23-5-2017 CULLA, VALENCIA - BLACK REDSTART (JUVENILE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small, charismatic passerine bird, exhibiting a blend of dark and vibrant plumage. Males are distinguished by their dark grey to black upperparts and breast, with a striking orange-red rump and tail. Females and juveniles are more subdued in color, with grey to grey-brown feathers and the same vivid tail coloration that is the hallmark of the species.

Adult males are easily identified by their dark upperparts and black breast, contrasting with the orange-red lower rump and tail. The belly and undertail may vary from blackish-grey to orange-red, depending on the subspecies. Females and juveniles are less conspicuous, with overall greyer tones and a distinctive orange-red rump and tail. The presence of pale fringes on the secondaries forms a whitish wing panel in some subspecies.

The Black Redstart has adapted remarkably to urban environments, often found nesting in crevices or holes within buildings. Originally a dweller of stony mountainous regions, it now thrives in industrial areas with similar structural features.

This species is widely distributed across south and central Europe, Asia, and north-west Africa. It is a resident in milder regions, while populations in the northeast migrate to warmer areas during winter.

The Black Redstart is known for its robin-like movements, including quick ducks of the head and body, and frequent tail flicking. Males possess a rattling song and a tick call, adding to their distinctive presence.

The Black Redstart's vocal repertoire includes a variety of calls, which differ among subspecies. The male's song is a rattling melody, while its call is a sharp 'tick', often heard during its active foraging.

Typically monogamous, the Black Redstart begins breeding in mid-April. Nests are built by females in sheltered nooks, lined with soft materials. Clutches consist of 4 to 6 eggs, incubated primarily by the female. Both parents tend to the fledglings, which leave the nest after 12 to 19 days.

23-5-2017 ALDEA ROQUETA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE (Oriolus oriolus)

The Eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) is the only member of the Old World oriole family of passerine birds breeding in Northern Hemisphere temperate regions. The name "oriole" was first used in the 18th century and is an adaptation of the scientific Latin genus name, which is derived from the Classical Latin "aureolus" meaning golden. Various forms of "oriole" have existed in Romance languages since the 12th and 13th centuries. Albertus Magnus used the Latin form oriolus in about 1250 and erroneously stated that it was onomatopoeic because of the golden oriole's song. In medieval England, its name, derived from the song, was the woodwele.

Males of this species are golden yellow in color with black wings that have yellow-tipped coverts. Females are almost greenish with a yellowish-white belly. Despite the bright colors of males it's quite difficult to spot these birds in the yellow and green leaves of the canopy due to their secretive habits.

26-5-2017 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - KENTISH PLOVER (Charadrius alexandrinus)

The Kentish plover, Anarhynchus alexandrinus, is a diminutive wader of the family Charadriidae. It is a bird of saline lakeshores, lagoons, and coastal regions, where it frequents sand dunes, marshes, semi-arid deserts, and tundra. Exhibiting sexual dimorphism, both sexes have pale plumage with a white underside and a grey/brown back, but males are distinguished by dark incomplete breast bands and head markings.

Adult Kentish plovers possess dark legs and bills. Males, during the breeding season, are adorned with a black head bar, dark breast bands, black ear coverts, and a rufous nape and crown, though variations exist among populations. Females are paler and lack the dark markings. As the breeding season wanes, the differences between sexes diminish. Males typically have longer tarsi and flank feathers, the latter being advantageous for incubation and brood care.

Kentish plovers select breeding habitats with low elevation, sparse vegetation, and high moisture, away from human disturbance. They show a preference for open, moist nesting sites and are known to move chicks to areas with better food availability.

This species boasts a vast geographical range, from North Africa to Central Asia and Europe. It is found in countries such as Senegal, China, Spain, and Austria. Some populations are migratory, wintering in Africa, while others, including various island populations, are resident.

26-5-2017 ALDEAROQUETA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

The Great tit (Parus major) is a widespread and common songbird throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and east across the Palearctic to the Amur River, south to parts of North Africa. It has adapted well to human changes in the environment and is a common and familiar bird in urban parks and gardens. It is also an important study species in ornithology.

The Great tit has a distinctive appearance that makes it easy to recognize. The nominate race has a bluish-black crown, black neck, throat, bib, and head, and white cheeks and ear coverts. The breast is bright lemon-yellow and there is a broad black mid-line stripe running from the bib to the vent. There is a dull white spot on the neck turning to greenish yellow on the upper nape. The rest of the nape and back are green-tinged with olive. The wing-coverts are green, and the rest of the wing is bluish-grey with a white wing bar. The tail is bluish-grey with white outer tips. The plumage of the female is similar to that of the male except that the colors are overall duller.

26-5-2017 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - TREE PIPIT (Anthus trivialis)

The Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis, is a modestly adorned avian, cloaked in streaks of brown with black markings adorning its white underbelly and a buff breast. Its bill, more robust than that of its kin, and the contrast between its buff breast and white belly are distinguishing features. This species is known to alight upon the boughs of trees with greater frequency than its relative, the Meadow Pipit.

To identify the Tree Pipit, look for a small bird with a heavy bill and a distinct contrast between its buff breast and white belly. Its upperparts are streaked brown, and it has black markings on its underparts. The Tree Pipit can be differentiated from the slightly smaller Meadow Pipit by these characteristics.

The Tree Pipit favors open woodlands and scrublands for its breeding grounds. It thrives in open woodland adjacent to moorland or in oak woodlands with a spacious structure, requiring significant thinning to achieve a desirable open character.

This species breeds across most of Europe and the Palearctic, reaching as far east as the East Siberian Mountains. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa and southern Asia.

25-5-2017 USERES, VALENCIA - RED RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica)

The Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a small, graceful passerine bird, a member of the swallow family. It is characterized by its blue upperparts and dusky underparts, with a distinctive pale or reddish rump, face, and neck collar. Unlike the Barn Swallow, it lacks a breast band but features black undertails. Its wings are broad yet pointed, allowing for swift and agile flight.

To identify the Red-rumped Swallow, look for its darker underparts compared to the Barn Swallow, and the absence of a breast band. The rump is pale or reddish, providing a stark contrast to the blue upperparts. The bird's flight is fast, with frequent swoops as it pursues airborne insects.

This species is often found in open hilly country, where it can be seen gracefully hawking for insects over grasslands. It is also known to adapt to human structures, nesting under cliff overhangs, on buildings, and bridges.

The Red-rumped Swallow has a wide distribution, breeding in temperate southern Europe and Asia, from Portugal and Spain to Japan, India, Sri Lanka, and tropical Africa. While the Indian and African populations are resident, European and other Asian birds are migratory, wintering in Africa or India.

These swallows are gregarious outside the breeding season, often seen in large numbers on the plains of India. They do not typically form large breeding colonies but are known to be social. Their flight is characterized by swift, agile movements as they feed on insects in the air.

The Red-rumped Swallow communicates with a series of chirps and trills, a delightful symphony that fills the air especially during the breeding season.

The Red-rumped Swallow constructs quarter-sphere nests with a tunnel entrance, using mud collected in their beaks. They lay 3 to 6 eggs and prefer to nest under cliff overhangs or on human-made structures.

The Red-rumped Swallow may be confused with the Barn Swallow but can be distinguished by its darker underparts, lack of a breast band, and the pale or reddish rump.

This species is an aerial insectivore, feeding on insects caught in flight. They are adept at catching their prey mid-air, often following cattle or taking advantage of grass fires to find insects.

The Red-rumped Swallow is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It has a vast range and a population in the millions, with no significant declining trends observed. In Europe, the species is expanding its range northward.

23-3-2017 TROGON LODGE COSTA RICA - ONE SPOTTED PREPONA BUTTERFLY (Archaeoprepona demophon)

Archaeoprepona demophon, the one-spotted prepona, banded king shoemaker, or demophon shoemaker is a butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae.

The wingspan reaches about 54–58 millimetres (2.1–2.3 in). The uppersides of the wings are black, with bright pale blue transverse bands. The undersides are pale brown with a clearer band in the middle of the hindwings and several dark small dots on the margins.

The butterfly larva generally feed on plants of the genus Annona (Annonaceae) and on Malpighia glabra (Malpighiaceae). Adults visit rotten fruit or dung.

This species can be found in Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern portions of South America.

Archaeoprepona demophon prefers the edges of forest canopy and subcanopy.

24-5-2017 CULLA, VALENCIA - SMALL WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris rapae)

Pieris rapae is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae. It is known in Europe as the small white, in North America as the cabbage white or cabbage butterfly, on several continents as the small cabbage white, and in New Zealand as the white butterfly. The butterfly is recognizable by its white color with small black dots on its wings, and it can be distinguished from P. brassicae by its larger size and the black band at the tip of its forewings.

The caterpillar of this species, often referred to as the "imported cabbageworm", is a pest to crucifer crops such as cabbage, kale, bok choy and broccoli. Pieris rapae is widespread in Europe and Asia; it is believed to have originated in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Europe, and to have spread across Eurasia thanks to the diversification of brassicaceous crops and the development of human trade routes. Over the past two centuries, it spread to North Africa, North America, New Zealand, and Australia, as a result of accidental introductions.

24-5-2017 ALDEA ROQUETA, VALENCIA - SARDINIAN WARBLER (MALE) (Sylvia melanocephala)

The Sardinian warbler (Curruca melanocephala ) is a common and widespread typical warbler from the Mediterranean region. Like most Curruca species, it has distinct male and female plumages. The adult male has a grey back, whitish underparts, black head, white throat and red eyes. Plumages are somewhat variable even in the same locality, with the intensity of a reddish hue on upper- and/or underside that varies from absent to (in some subspecies) pronounced. The female is mainly brown above and buff below, with a grey head. The Sardinian warbler's song is fast and rattling, and is very characteristic of the Mediterranean areas where this bird breeds.

It breeds in the southernmost areas of Europe and just into Asia in Turkey and the eastern end of the Mediterranean. This small passerine bird, unlike most "warblers", is not particularly migratory, but some birds winter in north Africa, and it occurs as a vagrant well away from the breeding range, as far as Great Britain.

This is a bird of open country and cultivation, with bushes for nesting. The nest is built in low shrub or brambles, and 3-6 eggs are laid. Like most "warblers", it is insectivorous, but will also take berries and other soft fruit.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - RED HEADED BARBET (FEMALE) (Eubucco bourcierii)

The red-headed barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) is a species of bird in the family Capitonidae, the New World barbets. It is found in Costa Rica, Guyana, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

The female's crown and nape vary from dull orange to shades of green among the subspecies. Several have a black forehead. Its back is green, the throat grayish yellow with a yellow to orange band below it. Its lower breast is olive-yellow and the belly white. As in the male, there is some variation among subspecies.

24-5-2017 ALDEA ROQUETA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE (Oriolus oriolus)

The Eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) is the only member of the Old World oriole family of passerine birds breeding in Northern Hemisphere temperate regions. The name "oriole" was first used in the 18th century and is an adaptation of the scientific Latin genus name, which is derived from the Classical Latin "aureolus" meaning golden. Various forms of "oriole" have existed in Romance languages since the 12th and 13th centuries. Albertus Magnus used the Latin form oriolus in about 1250 and erroneously stated that it was onomatopoeic because of the golden oriole's song. In medieval England, its name, derived from the song, was the woodwele.

Males of this species are golden yellow in color with black wings that have yellow-tipped coverts. Females are almost greenish with a yellowish-white belly. Despite the bright colors of males it's quite difficult to spot these birds in the yellow and green leaves of the canopy due to their secretive habits.

24-5-2017 ALDEAROQUETA, VALENCIA - BLACK REDSTART (MALE)

The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small, charismatic passerine bird, exhibiting a blend of dark and vibrant plumage. Males are distinguished by their dark grey to black upperparts and breast, with a striking orange-red rump and tail. Females and juveniles are more subdued in color, with grey to grey-brown feathers and the same vivid tail coloration that is the hallmark of the species.

Adult males are easily identified by their dark upperparts and black breast, contrasting with the orange-red lower rump and tail. The belly and undertail may vary from blackish-grey to orange-red, depending on the subspecies. Females and juveniles are less conspicuous, with overall greyer tones and a distinctive orange-red rump and tail. The presence of pale fringes on the secondaries forms a whitish wing panel in some subspecies.

The Black Redstart has adapted remarkably to urban environments, often found nesting in crevices or holes within buildings. Originally a dweller of stony mountainous regions, it now thrives in industrial areas with similar structural features.

This species is widely distributed across south and central Europe, Asia, and north-west Africa. It is a resident in milder regions, while populations in the northeast migrate to warmer areas during winter.

The Black Redstart is known for its robin-like movements, including quick ducks of the head and body, and frequent tail flicking. Males possess a rattling song and a tick call, adding to their distinctive presence.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - COMMON MORPHO (Morpho helenor)

Morpho helenor, the Helenor blue morpho or common blue morpho, is a Neotropical butterfly found throughout Central and South America from Mexico to Argentina. It is a species group that may or may not be several species. Many subspecies have been described.

The larvae of subspecies Morpho helenor achillaena have been recorded as feeding on Genipa americana, Inga, Machaerium, Platymiscium, Wisteria, Trifolium, Arachis and Robinia.

23-5-2017 ALDEAROQUETA, VALENCIA - WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)

The White wagtail is a slender bird with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. There are a number of other subspecies, some of which may have arisen because of partial geographical isolation, such as the resident British and Irish form, the pied wagtail M. a. yarrellii, which now also breeds in adjacent areas of the neighbouring European mainland. The Pied wagtail exchanges the grey colour of the nominate form with black (or very dark grey in females), but is otherwise identical in its behaviour. Other subspecies, the validity of some of which is questionable, differ in the colour of the wings, back, and head, or other features. Some rraces show sexual dimorphism during the breeding season. As many as six subspecies may be present in the wintering ground in India or Southeast Asia and here they can be difficult to distinguish.

White wagtails breed throughout Eurasia, only being absent in the Arctic. They also breed in the mountains of Morocco and western Alaska. These birds are residents in the milder parts of their range such as western Europe and the Mediterranean, but migratory in much of the rest of their 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. White wagtails occupy a wide range of habitats but are absent from deserts. They inhabit grasslands, seashores, rocky shorelines, sand beaches, tidepools, rivers, lakeshores, farmland, gardens, and parks. They are also often found in towns and villages. 

The White wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small insectivorous bird of the 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 is the national bird of Latvia and has been featured on the stamps of several countries.

The call of the white wagtail is a sharp chisick, slightly softer than the version given by the pied wagtail. The song is more regular in white than pied, but with little territorial significance, since the male uses a series of contact calls to attract the female.

There are a number of other subspecies, some of which may have arisen because of partial geographical isolation, such as the resident British and Irish form, the pied wagtail M. a. yarrellii, which now also breeds in adjacent areas of the neighbouring European mainland. The pied wagtail, named for naturalist William Yarrell, exchanges the grey colour of the nominate form with black (or very dark grey in females), but is otherwise identical in its behaviour. Other subspecies, the validity of some of which is questionable, differ in the colour of the wings, back, and head, or other features. Some races show sexual dimorphism during the breeding season. As many as six subspecies may be present in the wintering ground in India or Southeast Asia and here they can be difficult to distinguish. Phylogenetic studies using mtDNA suggest that some morphological features have evolved more than once, including the back and chin colour. Breeding M. a. yarrellii look much like the nominate race except for the black back, and M. a. alboides of the Himalayas differs from the Central Asian M. a. personata only by its black back. M. a. personata has been recorded breeding in the Siddar Valley of Kashmir of the Western Himalayas. It has also been noted that both back and chin change colour during the pre-basic moult; all black-throated subspecies develop white chins and throats in winter and some black-backed birds are grey-backed in winter.

21-5-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - GREAT REED WARBLER (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

The great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus ) is a Eurasian passerine in the genus Acrocephalus.

The genus name Acrocephalus is from Ancient Greek akros, "highest", and kephale, "head". It is possible that Naumann and Naumann thought akros meant "sharp-pointed". The specific arundinaceus is from Latin and means "like a reed", from arundo, arundinis, "reed".

It used to be placed in the Old World warbler assemblage, but is now recognized as part of the marsh and tree-warbler family (Acrocephalidae). Great reed warblers are medium-sized birds and are the largest of the European warblers. They breed throughout mainland Europe and the west Palearctic and migrate to sub-Saharan Africa in the winter. Great reed warblers favour reed beds as their habitat during breeding months, while living in reed beds, bush thickets, rice fields, and forest clearings during the winter. Great reed warblers exhibit relatively low sexual dimorphism, and both genders of the species are similar in appearance. This species mates both polygynously and monogamously.

The thrush-sized warbler is one of the largest species of the former family, the Old World warblers and it stands as one of the largest species in the family Acrocephalidae. It measures 16–21 cm (6.3–8.3 in) in length, 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.8 in) in wingspan and weighs 22 to 38 g (0.78 to 1.34 oz). The adult has unstreaked brown upperparts and dull buffish-white chin and underparts. The forehead is flattened, and the bill is strong and pointed. It looks very much like a giant Eurasian reed warbler (A. scirpaceus ), but with a stronger supercilium.

The sexes are identical, as with most old world warblers, but young birds are richer buff below.

The warbler's song is very loud and far-carrying. The song's main phrase is a chattering and creaking carr-carr-cree-cree-cree-jet-jet, to which the whistles and vocal mimicry typical of marsh warblers are added.

22-3-2017 TROGON LODGE, COSTA RICA - RUFOUS COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis)

The Rufous-collared Sparrow, also known as the Andean Sparrow, is a small, charming bird measuring 13.5–15 cm in length and weighing between 20–25 grams. Adults are recognized by their stubby grey bills and a distinctive grey head marked with broad black stripes on the crown sides, and thinner stripes through the eye and below the cheeks. A notable rufous nape and breast sides complement their black-streaked buff-brown upperparts, and they exhibit two white wing bars. Their throats are white, transitioning to off-white underparts that become brown on the flanks, highlighted by a black breast patch. Juveniles present a more subdued appearance with duller, indistinct head patterns and streaked underparts, lacking the adult's rufous collar.

When identifying this species, look for the rufous collar around the nape and the black stripes on the head. The two white wing bars are also key features. The largest subspecies, found on the tepuis, has grey underparts and a more extensive rufous collar that appears as a band of black freckles across the breast.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow thrives in a variety of open or semi-open habitats, including cultivated lands, gardens, parks, grasslands, and scrubby second growth or cerrado. It is well-adapted to urban and suburban environments but is notably absent from dense Amazonian forests.

This adaptable bird ranges from the extreme south-east of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. In the northern and western parts of its range, it is typically found at altitudes of 600–4,000 meters, while in the southern and eastern parts, it is commonly found down to near sea level.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow is often seen in pairs or small flocks, holding small territories. It is known for its tame and approachable nature, making it a familiar sight across its extensive range.

The male's song is a delightful mix of slurred whistles and trills, varying geographically. Calls include a sharp "tsip." Listen for songs that may include tee-teeooo, e’e’e’e’e, or teeooo, teeeee, often delivered from a low perch.

Breeding is influenced by food availability and rainfall. Nests are open cups of plant material lined with fine grasses, placed in vegetation on the ground or low in a tree or bush. Females lay two or three pale greenish-blue eggs with reddish-brown blotches, which are incubated for 12–14 days. Males assist in feeding the chicks, which fledge after about two weeks. Brood parasitism by species such as the shiny cowbird may occur.

This sparrow forages on the ground for seeds, fallen grain, insects, and spiders. It may join mixed-species feeding flocks and has been observed picking termites from spider webs.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, thanks to its widespread distribution and adaptability to human-altered environments.

22-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - MEXICAN FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY (Euptoieta hegesia)

Euptoieta hegesia, the Mexican fritillary, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

The upperside of the wings is bright orange with the basal part of the hindwing unmarked. There is a row of submarginal black spots on both the forewing and the hindwing. The underside of the wings is yellow orange with no submarginal black spots. It has a wingspan of 2.5 to 3 inches.

The only similar species in the Mexican fritillary's range is the variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia). The variegated fritillary has black median lines on the upperside of the hindwing, and on the underside of the hindwing it has a pale postmedian band.

The Mexican fritillary may be seen from mid-June to November in Arizona, from July to December in Texas and year-round in Mexico.

This species may be encountered in a wide range of open habitats and gardens.

The larva is shiny red, with middorsal silver spots edged with black. It has a subdorsal row of white spots ringed with black, a spiracular silver line with black edges, and six rows of black spines. The red head has two long black spines with clubbed ends. The chrysalis is dark brown or rarely tan, with gold eyes and short gold lateral and subdorsal cones. On the wing cases, it has a black marking shaped like a "T". It has one to three broods per year.

Here is a list of host plants used by the Mexican fritillary:

Foetid passionflower, Passiflora foetida

Yellow alder, Turnera ulmifolia (used in Mexico and in the Antilles)

Ipomoea maritima (used in Brazil)

Damiana, Turnera diffusa.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - RED HEADED BARBET (MALE) (Eubucco bourcierii)

The red-headed barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) is a species of bird in the family Capitonidae, the New World barbets. It is found in Costa Rica, Guyana, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Male red-headed barbet subspecies except E. b. occidentalis range in weight from 30 to 41 g (1.1 to 1.4 oz). Females except occidentalis weigh 31 to 38 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz). Male occidentalis weigh 37.8 to 45.1 g (1.33 to 1.59 oz) and females 37.8 to 43.7 g (1.33 to 1.54 oz). Males have a red head, an orange to yellow breast, and a white belly . A white collar separates the head from the olive green back. The amount of red on the throat and chest and the width of the orange-yellow breast band vary among the subspecies. 

21-5-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)

The purple heron (Ardea purpurea ) is a wide-ranging species of wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. The scientific name comes from Latin ardea "heron", and purpureus, "coloured purple". It breeds in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. The Western Palearctic populations migrate between breeding and wintering habitats whereas the African and tropical-Asian populations are primarily sedentary, except for occasional dispersive movements.

It is similar in appearance to the more common grey heron but is slightly smaller, more slender and has darker plumage. It is also a more evasive bird, favouring densely vegetated habitats near water, particularly reed beds. It hunts for a range of prey including fish, rodents, frogs and insects, either stalking them or standing waiting in ambush.

Purple herons are colonial breeders and build a bulky nest out of dead reeds or sticks close to the water' edge among reeds or in dense vegetation. About five bluish-green eggs are laid and are incubated by both birds. The young hatch about four weeks later and fledge six weeks after that. The International Union for Conservation of Nature notes that the global population trend is downwards, largely because of the drainage of wetlands, but assesses the purple heron's conservation status as being of "least concern".

21-5-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

Little egrets are monogamous. This means that males and females mate only with one partner. They nest in colonies, often with other wading birds. The nests are usually platforms of sticks built in trees or shrubs or in reed beds or bamboo groves. In some locations such as the Cape Verde Islands, these birds nest on cliffs. Pairs defend a small breeding territory, usually extending around 3 to 4 m (10 to 13 ft) from the nest. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 21 to 25 days. The eggs are oval in shape and have a pale, non-glossy, blue-green shell color. Upon hatching the chicks are covered in white down feathers and are cared for by both parents. Around 3 weeks after hatching the chicks start to move around the nest and climb into the close branches. They fledge after 40 to 45 days and are able to follow the adults to learn how to feed themselves.

21-5-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

The Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus, is a slender wader known for its strikingly long, pink legs and contrasting black-and-white plumage. This elegant bird is a member of the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae.

Adult Black-winged Stilts measure 33–36 cm in length. They possess a long, thin black bill and display a distinctive black and white coloration. The head and neck are predominantly white, with variable black markings depending on the sex and subspecies. Males typically have a glossy or greenish sheen on their black backs, while females exhibit a more brownish tinge. During flight, their long legs trail behind, and their wingbeats are steady.

These birds favor marshes, shallow lakes, and ponds as their breeding grounds. They are also known to inhabit coastal areas during migration and in the winter months.

The Black-winged Stilt has a wide range, extending across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some populations migrate to coastal regions in winter, while others in milder climates may remain resident or engage in short-range movements.

Black-winged Stilts are often seen foraging in shallow waters, gracefully picking insects and crustaceans from the surface. They are known to nest in small groups, sometimes alongside avocets, and exhibit a variety of courtship behaviors, including intricate displays and duets.

The flight call of the Black-winged Stilt is a sharp and clear kleek, typically heard during its aerial maneuvers.

Nests are simple bare spots on the ground near water. These birds are communal nesters and may breed in loose colonies. They have been known to breed as far north as Britain, with recent successful breeding events recorded in Southern and Northern England.

Their diet consists mainly of insects and crustaceans, which they deftly pick from the water's surface or from wet sand.

22-3-2017 TROGON LODGE, COSTA RICA - SLATY FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa plumbea)

The Slaty Flowerpiercer, known scientifically as Diglossa plumbea, is a diminutive passerine bird, a resident of the Talamancan montane forests. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism. The adult male is adorned in blue-grey plumage with a lead-grey throat and breast, while the tail and wings are a darker blackish hue, softened by grey feather edges. The female, on the other hand, is cloaked in olive-brown above, with a paler throat and breast that gently transitions to buff on the belly. Juveniles resemble the female but are distinguished by two tawny wing bars and faintly streaked buff-yellow underparts.

When identifying the Slaty Flowerpiercer, look for its unique upturned bill with a hooked upper mandible and pointed lower mandible, a feature that is quite distinctive. The bird measures a mere 10 cm in length and tips the scales at approximately 9 grams.

This bird is commonly found in the canopy and edges of mountain forests, thriving in sunlit clearings and areas abundant with flowering shrubs. It is also known to frequent gardens.

The Slaty Flowerpiercer's breeding range extends from 1200 meters in elevation in the northern reaches of Costa Rica to 1900 meters in the southern mountains. It can also be found well above the timberline in páramo habitats.

This species is known for its interactions with territorial hummingbirds. When confronted by these feisty competitors, the Slaty Flowerpiercer often retreats to dense cover to avoid conflict.

The Slaty Flowerpiercer communicates with a thin 'tsip' call. The male's song is a complex symphony of whistles, warbles, and trilled notes, which can be phonetically rendered as "see-chew see-chew see-chew seer seer surrzeep, tsee tsew tsink tsink tsink."

The female Slaty Flowerpiercer is solely responsible for constructing the large cup nest, which is made of coarse plant material and lined with fine fibers. The nest is strategically placed within a dense shrub, grass tussock, or pine, anywhere from 0.4 to 4 meters above the ground. The clutch consists of two brown-speckled pale blue eggs, which the female incubates alone for a period of 12 to 14 days until they hatch.

True to its name, the Slaty Flowerpiercer feeds by piercing the base of flowers to extract nectar with its brush-like tongue. It also supplements its diet with tiny insects, which it captures from foliage or in mid-flight.

The Slaty Flowerpiercer is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.

19-5-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic realm. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tircis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The color of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The existence of these subspecies is due to variation in morphology down a gradient corresponding to a geographic cline. The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream, or a tawny orange. The speckled wood feeds on a variety of grass species. The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling. The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions. The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.

19-5-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SMALL WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris rapae)

Pieris rapae is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae. It is known in Europe as the small white, in North America as the cabbage white or cabbage butterfly, on several continents as the small cabbage white, and in New Zealand as the white butterfly. The butterfly is recognizable by its white color with small black dots on its wings, and it can be distinguished from P. brassicae by its larger size and the black band at the tip of its forewings.

The caterpillar of this species, often referred to as the "imported cabbageworm", is a pest to crucifer crops such as cabbage, kale, bok choy and broccoli. Pieris rapae is widespread in Europe and Asia; it is believed to have originated in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Europe, and to have spread across Eurasia thanks to the diversification of brassicaceous crops and the development of human trade routes. Over the past two centuries, it spread to North Africa (about 1800), North America (1860s), Hawaii (1897), New Zealand (1930), and Australia (1937), as a result of accidental introductions.

19-5-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)

At first glance, Spotted Flycatchers might seem a little dull, with brownish-grey feathers. It's better to think of them as beautiful in an understated way. Watch them for a short period and you'll be charmed by their fly-catching antics. Spotted Flycatchers fly from a high perch, dash out to grab a flying insect and return to the same spot.

Spotted Flycatchers declined by 88% between 1970 and 2018, putting them on the Red List of birds of high conservation concern. 

You’re most likely to see Spotted Flycatchers in woodlands, as well as mature gardens and parks with lots of trees and other vegetation that support the insects they feed on. They will also use mature hedgerows with trees in farmland. Spotted Flycatchers are widespread across much of the UK.  

As their name suggests, Spotted Flycatchers are masters at catching flies and other insects, such as butterflies, wasps and craneflies. You might see one sitting on a branch, before darting out to catch an unsuspecting insect as it flies past. 

The Spotted Flycatcher’s call is a repetitive, high-pitched ‘tzee, tzee’. Its song is a series of scratchy warbles and higher-pitched notes. 

Spotted Flycatchers build their open, cup-shaped nests on ledges in and around buildings and walled gardens, as well as on creepers climbing up walls and trees. 

They eat flying insects, such as moths, butterflies, damselflies, craneflies and other tasty morsels. If the weather is bad, they can search trees and shrubs for other insect food.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGAINVILLEA, COSTA RICA - BALTIMORE ORIOLE (FEMALE) (Icterus galbula)

The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) is a small icterid blackbird, a migratory breeding bird common in eastern North America. The male's vibrant orange and black plumage is reminiscent of the coat-of-arms of the 17th-century Lord Baltimore, hence the name. This medium-sized passerine typically measures 17–22 cm in length with a wingspan of 23–32 cm. Adults are characterized by white bars on the wings, with males boasting a more pronounced orange hue on the underparts, shoulder patch, and rump, while females and juveniles display a more subdued yellow-brown and dull orange-yellow coloration.

Males are distinguished by their black head and back with bright orange to yellow-orange underparts and a solid black tail. Females and juveniles are less boldly colored, with a mix of brown and orange hues. All adults have distinctive white wing bars, which are useful for identification from a distance or in flight.

Baltimore orioles favor open woodland, forest edges, and partially wooded wetlands. They are also found in orchards, farmland, urban parks, and suburban areas with woodlots. During winter, they inhabit flowering canopy trees, often over shade coffee plantations.

The Baltimore oriole breeds from the Canadian Prairies and eastern Montana eastward through southern Canada and the eastern United States, migrating to winter in Central America and northern South America. They are rare vagrants to Western Europe.

Outside of mating season, Baltimore orioles are solitary. They are monogamous, though extra-pair copulation is not uncommon. Males establish territories in the spring and perform various displays to attract females. After mating, the female weaves a remarkable hanging nest where she lays her eggs.

The male's song is a series of sweet whistles, while calls include a nasal "veeer" and a low chatter. Females also sing, especially when defending their nests. Both sexes emit specific warning calls during confrontations.

Baltimore orioles are generally monogamous and solitary outside the breeding season. The female constructs a hanging, pouch-like nest at the end of a branch, where she lays 3-7 eggs. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after about two weeks.

Orioles primarily feed on insects, berries, and nectar. They are adept at foraging in trees and shrubs and are known to sip at hummingbird feeders. They play an important ecological role by consuming pests such as the forest tent caterpillar moth.

The Baltimore oriole is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, its population has experienced a decline due to factors such as habitat loss and Dutch elm disease, which has reduced nesting sites.