25-2-2015 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - MUSKOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata)

The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck native to the Americas. Although it is a tropical bird, it adapts well to cooler climates, thriving in weather as cold as −12 °C (10 °F) and able to survive even colder conditions.

Muscovy ducks are large birds. They are predominantly black and white, with the back feathers being iridescent and glossy in males, while the females are more drab. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as well as the bill, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these. They may have white patches or bars on the wings, which become more noticeable during flight. Both, the males and the females of this species have pink or red wattles around the bill, those of the male being larger and more brightly colored.

Muscovy ducks are found in Mexico and Central and South America. Small wild and feral breeding populations occur in the United States, particularly in Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas as well as in many other parts of North America, including southern Canada. Feral Muscovy ducks are also found in New Zealand, Australia, and parts of Europe. These birds usually inhabit wet forests, forested swamps, wetlands, lakes, rivers, streams, and nearby grassland and farm crops.

Muscovy ducks are agile and speedy birds. They are non-migratory and are active during the day; at night birds often roost in trees. Days are spent feeding by grazing on the ground or dabbling in shallow water. Muscovy ducks are social birds; they are often seen in pairs or small groups. They are aggressive ducks; males often fight over food, territory, or mates. The females fight with each other less often. Some adults will even peck at the ducklings if they are eating at the same food source. In order to communicate with each other, Muscovy ducks wag their tails, raise and lower their heads and use various vocalizations including hisses and quacks. Males have a low breathy call, and females produce a quiet trilling coo.

21-2-2015 RIVER JUCAR, VALENCIA - EURASIAN GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Great Cormorant is a beautiful bird, widespread throughout the world. Its fishing ability may be as turned to man’s advantage in the Far East, or considered as fish competitor in several other countries and persecuted.

On the head, the chin is black, but cheeks and throat are covered with bare white skin. Head is black with more or less white feathers on the loosely crested nape which is formed by elongated feathers. According to each bird, we can see white short feathers extending broadly on the rear neck and ending in narrower collar on the foreneck.

The thin, straight bill is horn-coloured, with yellow to orange-red gape and hooked tip. The eyes are emerald. The short legs and the webbed feet are black.

Outside breeding season, Great Cormorant looses most of its white feathers and has duller plumage.

Both sexes are similar. Male is slightly larger than female, with larger bill.

Juvenile has brownish neck and white belly, and sometimes mottled pale brown breast, neck and flanks.

Second year resembles adult, but browner.

Young reaches its sexual maturity at 3-5 years.

27-11-2014 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SARDINIAN WARBLER (MALE) (Sylvia melanocephala)

16-3-2015 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor)

A rare sighting of a wild Mute Swan quite far south in Europe near Pego in Valencia.

2-4-2014 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

2-2-2015 VILLALONGA SERPIS, VALENCIA - MUSKOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata)

Found at scattered locations across England, and less often in Wales and Scotland, Muscovy Ducks are usually found close to human habitation, prompting they are semi-domesticated or feral.

Very small numbers have been found in Ireland and on the Isle of Man. Records usually relate to single birds or a handful of individuals, but larger groups (in excess of 20 birds) have been reported.