6-4-2022 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WESTERN CONIFER SEED BUG (Leptoglossus occidentalis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67771-Leptoglossus-occidentalis

6-4-2022 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WHITE ITALIAN SNAIL (Theba pisana)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/119608-Theba-pisana

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - WHITE HEADED LAPWING (Vanellus albiceps)

The White-crowned Lapwing, also known as the White-headed Lapwing, White-headed Plover, or White-crowned Plover, is a medium-sized wader that presents a striking appearance. Its upper body is adorned with a brown back, while the wings and tail exhibit a bold black and white pattern. The underparts are a clean white. The head is particularly distinctive with a grey base, a brilliant white crown, and a white foreneck. Adding to its unique visage are the yellow eyering, facial wattles, and legs. Both sexes and juveniles share a similar plumage, making them indistinguishable in the field.

When attempting to identify the White-crowned Lapwing, look for the unmistakable combination of its white crown, grey head, and the contrasting black and white patterns on its wings and tail. The yellow eyering and wattles are also key features that aid in its identification.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - LITTLE BEE-EATER (Merops pasillas)

The little bee-eater (Merops pusillus) is a bird species in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They should not be confused with the little green bee-eater (Merops orientalis). Migration is limited to seasonal movements depending on rainfall patterns.

Members of this species, like other bee-eaters, are rich and brightly coloured slender birds. They have green upper parts, yellow throats, black gorgets, and rich brown upper breasts fading to buffish ochre on the belly. Their wings are green and brown. Their beaks and legs are black. They reach a length of 15–17 cm, which makes them the smallest African bee-eater. Sexes are alike. Often silent, their call is a soft "seep".

These are abundant and tame birds, familiar throughout their range. There have been estimated to be between 60 and 80 million little bee-eaters. They breed in open country with bushes, preferably near water. Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, who are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. This species often hunts from low perches, maybe only a metre or less high. Before eating their meal, a bee-eater removes the stinger by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface.

Unlike most bee-eaters, these are solitary nesters, making a tunnel in sandy banks, or sometimes in the entrance to an Aardvark den. They lay 4 to 6 spherical white eggs. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs. These birds roost communally, lined up on a tree branch.

This is an abundant and tame bird, familiar throughout its range of Sub-Sahara Africa. There have been estimated to be between 60-80 million little bee-eaters. It breeds in open country with bushes, preferably near water. Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch.

This is the world’s smallest bee-eater at a length of 16 cm. The little bee-eater is bright green on top with orange or buff underparts, including the outer flight feathers. A black gorget (collar) separates the orange or buff breast from a yellow throat.

The tail is orange or buff, with a green center. Like all bee-eaters, the little bee-eater has a black eye stripe, with turquoise spot above the eye.

The little bee-eater hunts flying insects, whilst in flight. Once they catch an insect, they will return to a perch, to kill the insect and remove its sting, by repeatedly hitting the insect against the branch. The little bee-eater prefers insects such as bees and wasps.

A tunnel is dug by both the male and female little bee-eater, normally in a vertical sandy bank or an aardvark hole. This tunnel can be as deep as 130 cm. They do not line the nest cavity and the 2 to 6 eggs are laid directly on the sand. The eggs are incubated by both sexes for around 20 days.

This bee-eater is parasitized by the Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator).

The little bee-eater will roost communally at night, with the birds huddled together on a single perch. They often use the same perch repeatedly when hunting, taking short flights to catch their prey then returning back to the same perch.

The little bee-eater is found in a woodland environment, near water. This is a common resident in the north-eastern areas of South Africa.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN RED BISHOP (FEMALE) (Euplectes orix)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13962-Euplectes-orix

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN PIPIT (Merops pusillus ssp. meridionalis)

The African pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) is a fairly small passerine bird belonging to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae. It is also known as the grassveld pipit or grassland pipit. It was formerly lumped together with the Richard's, Australian, mountain and paddyfield pipits in a single species, Richard's pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), but is now often treated as a species in its own right.

20-5-2019 LAKE KARIBA, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN FISH EAGLE (Haliaeetus vocifer)

The African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) or the African sea eagle, is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. It is the national bird of Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. As a result of its large range, it is known in many languages. Examples of names include: Vis Arend in Afrikaans, nkwazi in Chewa, aigle pêcheur in French, hungwe in Shona, inkwazi in isiZulu, and ntšhu (pronounced "ntjhu") in Northern Sotho. This species may resemble the bald eagle in appearance; though related, the two species occurs on different continents, with the bald eagle being resident in North America.

27-5-2021 MERIDA, BADAJOZ - SQUARE HEADED WASP (Genus Astata)

Crabronidae is a large family of wasps within the superfamily Apoidea.

This family has historically been treated as a subfamily in the now-defunct Spheciformes group under the family Sphecidae. The Spheciformes included well over 200 genera, containing well over 9000 species. Revision of these taxa resulted in the restriction of the Sphecidae to what was once the subfamily Sphecinae. As a result, the former Crabroninae was elevated to family status as Crabronidae. Subsequent revision has further restricted the Crabronidae. Several of the subfamilies of the Crabronidae are often treated as families in their own right, as is true of the most recent phylogenies. Of these lineages of Apoidea, only three were not included within Crabronidae in the past: Ampulicidae, Sphecidae, and Anthophila.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - PLUM COLOUR STARLING (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster ssp. verreauxi)

The Plum-coloured Starling, also known as the Violet-backed Starling (_Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), is a species found in sub-Saharan Africa with sexually dimorphic plumage. The male has iridescent violet or purple upperparts and a pure white belly, while the female is brown with streaked upperparts and white underparts with dark streaks. This bird is found in woodlands and savanna edges and feeds on fruit, berries, and insects. The subspecies verreauxi is a part of this species. 

Scientific name: Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Common names: Plum-coloured Starling, Violet-backed Starling, Amethyst Starling

Habitat: Woodlands and forest edges in sub-Saharan Africa

Diet: Fruits, berries, and insects 

Male

Plumage: Iridescent violet to purple back and head, with a pure white belly and vent.

Appearance: The iridescence of the back varies from plum-violet to purple-blue depending on the light. 

Female

Plumage: Brown upperparts with dark streaks, and white underparts with dark central streaks.

Appearance: The streaks on the underparts are broadest on the breast. 

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - VIOLET BACKED STARLING (MALE) (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)

                       

The violet-backed starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), also known as the plum-coloured starling or amethyst starling, or Ndambamukula in the Venda language, is a relatively small species (17 cm) of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is the only member of the genus Cinnyricinclus. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in the woodlands and savannah forest edges of mainland sub-Saharan Africa. It is rarely seen on the ground, but instead found in trees and other locations away from the ground.

The violet-backed starling is a sexually dimorphic species with adults reaching a length of about 18 cm (7 in). The male has an iridescent violet head and back and pure white underparts. The female has a thrush-like appearance with brown, boldly-streaked upper parts and white, heavily-streaked underparts. Both sexes have yellow irises and black bills and legs.

The violet-backed starling is a common bird in Sub-Saharan Africa, occurring in most locations with the exception of the dense rainforest of the Congo Basin, and the more arid parts of southwestern Africa. It is found in open woodland, gallery forests, forest verges and clearings. In the Chyulu Hills of Kenya, it occurs at altitudes up to 2,100 m (6,900 ft).

The diet of the violet-backed starling includes fruits, seeds and arthropods. It sometimes hawks for insects in a manner similar to flycatchers. It largely feeds in the canopy, seldom foraging on the ground. The nest is usually located in a crevice in a tree within a few metres of the ground. Nesting material includes green leaves and dung. The female will incubate the clutch of two to four eggs, which are pale blue with reddish/brown spots, for 12–14 days. The male will help feed chicks until they fledge after about 21 days.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - LAUGHING DOVE (Streptopelia senegalensis)

The Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) is a small, graceful pigeon with a long tail, known for its gentle, unassuming presence across a vast range. Exhibiting a pinkish-brown underside with a lilac-tinged head and neck, this dove carries an air of delicate beauty. The species is recognized by its pinkish head and underparts, transitioning to buff on the lower abdomen. Adults boast a distinctive chequered rufous and grey patch on the neck, composed of split feathers, while the upper parts are brownish with a bluish-grey wing band.

When observing the Laughing Dove, look for its slim profile, about 25 cm in length, and the graduated tail with white-tipped outer feathers. Both sexes appear similar, making field identification by gender challenging. Juveniles can be identified by the absence of the chequered neck markings. The red legs are another characteristic feature to note.

This species thrives in dry scrub and semi-desert regions, often seen in pairs as they forage on the ground. It has adapted well to human habitation, becoming quite tame in areas where people are present.

The Laughing Dove has a broad range that includes Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Western Australia. It is a resident breeder in these areas, with some populations showing sedentary behavior, while others may exhibit local movements.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SMITH'S BUSH SQUIRREL (Paraderus Cepapi)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/46110-Paraxerus-cepapi

3-4-2022 LLUTXENT, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN RABBIT (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/43151-Oryctolagus-cuniculus

3-4-2022 POBLA DEL DUC, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (FEMALE)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/201192-Saxicola-rubicola

3-4-2022 MONTAVERNER, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (MALE)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/201192-Saxicola-rubicola

3-4-2022 LLUTXENT, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/472766-Falco-tinnunculus

31-3-2022 GANDIA, VALENCIA - BLOXWORTH SNOUT MOTH (Hypena obsitalis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/342196-Hypena-obsitalis

2-4-2022 POTRIES, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN SERIN (MALE) (Serinus serinus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/9236-Serinus-serinus

2-4-2022 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (MALE) (Turdus merula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12716-Turdus-merula

2-4-2022 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BUFF TAILED BUMBLE BEE (Bombus terrestris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57516-Bombus-terrestris

2-4-2022 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COLLARED ANT (Genus Aphaenogaster)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68931-Aphaenogaster

1-4-2022 EL FONDO, ALICANTE - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13858-Passer-domesticus

1-4-2022 EL FONDO, ALICANTE - RED KNOBBED COOT (JUVENILE) (Fulica cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/487-Fulica-cristata

1-4-2022 EL PINET, ALICANTE - PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4883-Recurvirostra-avosetta

1-4-2022 EL PINET, ALICANTE - COMMON SHELDUCK (MALE) (Tadorna tadorna)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7067-Tadorna-tadorna

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN RED BILLED HORNBILL (Tockus rufirostris)

The Southern red-billed hornbill, Tockus rufirostris, is a distinguished member of the Bucerotidae family, gracing the savannas and drier bushlands of southern Africa with its presence. This bird is characterized by its striking red bill and the streaks of blackish plumage that extend from its ear coverts down the side of its neck.

Upon observing this species, one will note the sexual dimorphism where males are generally larger with slightly longer bills. The male's lower mandible may exhibit varying degrees of black pigmentation. Both sexes boast a yellow iris surrounded by pale orbital skin, ranging from pink to greyish hues. The throat is a pristine white, and the wing coverts are adorned with conspicuous spots.

The Southern red-billed hornbill is a native inhabitant of the savannas and dryer bushlands, thriving in these open environments where it can forage and nest.

This hornbill's range extends from Malawi and Zambia to southern Angola, northeastern Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, eastern Eswatini, and northern South Africa, including Transvaal and northern KZN province. It is also found in the upper Zambezi valley of Mozambique, though it is mostly absent from the eastern lowlands.

A notable behavior of the Southern red-billed hornbill is its unique call, an accelerating series of notes that culminates in a crescendo of double notes. Unlike its congeners, this species does not engage in wing-raising displays.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - WHITE BROWED SPARROW WEAVER (Plocepasser mahili)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14115-Plocepasser-mahali

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - KITTLITZ'S PLOVER (Charadrius pecuarius)

The Kittlitz's plover, named after Heinrich von Kittlitz, is a diminutive shorebird, tipping the scales at a modest 35-40 grams. This species is adorned with a black bill, dark brown eyes encased in black eyelids, and legs that may shift in hue from black to greenish or grey. During the breeding season, the male is distinguished by a white forehead and a series of bands on the forecrown, while the female's plumage is similar but with a narrower black band. The non-breeding plumage sees little change, save for a paler underbelly and a browner eye stripe.

Adults boast a wing length of 100–110 mm, a bill length of 15–23 mm, and a tarsus length of 26–33 mm. Juveniles resemble adults but lack the black facial markings and have brown upperparts with a buff-colored hindneck collar.

Kittlitz's plover is partial to open habitats near water, such as lakes, lagoons, rivers, tidal mudflats, and inland saltmarshes. It breeds in areas with short vegetation and is strictly terrestrial in its activities.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRO NEOTROPICAL DWARF GECKO (Genus Lygodactylus)

Lygodactylus is a genus of diurnal geckos with 82 species. They are commonly referred to as dwarf geckos. They are mainly found in Africa and Madagascar although two species are found in South America. Lygodactylus picturatus, the best known species, is found in Kenya and commonly known as the white-headed dwarf gecko. Recently, illegal importation from Tanzania of brightly colored (and critically-endangered), Lygodactylus williamsi, known as electric blue geckos, has been gaining attention for Lygodactylus geckos in the reptile trade.

Since all trade in wild-caught Lygodactylus williamsi is illegal, shipments of these geckos are often intentionally mislabelled as Lygodactylus spp. or as Lygodactylus capensis. As some customs officials have difficulty identifying members of this genus, a Lygodactylus spp. identification guide has been published online by CITES.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - RAINBOW SKINK (Trachylepis margaritifera)

Rainbow skinks are a diverse group of lizards known for their vibrant coloring, with males often displaying more bright and bold patterns than females. They are native to parts of Africa and Australia, but invasive populations exist elsewhere, and they are often found in habitats like rock crevices, scrub, and savannahs. Key facts include their diet of insects, ability to regenerate a lost tail, and sexual dimorphism (color and size differences between males and females).