23-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN MONARCH BUTTERFLY (Danaus chrysippus ssp orientis)

Danaus chrysippus, known as the African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. The African Monarch is believed to be one of the first butterflies to be used in art. A 3500 year old Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest illustration of this species.

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - WHITE HEADED LAPWING (Vanellus albiceps)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN GROUND HORNBILL (Bucorvus leadbeateri)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SAVANNAH ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - CRAWSHAY'S ZEBRA (Equus quagga ssp. crawshayi)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - PEREGRINE FALCON (JUVENILE) (Falco peregrinus)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SWAINSON'S SPURFOWL (Pternistis swainsonii)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - LILIAN'S LOVEBIRD (Agapornis lilianae)

Lilian's lovebird (Agapornis lilianae), also known as the Nyasa lovebird, is a small African parrot species of the lovebird genus. It is mainly green and has orange on its upper chest and head. It is 13 cm (5 inches) long and is the smallest parrot on mainland Africa. In captivity, it is uncommon and difficult to breed.

The Lilian's lovebird is 13 cm (5 inches) long and is mainly green with white eyerings. It has orange on its head, neck and upper chest and has a green rump. Male and female are identical in external appearance.

The Lilian's lovebird is often mistaken for the slightly larger Fischer's lovebird, which has an olive-green hood and a blue rump. It is also broadly similar to the rosy-faced lovebird, which has more clearly demarcated orange colouration, and lacks a white eyering.

Lilian's lovebirds feed on grass seeds, millet, wild rice, flowers, and the seeds and fruit of other species.

The breeding season for Lilian's lovebirds is from January to March and in June and July. They make a roofed nest in tree crevices. In captivity the clutch consists of three to eight white eggs, which are incubated for about 22 days, and the chicks leave the nest after about 44 days from hatching.

Lilian's lovebirds are endemic to Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In 2004 its numbers in the wild were estimated to be less than 20,000 individuals. It currently inhabits Liwonde National Park (LNP) and a few cluster groups occur in the surrounding forests outside LNP. Its distribution is rapidly becoming restricted to LNP because their feeding and breeding habitats are being exploited over for agricultural purposes. The extent of habitat loss outside LNP has not been determined scientifically although remaining habitat outside the LNP are fragmented Miombo Forest Reserves.

Liwonde National Park is located in the southern region of Malawi, which has the highest human population density in the country approximating 100-115 inhabitants per km2 (FAO, 1997). LNP is greatly impacted by population growth and agricultural activities than any other national park in the country. Recently, cases of Lilian's lovebird poisoning have intensified although it is not known why poachers are poisoning the birds. Lilian's lovebird researchers assume poachers mean to poison larger mammals and lovebirds fall victims.

The lifespan for Lilian's lovebirds is 10–12 years. The major health concern for these species is loneliness. These birds mate for life.

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - BUSHVELD HELMETED GUINEA FOWL (Numida meleagris ssp. mitratus)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - GREY GO AWAY BIRD (Corythaixoides concolor)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - COMMON IMPALA (MALE) (Aepyceros melampus ssp. melampus)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - COMMON IMPALA (FEMALE) (Aepyceros melampus ssp. melampus)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - HIPPOPOTAMUS (Hippopotamus amphibius)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - ROUND WINGED ORANGE TIPPED BUTTERFLY (Colotis euippe)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - MEVES'S STARLING (Lamprotornis mevesii)

15-7-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR,, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

13-7-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

15-7-2019 LAKE PALMA DE GANDIA, VALENCIA - SCARLET DARTER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Crocothemis erythraea)

15-7-2019 LAKE PALMA DE GANDIA,, VALENCIA - IBERIAN GREEN FROG (Pelophylax perezi)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - COMMON WATERBUCK (FEMALE) (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ssp. ellipsiprymnus)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - COMMON WATERBUCK (MALE) (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ssp. ellipsiprymnus)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN DARTER (Anhinga rufa)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_darter

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - RING NECKED DOVE TROPICA (Streptopelia capicola ssp. tropica)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN AFRICAN CROCODILE (Crocodylus niloticus ssp. cowiei)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

22-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN WARTHOG (Phacochoerus africanus ssp. sundevallii)

21-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SAVANNAH ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana)

21-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - PEREGRINE FALCON (JUVENILE) (Falco peregrinus)

21-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)