30-3-2025 GOATFELL NUMARA ELIYA, SRI LANKA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

14-5-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TRIANGULATE COMBFOOT SPIDER (Steatoda triangulosa)

The triangulate cobweb spider (scientific name: Steatoda triangulosa; also called the triangulate bud spider) is a common spider in the genus Steatoda. It is well known for the triangle-shaped pattern on the dorsal side of its abdomen.

The adult female triangulate cobweb spider is 3 to 6 mm long (1/8 to 1/4 inch), with a brownish-orange cephalothorax and spindly, yellowish legs, and tiny hairs. The round, bulbous abdomen is creamy in color, with parallel purply-brown zigzag lines running front to back. This distinctive pattern sets it apart from other theridiids in its area.

The triangulate cobweb spider is known to prey on many other types of arthropods, ants (including fire ants), other spiders, pillbugs, and ticks. It preys on several other spiders believed to be harmful to humans, including the brown recluse. Anything it catches in the web it preys upon.

The egg sac of the triangulated cobweb spider is made from loosely woven silk, and is about the same size as the spider itself. Each egg sac contains approximately 30 eggs. They may reproduce via parthenogenesis. Cobweb spiders typically live on windows or in dark areas. They eat for a margin of their day and spend hours developing their web; it does not break if it is woven well. Below or in its web, there may be many dead insects, ranging from stinkbugs to other spiders including Lycosidae, to large Scutigera and even wasps. Of the Steatoda, they are the most voracious and prey-driven despite being one of the smaller species.

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - PEA BLUE BUTTERFLY (Lampides boeticus)

Lampides boeticus, the pea blue, or long-tailed blue, is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or gossamer-winged family.

The Latin species name boeticus refers to Baetica, a province of the Roman Empire in the Iberian Peninsula . Its common name refers to the long streamers on its hind wings, the male's bright iridescent blue colour, and peas, which is the typical host plant of the butterfly.

This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1767 and was initially named Papilio boeticus.

This species can be found in Europe, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Australia. It is also found in the Hawaiian islands. In New Zealand this species is regarded as being self introduced as was first observed in November 1965.

 

This species inhabits the edge of forests, mountain meadows and hot flowery places at an elevation up to 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) above sea level. 

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - LICHEN MOTH (Schistophleps bipuncta)

Schistophleps bipuncta is a moth in the subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by George Hampson in 1891. It is found in India (Assam, Belgaum, Nilgiris), Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Its wingspan is about 21 mm. It is an ochreous semi-diaphanous whitish moth. Forewings with an indistinct antemedial rufous line with some fuscous suffusion on it inner edge. There are black specks at center and end of cell. Postmedial discal area is suffused with rufus. A series of indistinct submarginal streaks and marginal specks present. Hindwings are hyaline (glass like).

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - SOUTHERN BRACKET (Ganoderma australe)

Ganoderma tornatum is a fungal plant pathogen in the genus Ganoderma. It is a species of basidiomycete fungi in the family Polyporaceae. Members are also known as bracket fungi, or polypores.

Like other polypores, its physical characteristics include a rigid and tough texture and a shelf-like appearance. Most specimens of G. tornatum have a dark brown upper surface, though the ones found in the northwest of India and Pakistan have a lighter appearance. G. tornatum also have thin, shiny horn-like layers, distinguishing them from G. applanatum. It does not have a long and thin stipe like G. cochlear.

Physiologically, their mode of transmission is likely primarily through air-borne spores, as no rhizomorphs have been found.  While temperature increases decrease their spore size  its spore size was found to be 7.5–9.5 x 5–7 micrometers in one sample. In addition to parasitizing oil palms, G. tornatum has a variety of hosts, in comparison to other Ganoderma species.

It is distributed widely throughout the tropics, appearing to be one of the most common species of Ganoderma there. Some places it occurs is south of the Sahara desert, the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Canada, and the north west of India and Pakistan, and from the Philippines to New Caledonia and Papua. It is not clear if this species occurs in South America, as few specimens are available.

28-3-2025 LEOPARD TRAILS LODGE, SRI LANKA - ASIAN COMMON TOAD (JUVENILE) (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)

Duttaphrynus melanostictus is commonly called Asian common toad, Asian black-spined toad, Asian toad, black-spectacled toad, common Sunda toad, and Javanese toad. It is probably a complex of more than one true toad species that is widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia.

The species grows to about 20 cm (8 in) long. Asian common toads breed during the monsoon, and their tadpoles are black. Young toads may be seen in large numbers after monsoon rains finish.

28-3-2025 LEOPARD TRAILS LODGE, SRI LANKA - ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN (Copsychus saularis)

The Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) is a small, striking passerine bird, once grouped with thrushes but now classified among the Old World flycatchers. Males are characterized by their black upperparts, head, and throat, contrasted with a white shoulder patch and white underparts extending to the sides of their long tail. Females, on the other hand, display a more subdued greyish black above and greyish white below. Juveniles bear scaly brown upperparts. This species is known for its long tail, typically held upright, and its melodious song, which has made it a favored cagebird in the past.

The Oriental magpie-robin measures about 19 centimeters in length, including its distinctive long tail. The male's black and white plumage and the female's greyish tones are key identification features. The tail is often cocked upright when the bird is active on the ground, but it assumes a normal position during singing.

These birds are adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, from urban gardens to forests. They are often seen close to the ground, foraging in leaf-litter or perching conspicuously.

28-3-2025 LEOPARD TRAILS LODGE, SRI LANKA - COMMON KINGFISHER (MALE) (Alcedo atthis)

The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), also known as the Eurasian Kingfisher or River Kingfisher, is a vibrant, pocket-sized gem among birds. With its unmistakable silhouette characterized by a stout body, large head, and a long, sharp bill, it is a sight to behold. The male boasts a striking palette with blue upperparts, an orange belly, and a conspicuous white throat and collar. The female mirrors the male's vivid colors but can be discerned by her orange-red lower mandible with a black tip.

To identify the Common Kingfisher, look for its bright blue and orange plumage and its rapid, low flight over water. The male's bill is predominantly black with some red at the base, while the female's bill features an orange-red lower mandible. Juveniles resemble adults but have duller, greener upperparts and paler underparts. Their black bill and legs gradually acquire the adult coloration.

The Common Kingfisher is found along clear, slow-flowing streams and rivers, as well as lakes with well-vegetated banks. It prefers areas with overhanging branches that provide vantage points for hunting. In winter, it may move to coastal regions, frequenting estuaries, harbors, and rocky shores.

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - MONTBRETIA (Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora)

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora, or montbretia, is a garden hybrid of C. aurea and C. pottsii, first bred in 1880 in France by Victor Lemoine. The basionym of the hybrid is Montbretia crocosmiiflora Lemoine. In 1932 it was reclassified as C. × crocosmiiflora (Lemoine) N.E.Br., but the common name "montbretia" is still often found in horticultural literature, and is commonly used in the British Isles for orange-flowered cultivars that have naturalised, while "crocosmia" is reserved for less aggressive red-flowered cultivars.

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora grows to 90 cm (36 in.) high, with long sword-shaped leaves, shorter than the flowering stem and arising from the plant base, ribbed and up to 20mm wide. The base is a corm, a swollen underground stem lasting one year. The flowers are up to 5 cm long and coloured deep orange.

In the United States, Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora is considered suitable for planting in hardiness zones 5–9, but in more northerly locations it can be planted in the spring and the corms dug out in the fall. The corms should be planted in a well-drained garden soil in full sun to partial shade. The hybrid will set viable seed that can be grown as soon as ripe, but as a hybrid it will not breed true to colour. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, it is recorded as well-established in a wide range of locations.

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora is deemed an invasive plant in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man; also in New Zealand, where it is common on roadsides in the northern parts of the West Coast of the South Island. The New Zealand Department of Conservation classes it as an environmental weed.

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - NATAL SWAMPLILY (Crinum moorei)

Crinum moorei is a herbaceous plant belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae, and native to South Africa (the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal).

Crinum moorei (Natal Lily) is an elegant bulbous perennial boasting nodding clusters of large, fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers, sometimes tinged light pink. Blooming in succession from late summer to fall, the eye-catching blossoms rise well above a rosette of long, wavy-edged, bright green leaves, up to 3 ft.

12-5-2025 ADOR CAMPO, VALENCIA - CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Colias croceus)

Colias croceus, clouded yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites.

Colias croceus is one of the most widespread species in Europe. The common clouded yellow's breeding range is North Africa and southern Europe and eastwards through Turkey into the Middle East, but it occurs throughout much of Europe as a summer migrant, in good years individuals reaching Scandinavia. In Asia, its range extends into central Siberia in the north and barely into India in the south; it is not found in Central Asia.

This species is primarily an immigrant to the UK, originating from southern Europe and northern Africa. In the UK they can be seen on the south coast almost every year in varying numbers, and regularly breed there. Occurrence in the rest of the UK varies considerably from year to year, but they are increasingly observed as far north as Dumfries and Galloway. It has also been recorded in Ireland from the Raven, Co. Wexford, to Belfast, Co. Down.

A truly migratory European butterfly, this species is famous for occasional mass migrations and subsequent breeding, which are often referred to in the United Kingdom as "clouded yellow years". Notable clouded yellow years include 1877, 1947, 1983, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2000.

These butterflies may live in any open area in the countryside, including downland, coastal cliffs and fields containing the caterpillar's host plants, at an elevation up to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level.

12-5-2025 ADOR CAMPO, 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 the latter's larger size and black band at the tip of the 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.

30-3-2025 LEOPARD TRAILS LODGE, SRI LANKA - SPOTTED DOVE (Spilopelia chinensis)

The Spotted Dove, known scientifically as Spilopelia chinensis, is a small, long-tailed pigeon that graces the Indian subcontinent and parts of East and Southeast Asia with its presence. This bird, with its gentle buff brown plumage and distinctive white-spotted black collar patch, is a familiar sight in many urban and rural landscapes. The tail tips are a contrasting white, and the wing coverts are adorned with light buff spots, adding to its delicate appearance.

To identify the Spotted Dove, look for the unique black collar on the back and sides of the neck, which features white spots. The bird's underparts are a rosy buff that transitions to grey on the head and belly. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but juveniles can be distinguished by their duller coloration and lack of neck spots until maturity. The length of these doves ranges from 28 to 32 centimeters.

The Spotted Dove thrives in a variety of environments, including light forests, gardens, and urban areas. It has a preference for the ground, where it forages for seeds, or low vegetation.

Native to Asia, the Spotted Dove has spread its wings far and wide, establishing feral populations across the globe, including Hawaii, southern California, Mauritius, Australia, and New Zealand.

These doves are sociable creatures, often seen in pairs or small groups. They exhibit a quick, fluttering flight from the ground and may glide gracefully to a perch. During the breeding season, males engage in cooing and aerial displays to court females.

The Spotted Dove's call is a soft cooing, consisting of a "Krookruk-krukroo… kroo kroo kroo," with variations in the number of terminal 'kroos' depending on the population.

The breeding season varies with climate, occurring in summer in temperate zones and throughout the year in warmer regions. Nests are often built in low vegetation, and both parents participate in nest building, incubation, and feeding of the young. The eggs hatch after about 13 days, with fledging occurring two weeks later.

Primarily seed-eaters, Spotted Doves forage on the ground for grass seeds, grains, and occasionally insects, such as winged termites.

The IUCN Red List currently classifies the Spotted Dove as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats at this time.

30-4-2025 EL HONDO, ALICANTE - RED KNOBBED COOT (JUVENILE) (Fulica cristata)

The Red-knobbed Coot, also known as the Crested Coot, is a striking waterbird with a predominantly black plumage contrasted by a distinctive white frontal shield. It is a medium-sized bird, measuring 35–42 cm in length with a wingspan of 75–85 cm. The males, slightly larger than the females, weigh between 770 and 910 grams, while females range from 455 to 790 grams. Both sexes appear similar in plumage. The species is characterized by its long, strong toes with partial webbing, an adaptation to its aquatic lifestyle.

To distinguish the Red-knobbed Coot from its close relative, the Eurasian Coot, one must look for the two small red knobs atop the facial shield, which are only present during the breeding season and are not visible from afar. The black feathering between the shield and the bill is rounded, as opposed to the pointed feature in the Eurasian Coot. Additionally, the bill of the Red-knobbed Coot has a subtle bluish-grey hue. In flight, unlike the Eurasian Coot, it lacks the white trailing edge on its secondaries.

This coot favors freshwater lakes and ponds as its primary habitat, where it can be seen swimming or walking along the water's edge.

30-4-2025 EL HONDO, ALICANTE - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

The Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, is a small wader of the Palearctic region, easily recognized by its greyish-brown upperparts and pristine white underparts. Adults typically measure between 18-20 cm in length, with a wingspan of 32-35 cm. They possess short, dark-yellowish legs and feet, and a bill that is pale at the base with a dark tip.

In the field, look for the Common Sandpiper's distinctive stiff-winged flight pattern, just above the water's surface. During the non-breeding season, they appear duller and exhibit more noticeable barring on the wings, which is most visible at close range. Juveniles display heavier barring above and buff edges to their wing feathers. The species can be differentiated from the similar Spotted Sandpiper by its darker legs and feet and the crisper wing pattern, especially in flight.

These birds are often found near freshwater sources, where they nest on the ground in close proximity to the water's edge. 

The Common Sandpiper breeds across much of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. During migration, large numbers may congregate in stop-over locations such as Palau in Micronesia.

Common Sandpipers are typically solitary or found in small groups. They may form larger flocks during migration or at breeding season roosts but seldom join multispecies flocks.

When breeding, these birds nest on the ground near freshwater. A notable behavior is the young's ability to cling to a parent's body, being flown to safety when threatened.

The Common Sandpiper forages by sight, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates from the ground or shallow water. It is also known to catch insects in flight.

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - BLUE LILY (Agapanthus praecox)

Agapanthus praecox (common agapanthus, blue lily, African lily, or lily of the Nile is a popular garden plant around the world, especially in Mediterranean climates. It is native to the Kwa-Zulu Natal and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. Local names include agapant, bloulelie, isicakathi and ubani. Most of the cultivated plants of the genus Agapanthus are hybrids or cultivars of this species. It is divided into three subspecies: subsp.praecox, subsp. orientalis and subsp. minimus.

Agapanthus praecox is a variable species with open-faced flowers. It is a perennial plant that can live for up to 75 years. Its evergreen leaves are 2 cm wide and 50 cm long. Its inflorescence is an umbel. The flowers are blue, purple or white and bloom from late spring to summer, followed by capsules filled with black seeds. Its flowering stem reaches one meter high. Its roots are very powerful and can break concrete.

Subspecies Agapanthus praecox subsp. praecox

This subspecies occurs in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It usually grows to between 0.8 and 1 metre tall and has 10 to 11 leathery leaves. The blue flowers appear from December to February. These have perianth segments which are greater than 50 mm in length.

This subspecies occurs in the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal. Although it is about the same height as subsp. praecox, it has up to 20 poisonous, strap-like leaves per plant which are arching and are not leathery. These range in length from 20 to 70 cm and are 3 to 5 cm wide. Flower colour ranges from blue to white. Shiny black seeds are produced in three-sided capsules. These have perianth segments which are less than 50 mm in length. 

Occurring in the southeastern Western Cape and Eastern Cape, this subspecies is the smallest, ranging in height from 300 to 600 mm. It has a longer flowering season, from November to March. Flower colour includes white and various shades of blue.

The plant prefers a well-drained soil, but supports a poor soil. Exposure to full sun is preferable, but it supports partial shade. It has low tolerance to being moved. It can be multiplied by sowing (flowering under 3 to 4 years) or division. It tolerates drought once well installed, but watering is preferable in case of long dry periods. It overwinters as a stump and therefore completely disappears during the cold months. Contrary to popular belief, this species can withstand wind, frost and cold up to −15 °C provided that the strains are protected for the first two years with mulching.

Young shoots need to be protected from slugs and snails. A contribution of 2 or 3 handfuls of wood ash around the stump in the spring may keep the gastropods away and make a good contribution of potash.

The species is naturalised in Australia, New Zealand and the Isles of Scilly. It is reportedly naturalised in Madeira, the Canary Islands, Eritrea, Ethiopia, St. Helena, Jersey, Norfolk Island, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and Tristan da Cunha.

Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis is highly regarded for being tough in sun and heat, long-flowering, and is a favourite for many councils in Australia for the landscaping of roads and other public areas which do not get watered. The plant is still widely planted but in some areas it is considered a weed, and planting has been discontinued, although it is not generally regarded as highly invasive.

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - DULL BLUE FLYCATCHER (Eumyias sordidus)

The Dull-blue Flycatcher, Eumyias sordidus, presents itself as a small passerine bird, a member of the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. This species, with its ashy blue plumage and a whitish belly, measures approximately 15 cm in length. A distinctive black patch can be found between its broad black bill and the eye, framed by brighter blue above and below. Both sexes share a similar appearance, though the female may appear slightly less vibrant.

Adult Dull-blue Flycatchers can be identified by their ashy blue coloration and the contrasting black patch near the eye. Juveniles, however, are brown with heavy spotting on the head, back, wing-coverts, and breast in pale buff, and their flight feathers are edged with blue-grey. Observers should note the bird's size and shape, which is akin to that of the Spotted Flycatcher.

This bird favors the deciduous mountain forests of central Sri Lanka, thriving in well-shaded areas and typically found at elevations above 600 meters, though it is less common below 900 meters.

The Dull-blue Flycatcher is an endemic resident breeder to the central highlands of Sri Lanka, with Horton Plains National Park being one of its notable habitats.

Despite its preference for forest habitats, the Dull-blue Flycatcher is relatively easy to observe. It is an active bird, primarily feeding on flying insects, beetles, caterpillars, and other insects, but it will also consume berries.

The Dull-blue Flycatcher is known for its loud and melodic song, which adds a musical backdrop to its native forested environments.

The breeding season for this species peaks in March and April, with a possibility of a second brood later in the year. The nest is a cup-shaped, compact mass of moss, typically situated on a well-shaded rock ledge. The clutch usually consists of two or three brown-spotted pink eggs.

While similar in shape to the Spotted Flycatcher, the Dull-blue Flycatcher can be distinguished by its unique coloration and habitat preferences.

The diet of the Dull-blue Flycatcher is composed mainly of flying insects, beetles, caterpillars, and other insects, supplemented by berries.

The Dull-blue Flycatcher is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it faces threats that could lead to its vulnerability in the near future.

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - WOOLLY PLECTRANTHRUS (Coleus barbatus)

Coleus barbatus, also known by the synonyms Plectranthus barbatus and incorrectly Coleus forskalaei (and other spellings of this epithet), is a tropical perennial plant related to the typical coleus species. It is known by the common name woolly plectranthus. It produces forskolin, an extract useful for pharmaceutical preparations and research in cell biology.

The Brazilian name is boldo brasileiro (pronounced [ˈbowdu bɾaziˈlejɾu]), or boldo gaúcho, as opposed to the Chilean true boldo; boldo-da-terra (pronounced [ˈbowdu dɐ ˈtɛʁɐ]); boldo-de-jardim (pronounced [ˈbowdu dʒi ʒaʁˈdʒĩ]); or tapete-de-Oxalá (pronounced [tɐˈpetʃi dʒoʃaˈla]; 'Oxalá's carpet', because of its velvety texture).

In the French Caribbean, it is called "doliprane" (from the brand name of a paracetamol-based drug) because of its uses as a painkiller in folk medicine.

It is a semi-succulent plant that grows as a subshrub to 1.5 m high by 1.5 m wide. The oppositely arranged leaves are relatively large with serrated leaf edges. Purple-blue flowers grow on upright racemose inflorescences that are up to 25 centimeters long.

Coleus barbatus was first described by Henry Cranke Andrews in 1810 as Plectranthus barbatus. It was transferred to Coleus by Bentham in 1830. Although Coleus was previously sunk into Plectranthus, the original binomial was revived in a major study of the subtribe Plectranthinae in 2019.

The distribution area extends from tropical Africa across the Arabian Peninsula to parts of South Asia and East Asia. It is native to Burundi, China South-Central, East Himalaya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Yemen and Zaïre.

Herbal teas made from Coleus barbatus contain rosmarinic acid and also flavonoid glucuronides and diterpenoids.

Forskolin, which derives its name from the incorrect binomial name of this plant, Coleus forskohlii, has been isolated from the roots.

31-3-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - AMERICAN BLACK ELDERBERRY (Sambucus canadensis)

Sambucus canadensis, the American black elderberry, Canada elderberry, or common elderberry, is a North American species of elderberry.

It is a deciduous suckering shrub growing to 6 metres (20 feet) tall. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, pinnate with five to nine leaflets, the leaflets around 10 centimetres (4 inches) long and 5 cm broad. In summer, it bears large (20–30 cm or 8–12 in diameter) corymbs of white flowers above the foliage, the individual flowers 5–6 millimetres (3⁄16–1⁄4 in) diameter, with five petals.

The fruit (known as an elderberry) is a dark purple to black berry 3–5 mm diameter, produced in drooping clusters in the fall.

It is closely related to the European Sambucus nigra. Some authors treat it as conspecific, under the name Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis.

The species is native to a large area of North America east of the Rocky Mountains, south throughout the mainland Americas to Bolivia. It is considered introduced in the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia. It grows in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry soils, primarily in sunny locations.

Inedible parts of the plant, such as the leaves, stems, roots, seeds and unripe fruits, can be toxic due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids. Traditional methods of consuming elderberry includes jams, jellies, and syrups, all of which cook down the fruit and strain out the seeds.

Unpublished research may show that S. canadensis (American elderberry) has lower cyanide levels than apple juice, and that its fruit does not contain enough beta-glucosidase (which convert glucosides into cyanide) to create cyanide within that biochemical pathway. For comparison, assuming S. nigra has levels of no more than 25 micrograms of cyanogenic glycosides/milligram of berry weight, assuming all of the glycosides were converted to cyanide, and assuming a toxicity of 50 mg for a 50 kg vertebrate, one would need to eat 2 kilograms (~4.4 pounds) of berries in one sitting to reach the lower limits of lethal toxicity (1 mg cyanide/kg of weight). For the upper limits (3 mg/kg), one would need to eat 6 kg or ~13 pounds.

The flower called elderflower is edible, as are the ripe berries, although cooking may be preferred to inhibit intake of glycosides, which are associated with potential toxicity. A drink can be made from soaking the flower heads in water for eight hours. Other uses for the fruit include wine, jelly and dye. The leaves and inner bark can be used as an insecticide and a dye.

The boiled inner bark of the elderberry was used by the Iroquois of North America as a pain reliever in toothaches, being applied to the side of the cheek that was most virulent.

29-3-2025 YALA NAT PARK, SRI LANKA - SRI LANKAN SPOTTED DEER (MALE) (Axis axis ssp. ceylonensis)

The chital or cheetal (Axis axis; /tʃiːtəl/), also called spotted deer, chital deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent. It was first described by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. A moderate-sized deer, male chital reach 90 cm (35 in) and females 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder. While males weigh 70–90 kg (150–200 lb), females weigh around 40–60 kg (88–132 lb). It is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white. The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long.

The vernacular name "chital" (pronounced /tʃiːtəl/) comes from cītal (Hindi: चीतल), derived from the Sanskrit word citrala (चित्रल), meaning "variegated" or "spotted". The name of the cheetah has a similar origin. Variations of "chital" include "cheetal" and "cheetul". Other common names for the chital are Indian spotted deer (or simply the spotted deer) and axis deer.

29-3-2025 YALA NAT PARK, SRI LANKA - GREY HEADED FISH EAGLE (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus)

The Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus) is a robust raptor, cloaked in dark brown plumage with a contrasting pale grey head. Its underbelly is lighter, and it boasts white legs. The tail is white with a distinctive broad black subterminal band. This bird of prey exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females typically outweighing males.

Adults display a grey-brown back with a pale grey head and pale iris. The breast and neck are brown, while the wings are dark brown with blacker primaries. Juveniles are paler with brown heads and necks, greyer on the sides of the throat, and exhibit buff supercilia and whitish streaks. Their tails are marbled black and white with a broader dark subterminal band and a white tip.

Inhabiting lowland forests up to 1,500 meters above sea level, the Grey-headed Fish Eagle is found near water bodies such as rivers, lakes, lagoons, reservoirs, marshes, swamps, and coastal lagoons and estuaries. It is also known to frequent irrigation tanks in Sri Lanka.

This eagle's range extends from India and Southeast Asia to Malaysia, Western Indonesia, and the Philippines. It is generally uncommon, with varying local presence across its distribution.

A sedentary and often solitary bird, the Grey-headed Fish Eagle spends much time perched on bare branches overlooking water, swooping down occasionally to catch fish. Its flight appears heavy, with sharp wing-beats, and it rarely soars, likely due to its habitat.

Its vocal repertoire includes a gurgling "awh-awhr" and "chee-warr," an "ooo-wok," a nasally "uh-wuk," and a loud, high-pitched scream. These calls are typically emitted from a perch or in flight, becoming more vocal during the breeding season.

Breeding seasons vary across its range, with nests built high in trees near water. The clutch size ranges from 2 to 4 eggs, but typically only 2 white eggs are laid. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.

Specializing in piscivory, the Grey-headed Fish Eagle preys on live fish and scavenges for dead ones. It may also consume reptiles, birds, and small mammals. It hunts from perches or by quartering over water, using its recurved talons to snatch fish.

Listed as Near-Threatened, the Grey-headed Fish Eagle faces threats from habitat loss, deforestation, over-fishing, and pollution. Its population is estimated between 10,000–100,000 mature individuals, with a declining trend.

11-5-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea cervantaria)

Small moth of the Geometridae family; It is distributed in southeastern France, the Iberian Peninsula and northwest Africa; present in the warm areas of the Iberian Peninsula.

Geometric shape, with the front wings ending in a sharp edge and the rear wings with a wide and rounded shape; gray background color, this gray can be darker, lighter or with an ocher tone; Two irregular lines are drawn on the wings, one proximal and one distal on the wing dorsum, a dark dot on each wing, a subterminal dark line formed by small black strokes, unlike other Idaea, which only have a subterminal dotted line; long ocher fimbriae.

It lives in dry and sunny places, rocky slopes.

I do not know the food plants for the larvae, but this photograph corresponds to an open area of ​​dryland crops, where trees and shrubs are scarce and grasses and other wild herbaceous plants are abundant.

They fly in one generation a year, the months of May to July.

11-5-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ROUND NECKED LONGHORN BEETLE (Stenopterus rufus)

Stenopterus rufus is a xerothermic Euro-Turanian species, widespread from Portugal to Turkmenistan, with two "real" subspecies (S. rufus transcaspicus Lazarev, 2008 and S. rufus syriacus Pic, 1892). The third one, S. r. geniculatus Kraatz, 1863), is illusory since specimens with the same characters are also frequently collected from Spain to Germany or the Netherlands, where they are even predominant. Moreover, perfectly typical ones are found in the Balkans, Anatolia and even in the typical series of geniculatus (excerpted from [✧]). The nominotypical subspecies is distributed in warm regions of Central and West Europe and almost whole Mediterranean region.

Larvae of S. rufus develop in dead branches of many deciduous trees and shrubs, pupation in pupal cell in the wood during spring. Life-cycle two years. Adults, active from late spring May to August, are diurnal and anthophilous (typically on Achillea or Apiaceae) [❖].

Body length: 7 - 16 mm

Life cycle: 2 years

Adults in: May - August

Host plant: polyphagous in deciduous trees (Quercus, Castanea, Robinia, Juglans, Prunus, Salix, Pistacia etc.)

Distribution: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldavia, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Canary Islands

11-5-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN WHITE BANDED SPIDER (Evarcha jucunda)

Evarcha jucunda is a species of jumping spider.

It occurs naturally in the Mediterranean region, but was introduced to Belgium. It is also sometimes found in German greenhouses. Typically, it shows a large white or yellowish band surrounding the head region and a smaller one at the anterior end of abdomen. Males are black with a white line around their head and the top of their abdomen, which is brown.

The species name is derived from Latin jucundus "pleasant".

11-5-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COMMON GARBAGE LINE WEB SPIDER (Cyclosa insulana)

The "Garbage-Line Web Spider," also known as a trashline orbweaver, is a spider belonging to the genus Cyclosa. These orb-weaver spiders are characterized by building webs that include a linear decoration of debris, often including prey remains and other materials, which likely aids in camouflage. The spider itself often rests in the center of the web, within this trashline, camouflaged by the debris. 

Genus Cyclosa of the orb weaving Areneidae family is also called the Garbage Line Spider because they have radial lines of thickened silk that contains the remains of their prey with the spider hidden in the line in the centre of the web. Perhaps the spider's lumpy shape helps it to look like the other detritus.

Here's a more detailed look at the Garbage-Line Web Spider:

Genus: Cyclosa. 

Common Name: Trashline orbweaver, Garbage-Line Spider. 

Web Structure: Cyclosa spiders build relatively small, circular orb webs. 

Web Decoration: They create a distinctive "garbage line" or stabilimentum by incorporating debris like prey remains, exuvia (shed skin), and other materials into their web. 

Camouflage: The spider itself often rests within the center of the web, within this trashline, blending in with the debris. 

Distribution: Cyclosa spiders are found worldwide.