9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus ostralegus)

The Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) also known as the common pied oystercatcher, or (in Europe) just oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It has striking black and white plumage, a long straight orange-red bill, red eyes and relatively short dull pink legs. The sexes are similar in appearance but the bill of the female is longer than that of the male.

It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with three races breeding in western Europe, central Eurosiberia, Kamchatka, China, and the western coast of Korea. No other oystercatcher occurs within this area.

25-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LEAFHOPPER ASSASSIN BUG (Zelus renardii)

Zelus renardii, commonly known as the leaf hopper assassin bug, is a predacious insect contained within tribe Harpactorini. Diurnal and found on both wild and crop plants, Z. renardii has spread from its native habitats in western North and Central America into three other biogeographic regions across the globe.

Zelus renardii is considered a sister species to Z. cervicalis, as they share two unique characters: the lateral margins of dorsal phallothecal sclerite are recurved, and the medial process is strongly hooked apically.

The native range of Z. renardii extends over various climatic zones throughout mainland North and Central America at altitudes between 8m to 2000m above sea level. Native ranges include tropical, dry, semi-arid, arid, and Mediterranean climates. Additionally, Z. renardii also appears well suited to urban and disturbed areas, as it has been observed in suburban areas on both native and non-native herbaceous and woody plants, as well as common garden plants. Egg masses can frequently be found on vegetable plants. Z. renardii is also sympatric with Z. tetracantus over a large part of its range in western USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica, and other parts of Central America.

The adaptability to multiple habitat conditions may have facilitated its spread in non-native regions as they have preadaptations to diverse climatic condition.To date, Z. renardii has expanded to Hawaii, where they preyed mainly on invasive sugarcane leafhopper (Perkinsiella saccharicida) and other tropical areas within the Pacific, such as Johnston Atoll, Samoa, and the Philippines Z. renardii has also been reported in Mediterranean-type environments within Chile and Argentina.

Expansion of Z. renardii throughout Europe began in Mediterranean regions, namely Greece and Spain. However, expansion has continued and Z. renardii is now known in multiple countries in the Mediterranean basin, such as France, Italy, Turkey and Albania. The majority of these observations have been from urban areas. Eight years post-introduction in Spain, Z. renardii had a limited expansion in Mediterranean-type habitats, and was mainly limited to coastal regions of the Iberian east and south from the city of Valencia to Malaga. Additionally, Z. renardii has been observed as far southeast as the Kfar Masaryk region of northern Israel.

10-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - RED RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica)

The Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a small, graceful passerine bird, a member of the swallow family. It is characterized by its blue upperparts and dusky underparts, with a distinctive pale or reddish rump, face, and neck collar. Unlike the Barn Swallow, it lacks a breast band but features black undertails. Its wings are broad yet pointed, allowing for swift and agile flight.

To identify the Red-rumped Swallow, look for its darker underparts compared to the Barn Swallow, and the absence of a breast band. The rump is pale or reddish, providing a stark contrast to the blue upperparts. The bird's flight is fast, with frequent swoops as it pursues airborne insects.

This species is often found in open hilly country, where it can be seen gracefully hawking for insects over grasslands. It is also known to adapt to human structures, nesting under cliff overhangs, on buildings, and bridges.

The Red-rumped Swallow has a wide distribution, breeding in temperate southern Europe and Asia, from Portugal and Spain to Japan, India, Sri Lanka, and tropical Africa. While the Indian and African populations are resident, European and other Asian birds are migratory, wintering in Africa or India.

10-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - ZEBRA FINCH (Taeniopygia guttata)

 Zebra finches are considered to be a model organism. Scientists study them to learn about the mating behavior, social interactions, and sounds of similar birds (like the closely related estrildid finches).

The male zebra finch is capable of composing unique songs. This behavior is so interesting that scientists have studied the finch’s genome for its implications in the evolution of human speech. It’s known that mutations in important genes will produce changes and even impairments in the bird’s sounds.

The zebra finch was first described by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1817.

The zebra finch was one of the first birds to have its genome sequenced.

The zebra finch exhibits some surprisingly human-like aspects in its mating behavior. For instance, there’s a clear tension between complete faithfulness and infidelity with its mate. It’s also been observed that chicks are more likely to survive childhood when the parents can freely choose their mates (as opposed to forced bonding), which may suggest an element of attraction is at play in their relationships. “Happy” pairs make for better parents. This is only a hypothetical suggestion, however, and merits further study.

24-10-2026 OLIFANTS RIVER MIDDELBURG, SA - SOUTHERN BUSHBUCK (FEMALE) (Tragelaphus scriptus) WEBCAM

The Cape bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus), also known as imbabala and southern bushbuck, is a common, medium-sized bushland-dwelling, and a widespread species of antelope in sub-Saharan Africa. It is found in a wide range of habitats, such as rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaic, savanna, bushveld, and woodland. It stands around 90 cm (35 in) at the shoulder and weigh from 45 to 80 kg (99 to 176 lb). They are generally solitary, territorial browsers.

Cape bushbucks stand around 90 cm (35 in) at the shoulder and weigh from 60 to 80 kg (130 to 180 lb) in males and 25 to 60 kg (55 to 132 lb)in females. They have a light brown coat, with up to seven white stripes and white splotches on the sides. The white patches are usually geometrically shaped and on the most mobile parts of their bodies, such as the ears, chin, tail, legs, and necks. The muzzles are also white. Horns, found only on the males, can reach over half a metre and have a single twist. At 10 months old, young males sprout horns that are particularly twisted and at maturity form the first loop of a spiral.

The Cape bushbuck has on average less striping and more uniform colouration than populations in West Africa. Cape bushbuck occur from the Cape in South Africa to Angola and Zambia and up the eastern part of Africa to Ethiopia and Somalia, according to one interpretation. Other interpretations restrict the taxon to Southern Africa sensu stricto or consider them sensu lato to occur in the above range except eastern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. 

23-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BROAD NOSED WEEVIL (Otiorhynchus parvicollis)

Otiorhynchus parvicollis is a specific species of broad-nosed weevils belonging to the large beetle family Curculionidae and the subfamily Entiminae. Like other members of its hyper-diverse genus, this flightless insect plays a specialized role within its ecosystem, typically categorized as a plant-associated herbivore.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)

• Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)

• Class: Insecta (Insects)

• Order: Coleoptera (Beetles)

• Family: Curculionidae (True Weevils)

• Subfamily: Entiminae (Broad-nosed Weevils)

• Tribe: Otiorhynchini

• Genus: Otiorhynchus

• Species: Otiorhynchus parvicollis

24-10-2026 ROSIE'S PAN KRUGER, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN SAVANNA ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana) WEBCAM

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant, is a species of elephant native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of three extant elephant species and, along with the African forest elephant, one of two extant species of African elephant. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with fully grown bulls reaching an average shoulder height of 3.04–3.36 metres (10.0–11.0 ft) and a body mass of 5.2–6.9 tonnes (5.7–7.6 short tons); the largest recorded specimen had a shoulder height of 3.96 metres (13.0 ft) and an estimated body mass of 10.4 tonnes (11.5 short tons). 

The African bush elephant is characterised by its long prehensile trunk with two finger-like processes; a convex back; large ears which help reduce body heat; and sturdy tusks that are noticeably curved. The skin is grey with scanty hairs, and bending cracks which support thermoregulation by retaining water.

3-2-2021 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - NORTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus)

The Northern Lapwing, known scientifically as Vanellus vanellus, is a distinctive bird with a notable crest on its head. It measures 28–33 cm in length, with a wingspan of 67–87 cm and a body mass ranging from 128–330 g. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; males have a pronounced crest and a stark black crown, throat, and breast, which contrasts sharply with their white face. Females and juveniles have shorter crests and less defined head markings, but their overall plumage is similar to that of the males, with a black and white coloration and a greenish tint on the back.

When identifying the Northern Lapwing, look for its rounded wings, short legs, and the characteristic crest that adorns its head. The male's long crest and contrasting black and white facial patterns are particularly striking during the breeding season. In flight, the species can be recognized by its slow wingbeats and the rounded shape of its wings.

12-12-2021 LLUTXENT, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)

 The European robin (Erithacus rubecula), known simply as the robin or robin redbreast in Great Britain and Ireland, is a small insectivorous passerine bird, a member of the chat subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family. It is a plucky little bird, with a length of about 12.5–14.0 cm and a weight of 16–22 g. Both sexes are similarly adorned with an orange breast and face, lined with grey, brown upper-parts, and a whitish belly.

Adult robins can be identified by their orange breast and face, bordered by a bluish-grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish, or olive-tinged in British birds, and the belly is whitish. The bill and eyes are black. Juvenile robins are distinguishable by their spotted brown and white plumage, with patches of orange gradually appearing as they mature.

12-12-2021 LLUTXENT, VALENCIA - COMMON CHAFFINCH (FEMALE) (Fringilla coelebs)

The Eurasian chaffinch, or simply the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), presents a striking dichotomy in plumage between the sexes. The male is resplendent with a blue-grey cap and rust-red underparts, while the female's attire is more subdued, though both genders boast two white wing bars and white sides to their tails. The male's robust voice is a herald of spring, as he sings from exposed perches to court a mate.

To identify the male chaffinch, look for the black forehead, blue-grey crown, and rust-red breast, which fades to a pale creamy-pink on the belly. The wings feature a white panel on the coverts and a buff-white bar on the secondaries and inner primaries. Females and juveniles are more muted with grey-brown shades above and paler below, but retain the distinctive wing markings.

Chaffinches favor wooded environments, thriving in areas where the July isotherm ranges from 12 to 30°C. They are adaptable, however, and can be found in a variety of forested landscapes across their range.

This small passerine bird is widespread across Europe and parts of Asia, extending to Siberia. It is also an introduced species in some regions, such as New Zealand and South Africa.

The Eurasian chaffinch, or simply the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), presents a striking dichotomy in plumage between the sexes. The male is resplendent with a blue-grey cap and rust-red underparts, while the female's attire is more subdued, though both genders boast two white wing bars and white sides to their tails. The male's robust voice is a herald of spring, as he sings from exposed perches to court a mate.

To identify the male chaffinch, look for the black forehead, blue-grey crown, and rust-red breast, which fades to a pale creamy-pink on the belly. The wings feature a white panel on the coverts and a buff-white bar on the secondaries and inner primaries. Females and juveniles are more muted with grey-brown shades above and paler below, but retain the distinctive wing markings.

Chaffinches favor wooded environments, thriving in areas where the July isotherm ranges from 12 to 30°C. They are adaptable, however, and can be found in a variety of forested landscapes across their range.

This small passerine bird is widespread across Europe and parts of Asia, extending to Siberia. It is also an introduced species in some regions, such as New Zealand and South Africa.

23-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HALF EDGED WALL JUMPING SPIDER (Menemerus semilimbatus)

An half edged wall jumping spider has caught the larger Barbary ant and is taking it to its quiet place to consume.

Menemerus semilimbatus are about 6.5–8.4 millimetres (0.26–0.33 in) long, the male being slightly smaller than the female. These fairly big jumping spiders are dorso-ventrally flattened and are covered with short dense, grayish-white hairs, with hairy whitish palps and a white band on the side margins of the carapace, showing also a small white, triangular marking in the middle. The eyes are large and forward-facing. The legs are light brown with darker rings and patches, while the abdomen is dorsally yellowish or grayish, with a characteristic pattern of several bright V-shaped markings. The females show a notch at the posterior edge of the epigyne and two oval depressions in the anterior half.

23-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLOODY NOSED BEETLE (Timarcha tenebricosa)

Key Identification & Physical Traits

• Appearance: They are large, rounded, bulky beetles measuring between 11 to 23 mm in length. They feature a matte or slightly iridescent blue-black exoskeleton and thick, highly segmented antennae that resemble a tiny black string of pearls.

• Flightless Nature: Unlike most beetles, their wing casings (elytra) are completely fused together, making them entirely flightless.

• Specialized Feet: Their legs have wide, padded tarsi equipped with hundreds of tiny adhesion hairs, allowing them to easily climb smooth vertical surfaces.

The Famous Defense Mechanism

The common names "bloody-nosed beetle" and "blood spewer" come from its unique, chemical defense behavior known as reflex bleeding. When handled or threatened by predators, the beetle intentionally ruptures thin membranes in its mouth to exude a bright red-orange drop of hemolymph (insect blood). This liquid is foul-tasting, acidic, and highly effective at deterring predators like birds or small mammals.

Habitat, Diet, & Lifecycle

• Diet: Both adults and larvae are monophagous, feeding almost exclusively on plants in the bedstraw family (Galium), such as Lady's Bedstraw, Heath Bedstraw, and Cleavers (Goosegrass).

• Habitat: They are frequently found plodding along paths, coastal cliffs, grasslands, heathlands, and hedgerows.

• Activity: While adults can persist for over 14 months and are active from spring through autumn, they are predominantly nocturnal, choosing to hide beneath stones or moss during the day.

• Larvae: The larvae are thick, slow-moving grubs up to 20 mm long, sporting a unique metallic blue-black coloration.

20-10-2026 AVENIDA DEL MAR, GANDIA - CUTWORM AND DART MOTH (Polymixis dubia)

Polymixis dubia (described by Duponchel in 1836) is a species of noctuid moth belonging to the family Noctuidae and subfamily Xyleninae (often grouped under cutworms and dart moths).

Key Characteristics & Biology

• Wingspan: Roughly 37 mm.

• Appearance: Features light and dark grey tones mixed with whitish or straw-colored areas. Dark grey shades typically concentrate across the middle section of the forewings, while the margins appear lighter.

• Larvae (Caterpillars): Polyphagous (feeding on a variety of low plants and shrubs), with a strong preference for rockroses (Cistus species).

Distribution & Habitat

• Range: An atlanto-Mediterranean distribution. It is found in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Switzerland (reaching its northern limit in the Rhône Valley in Switzerland).

• In Spain: Recorded in various mountainous and regional zones (such as Cuenca, Teruel/Albarracín, and Almería).

• Flight Period: Adults are typically active in late summer and autumn (such as August through October).

20-10-2026 AVENIDA DEL MAR, GANDIA - MARSH CRANE FLY (Tipula oleracea)

The marsh crane fly (Tipula oleracea) is a common, large insect belonging to the family Tipulidae, often mistaken for a giant mosquito.

Key Characteristics

• Appearance: Features a greyish or ferruginous (rust-colored) body, brown front wing edges, and 13-segmented antennae.

• Size: Adults have a wing length of 18–28 mm (total body length around 2.5–3.0 cm). In females, the wings reach the tip of the abdomen.

• Behavior: They do not bite or sting humans, nor do they eat mosquitoes (despite being called "mosquito hawks"). Adults feed minimally on liquid nectar or pollen and live only for a short time to reproduce.

• Habitat & Range: Native to Europe and North Africa, and introduced to parts of North and South America. Frequently found in damp grasslands, gardens, and urban areas.

Life Cycle & Impact

• Reproduction: Active mainly from April to June and August to October. Females lay hundreds of eggs individually in moist soil or turfgrass.

• Larvae ("Leatherjackets"): Subterranean, legless grubs that feed on decaying organic matter, roots, and grass shoots. High populations can damage lawns, pastures, and crops, and attract foraging birds or skunks.

• Management: Monitored via early-spring soil sampling and controlled through lawn care practices, beneficial nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae), or biological fungi (Beauveria bassiana).

23-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPLENDID HELIX (Pseudotachea splendida)

The Splendid Helix (Pseudotachea splendida) is a small, glossy land snail belonging to the family Helicidae.

Key Characteristics

• Shell Size: Measures about 15 to 25 mm in diameter and 8 to 14 mm in height.

• Shell Appearance: Flat or low-spired with 3.5 to 5 whorls, featuring a bright, glossy surface that is whitish or yellowish.

• Band Patterns: Most specimens feature 1 to 5 thin, dark brown-reddish or earthy bands, though unbanded forms also exist.

• Aperture: Oval and oblique with an inner lip that is white or pinkish; adult shells lack a visible umbilicus (navel).

Habitat & Distribution

• Native Range: Found in the western Mediterranean, including eastern Spain, southern France, and Mallorca.

• Preferred Environment: Lowland Mediterranean areas, limestone terrains, maquis shrublands, and dry woods.

• Conservation Status: Listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List with a stable population trend.

23-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PUG MOTH (Eupithecia unedonata)

Eupithecia unedonata is a species of moth belonging to the family Geometridae (carpet and pug moths). Commonly known in French as L'Eupithécie de l'Arbousier, it is an Atlanto-Mediterranean insect widely distributed across Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East.

Key Characteristics

• Distribution: Found across Southern Europe, North Africa (Morocco to Egypt), the Middle East (Israel, Lebanon), Turkey, and Transcaucasia.

• Appearance & Size: Males have a wingspan of 18 to 21 mm, while females measure 19 to 22 mm, displaying typical grey and brown camouflaged pug moth patterns.

• Life Cycle: It is a bivoltine species with adult flight periods spanning from January to April and October to December.

• Host Plants: Larvae primarily feed on the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), alongside Thymelaea hirsuta and Rhus tripartita.

3-10-2021 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - WESTERN MARSH HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus)

The Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa, is a large harrier known for its impressive size and sexual dimorphism. Males typically exhibit a cryptic reddish-brown plumage with lighter streaks and a pale greyish-yellowish head and shoulders, while females are predominantly chocolate-brown with a lighter yellowish crown, nape, and throat.

Males can be identified by their three-colored brown-grey-black appearance in flight, with grey rectrices and secondary and tertiary remiges contrasting with brown forewings and black primary remiges. Females have a darker eye area, making their light eyes stand out, and lack the grey wing-patch and tail seen in males. Juveniles resemble females but with less yellow, particularly on the shoulders.

The Western Marsh Harrier is strongly associated with wetland areas, especially those rich in common reed (Phragmites australis). It can also be found in open habitats such as farmland and grassland, particularly where these border marshland.

3-10-2021 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)

The osprey (Pandion haliaetus), /ˈɒspri, -preɪ/, also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts.

The osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.

As its other common names suggest, the osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. It possesses specialised physical characteristics and unique behaviour in hunting its prey. Its unique characteristics classify it in its own taxonomic genus, Pandion, and family, Pandionidae.

The osprey is the second most widely distributed raptor species, after the peregrine falcon, and is one of only six land-birds with a worldwide distribution. It is found in temperate and tropical regions of all continents, except Antarctica. In North America it breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to the Gulf Coast and Florida, wintering further south from the southern United States through to Argentina. It is found in summer throughout Europe north into Ireland, Scandinavia, Finland and Great Britain though not Iceland, and winters in North Africa. In Australia it is mainly sedentary and found patchily around the coastline, though it is a non-breeding visitor to eastern Victoria and Tasmania.

7-4-2021 BONAIRE, VALENCIA - EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica)

The Eurasian magpie or common magpie (Pica pica) is a resident breeding bird throughout the northern part of the Eurasian continent. It is one of several birds in the crow family (corvids) that are designated as magpies, and it belongs to the Holarctic radiation of "monochrome" magpies. In Europe, the term "magpie" is used by English speakers as a synonym for the Eurasian magpie: the only other species of magpie in Europe is the Iberian magpie (Cyanopica cooki), which is restricted to the Iberian Peninsula. Despite sharing a name and similar colouration, they are not closely related to the Australian magpie, which is an artamid.

The Eurasian magpie is one of the most intelligent birds. The expansion of its nidopallium is approximately the same in its relative size as the brains of chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and humans. It is one of the few bird species known to pass the mirror test.

The range of the magpie extends across temperate Eurasia from Portugal, Spain and Ireland in the west to the Kamchatka Peninsula.

29-9-2021 SOLLANA, VALENCIA - WESTERN MARSH HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus)

The Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa, is a large harrier known for its impressive size and sexual dimorphism. Males typically exhibit a cryptic reddish-brown plumage with lighter streaks and a pale greyish-yellowish head and shoulders, while females are predominantly chocolate-brown with a lighter yellowish crown, nape, and throat.

Males can be identified by their three-colored brown-grey-black appearance in flight, with grey rectrices and secondary and tertiary remiges contrasting with brown forewings and black primary remiges. Females have a darker eye area, making their light eyes stand out, and lack the grey wing-patch and tail seen in males. Juveniles resemble females but with less yellow, particularly on the shoulders.

The Western Marsh Harrier is strongly associated with wetland areas, especially those rich in common reed (Phragmites australis). It can also be found in open habitats such as farmland and grassland, particularly where these border marshland.

22-10-2026 GREAT SPIRIT BLUFF, MINNESOTA - NORTH AMERICAN PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus ssp. anatum) WEBCAM

The North American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a crow-sized bird of prey renowned for its high-speed hunting dives and dramatic recovery from near-extinction caused by DDT pesticides.

North American Subspecies

• Anatum (Falco peregrinus anatum): Breeds throughout Alaska, Canada, the western United States, and Mexico.

• Peale’s (Falco peregrinus pealei): Resides year-round in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and along the Pacific coast from British Columbia down to Oregon.

• Tundrius (Falco peregrinus tundrius): Breeds on the Arctic tundra across northern North America and migrates to Latin America and South America for the winter.

Key Characteristics

• Appearance: Adults feature a blue-grey or slate-gray back, barred white underparts, a dark hood, and a distinct black malar stripe (or "sideburn"). Juveniles are browner with vertical streaking.

• Size: Crow-sized (length of 34–51 cm) with a wingspan of roughly 74–120 cm; females are noticeably larger than males.

• Speed: Reaches over 200 mph (320+ km/h) during a high-speed hunting dive called a "stoop," making it one of the fastest animals on Earth.

• Diet: Consists almost entirely of other birds—ranging from hummingbirds to ducks and sandhill cranes—as well as occasional bats.

• Nesting: Does not build stick nests; instead, it lays eggs in a shallow depression ("scrape") on high rock cliffs, river bluffs, or tall urban structures like bridges and skyscrapers.

22-12-2023 CALYPSO BAR, GAMBIA - BLACK CRAKE (Zapornia flavirostra)

The black crake (Zapornia flavirostra) is a waterbird in the rail and crake family, Rallidae. It breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas. It undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range which are subject to drought. No subspecies have been described. It appears that the oldest available name for this species is actually Rallus niger J. F. Gmelin, 1788, but Swainson believed that the earlier name was unidentifiable, and his own has since become well embedded in the literature.

The adult black crake is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long with a short tail and long toes. As its name implies, the adult has mainly black plumage, with a brown olive tone on the wings and upperparts which is rarely detectable in the field. The eye is red, the bill is yellow (hence the flavirostra of the binomial name), and the legs and feet are red, duller when not breeding.

The sexes are similar, but the male is slightly larger. Most males, but only 10% of females, have a hooked upper mandible. The immature bird has brown upperparts and a dark grey head and underparts. Its bill is greenish yellow, and its feet and legs are dull red. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails.

The main call of the black crake is a duet, starting with a throaty chattering krrrok-kraaaa. The response is a dove-like cooing coo-crr-COO.

The habitat of this common to abundant species is freshwater marshes of all types, as long as there is some vegetation to provide cover. Many rails are very secretive, but the black crake is often seen out in the open. It has benefited from human activity in the form of deforestation, and is rarely hunted because of its unpalatable flesh.

The black crake is extremely aggressive when breeding and will attack birds of many species, but especially other rails. It will attack and kill rails of species as large as itself.

The nest is a deep, neat bowl made from wetland plants and built by both sexes in marsh vegetation or on the ground in a dry location. The nest is also sometimes constructed up to 3 m (9.8 ft) high in a bush.

The two to six, usually three, eggs are cream or white, and spotted with brown or chestnut. Both parents, sometimes assisted by the young from previous broods, incubate for 13–19 days to hatching. The precocial chicks leave the nest in 1–3 days, but are fed by parents and helpers for several weeks. They can fly by 5–6 weeks, and are independent at 6–12 weeks.

The black crake is diurnal, and this confiding bird will feed close to humans and often in the open. It eats a wide range of invertebrates, small fish, frogs and seeds. It will take the eggs of birds and scavenge on carcasses. It will forage on the ground or climb reeds to find prey including flying insects.

This species will perch on hippopotamuses and warthogs and remove parasites.

The Black crake is a species from sub-Saharan Africa, absent from the desert areas of South West and North East Africa. This bird frequents different types of freshwater habitats, preferring the dense undergrowth of wet clearings in wooded regions, and the grassy marshes of open areas. Habitats for this species include still and flowing inland freshwaters like ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and seasonal pans, as well as temporary flooded areas beside rivers; preferably fringed with rank grass, sedges, papyrus, reed beds, swampy thickets, bushes, or some other vegetation. These birds need tangled vegetation for taking cover, roosting and nesting. They may undertake seasonal movements in parts of their range where drought occurs. 

21-10-2026 MARJAL DE SAFOR GANDIA, VALENCIA - VIOLET DROPWING DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Trithemis annulata)

Trithemis annulata is a robust medium-sized species with a wingspan of 60 mm (2.4 in). The mature male has a dark red head and a yellow labium with brown central spot. The eyes are red with white spots on the rear edge, and the frons is dark metallic purplish-red. The prothorax is violet with slightly darker longitudinal stripes. The membranous wings have distinctive red veins, the pterostigma is orange-brown and there is a large orange-brown splash at the base of the hind wings. 

The abdomen is fairly broad and is pinkish-violet, with purple markings on the top of each segment and blackish markings on the terminal three segments. Females are a similar size to males but the thorax is brownish and the abdomen is yellow with dark brown markings. The wings of females lack the red veins of males but have similar orange-brown patches. It is very similar in appearance to the red-veined dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa), but that species has a more slender abdomen and a wedge-shaped black area on either side of the tip of the abdomen.

17-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CAPE HONEYSUCKLE (Tecomaria capensis)

Tecomaria capensis, the Cape honeysuckle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Bignoniaceae, native to southern Africa. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the true honeysuckle.

An erect, scrambling shrub, it grows to 2–3 m (7–10 ft) in height and a similar width. Normally evergreen, it may lose its leaves in colder climates. In certain habitats it may scramble, meaning that it shoots out long growth tips which lean on the stems and branches of other plants, as well as boulders, trellises, fences and walls; this can lead to the plant appearing untidy.

The leaves are up to 15 cm (6 in) long. They are opposite, slightly serrated, green to dark-green, and pinnate with 5 to 9 oblong leaflets.

The flowers are tubular, narrow, about 7.5 cm (3 in) long, and are produced erratically at different times throughout the year, though they typically bloom from autumn to spring. They are grouped in 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long terminal clusters. The flower colour ranges from orange to orange-red to apricot.

The species occurs naturally in parts of southern and central Africa, including South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola.

It is cultivated in other areas of the world, such as in South-east Asia, the South of France, Hawaii, Florida, and California. It can be considered invasive in remote islands such as the Azores (as seen at the island of São Miguel, near Ponta Garça).

Tecomaria capensis has been in cultivation for many years and is often used for hedging, as it is a scrambling shrub. It can be propagated from cuttings or by removing rooted suckers during the active growth phase.

It can be planted in semi-shade to full sun. Tolerating temperatures down to 5 °C (41 °F), it can be grown in mild temperate areas with the protection of a warm wall.[9] Otherwise it can be grown in a container and taken indoors through the winter months. Any type of compost enriched soil works well.[10]To keep this shrub clean and tidy, it must be pruned back in late winter to promote new growth and flowers. The application of a balanced fertilizer after pruning will enhance the growth and flowering. During the summer months it requires a lot of water, for best results.

20-10-2026 AVENIDA DEL MAR, GANDIA - AMERICAN COCKROACH (Periplaneta americana)

The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is the largest species of cockroach routinely found in homes, and often considered a pest. In certain regions of the U.S. it is colloquially known as the waterbug, though it is not a true waterbug since it is not aquatic, nor a Hemipteran. It is also known as the ship cockroach, kakerlac, and Bombay canary. It is often misidentified as a palmetto bug.

Despite their name, American cockroaches are native to Africa and the Middle East. They are believed to have been introduced to the Americas only from the 17th century onward as a result of human commercial patterns, including the Atlantic slave trade.

Despite the name, none of the Periplaneta species is native to the Americas; P. americana was introduced to what is now the United States from Africa as early as 1625. They are now common in tropical climates because human activity has extended the insects' range of habitation, and are virtually cosmopolitan in distribution as a result of global commerce.