair. Elytra are very narrow. Antennae are about as long as the body and clearly segmented. The head and pronotum are black colored and the abdomen has a black background color horizontally crossed by yellow stripes. The first two segments of their antennae are black, the color of the following ones is variable but generally yellow with items III to V black at the apex, but sometimes items III to XI are entirely yellow or entirely black. Elytra are red with black base and apex. The legs are mainly red.

Larvae are polyphagous wood borers in dead branches of deciduous trees (Quercus, Castanea, Robinia, Juglans, Prunus, Salix, Pistacia, Corylus avellana, Ostrya carpinifolia, Paliurus spina-christi etc.).

The adults can be encountered from May through August, completing their life cycle in two years. They are very common flower-visitors, especially Apiaceae species, Heracleum sphondylium and Ranunculus repens, feeding on pollen and the nectar.

This beetle is widespread in most of Europe, in Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Iran and in the Near East (Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Corsica, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sardinia, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine).

These beetles mainly inhabit meadows, hedge rows, beech forests and wet forests.

4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - WHITE RUMPED SHARMA (Copsychus malabaricus)

The white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus) is a passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. Native to densely vegetated habitats in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, its popularity as a cage-bird and songster has led to it being introduced elsewhere. The Larwo shama, the Kangean shama and the Sri Lanka shama were formerly considered to be conspecific with the white-rumped shama.

They are native across scrub and secondary forests in South and Southeast Asia, but have been introduced to Kauai, Hawaii, in early 1931 from Malaysia (by Alexander Isenberger), and to Oahu in 1940 (by the Hui Manu Society). Their popularity as a cage bird has led to many escaped birds establishing themselves. They have been introduced to Taiwan where they are considered an invasive species, eating native insect species and showing aggression towards native bird species.

In Asia, their habitat is dense undergrowth especially in bamboo forests. In Hawaii, they are common in valley forests or on the ridges of the southern Koolaus, and tend to nest in undergrowth or low trees of lowland broadleaf forests.

23-1-2020 TANCAT DE L'ILLA, VALENCIA - WESTERN SWAMPHEN (Porphyrio porphyrio)

The Western Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio, is a striking waterbird of the rail family Rallidae. Known also as the sultana bird, this species is adorned with vibrant plumage, large feet, and a distinctive red bill and frontal shield, making it a conspicuous presence in its natural habitat.

This chicken-sized bird can be identified by its bright plumage, which is typically purple-blue, and its red bill and frontal shield. The large feet of the Western Swamphen are another characteristic feature, aiding in its navigation through wetland vegetation.

The Western Swamphen is found in a variety of wetlands, including swamps, lake edges, and damp pastures. These environments provide the bird with the necessary resources for feeding and breeding.

The Western Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio, is a striking waterbird of the rail family Rallidae. Known also as the sultana bird, this species is adorned with vibrant plumage, large feet, and a distinctive red bill and frontal shield, making it a conspicuous presence in its natural habitat.

This chicken-sized bird can be identified by its bright plumage, which is typically purple-blue, and its red bill and frontal shield. The large feet of the Western Swamphen are another characteristic feature, aiding in its navigation through wetland vegetation.

The Western Swamphen is found in a variety of wetlands, including swamps, lake edges, and damp pastures. These environments provide the bird with the necessary resources for feeding and breeding. 

The species is native to parts of the Western Palearctic, with populations in Spain, Portugal, southeastern France, Italy (notably Sardinia and Sicily), and northwestern Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Despite its somewhat clumsy flight, the Western Swamphen is capable of flying long distances. It is also an adept swimmer, particularly for a bird without webbed feet. The species is known for its loud, quick calls, which include bleating and hooting sounds that are quite unbird-like in tone. These calls are especially prevalent during the breeding season. 

 

The Western Swamphen's vocalizations are distinctive and varied, including loud and quick bleating and hooting calls. These sounds are an integral part of the bird's social and breeding behaviors.

Breeding typically occurs seasonally, with timing correlating with peak rainfall or summer in temperate regions. The Western Swamphen nests in warm reed beds, constructing large pads of interwoven reeds on floating debris or just above water level. Both sexes incubate the 3–6 speckled eggs for 23–27 days. Chicks are precocious, feathered with downy black plumage, and are able to leave the nest shortly after hatching, though they may remain for a few days before venturing out.

The diet of the Western Swamphen includes tender shoots and vegetable-like matter found within its wetland habitat. It also consumes eggs, ducklings, small fish, and invertebrates such as snails. There are reports of these birds attacking large eels, though it is not confirmed if eels are a regular part of their diet. They are known to use one foot to bring food to their mouth rather than eating it on the ground.

29-4-2026 EL HONDO, ALICANTE - RED KNOBBED COOT (FEMALE AND JUVENILE) (Fulica cristata)

The red-knobbed coot or crested coot (Fulica cristata) is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae.

It is a resident breeder across much of Africa and in southernmost Spain on freshwater lakes and ponds. It builds a nest of dead reeds near the water's edge or more commonly afloat, laying about 7 eggs (or more in good conditions).

The red-knobbed coot is largely black except for the white frontal shield. It is 35–42 cm (14–17 in) long, spans 75–85 cm (30–33 in) across the wings. Males weigh 770–910 g (27–32 oz), females are slightly smaller and weigh 455–790 g (16.0–27.9 oz). The sexes are alike. As a swimming species, it has partial webbing on its long strong toes. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult's black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old, some time later.

A good view is necessary to separate this species from the Eurasian coot, with which its range overlaps in northwestern Africa and southern Iberia. There are two tiny red knobs at the top of the facial shield, which are not visible at any great distance and are only present in the breeding season; the black feathering between the shield and the bill is rounded, whereas in Eurasian it comes to a point; and the bill has a bluish grey tinge. In flight, the red-knobbed coot lacks the white trailing edge to the secondaries of the Eurasian coot.

30-4-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PURPLE MARBLED MOTH (Eublemma ostrina)

Eublemma ostrina, the purple marbled, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1808. It is mainly found in central and southern Europe, and further east, but is also a scarce migrant in the United Kingdom, where it is mainly found along the south coast.

Eublemma ostrinum occurs throughout the Mediterranean including North Africa and is only occasionally found in Central Europe. Heading east the distribution area is from southern Russia, Asia minor, and Afghanistan. Occasional finds in northern Europe, such as in 1992 in the UK are usually migrant butterflies, although in 1999. larvae and pupae were found in South Devon and the Isle of Portland. Eublemma ostrinum is found in warm, dry areas.

Larva greyish yellow, with pale yellow dorsal line, prominent at the segmental incisions, and similar subdorsal and spiracular lines; head brown. The larvae feed on the flowers and seeds of Carlina vulgaris. Other recorded food plants include Carlina species in general, as well as Echinops, Carduus and Cirsium species.

The wingspan is 18–25 millimetres (0.71–0.98 in). Forewing cream white, slightly tinged with pale brown in basal half and in terminal area; median shade diffuse, slightly outcurved, followed immediately by a black dot representing the reniform stigma; just beyond it on the costa an oblique purplish bar to vein 6 represents the outer line; submarginal line whitish, sharply indented on each fold and outcurved between, the interval between the two lines filled with purple except at costa beyond median line; the interspaces between the veins often streaked with deeper purple; a purple spot at apex with a blackish speck in it below; a purplish streak from base below cell; terminal line brown inwardly edged with white; fringe white, brownish in middle; hindwing brownish grey, darker along termen; terminal line dark; fringe white; in examples from Algeria and Morocco, besides the purplish tint between the two lines, the whole forewing, except partially along costa, is suffused with olive grey brown, = ab. suffusa ab. nov. [Warren]; —in aestivalis Guen., probably the early summer brood, the purplish tint is restricted to the shade immediately before the submarginal line; the hindwings are paler, in the male almost white, and the examples are smaller in expanse; — in carthami H. Sch., supposed to be the late summer brood, the creamy ground is faintly tinged with pale brown along the median line and on each side of the submarginal, which is sometimes accompanied externally by a few isolated black scales; apical patch grey brown; hindwing creamy, tinged with brown before termen; the fringe white.

29-4-2026 EL HONDO, ALICANTE - RED KNOBBED COOT (Fulica cristata)

The Red-knobbed Coot, also known as the Crested Coot, is a striking waterbird with a predominantly black plumage contrasted by a distinctive white frontal shield. It is a medium-sized bird, measuring 35–42 cm in length with a wingspan of 75–85 cm. The males, slightly larger than the females, weigh between 770 and 910 grams, while females range from 455 to 790 grams. Both sexes appear similar in plumage. The species is characterized by its long, strong toes with partial webbing, an adaptation to its aquatic lifestyle.

To distinguish the Red-knobbed Coot from its close relative, the Eurasian Coot, one must look for the two small red knobs atop the facial shield, which are only present during the breeding season and are not visible from afar. The black feathering between the shield and the bill is rounded, as opposed to the pointed feature in the Eurasian Coot. Additionally, the bill of the Red-knobbed Coot has a subtle bluish-grey hue. In flight, unlike the Eurasian Coot, it lacks the white trailing edge on its secondaries.

This coot favors freshwater lakes and ponds as its primary habitat, where it can be seen swimming or walking along the water's edge.

The Red-knobbed Coot is a resident breeder across much of Africa and can also be found in the southernmost parts of Spain.

The Red-knobbed Coot is known for its bold and less secretive nature compared to other members of the rail family. It exhibits strong territorial behavior during the breeding season and is known to be quite aggressive, even towards larger birds. It swims with a characteristic bobbing of the head and is capable of short dives. When taking off for flight, it runs across the water surface, creating a noticeable commotion.

Both sexes contribute to building a bulky platform nest of reeds and plant stems, often situated in shallow water. The female lays a clutch of 5–7 eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 18–25 days. The precocial chicks are mobile shortly after hatching and receive parental care for about 55–60 days.

An omnivorous bird, the Red-knobbed Coot feeds on a variety of small live prey, including the eggs of other water birds. It predominantly consumes waterweeds, such as Potamogeton species, for which it will dive.

1-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RAYMOND'S GRASSHOPPER (Omocestus raymondi)

Omocestus raymondi, commonly known as Raymond's Grasshopper or the Garrigues Grasshopper, is a species of slant-faced grasshopper primarily found in the Mediterranean region.

Classification & IdentificationScientific Name: Omocestus (Omocestus) raymondi.Family: Part of the Acrididae family (short-horned grasshoppers) and the Gomphocerinae subfamily.

Size: They are relatively small, with males typically measuring 15–20 mm in length and females being slightly larger at 20–22 mm.

Appearance: Characterized by a "slant-faced" profile typical of its subfamily.

Habitat & DistributionLocation: Found across Southern Europe (including Spain, Italy, and France) and Northern Africa.Preferred Environment: They thrive in hot, dry, and rocky places. You'll often find them in:Garrigues (shrubland).Rocky slopes and dry mountain areas.Open woodland clearings with sparse vegetation.

Behavior & BiologyDiet: Like most grasshoppers, they are herbivorous, feeding on available vegetation in their arid habitats.Sound: Males produce sound (stridulation) to attract mates, and specific lab recordings have been studied at temperatures around 35°C.

Unique Genetics: Scientific studies have noted the presence of supernumerary chromosome segments in this species, which are extra pieces of genetic material.

1-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PYRALID SNOUT MOTH (Bostra obsoletalis)

Bostra obsoletalis is a species of moth in the family Pyralidae described by Josef Johann Mann in 1864. It is found in southern Europe, Yemen, Sudan, the Palestinian territories, Tunisia and Morocco.

The wingspan is 14–15 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August.