25-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - EURASIAN LINNET (MALE) (Linaria cannabina)

The common linnet (Linaria cannabina) is a small passerine bird of the finch family, Fringillidae. It derives its common name and the scientific name, Linaria, from its fondness for hemp seeds and flax seeds—flax being the English name of the plant from which linen is made.

The common linnet is a slim bird with a long tail. The upper parts are brown, the throat is sullied white and the bill is grey. The summer male has a grey nape, red head-patch and red breast. Females and young birds lack the red and have white underparts, the breast streaked buff.

The common linnet breeds in Europe, the western Palearctic and North Africa. It is partially resident, but many eastern and northern birds migrate farther south in the breeding range or move to the coasts. They are sometimes found several hundred miles off-shore. It has been introduced to the Dominican Republic.

14-10-2026 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, ALBUFERA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)

The western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Most taxonomic authorities lump this species and the eastern cattle egret together (called the cattle egret), but some (including the International Ornithologists' Union) separate them. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world in the last century.

It is a white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season. It nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Western cattle egrets exploit drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands and rice paddies. They often accompany cattle or other large mammals, catching insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the cattle egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.

13-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN LACE BORDER MOTH (Scopula submutata)

The Wave Moth (Scopula submutata), also known as the Mediterranean Lace Border, is a small geometrid moth found in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. Recognized by its delicate pattern, it thrives in dry habitats and is primarily active between May and October.

Key Identification & Physical Traits

Size: It has a small wingspan ranging from 18 to 25 mm.Appearance: The wings are adorned with a lacy, variegated pattern of fine lines and a silky texture.

Variation: Coloration can range depending on subspecies, often appearing pale grayish-brown or light ochre to blend into its arid environment.

Habitat & Behavior

Distribution: Primarily native to the Mediterranean basin, it is widely observed in regions spanning from NW-Africa and Southern Europe (such as Spain and Greece) through Turkey and the Levant.Environment: The moth favors open, dry grasslands, rocky slopes, screes, and scrublands (phrygana).

Flight Period: It typically undergoes two generations per year. Depending on the local climate, adults can be found on the wing from May to October.

Lifecycle & DietFood Plants: The larvae are oligophagous, meaning they feed on a restricted group of plants. Their primary host plants include mint-family herbs like Thymus, Satureja, and Origanum vulgare (wild marjoram).

Larval Stage: The caterpillars are slender and taper slightly toward the head, typically active in the warmer months.

14-10-2026 RIFFLES BEAR CAM , ALASKA - BROWN BEAR (Ursus arctos) WEBCAM

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear native to Eurasia and North America. Of the land carnivorans, it is rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear, which is much less variable in size and slightly bigger on average. The brown bear is a sexually dimorphic species, as adult males are larger and more compactly built than females. The fur ranges in color from cream to reddish to dark brown. It has evolved large hump muscles, unique among bears, and paws up to 21 cm (8.3 in) wide and 36 cm (14 in) long, to effectively dig through dirt. Its teeth are similar to those of other bears and reflect its dietary plasticity.

Throughout the brown bear's range, it inhabits mainly forested habitats in elevations of up to 5,000 m (16,000 ft). It is omnivorous, and consumes a variety of plant and animal species. Contrary to popular belief, the brown bear derives 90% of its diet from plants. When hunting, it will target animals as small as insects and rodents to those as large as moose or muskoxen. In parts of coastal Alaska, brown bears predominantly feed on spawning salmon that come near shore to lay their eggs. For most of the year, it is a usually solitary animal that associates only when mating or raising cubs. Females give birth to an average of one to three cubs that remain with their mother for 1.5 to 4.5 years. It is a long-lived animal, with an average lifespan of 25 years in the wild. Attacks on humans, though widely reported, are generally rare.

While the brown bear's range has shrunk, and it has faced local extinctions across its wide range, it remains listed as a least concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with a total estimated population in 2017 of 110,000. Populations that were hunted to extinction in the 19th and 20th centuries are the Atlas bear of North Africa and the Californian, Ungavan and Mexican populations of the grizzly bear of North America. Many of the populations in the southern parts of Eurasia are highly endangered as well. One of the smaller-bodied forms, the Himalayan brown bear, is critically endangered: it occupies only 2% of its former range and is threatened by uncontrolled poaching for its body parts. The Marsican brown bear of central Italy is one of several currently isolated populations of the Eurasian brown bear and is believed to have a population of only about 50 bears.

The brown bear is considered to be one of the most popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. It has been kept in zoos since ancient times, and has been tamed and trained to perform in circuses and other acts. For thousands of years, the brown bear has had a role in human culture, and is often featured in literature, art, folklore, and mythology.

Brown bears inhabit the broadest range of habitats of any living bear species. They seem to have no altitudinal preferences and have been recorded from sea level to an elevation of 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in the Himalayas. In most of their range, brown bears seem to prefer semi-open country, with a scattering of vegetation, that can allow them a resting spot during the day. However, they have been recorded as inhabiting every variety of northern temperate forest known to occur.

This species was once native to Europe, much of Asia, the Atlas Mountains of Africa, and North America, but are now extirpated in some areas, and their populations have greatly decreased in other areas. There are approximately 200,000 brown bears left in the world. The largest populations are in Russia with 130,000, the United States with 32,500, and Canada with around 25,000. Brown bears live in Alaska, east through the Yukon and Northwest Territories, south through British Columbia, and through the western half of Alberta. The Alaskan population is estimated at a healthy 30,000 individuals. In the lower 48 states, they are repopulating slowly, but steadily along the Rockies and the western Great Plains.

14-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PALE MOTTLED WILLOW MOTH (Caradrina clavipalpis)

Caradrina clavipalpis, the pale mottled willow, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in his 1763 Entomologia Carniolica. It is found in the Palearctic realm (Europe, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Kuwait, Russia, Central Asia, Mongolia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-west India, and Sri Lanka). It is an introduced species in North America, where it was first reported from Queens in New York City in 1993. In 2009 it was found in Rochester, New York, so it appears to be established and spreading.

The wingspan is 26–35 mm. The length of the forewings is 12–15 mm. Forewing pale to dark grey with darker dusting and sometimes tinged with ochreous; the terminal area generally fuscous; the lines starting from black costal spots; the inner and outer double, blackish, the inner minutely waved, the outer dentate; subterminal line pale, waved, preceded by a grey shade with dentate rufous marks in it; stigmata small, fuscous, the orbicular rounded, the reniform a narrow lunule, with two white dots on its inner edge and three on outer; hindwing white, the veins and termen dark grey; — in laciniosa Donz. the subterminal line consists of a row of three yellowish spots each extended to termen; — the form leucoptera Thnbg., from Scandinavia, Finland, and the Ural Mountains, has fuscous suffusion over the head, thorax, and forewing, the hindwing remaining white.

14-10-2026 SOLLANA SOUTH, VALENCIA - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

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

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

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

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

14-10-2026 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - MARBLED TEAL (Marmaronetta angustirostris)

The Marbled Duck, or Marbled Teal, is a medium-sized duck adorned with a pale sandy-brown plumage, intricately mottled with off-white markings. Its scientific name, Marmaronetta angustirostris, reflects its marbled appearance and narrow bill. The species is characterized by a distinctive dark eye-patch and a somewhat shaggy head. Adults span approximately 39–42 cm in length, with females typically being slightly smaller than males. Juveniles resemble adults but exhibit more pronounced off-white blotching.

When identifying the Marbled Duck, look for its unique pale coloration and marbled pattern. The lack of a speculum on the secondaries and the pale wings without a marked pattern are key features to note in flight. The dark eye-patch and shaggy head are also distinctive characteristics that aid in identification.

14-10-2026 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (JUVENILE) (Charadrius hiaticula)

The common ringed plover or ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula ) is a small plover that breeds in Arctic Eurasia. The genus name Charadrius is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek kharadrios a bird found in ravines and river valleys (kharadra, "ravine"). The specific hiaticula is Latin and has a similar meaning to the Greek term, coming from hiatus, "cleft" and -cola, "dweller" (colere, "to dwell").

Adults are 17–19.5 cm (6.7–7.7 in) in length with a 35–41 cm (14–16 in) wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes and a short orange and black bill. The legs are orange and only the outer two toes are slightly webbed, unlike the slightly smaller but otherwise very similar semipalmated plover, which has all three toes slightly webbed, and also a marginally narrower breast band; it was in former times included in the present species. Juvenile ringed plovers are duller than the adults in colour, with an often incomplete grey-brown breast band, a dark bill and dull yellowish-grey legs.

14-10-2026 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)

The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a small wader, formerly sometimes separated with the other "stints" in the genus Erolia. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–1532. It derives from dun, "dull brown", with the suffix -ling, meaning a person or thing with the given quality.

It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. Birds that breed in northern Europe and Asia are long-distance migrants, wintering south to Africa, southeast Asia and the Middle East. Birds that breed in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic migrate short distances to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America, although those nesting in northern Alaska overwinter in Asia. Many dunlins winter along the Iberian south coast.

 An adult dunlin in breeding plumage shows the distinctive black belly which no other similar-sized wader possesses. The winter dunlin is basically grey above and white below. Juveniles are brown above with two whitish "V" shapes on the back. They usually have black marks on the flanks or belly and show a strong white wingbar in flight. The legs and slightly decurved bill are black. There are a number of subspecies differing mainly in the extent of rufous colouration in the breeding plumage and the bill length. Bill length varies between sexes, the females having longer bills than the males. On the tip of the Dunlin's bill is a soft covering that fills with blood and with many nerve endings, forming a sensitive probe that is used to locate invertebrate prey in mud and sand. Although the bill can look sharp-pointed in dead specimens, in life it is blunt.

14-10-2026 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - MILK SNAIL (Otala lactea)

Otala lactea, known as the milk snail or Spanish snail, is a large, edible species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk, in the family Helicidae, the typical snails.

Archaeological recovery at the Ancient Roman site of Volubilis, in Morocco, illustrates prehistoric consumption of O. lactea by humans.

This species of snail is native to the western Mediterranean Basin in the southern Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, Algeria, Balearic and Canary Islands, Malta and Corsica. It has been introduced to the Azores, Madeira, United States, including Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, and to Bermuda, Cuba, and southeastern Australia.

11-10-2015 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR - EURASIAN REED WARBLER (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

The Reed Warbler is a plain unstreaked warbler. It's warm brown on top and beige underneath. A summer visitor to breed in the UK, the largest concentrations are East Anglia and along the south coast. There are relatively few breeding in Scotland and Ireland. It spends winters in Africa.

The Reed Warbler is a bird of reedbeds, where its rhythmic song can be heard from April to September.

A recent colonist to southern Scotland, the Reed Warbler is largely confined to reedbeds and riverside reed fringes of England, Wales and eastern parts of the island of Ireland. The Reed Warbler is double brooded, laying two clutches of eggs during late spring and midsummer. It is a common host species of the Cuckoo.

UK Reed Warbler numbers increased in the latter part of the 20th century, stabilising in the early-2000s. Most Reed Warblers leave the Britain & Ireland by mid September to spend the winter in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.

13-10-2026 TURPENTINE CREEK, ARKANSAS - BENGAL TIGER (FEMALE) (Panthera tigris) WEBCAM

The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the nominate Tiger subspecies. It ranks among the biggest wild cats alive today. It is considered to belong to the world's charismatic megafauna. The Bengal tiger is estimated to have been present in the Indian subcontinent since the Late Pleistocene, for about 12,000 to 16,500 years. Today, it is threatened by a number of threats caused by humans.

The Bengal tiger's coat is yellow to light orange, with stripes ranging from dark brown to black; the belly and the interior parts of the limbs are white, and the tail is orange with black rings. The white tiger is a recessive mutant, which is reported in the wild from time to time in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, and especially in the former State of Rewa. However, it is not an occurrence of albinism. The Bengal tiger has exceptionally stout teeth. Its canines are 7.5 to 10 cm (3.0 to 3.9 in) long and thus the longest among all cats. 

The tiger is a carnivore and prefers hunting large ungulates such as gaur, sambar, chital, barasingha, water buffalo, nilgai, serow and takin. Medium-sized prey includes wild boar, Indian hog deer, Indian muntjac and northern plains gray langur. Small prey such as porcupine, hare and peafowl form a small part of its diet. Because of the encroachment of humans into tiger habitat, it also preys on domestic livestock.

10-10-2015 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus)

The Green Sandpiper is a fairly bulky, small wader that looks very dark above and white below. It is typically found by inland fresh waters. Unlike most Scolopacidae, it usually nests in trees, but instead of building a nest, it uses an old one, abandoned by other species, especially thrushes and Wood Pigeon. However, it may occasionally nest on the ground among tree roots.    

The Green Sandpiper breeds in forested habitats across N Europe and Asia, and spends the winter from Africa to SE Asia.

This species is currently not globally threatened, in spite of some decline due to habitat changes in wintering areas.

The Green Sandpiper breeds in Scandinavia and N and E Europe, through C Asia and E Siberia, with isolated population in Kyrgyzstan (C Asia) and extreme NW China (NW Xinjiang).

It winters in Mediterranean and tropical Africa, and from Turkey through Middle-East and Indian Subcontinent to S japan, E China, Philippines and N Borneo. There are small populations wintering in W and WC Europe, and in Tien Shan area.  

The Green Sandpiper breeds in damp area in various types of woodlands including swampy woodland, montane forest (pine, spruce and alder), usually close to water, in vicinity of rivers and streams, swamps and lakes.  

On the wintering grounds, it can be found in freshwater locations, by streams, pools, ditches, sewage farms, marshes, and occasionally, sheltered tidal creeks.

This species is recorded at high elevation in winter, more than 2700 metres in Ethiopia, 2800 metres in Bhutan, and more than 3000 metres in Turkey.

30-9-2015 -CAMI LES FONTS OLIVA, VALENCIA - BLUETHROAT (FEMALE) (Luscinia svecica)

The bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It, and similar small European species, are often called chats.

It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in wet birch wood or bushy swamp in Europe and across the Palearctic with a foothold in western Alaska. It nests in tussocks or low in dense bushes. It winters in the Iberian Peninsular, the northern half of Africa, and in southern Asia (among others including the Indian subcontinent).

The bluethroat bird is similar in size to the European robin at 13–14 cm. It is plain brown above except for the distinctive black tail with red side patches. It has a strong white supercilium. Despite the distinctive appearance of the males, recent genetic studies show only limited variation between the forms, and confirm that this is a single species. Moults begins in July after breeding and are completed in 40–45 days, before the birds migrate.

13-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SOUTHERN FIELD CRICKET (Gryllus bimaculatus)

 Gryllus bimaculatus is a species of cricket in the subfamily Gryllinae. Most commonly known as the two-spotted cricket, it has also been called the "African" or "Mediterranean field cricket", although its recorded distribution also includes much of Asia, including China and Indochina through to Borneo. It can be discriminated from other Gryllus species by the two dot-like marks on the base of its wings.

The species is popular for use as a food source for insectivorous animals like spiders and reptiles kept as pets or in zoos. They are easy to raise and do not require prolonged exposure to cold in order to complete their life cycle.

In the wild, male crickets do not tolerate one another and will fight until there is a winner. The loser usually retreats without serious injury. The fighting method involves opening the mandibles as wide as possible, gripping the opponent's mandibles and pushing with the hind legs.

Male crickets of this species produce several distinctive chirps, though each sound is made by rubbing the two outer wings together. Loud and steady chirps made throughout the night are to attract females and to warn off other males. Loud fast-frequency chirps are emitted when males encounter one another and are preparing to fight. They are intended to frighten off the rival male. There are two other chirp patterns that can be observed in their mating behaviors. A soft clipping sound, 'calling' song, is made when a female is known to be nearby but in a certain distance, and more rigorous sound, 'courtship' song, is made when a female is close enough to mate (mounting on the male's back). These two songs can be easily distinguished by human ears based on its chirp patterns and frequency components.

12-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TOMATO LOOPER MOTH (Chrysodeixis chalcites)

Chrysodeixis chalcites, the tomato looper or golden twin-spot moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae, subfamily Plusiinae. It mainly lives in southern Europe, the Levant and tropical Africa, but can be seen migrating across much of Europe. In 2013, it was spotted in Canada. It is an important horticultural pest in New Zealand.

The length of the forewings is 15–18 mm. The moth flies from June to October.

The larvae feed on various herbaceous plants, such as Echium vulgare, Apium, Rubus, tomato, Fragaria and tobacco which is why it is perceived as a pest.

Chrysodeixis chalcites and Chrysodeixis eriosoma moths cannot be separated morphologically and they may be sibling species. They are distinguished by DNA, pheromones and geographic origin, as C. chalcites is found in the palearctic and C. eriosoma in the tropics and subtropics. The literature referring to C. chalcites in southern and eastern Asia or Oceania may actually refer to C. eriosoma.

25-9-2015 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - COMMON KINGFISHER (FEMALE) (Alcedo atthis)

 The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.

This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.

The Common kingfisher in most parts of its range is indeed common, but it is under threat from river pollution, disturbances, and human developments. It is also vulnerable to bouts of severe winter weather, as it is unable to feed when bodies of water freeze over.

Common kingfishers serve as a good indicator of the health of an ecosystem. As they feed on small aquatic animals, toxins in the water affect them severely. A strong kingfisher population therefore usually means a healthy habitat. Common kingfishers are also important predators throughout their range of small fish from freshwater habitats, thus controlling their populations.

7-11-2016 BANGKOK, THAILAND - BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus)

The brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia. It is closely related to the red-backed shrike (L. collurio) and isabelline shrike (L. isabellinus). The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The specific cristatus is Latin for "crested", used in a broader sense than in English. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.

Like most other shrikes, it has a distinctive black "bandit-mask" through the eye and is found mainly in open scrub habitats, where it perches on the tops of thorny bushes in search of prey. Several populations of this widespread species form distinctive subspecies which breed in temperate Asia and migrate to their winter quarters in tropical Asia. They are sometimes found as vagrants in Europe and North America.

3-12-2015 SINGAPORE - YELLOW HOODED BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Chrysomus icterocephalus)

The yellow-hooded blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad, and Venezuela. It has been recorded as a vagrant on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. In addition, there is a small population in extreme eastern Panama and a previously misidentified specimen from Barbados.

The yellow-hooded blackbird is about 17 to 19 cm (6.7 to 7.5 in) long. Males weigh an average of 35.9 g (1.3 oz) and females average 26.8 g (0.95 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a bright yellow head, throat, neck, and upper breast except for black lores. Ther rest of their plumage is glossy black. Adult females of the nominate subspecies have a yellow supercilium, throat, and upper breast. Their crown and the rest of their face are citrine. Their upperparts are dull grayish olive with dusky streaks. Their wings and tail are a darker brownish olive. Their underparts are mostly olive with a somewhat olive-streaked brownish belly. Adult males of subspecies C. i. bogotensis are like the nominate. Adult females are darker than the nominate. Their head is less yellowish overall. They have a blackish mask from the lores to the ear coverts and a brighter yellow supercillium that wraps around behind the ear coverts to meet a yellow upper breast. Juveniles are similar to adult females but are duller, have less yellow on the head, paler upperparts, and faintly streaked buffish underparts. Both sexes of both subspecies have a dark brown iris and black legs and feet. Males have a black bill; females' bills often have a pale base to the mandible.

11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TACHANID FLY (Trigonospila transvittata)

Trigonospila transvittata is a distinctive species of parasitic fly belonging to the family Tachinidae. Known for their striking, zebra-like appearance, these small flies are highly effective natural enemies of other insects.

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Insecta

• Order: Diptera (True flies)

• Family: Tachinidae (Bristle flies)

• Genus: Trigonospila

• Species: Trigonospila transvittata (originally described by Pandellé in 1896)

Unlike many famous Trigonospila species that dominate Australia and New Zealand (such as the biological control agent Trigonospila brevifacies), Trigonospila transvittata has a predominantly Palaearctic distribution. It is widespread across:

• Europe & the Middle East

• North Africa: Long documented in Algeria and Egypt, with expanding research adding new country records in northern regions like Morocco (specifically the Rif mountains).

• Middle Asia through to the East Palaearctic region.

Adults are relatively small, delicate flies measuring around 6 to 7 mm in length. They can be easily recognized by their highly ornate markings:

• Coloring: Jet-black body heavily contrasted by pearly-white to silvery-golden transverse bars running across both the thorax and abdomen.

• Thorax: Typically features two bold, pale transverse bands.

• Abdomen: Adorned with three distinct pale bands spanning the third to fifth tergites.

• Body Texture: Like most tachinids, they possess a robust, shield-like postscutellum on the thorax and prominent, dark sensory bristles covering the rear of their abdomen.

While the exact, specific host insects for T. transvittata remain understudied, its biology aligns with the broader Trigonospila genus. They are strictly parasitoids during their larval stage:

• Egg Laying: Female flies actively seek out host larvae (typically leaf-eating caterpillars or beetle grubs) and glue a white, oval egg directly onto the host's cuticle, often right behind the head where the host cannot reach it.

• Larval Development: The maggot hatches, bores directly through the host's skin, and feeds internally on non-vital tissues first, eventually consuming the vital organs and killing the host before emerging to pupate.

• Adult Diet: Free-living adults do not hunt other insects; instead, they emerge to feed harmlessly on plant nectar and honeydew.

11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TYPICAL GREEN LACEWING (Apertochrysa flavifrons)

Apertochrysa flavifrons is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, formerly classified under the genera Dichochrysa and Pseudomallada.

Taxonomy and Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Order: Neuroptera (Lacewings and allies)

• Family: Chrysopidae (Green lacewings)

• Genus: Apertochrysa

• Synonyms: Dichochrysa flavifrons, Pseudomallada flavifrons

Identification and Morphology

• Coloration: A pale green lacewing that generally lacks a prominent pale yellow dorsal stripe down the back.

• Head Markings: It has a square-shaped scape (first antennal segment), a green second antennal segment, reddish-brown spots on the sides of the face, and crucially no black spot between the bases of the antennae (which distinguishes it from related species like Apertochrysa prasina and Apertochrysa ventralis).

• Wings and Venation: The forewings feature a dark spot typically present at the base of the costa, the basal costal cross-vein is dark, and the RMCV vein is positioned proximal to the apex of cell IMC.

• Palps: Ringed with black.

Phenology and Activity

• Active Season: Typically active from late June through August, with a peak in late July and early August, and occasional records stretching into October.

11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (idaea cervantaria)

1.4 to 2.2 cm wingspan. Straw-coloured, with yellowish wings with scattered dark, brown or greyish scales. On each wing it has a wavy line with small pointed spots, pointing backwards. Sometimes these details are barely noticeable. Between these lines and the rear edge, it has dark spots that may have a  light wavy stripe. It has a spot on each wing but those on the front wings may go unnoticed.

There are other similar species that are impossible to distinguish externally, so for a correct and safe identification, genital analysis must be used. Several of them have been found in the province of Malaga, although I. cervantaria is currently the most common and the only one that has been observed in urban environments.

The caterpillars feed on dry leaves of herbaceous plants and in captivity on petals of different Asteraceae and sea alder (Lobularia maritima), the latter common in our province, especially in sunny areas of the limestone mountains, and occasionally used in gardening for the showiness of its inflorescences.

11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (JUVENILE) (Tarentola mauritanica)

 

Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It has been introduced to Madeira and Balearic Islands, and the Americas (in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and California). A nocturnal animal with a predominantly insectivorous diet, it is commonly observed on walls in urban environments in warm coastal areas; it can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as an insect hunter. A robust species, up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, its tubercules are enlarged and give the species a spiny armoured appearance.

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is also known as moorish gecko, crocodile gecko, European common gecko, and, regionally, as osga (in Portuguese), salamanquesa (in Spanish) and dragó (in Catalan).

3-12-2015 JURONG, SINGAPORE - GOLDEN BREASTED STARLING

The golden-breasted starling is a social animal, living in groups of three to twelve individuals. Adults can be found from January to June and from August to November, with a peak in January.

The golden-breasted starling molts once a year, after the breeding season. These birds are monogamous. The female usually lays between three and five pale green eggs with red speckles. It nests in tree holes, usually in tree holes that woodpeckers have left. The nest is made from leaves, roots and other vegetation. Entire family groups cooperate in raising young by gathering food and nesting materials.

In contrast to other brilliant starlings, which feed mainly on fruits, their diet consists mainly of insects and termites. Adult birds catch insects in flight and dig up termite mounds to find prey. Snails, spiders, crustaceans, or small vertebrates, such as lizards, sometimes integrates the diet.

11-10-2026 RIFFLES BEAR CAMP, ALASKA - BROWN BEAR (Ursus arctos) WEBCAM

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear species found across Eurasia and North America. In North America, the populations of brown bears are called grizzly bears, while the subspecies that inhabits the Kodiak Islands of Alaska is known as the Kodiak bear. It is one of the largest living terrestrial members of the order Carnivora, rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus), which is much less variable in size and slightly bigger on average. 

The brown bear's range includes parts of Russia, Central Asia, the Himalayas, China, Canada, the United States, Hokkaido, Scandinavia, Finland, the Balkans, the Picos de Europa and the Carpathian region (especially Romania), Iran, Anatolia, and the Caucasus. The brown bear is recognized as a national and state animal in several European countries.