24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERES - WHINCHAT ( Saxicola rubetra)

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERES - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola)

24-9-2019 SALVATIERRA DE TORMES, CACERES - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

The Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.

 The Сommon starling is a medium-sized bird. It has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of the year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the color of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown, or grey in females.

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERAS - EURASIAN WREN (Troglodytes troglodytes)

The Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) or northern wren is a very small insectivorous bird, and the only member of the wren family Troglodytidae found in Eurasia and Africa (Maghreb). In Anglophone Europe, it is commonly known simply as the wren. It has a very short tail which is often held erect, a short neck and a relatively long thin bill. It is russet brown above, paler buff-brown below and has a cream buff supercilium. The sexes are alike.

The species was once lumped with Troglodytes hiemalis of eastern North America and Troglodytes pacificus of western North America as the winter wren. The Eurasian wren occurs in Europe and across the Palearctic – including a belt of Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan across to Japan. It is migratory in only the northern parts of its range. It is also highly polygynous, an unusual mating system for passerines.

The Eurasian wren is a plump, sturdy bird with rounded wings and a short tail, which is usually held cocked up. The adult bird is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) in length and has a wingspan of 13–17 cm (5.1–6.7 in).[18] It weighs around 10 g (0.35 oz).[19] It is rufous brown above, greyer beneath, and indistinctly barred with darker brown and grey, even on the wings and tail. The bill is dark brown and the legs are pale brown, the feet having strong claws and a large hind toe. Young birds are less distinctly barred and have mottled underparts. The plumage is subject to considerable variation, and where populations have been isolated, the variation has become fixed in one minor form or another.

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERAS - WOODLARK (Lullula arborea)

The woodlark or wood lark (Lullula arborea) is the only extant species in the lark genus Lullula. It is found across most of Europe, the Middle East, western Asia and the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident (non-migratory) in the west of its range, but eastern populations of this passerine bird are more migratory, moving further south in winter.

There are two subspecies of woodlark, L. a. arborea and L. a. pallida. The former is native to northern regions of Europe, while the latter can be found in the south of the woodlark's range. Their diet is mostly composed of seeds but also includes insects during the breeding period. A comparatively small bird, the woodlark is between 13.5 and 15 centimetres long and roughly 20% shorter than the skylark. It is a brown bird with a pale underside and has a white-tipped tail.

Found mainly in Europe, the mountains of northern Africa and western Asia, the woodlark is present across much of its range. In Europe, the bird seems most at home in the sandy heaths of Belgium, where its density was 7.5 pairs per square kilometre (km2) in 1988. In the same year, densities in East Germany ranged from 0.29 to 5.0 pairs per km2 and between 0.1 and 0.25 pairs per km2 in southern England, with more optimal habitats being more densely populated. However, populations fluctuated across Europe in the 1990s and 2000s and more up-to-date density figures are unavailable. 

The extent of the woodlark's range is England in the west, parts of northern Egypt to the south, Iran and Turkmenistan to the east and the Scandinavian Peninsula in the north. Declining populations have resulted in the woodlark's range contracting, for example in Britain it once bred in Wales and central England but is now found only in southern England. Within its range it is mainly resident in the west, with eastern populations migrating south in the winter.

The woodlark's natural habitat is heathland and open spaces sparsely populated with trees. They prefer clearings in pine forests and heathland and like newly planted areas with pine saplings. Experimental work showed that annual ground‐disturbance can increase Woodlark abundance within lowland grass‐heaths. The bird can also be found more rarely in urban areas. For example, in 1950 a pair were recorded on a main road near Putney Heath, London.

22-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOUSE SPIDER (Scotophaeus blackwalli)

Scotophaeus blackwalli, also known as the mouse spider, is a species of spider belonging to the family Gnaphosidae.

It is a ground spider and does not create webs. Instead it hunts for insects and other spiders at night and uses its enlarged spinnerets to produce a sticky silk to subdue its prey. It is also an opportunistic scavenger.

Females also use their silk to build protective nests for their eggs.

The adult males of these spiders reach 9mm in length, maturing in the early summer, while females reach 12mm, and can be found until autumn.

The carapace is dark brown while the abdomen is brown/grey with hairs resembling the body of a mouse, hence the common name of 'mouse spider'. The legs are brown with thick pubescence. The male has a small scutum on the dorsum of the abdomen.

Scotophaeus blackwalli is native to Europe, the Caucasus, Turkey and Iran. It has been introduced to North America, Peru, and Hawaii. It is commonly found around and inside houses in Britain, usually in the Autumn, and also under bark and in holes in walls in warmer parts of Europe. It hunts nocturnally.

22-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - DOUBLE STRIPED PUG MOTH (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

22-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPHINX MOTH (Sphinx pinastri ssp. maurorum)

21-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - JUMPING SPIDER (Menemerus semilimbatus)

21-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LEAF BEETLE ( Genus Timarcha)

Timarcha is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, with more than 100 described species in three subgenera. The most widely known species is T. tenebricosa, the bloody-nosed beetle. All species are black, wingless organisms. Timarcha are herbivorous species, living mostly on plants belonging to Rubiaceae and Plumbaginaceae, although a few can feed on Brassicaceae and Rosaceae. Timarcha is the only member of the tribe Timarchini.

Beetles of the genus Timarcha are flightless leaf beetles, widely recognized for their distinctive black appearance and their defensive mechanism of "reflex bleeding" of a bright red, foul-tasting hemolymph when threatened. 

Key Facts About the Genus Timarcha

Appearance: All species in the genus are entirely black, often with a bluish sheen, and have a dome-shaped body. They typically measure between 10-20 mm in length.

Flightless: Their elytra (forewings) are fused together, rendering them incapable of flight. This is considered an apomorphic (derived) character.

Defense Mechanism: They are popularly known as "bloody-nosed beetles" in Europe because they ooze a red, distasteful liquid (hemolymph) from their mouths when disturbed. This toxic fluid deters predators such as birds and lizards. North American species, being primarily nocturnal, do not exhibit this specific behavior.

Diet: Timarcha species are herbivorous and generally specialize in feeding on plants from only a few families, most commonly Rubiaceae (e.g., bedstraws like Galium verum and Galium mollugo) and Plumbaginaceae. North American species mainly feed on Rosaceae, such as strawberry and bramble bushes.

Distribution: The genus has a unique disjunct Holarctic distribution, with the majority of species in the Western Palaearctic region (Europe, North Africa, Western Asia) and a few species along the west coast of North America (British Columbia to California).

Habitat: They inhabit a broad range of environments, including high mountains, humid forests, grasslands, and sandy coastal areas.

Life Cycle: They are long-lived as adults (up to 10-14 months) and typically have an annual, univoltine life cycle. Larvae and adults feed on host plants, with pupation occurring in the soil.

21-9-2019 RIO SERPIS, GANDIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)

20-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GEOMETER MOTH (Dyscia penulataria)

Dyscia penulataria is a moth in the family Geometridae, known for its medium size and pale grey to beige coloration. Key facts include its characteristic wing shape, the absence of a proboscis (unlike other geometrid moths), and its host plants, such as fennel and wormwood. It belongs to the genus Dyscia, which was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1825. 

Size: It is a medium-sized moth.

Color: The coloration is typically pale grey to beige, though the genus includes some reddish species.

Wing shape: The outer margin of the forewings is slightly concave, which is a distinguishing feature.

Other features: It lacks a proboscis, and its male genitalia can be distinguished from other species by the width-to-length ratio of the valvae and the absence of an uncus. 

Habitat and diet

Host plants: It feeds on plants like fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), wormwood (Artemisia), and Dorycnium.

Geographical distribution: While the specific range for D. penulataria is not detailed here, the genus Dyscia is found in Europe and parts of Asia. 

20-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CATALONIA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis liolepis)

Podarcis liolepis, the Columbretes wall lizard or Catalan wall lizard, is very similar to the other lizards in the genus Podarcis. This species was formerly described as a subspecies of the Iberian wall lizard, but has now been elevated to species status. These are slender lizards with long tails, narrow tapered heads and long thin toes, and stout legs. Colours are variable, although generally grey-brown.

Often very subtle spots and stripes along the back and flanks can be seen and these can be more distinguished in the female. The underside is a much lighter cream or beige with sometimes a reddish tint. Adults grow 15–20 cm in length from the nose to tip of the tail. Body length can be a little as one third of the total body length, the tail making up the other two thirds.

19-9-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

19-9-2019 OLIVA PLAYA, VALENCIA - SNAKE MILLIPEDE (Ommatoiulus rutilans)

19-9-2019 OLIVA PLAYA, VALENCIA - SHORT HORN GRASSHOPPER (Pezotettix giornae)

19-9-2019 OLIVA PLAYA, VALENCIA - GREYLAG GOOSE (Anser anser)

19-9-2019 OLIVA PLAYA, 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.

18-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MANTIS (MALE) (Mantis religiosa)

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.

The European mantis (Mantis religiosa) is a large hemimetabolic insect in the family of the Mantidae ('mantids'), which is the largest family of the order Mantodea (mantises). Their common name praying mantis is derived from the distinctive posture of the first pair of legs that can be observed in animals in repose. It resembles a praying attitude. Both males and females have elongated bodies with two pairs of wings. The most striking features that all Mantodea share are a very mobile, triangular head with large compound eyes and their first pair of legs (the 'raptorial legs'), which is highly modified for the efficient capture and restraint of fast-moving or flying prey.

In Germany, M. religiosa is listed as Gefährdet [endangered] on the German Red List on the basis of an assessment from 1998. It is not supposed to be caught or held as a pet. At a global level, it is assessed by the IUCN as least concern.

18-9-2019 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

18-9-2019 EL SALER, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel or Old World kestrel, is a species of predatory bird belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. In the United Kingdom, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called the "kestrel".

This species occurs over a large native range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America. It has colonized a few oceanic islands, but vagrant individuals are generally rare; in the whole of Micronesia for example, the species was only recorded twice each on Guam and Saipan in the Marianas.

The common kestrel measures 32–39 cm (12+1⁄2–15+1⁄2 in) from head to tail, with a wingspan of 65–82 cm (25+1⁄2–32+1⁄2 in). The female is noticeably larger, with the adult male weighing 136–252 g (4+3⁄4–8+7⁄8 oz), around 155 g (5+1⁄2 oz) on average; the adult female weighs 154–314 g (5+3⁄8–11+1⁄8 oz), around 184 g (6+1⁄2 oz) on average. They are thus small compared with other birds of prey, but larger than most songbirds. Like the other Falco species, they have long wings as well as a distinctive long tail.

The plumage is mainly light chestnut brown with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside; the remiges are also blackish. Unlike most raptors, they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having fewer black spots and streaks, as well as a blue-grey cap and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All common kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives.

The cere, feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow; the toenails, bill and iris are dark. Juveniles look like adult females, but the underside streaks are wider; the yellow of their bare parts is paler. Hatchlings are covered in white down feathers, changing to a buff-grey second down coat before they grow their first true plumage.

18-9-2019 EL SALER, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

17-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RED EARED SLIDER TERRAPIN (Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans)

The red-eared slider or red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a subspecies of the pond slider (Trachemys scripta), a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. Native to the southern United States and extreme northern Mexico, it is popular as a pet across the world, and is the most invasive turtle. It is the most commonly traded turtle in the world.

The red-eared slider is native to the central and southern United States and northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases, and has become invasive in many areas where it outcompetes native species. The red-eared slider is included in the list of the world's 100 most invasive species.

Red-eared sliders are popular pets around the world.

The red-eared slider gets its name from the small, red stripe around its ears, or where its ears would be, and from its ability to slide quickly off rocks and logs into the water. This species was previously known as Troost's turtle in honor of an American herpetologist Gerard Troost. Trachemys scripta troostii is now the scientific name for another subspecies, the Cumberland slider.

The red-eared slider belongs to the order Testudines, which contains about 250 turtle species. It is a subspecies of Trachemys scripta. It was previously classified under the name Chrysemys scripta elegans. Trachemys scripta contains three subspecies: T. s. elegans (red-eared slider), T. s. scripta (yellow-bellied slider), and T. s. troostii (Cumberland slider).

17-9-2019 OLIVA, VALENCIA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui)

17-9-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WOOD COCKROACH (Loboptera canariensis)

Loboptera canariensis is a species of cockroach native to the Canary Islands, known for inhabiting above-ground (epigean) environments, often in areas influenced by human activity. 

Unlike many other Loboptera species found in the Canary Islands, which are endemic and adapted to subterranean (cave) environments, L. canariensis lives above ground.

It is often found in epigean environments that have been influenced by human activities.

The genus Loboptera includes generalist species that visit a wide variety of flowers and plant families, suggesting a role as a pollinator or flower visitor, although specific behavior for L. canariensis requires further study.

They are ground-dwelling insects found in various microhabitats such as leaf litter and near plant roots.

The species is native to the Canary Islands and is also considered an alien species in some parts of Europe, according to the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN).