15-4-2018 CHOBE RIVER, NAMIBIA - SOUTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER (Merops nubicoides) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Southern Carmine Bee-eater, known scientifically as Merops nubicoides, is a vibrant avian spectacle. Its plumage is predominantly a rich carmine, with a contrasting blue crown and undertail, creating a striking visual display.

To identify this species, look for its vivid carmine red coloring, which is complemented by a blue crown and undertail. The bird's slender and streamlined body, typical of bee-eaters, aids in its agile flight.

These birds are commonly found in low-altitude river valleys and floodplains. They show a preference for vertical banks, which are essential for their breeding habits, as they tunnel into these banks to create their nests.

The Southern Carmine Bee-eater graces the skies from KwaZulu-Natal and Namibia to Gabon, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya. It is a migratory bird, breeding in Zimbabwe and Zambia from August to November, then moving to South Africa during the summer months, and finally migrating to Equatorial Africa from March to August.

This species is highly sociable, often seen in large flocks. They roost communally in trees or reedbeds and disperse widely during the day. Their agility is showcased as they hawk flying insects from perches or even while following large animals or vehicles to catch prey disturbed by these moving entities.

Breeding occurs at the end of a 1 to 2-meter long burrow in an earthen bank, where they lay a clutch of 2 to 5 eggs. These birds are known for their communal nesting habits, often seen digging vertical burrows in the level surface of small salt islands.

Their diet primarily consists of bees and other flying insects. They employ a hunting strategy known as hawking, where they catch insects in flight from a perch. They are also known to follow wildfires and larger animals to feed on insects that are flushed out in such scenarios.

The Southern Carmine Bee-eater is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers.

15-4-2018 CHOBE RIVER, NAMIBIA - BLUE CHEEKED BEE-EATER (Merops persicus) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

The blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus, is a near passerine bird belonging to the bee-eater family, Meropidae. This slender and richly coloured species is predominantly green, with distinctive blue cheeks framed by a black eye stripe. A yellow and brown throat complements its striking face, and a black beak punctuates its elegant profile. Adults can reach a length of 31 cm (12 inches), with elongated central tail feathers adding an extra 7 cm (2.8 inches). Both sexes are similar in appearance, though females have slightly shorter tail streamers.

When identifying the blue-cheeked bee-eater, look for its vibrant green plumage and the characteristic blue on the sides of its face. The black eye stripe and contrasting yellow and brown throat are also key features. In flight, observe for the long central tail feathers that trail behind.

This bird favors sub-tropical semi-desert regions dotted with sparse trees, such as acacias, for breeding. During the winter, it can be found in open woodlands or grasslands.

The blue-cheeked bee-eater breeds across Northern Africa and the Middle East, from eastern Turkey to Kazakhstan and India. It is a highly migratory species, wintering in tropical Africa, with some populations residing year-round in the Sahel. Occasionally, this bird appears as a rare vagrant north of its usual range, particularly in Italy and Greece.

This species may choose to nest solitarily or in small, loose colonies of up to ten individuals. It is also known to share colonies with European bee-eaters. The blue-cheeked bee-eater excavates long tunnels in sandy banks or embankments to lay its eggs, which range from four to eight in number, typically six or seven. Both parents tend to the eggs, with the female incubating them at night. The incubation period lasts between 23 to 26 days.

The blue-cheeked bee-eater's call is distinctive, sounding 'flatter' and less 'fluty' than that of the European bee-eater.

Nesting sites are often located in sandy banks, embankments, or low cliffs, and occasionally on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The nests consist of tunnels ranging from 1 to 3 meters in length.

The blue-cheeked bee-eater is closely related to the blue-tailed bee-eater, M. philippinus of East Asia, and the olive bee-eater of Africa, with which it has been considered conspecific in the past.

While bee-eaters are known to feed on flying insects, particularly bees, wasps, and hornets, the blue-cheeked bee-eater shows a preference for dragonflies. It typically hunts from an open perch, often using telephone wires when available.

The blue-cheeked bee-eater is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline.

4-6-2018 GENOVES, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

The Mallard is a large and heavy-looking duck. It has a long body, and a long and broad bill. The male has a dark green head, a yellow bill, is mainly purple-brown on the breast and grey on the body. The female is mainly brown with an orange bill. Mallards breed in all parts of the UK in summer and winter, wherever there are suitable wetland habitats, although it is rarer in upland areas. In the UK, Mallards may be resident breeders or migrants – many of the birds that breed in Iceland and northern Europe spend the winter in the United Kingdom.

4-6-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ROSY TABBY MOTH (Endotricha flammealis)

Endotricha flammealis, the rose-flounced tabby, is a species of snout moth, family Pyralidae.

The proposed subspecies carnealis and several supposed varieties seem to be indistinguishable from typical individuals found in Austria.

This species can be found in western, central and southern Europe and nearby regions. Its range extends to Turkey, Crimea, Cyprus, Iran (via the Caucasus), to Lebanon and Syria, and to Algeria and Tunisia.

These moths inhabit grassland, heathland, woodland, fens, scrub and gardens.

Endotricha flammealis has a wingspan of 18–23 mm. The forewings are oblong, rather pointed at the tip. The antennae of males are pubescent. The basic colour of the wings is extremely variable. It is usually ochre in colour, brown or pale brown, but it may also be pinkish brown. On the edge of the forewings there are characteristic darker brown markings and bright or pinkish lines. The front edge of the forewings shows also a series of small white spots. Sometimes the moths may be light coloured without almost no markings. These moths have usually a distinctive resting posture, with the head and the front part of the body raised on its forelegs and with bottom of wings touching the surface. The caterpillars are brownish.

The moths fly from July to August in the temperate parts of its range (e.g. in the British Isles) and are attracted to light. They mainly feed on nectar of Calluna vulgaris, Tanacetum vulgare, Chamerion angustifolium, Buddleja davidii, Heracleum sphondylium and Jacobaea vulgaris.

The females lay their eggs in summer on the underside of leaves. The caterpillars typically feed on common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) and bilberries (Vaccinium), as well as on various plant remains and on dry leaves of willows (Salix) and oaks (Quercus).

15-4-2018 CHOBE RIVER, NAMIBIA - COPPERY TAILED COUCAL (Centropus cupreicaudus)

The Coppery-tailed Coucal, a member of the cuckoo family, is a striking bird approximately 48 cm in length. It boasts a distinctive curved beak and a long, broad tail that is characteristic of its species. The adult's plumage is a study in contrasts, with a glossy black head and upperparts, and a contrasting white or cream underbelly. The rump glistens with a coppery sheen, while the tail is a dark brownish-black. In contrast, the immature birds display pale streaks on their heads and barred flight feathers, hinting at their youth.

When identifying the Coppery-tailed Coucal, look for its sizeable curved beak and the long tail. The adult's black and white plumage with a coppery rump is distinctive, while the immature bird can be recognized by the streaks on its head and the barring on its flight feathers. Males are marginally smaller than females, a subtle difference that may aid in identification.

This species is most commonly found in the swamplands and dense vegetation that flourish near rivers. It also inhabits inundated floodplains and areas adjacent to seasonal lakes, thriving in these wetland environments.

The Coppery-tailed Coucal's range extends across south-central Africa, from Angola in the west to southwestern Tanzania, and includes northern Botswana and the Caprivi Strip in Namibia. Its territory spans an impressive 1,750,000 square kilometers.

15-4-2018 CHOBE RIVER, NAMIBIA - ALLEN'S GALLINULE (Porphyrio alleni) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Allen's gallinule, formerly known as the lesser gallinule, is a diminutive and vibrant waterbird belonging to the Rallidae family. It exhibits a striking combination of colors with a short red bill, a greenish back, and rich purple upperparts. The legs are a vivid red, equipped with long toes, and the tail is short, displaying a white underside with a contrasting dark central bar.

Adult Allen's gallinules can be identified by their red bill and legs, and the males are distinguished by a blue frontal shield during the breeding season, which turns green in females. Immature birds are sandy brown with a buff undertail, while the downy chicks are uniformly black, a common trait among rails. When swimming, these birds exhibit a characteristic nodding of the head.

The preferred breeding habitat for Allen's gallinule is marshes and lakes within the Sub-Saharan African region, where they find the dense swamps particularly conducive to their secretive lifestyle.

This species is indigenous to Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite being seemingly weak fliers, they have astonishingly reached Great Britain twice and have been recorded as vagrants in several other European countries.

Allen's gallinules are notably secretive during the breeding season, often heard rather than seen. They are known for their sharp nasal "pruk" call. The species is partially migratory, engaging in seasonal movements which may render them more visible during migration or in their wintering grounds.

In the breeding season, these gallinules construct a floating nest within marshes and swamps, laying a clutch of 2 to 5 eggs. Their secretive nature is most pronounced during this time, making them elusive to observers.

Allen's gallinules forage by probing in mud or shallow water and are also adept at spotting and picking up food visually. Their diet primarily consists of insects and aquatic animals.

The IUCN Red List has classified Allen's gallinule as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face an immediate threat of extinction.

31-5-2018 ESTANY DE ALMENARA, VALENCIA - PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum salicaria)

Lythrum salicaria or purple-loosestrife] is a flowering plant belonging to the family Lythraceae. It should not be confused with other plants sharing the name loosestrife that are members of the genus Lysimachia in the family Primulaceae. This herbaceous perennial plant is native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and eastern Australia.

Lythrum salicaria can grow 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) tall, forming extensive clonal colonies, with numerous erect stems growing from a single woody root mass. The stems are reddish-purple and square in cross-section. The leaves are lanceolate, 3–10 centimetres (1–4 in) long and 5–15 millimetres (3⁄16–9⁄16 in) broad, downy and sessile, and arranged opposite or in whorls of three.

The flowers are reddish purple, 10–20 millimetres (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) in diameter, with six petals (occasionally five) and 12 stamens, and are clustered tightly in verticillasters in the axils of bracts or leaves. There are three different flower types, with the stamens and style of different lengths, short, medium or long; each flower type can only be pollinated by one of the other types, not the same type, thus ensuring cross-pollination between different plants. For instance, if the pistil is medium length, then the stamens will be long and short, but not medium.The flowers are visited by many types of insects, and can be characterised by a generalised pollination syndrome.

The fruit is a small 3–4 millimetres (1⁄8–5⁄32 in) capsule containing numerous minute seeds. Flowering lasts throughout the summer. When the seeds are mature, the leaves often turn bright red through dehydration in early autumn; the red autumn colour may last for almost two weeks. The dead stalks from previous growing seasons are brown.

L. salicaria is very variable in leaf shape and degree of hairiness, and a number of subspecies and varieties have been described, but it is now generally regarded as monotypic with none of these variants being considered of botanical significance. The species Lythrum intermedium Ledeb. ex Colla has often been considered synonymous in the past, but is now treated as a separate species, from Central Asia, by the Plants of the World Online database.

2-6-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEAL MOTH (Pyralis farinalis)

Pyralis farinalis, the meal moth, is a cosmopolitan moth of the family Pyralidae. Its larvae (caterpillars) are pests of certain stored foods, namely milled plant products.

It is the type species of the genus Pyralis, and by extension of its entire tribe (Pyralini), subfamily (Pyralinae) and family. Its synanthropic habits were noted even by 18th- and 19th-century naturalists, who described it using terms like domesticalis ("of home and hearth"), fraterna ("as close as a brother"), or the currently-valid farinalis ("of the flour").

At rest, adult moths (imagines) typically hold the tip of their abdomen at 90° to their body. Their upperwings are fairly colourful by moth standards, and have a wingspan of 18–30 mm. Adults fly from June to August. Adults do not live long after mating and eggs hatch quickly, which leads this moth to have a quick life cycle and be able to produce multiple generations within a single year.

In Great Britain and some other locations – particularly outside its natural range – it is mostly restricted to anthropogenic habitats of stored grain, e.g. barns and warehouses. However, it has been found in almond orchards among plant detritus and poultry farms among chicken manure.

P. farinalis is a species that is well adapted to living among humans and the urbanization that comes along with them. Though considered a pest to most since it can decimate grain storages, humans have found uses for the moth. In Chinese culture it is the main ingredient of "insect tea." This drink is popular enough that scientists have been studying the moth's optimum growth conditions so they can possibly cultivate it for commercial use.

15-4-2018 CHOBE RIVER, NAMIBIA - CAPE BUFFALO (Syncerus caffer caffer) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large sub-Saharan African bovine. There are five subspecies that are recognized as valid by most authorities:

Syncerus caffer caffer, the Cape buffalo, is the nominotypical subspecies, as well as the largest, found in Southern and East Africa.

S. c. nanus, the forest buffalo, is the smallest subspecies, common in forest areas of Central and West Africa

S. c. brachyceros, the Sudan buffalo, a smaller version of the Cape buffalo, found in the drier, northern areas of Central and West Africa.

S. c. aequinoctialis, the Nile Buffalo, sometimes considered identical to the Sudan buffalo, found in the drier, northern areas of East and Central Africa.

S. c. mathewsi, the mountain buffalo, a disputed subspecies from the Virunga Mountains in Central Africa.

The adult African buffalo's horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head, referred to as a "boss".

The African buffalo is more closely related to other buffalo species than it is to other bovids such as American bison or domestic cattle, with its closest living relative being the Asian water buffalo. Its unpredictable temperament may be part of the reason that the African buffalo has never been domesticated, which would also explain why the African buffalo has no domesticated descendants, unlike the wild yak and wild water buffalo which are the ancestors of the domestic yak and water buffalo. Natural predators of adult African buffaloes include lions, African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and Nile crocodiles. As one of the Big Five game animals, the Cape buffalo is a sought-after trophy in hunting.

15-4-2018 CHOBE RIVER, NAMIBIA - CHACMA BABOON (Papio ursinus) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) is a member of the Old World monkey family. It is one of the largest of all monkeys. Located primarily in southern Africa, the chacma baboon has a wide variety of social behaviors, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings. In general, the species is not threatened, but hunting, trapping, and accidents kill or remove many baboons from the wild, thereby reducing their numbers and disrupting their social structure.

The Chacma baboon is perhaps the longest species of monkey and it is also one of the heaviest. Adult males can in some instances be about twice as long and three times as heavy as adult females. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of this baboon is its long, downward-sloping face. The Chacma baboon is generally dark brown to gray in color, with a patch of rough hair on the nape of its neck. Unlike the males of northern baboon species (Guinea, hamadryas, and Olive baboons), Chacma males do not have a mane. The three subspecies are differentiated by size and color. The Cape chacma is a large, heavy, dark-brown, and has black feet. The Gray-footed chacma is slightly smaller than the Cape chacma, lighter in color and build, and has gray feet. The Ruacana chacma generally appears to be a smaller, less darkly colored version of the Cape chacma.

Chacma baboons are found throughout southern Africa, ranging from South Africa north to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique. They live in diverse habitats from woodlands to savannas, steppes, and sub-deserts. Chacma baboons are found in the Kalahari Desert as well as on the alpine slopes of the Drakensberg. They usually sleep on hills, cliffs, or large trees and during the day, avoid arid areas with a lack of water.

Chacma baboons are diurnal, spending most of the day on the ground. They are highly sociable animals, living in troops, which consist of 20-80 individuals. The troops include males as well as females with their young. Members of a troop are in close ties with each other, sleeping, feeding, and grooming together. During the day the groups split into smaller subgroups, consisting of 4-5 females with their young and a dominant male, who leads the group and defends it from other males. They are always on the alert, living in troops for protection and watching for predators. When threatened, the baboons give out loud barks. Then the males run to attack while the females and young hide in a safe place among the trees. Chacma baboons communicate by vocalizations, using about 30 different sounds such as grunting, barking, or screaming. They also use gestures such as shoulder shrugs, yawns, or lip-smacking.

8-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN LION (Panthera leo)

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large cat of the genus Panthera, native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the tip of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion's pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on medium-sized and large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator.

The lion inhabits grasslands, savannahs, and shrublands. It is usually more diurnal than other wild cats, but when persecuted, it adapts to being active at night and at twilight. During the Neolithic period, the lion ranged throughout Africa and Eurasia, from Southeast Europe to India, but it has been reduced to fragmented populations in sub-Saharan Africa and one population in western India. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 because populations in African countries have declined by about 43% since the early 1990s. Lion populations are untenable outside designated protected areas. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are the greatest causes for concern.

1-4-2018 EDEN PLETTENBERG BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN KNYSNA TURACO (Tauraco corythaix ssp corythaix)

The Knysna turaco ( Tauraco corythaix ) is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae . It is distributed in South Africa , Mozambique and Swaziland .

It was considered a subspecies of the Guinea turaco ( Tauraco persa ) of West Africa . T. schalowi , T. livingstonii and this species have also been considered to be all the same species, but vocalizations and DNA analysis have shown otherwise. Two subspecies have been described:

T. c. phoebus (Neumann, 1907) lives in northeastern South Africa and northwestern Swaziland.

T. c. corythaix (Wagler, 1827) inhabits southern Swaziland and southeastern South Africa

This is a bright green bird with a short, hooked bill and bright red wings. The bill is short and strongly curved and is orange-red in colour. The eye is brown and the eye-ring is deep red. There is a white line just above and below the eye, with the white line extending from below to the back. It has a long tail which is mainly green: the wing coverts are a darker metallic green. The primary flight feathers are also bright red in colour. It has a tall rounded green crest with a white tip which distinguishes it from other green turacos. It is not sexually dimorphic . It measures 40–42 cm in length and weighs 280–380 grams, with the female being smaller than the male.

This is a bright green bird with a short, hooked bill and bright red wings. The bill is short and strongly curved and is orange-red in colour. The eye is brown and the eye-ring is deep red. There is a white line just above and below the eye, with the white line extending from below to the back. It has a long tail which is mainly green: the wing coverts are a darker metallic green. The primary flight feathers are also bright red in colour. It has a tall rounded green crest with a white tip which distinguishes it from other green turacos. It is not sexually dimorphic . It measures 40–42 cm in length and weighs 280–380 grams, with the female being smaller than the male.

The Knysna turaco lives in a narrow strip close to the south-east coast of Africa. Its natural environment consists of tropical montane forests up to 1,800 m and plains and it also ventures into the scrubland known as fynbos .

This turaco roams the trees, jumping from branch to branch in search of fruits and seeds, which it swallows whole. They are usually territorial and live in pairs or small family groups, noisily defending their territory. In addition to fruits and seeds, they also eat insects and worms.

It nests at different times of the year depending on the area. It builds a shallow nest of sticks in the branches of leafy trees or hidden in dense vines. In this nest it will lay a pair of eggs, of which only one will eventually hatch. The eggs are incubated by the female for between 12 and 21 days. The chicks leave the nest after 18 days but will not be fully independent of their parents until another three weeks have passed.

The Knysna turaco is eaten by local birds of prey such as the black-and-white goshawk and the tachiro goshawk .

This species of turaco is listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN , although its situation is expected to worsen in the coming years because the current population is known to be in decline. It is threatened by habitat loss, extreme natural phenomena resulting from climate change, the trade in exotic species, etc.

31-5-2018 ESTANY DE ALMENARA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN BIRD GRASSHOPPER (Anacridium aegyptium)

Anacridium aegyptium, the Egyptian grasshopper or Egyptian locust, is a species of insect belonging to the subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae.

Anacridium aegyptium var. rubrispinum Bei-Bienko, 1948 - Anacridium rubrispinum Bei-Bienko, 1948

Distribution

A fairly common species, the Egyptian grasshopper is present in most of Europe, the Afrotropical realm, eastern Palearctic realm, the Near East, and North Africa, and has recently been observed in Cape Town, South Africa.

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis, and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea level to 1,500 m.

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

This species is a folivore, essentially feeding on leaves of various plants. It is a solitary species, harmless to crops. Adults are mainly seen in August and September, but they are active throughout the year. After mating, these grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Spawning occurs in spring just under the soil surface and the nymphs appear in April. These grasshoppers undergo several molts. Nymphs differ from adults in appearance; their color varies from yellow to bright green and ocher and the wings are absent or small, as they are gradually developed after each molt.

31-5-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - BLACK HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small, nimble gull with a wingspan ranging from 94 to 110 cm and a body length of 37 to 44 cm. It weighs between 190 and 400 grams. Despite its name, the adult's summer plumage features a chocolate-brown head, which can appear black from a distance. The body is pale grey, and the primary wing feathers are tipped with black. The bill and legs are a striking red. In winter, the brown head is replaced by a white one with dark spots. Juveniles are mottled with brown spots and have a black band on the tail. There is no sexual dimorphism in plumage.

In flight, the white leading edge of the wing is a distinctive field mark. The summer adult's brown head, red bill, and legs are key identifiers, while the winter plumage features two dark spots on the head. Juveniles can be recognized by their mottled brown pattern and black tail band.

This species nests in colonies on the ground in large reed beds, marshes, or islands within lakes. It is not pelagic and is seldom seen far from coasts.

The black-headed gull breeds across much of the Palearctic, including Europe and coastal eastern Canada. It is migratory, wintering further south, but some remain in the milder westernmost areas of Europe. It is also present in northeastern North America and occasionally seen as far south as Virginia and some Caribbean islands.

Highly gregarious in winter, the black-headed gull is an opportunistic feeder, consuming a wide range of food from insects to carrion. It is known for its "kree-ar" call and displays various behaviors such as eggshell removal from the nest, which is believed to reduce predation risk.

The black-headed gull is a vocal species, particularly in colonies. Its call is a familiar "kree-ar," and its scientific name suggests a laughing sound.

This gull takes two years to reach maturity. First-year birds can be distinguished by a black terminal tail band and a less developed dark hood in summer. Breeding occurs in colonies, and the species is known for its complex social behaviors, including begging coordination between siblings and conspecific brood parasitism.

The diet includes insects, fish, seeds, worms, scraps, carrion, and invertebrates in ploughed fields. It feeds in towns and agricultural areas with equal relish.

31-5-2018 ESTANY DE ALMENARA, VALENCIA - VIOLET DROPWING DRAGONFLY (Trithemis annulata)

Trithemis annulata, commonly known as the violet dropwing, violet-marked darter, purple-blushed darter, or plum-coloured dropwing, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in most of Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe. These dragonflies are called dropwings because of their habit of immediately lowering their wings after landing on a perch. Males of this species are violet-red with red veins in the wings, while females are yellow and brown. Both sexes have red eyes.

Trithemis annulata is a robust medium-sized species with a wingspan of 60 mm (2.4 in). The mature male has a dark red head and a yellow labium with a brown central spot. The eyes are red with white spots on the rear edge, and the frons is dark metallic purplish-red. The prothorax is violet with slightly darker longitudinal stripes. The membranous wings have distinctive red veins, the pterostigma is orange-brown, and there is a large orange-brown splash at the base of the hind wings. The abdomen is fairly broad and is pinkish-violet, with purple markings on the top of each segment and blackish markings on the terminal three segments. Females are a similar size to males, but the thorax is brownish, and the abdomen is yellow with dark brown markings. The wings of females lack the red veins of males but have similar orange-brown patches. It is very similar in appearance to the red-veined dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa), but that species has a more slender abdomen and a wedge-shaped black area on either side of the tip of the abdomen.

31-5-2018 ESTANY DE ALMENARA, VALENCIA - OCEAN BLUE MORNING GLORY (Ipomoea indica)

Ipomoea indica is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, known by several common names, including blue morning glory, oceanblue morning glory, koali awa, and blue dawn flower. It bears heart-shaped or three-lobed leaves and purple or blue funnel-shaped flowers 6–8 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, from spring to autumn. The flowers produced by the plant are hermaphroditic. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The plant is grown as an ornamental for its attractive flowers, but is considered invasive in many regions of the world, being specifically listed on New Zealand's Biosecurity Act 1993.

Ipomoea indica is a vigorous, long-lived, tender, perennial plant, a vine which is native to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate habitats throughout the world. It blooms all year long. They can most commonly be found in disturbed forests, forest edges, secondary woodland, suburban gullies, and along roadsides and waterways. The plant climbs well over other plants, walls and slopes as growing on the bottom. Its climbing habit allows it to compete with trees and shrubs successfully. It is a twisting, occasionally lying, herbaceous plant which is more or less densely hairy on the axial parts with backward-looking trichomes. The stems can grow 3 to 6 centimetres (1.2 to 2.4 in) long and sometimes have roots at the nodes.

I. indica is a long-lived plant that can live up to 25 years.

30-5-2018 ALDEAROQUETA, CASTELLON - SPINY STARWORT (Pallenis spinosa)

Pallenis spinosa, commonly known as spiny starwort or spiny golden star, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Pallenis of the family Asteraceae. The Latin name of the genus is derived from palea (chaff), referring to the chaffy receptacle, while the species name spinosa, meaning spiny, refers to the spiny bracts surrounding the flowers.

Pallenis spinosa reaches on average 60 centimetres (24 in) of height. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate or elliptical. The basal ones have short petioles, while the cauline ones are sessile or semiamplexicaul. A solitary inflorescence grows at the top of the branches. The large, slightly convex receptacle shows numerous, yellowish orange, hermaphrodite disc florets and two whorls of yellow ray florets. The long, villous, involucral bracts end in an apical sharp-pointed spine. The flowering period extends from May through July. Fruits are achenes of about 2–2,5 millimeters of length.

This plant occurs in desert and coastal habitats of Southern Europe, North Africa, the Canary Islands and the Middle East.

These plants can survive in very dry environments and can be found on uncultivated sunny lands and on the roadsides at 0–1,400 metres (0–4,593 ft) above sea level.

30-5-2018 ALDEAROQUETA, CASTELLON - MADONNA LILY (lILIUM CANDIDUM)

Lilium candidum, the Madonna lily or white lily, is a plant in the true lily family. It is native to the Balkans and Middle East, and naturalized in other parts of Europe, including France, Italy, and Ukraine, and in North Africa, the Canary Islands, Mexico, and other regions. It has been cultivated since antiquity, for at least 3,000 years, and has great symbolic value since then for many cultures. It is susceptible to several virus diseases common to lilies, and especially to Botrytis fungus. One technique to avoid problems with viruses is to grow plants from seed instead of bulblets.

It forms bulbs at ground level, and, unlike other lilies, grows a basal rosette of leaves during winter, which die the following summer. A leafy floral stem, which generally grows 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) tall, but exceptionally 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall, emerges in late spring and bears several sweetly and very fragrant flowers in summer. The flowers are pure white and tinted yellow in their throats.

30-5-2018 PENISCOLA, CASTELLON - AUDOUIN'S GULL (Ichthyaetus audouinii)

The Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii, presents itself as a large gull species, predominantly inhabiting the Mediterranean, the western coast of Saharan Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula. Its name pays homage to the French naturalist Jean Victoire Audouin. Resembling a small European herring gull, the adult Audouin's gull is distinguished by its short, stubby red bill and the unique "string of pearls" white wing primary tips. The legs of this bird are a subtle grey-green, and it takes a full four years for the gull to don its adult plumage.

When observing the Audouin's gull, one should note the red bill and the distinctive pattern of white spots along the wingtips, which contrast with the larger "mirrors" seen in other gull species. These features are key to distinguishing it from its relatives.

29-5-2018 ALDEAROQUETA, CASTELLON - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

Leptotes pirithous is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 21–29 mm (0.83–1.14 in) in males and 24–30 mm (0.94–1.18 in) in females. The uppersides of the wings are purple bluish in males, bluish brown in female. The undersides are dark beige striped with white lines. The hindwings show marginal orange and black spots and two small tails. For the design of the undersides of the wings they can be confused with Lampides boeticus and Cacyreus marshalli.

This species can be found in southern Europe (Spain, France and Italy), along the Mediterranean coast, in Asia Minor up to the Himalayas, and in most of Africa and Madagascar.

This species prefers varied natural habitats, cultivated areas and gardens.

29-5-2018 ALDEAROQUETA, CASTELLON - SIX SPOT BURNET (Zygaena filipendulae)

The six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) is a day-flying moth of the family Zygaenidae.

Zygaena filipendulae is a common species throughout Europe, except the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, northern Scandinavia and the Great Russian North. It is also present in Asia, from Anatolia through the Caucasus to Syria and Lebanon.

This species can be found in meadows, woodland clearings, sea-cliffs and area rich in grasses and flowers, up to 2,000 m altitude.

Zygaena filipendulae has a wingspan of 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in). The sexes are similar. The fore wings are dark metallic green with six vivid red spots (sometimes the spots are merged causing possible confusion with other species such as the five-spot burnet. Occasionally, the spots are yellow or even black. The hind wings are red with a blackish fringe. The larva is plump and hairy with variable markings, usually pale green with rows of black spots.

It is an aposematic moth because it is distinguished by its colors as toxic to predators like birds and lizards. If attacked it emits a liquid containing cyanide.

The adults fly on hot, sunny days from June to August, and are attracted to a wide variety of flowers such as knapweed and scabious, as well as the larval food plants bird's foot trefoil, Coronilla and clover.

The species overwinters as a larva. The larva pupates in early summer in a papery cocoon attached to a grass stem.

29-5-2018 ALDEAROQUETA, CASTELLON - LOMATE BEE FLY (Genus Lomatia)

The term "Lomate Bee Flies" refers to the genus Lomatia, a group of bee flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae. These flies are classified within the subfamily Lomatiinae. Lomatia is a genus with numerous species, including Lomatia belzebul, Lomatia grajugena, and Lomatia shanguii.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Bee Flies (Bombyliidae):

This is a large family of flies known for their hairy bodies and often their ability to hover like bees while feeding on nectar. 

Lomatiinae:

This is a subfamily within the Bombyliidae, and Lomatia is a genus within this subfamily. 

Lomatia:

This genus contains numerous species of bee flies, characterized by their distinctive appearance and behavior. 

Species examples:

Some examples of Lomatia species include Lomatia belzebul, Lomatia grajugena, and Lomatia shanguii. 

17-4-2018 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA - SABLE ANTELOPE (Hippotragus niger)

The Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) is an antelope which inhabits wooded savanna in East and Southern Africa. Local names for this species include swartwitpens (Afrikaans), kgama or phalafala (Sotho), mBarapi or palahala (Swahili), kukurugu, kwalat or kwalata (Tswana), ngwarati (Shona), iliza (Xhosa), impalampala (Zulu) and umtshwayeli (Ndebele).

The Sable antelope has a compact and robust build, characterized by a thick neck and tough skin. It has a well-developed and often upright mane on its neck, as well as a short mane on the throat. Its general coloration is rich chestnut to black. Females and juveniles are chestnut to dark brown, while males begin darkening and turn black after three years. However, in southern populations, females have a brown to black coat. Calves less than two months old are a light tan and show faint markings. The underparts, cheek, and chin are all white, creating a great contrast with the dark back and flanks. Long, white hairs are present below the eyes, and a wide, black stripe runs over the nose. Both sexes have ringed horns that arch backward. In females, these can reach 61-102 cm (24-40 in), while in males they are 81-165 cm (32-65 in) long.

Sable antelope live in the southern savannas of Africa from the southeastern part of Kenya, in eastern Tanzania, as well as Mozambique to Angola and in southern Zaire, mostly in the Miombo Woodland Zone. They prefer a mixture of grassland and savanna woodlands and avoid vast open lands where possible.

18-4-2018 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA - BLACKSMITH LAPWING (Vanellus armatus)

The Blacksmith Lapwing, known scientifically as Vanellus armatus, is a striking bird with a bold pattern of black, grey, and white, which may serve as a warning to predators. Its red eyes are a distinctive feature, shared with only four other lapwing species across the globe. Adorning the wrist joint is a carpal spur, a sharp black protrusion used in defense of their young, with aggressive aerial dives often aimed at the heads of intruders.

When identifying the Blacksmith Lapwing, look for its red eyes and the contrasting pied plumage. The bill and portions of the legs are black, with the legs sometimes showing a white-grey mottling. The sexes appear similar, though females tend to be slightly larger and heavier.

This lapwing species is commonly found in association with wetlands of varying sizes, from expansive marshes to the smallest damp areas caused by spilling water troughs. In South Africa, they are particularly abundant in mesic grassland regions.

The Blacksmith Lapwing is a common sight from Kenya through central Tanzania to southern and southwestern Africa. They have expanded their range in the 20th century, notably establishing a presence in the western Cape region of South Africa since the 1930s.

Partially migratory, the Blacksmith Lapwing does not engage in large-scale, regular migrations. They are known to be aggressive during the breeding season, particularly towards other lapwings or African jacanas entering their territory.

Breeding occurs in spring, with nests being shallow depressions on bare ground or short grass near water. The nests are typically spaced at least 400 meters apart. After breeding, the young gradually separate from their parents and do not return to their natal areas.

The diet of the Blacksmith Lapwing consists of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, which they forage for in their wetland habitats.

The IUCN Red List classifies the Blacksmith Lapwing as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction.

18-4-2018 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA - COMMON IMPALA (MALE) (Aepyceros melampus ssp. melampus)

The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is a medium-sized antelope that is found in Africa. It was first described to European audiences by German zoologist Hinrich Lichtenstein in 1812. Active mainly during the day, the impala may be gregarious or territorial depending upon the climate and geography. The impala is known for two characteristic leaps that constitute an anti-predator strategy.

Impala is an elegant and magnificent species of antelope. The animal has slender body with the identifying "M"-like marking on the rear. This medium-sized antelope possesses thin, pointed horns with tips, lying far apart from each other. Males of this species are identified by the characteristic "S"-like horns. The elegant limbs of these animals have scent glands behind the ankles. The overall coloration of their fur is red-brown with paler sides. In addition, they have black and white colored areas on their body. Thus, the tail, belly, chin, lips, inside ears as well as the lines above the eyes are colored with white. Meanwhile, black bands cover their thighs, tail, forehead and ear tips.

Impalas are distributed throughout the northeastern part of South Africa, Angola, southern Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Close proximity to a water source is an important life condition for these animals. Generally, they prefer woodland with little undergrowth as well as low to medium-height grassland.