BIRDWALKERMONDAY WILDLIFE BLOG

This Blog contains Wildlife, Plants and Bird Photos from Walks, Safaris, Birding Trips and Vacations. Most of the pictures have been taken with my Nikon P900 and P950X cameras. Just click on any image for a larger picture. On the right column under the Blog Archive are the entries by date. Below that under Animal categories all the diffent species of Animals, Birds, Insects and Plants contained in the website are listed. Clicking on any entry will show all the entries for that species.

Wednesday, 26 February 2020

26-2-2020 OLIVA CANAL LES FONTS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN SERIN (Serinus serinus)

The European serin, or simply the serin (Serinus serinus), is a diminutive member of the finch family, Fringillidae. This sprightly bird is the smallest within its family, closely related to the Atlantic canary. It is characterized by its short tail and a length that spans a mere 11 to 12 centimeters. The serin's plumage is a tapestry of nature's palette, with upper parts dappled in dark-streaked greyish green and a conspicuous yellow rump. The underparts are a canvas of yellow breast and white belly, both adorned with heavy streaks.

When attempting to identify the European serin, look for the male's radiant yellow face and breast, which stand out against the greenish backdrop of its feathers. The male also boasts yellow wing bars and yellow tail sides, which can be quite helpful in distinguishing it from similar species. Both sexes share a buzzing trill of a song that resonates through their Mediterranean habitats.

The European serin is partial to open woodland and cultivated areas, often with a sprinkling of conifers. These environments provide the perfect backdrop for breeding and foraging.

This species has a breeding range that extends across southern and central Europe and into North Africa. Populations along the southern and Atlantic coasts tend to be resident, while those in the north are migratory, seeking warmer climates in southern Europe during the winter months.

Outside of the breeding season, the European serin is a sociable creature, forming flocks that may sometimes mingle with other finch species. It is an active and often conspicuous bird, its presence easily announced by its distinctive trill.

The serin's song is a distinctive buzzing trill, a sound that becomes part of the ambient music in regions where these birds are common.

The European serin weaves its nest within the shelter of a shrub or tree, where it lays a clutch of 3 to 5 eggs. The chosen breeding habitats are often areas of open woodland and cultivation, with a preference for some conifers.

The diet of the European serin is predominantly seeds, but it does not shy away from including insects during the breeding season, providing essential protein for its young.

The IUCN Red List categorizes the European serin as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species does not face any imminent threats to its survival.

26-2-2020 OLIVA CANAL LES FONTS, VALENCIA - COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)

26-2-2020 OLIVA CANAL LES FONTS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)

26-2-2020 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - EUROPEAN SERIN (MALE) (Serinus serinus)

26-2-2020 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - YELLOW IRIS (Iris pseudacorus)

26-2-2020 FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

Monday, 24 February 2020

24-2-2020 TORMOS, ALICANTE - ALMOND BLOSSOM (Prunus dulcis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39174017

24-2-2020 TORMOS, ALICANTE - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

Sunday, 23 February 2020

2-8-2017 CENTRAL PARK, BUDAPEST - CLIPPER BUTTERFLY (Parthenos sylvia)

Parthenos sylvia, the clipper, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in south and southeast Asia, mostly in forested areas. The clipper is a fast-flying butterfly and has a habit of flying with its wings flapping stiffly between the horizontal position and a few degrees below the horizontal. It may glide between spurts of flapping.

2-8-2017 BUDAPEST ZOO, HUNGARY - CENTRAL BEARDED DRAGON (Pogona vitticeps)

Central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) are agamid lizards found in eastern and central Australia. They live in areas where food may be hard to find and need to bask in the sun to maintain elevated body temperatures.

Central bearded dragons vary widely in color, including brown, reddish-brown, red, yellow, white, and orange. They are capable of undergoing moderate changes in coloration, and scales along both sides of the throat, neck, and head form a row of narrow spines that runs down each side of the body to the tail. Males typically have a darker "beard" than females, and during mating season and courtship, it will typically darken to near-black. Bearded dragons, like most agamid lizards, have strong legs which enable them to lift their body completely off the ground while they move. This is done to reduce the heat taken in from the ground, as well as to increase the airflow over the belly to cool itself further. Males can be distinguished from females by a wider cloacal opening, a wider base of the tail, a larger head and beard, and the possession of hemipenes. Males also have more pronounced femoral pores than females (these can be seen as waxy bumps on the underside of the back legs).

Central bearded dragons are widely distributed over eastern and central parts of Australia, being found from the southeastern Northern Territory the eastern part of southern Australia. They live in very diverse habitats including deserts, dry forests, and scrublands. These dragons are semi-arboreal animals, often seen basking on picnic tables, fence posts, or fallen branches.

Normally, these animals are diurnal. Nevertheless, after hot days they can be frequently seen out on roads. The Central bearded dragon is an excellent climber, often found perched in bushes as well as on branches of trees and fence posts, spending as much time perching as it does on the ground. They are not social animals, though sometimes they congregate into groups to feed and bask. Gathering in groups, they follow a certain hierarchy: when basking, usually the highest-ranking individuals take the sunniest and highest spots and the rest of the group gets lower spots. Females often use their beards for aggression displays while males will display their beards during the mating season as a part of the courtship ritual. When feeling threatened, bearded dragons flatten their bodies against the ground, puff out their spiny throats, and open their jaws to make themselves appear larger.

23-2-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GREENFINCH (Chloris chloris)

The European greenfinch, or simply greenfinch, is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family Fringillidae. Exhibiting a predominantly green plumage with yellow accents on the wings and tail, the male is a vibrant sight, while the female and juveniles are more subdued with brownish tones. This bird measures approximately 15 cm in length with a wingspan ranging from 24.5 to 27.5 cm, resembling the size and shape of a house sparrow.

To identify the European greenfinch, look for its thick and conical bill, a characteristic of seed-eating birds. The male's plumage is a striking green with yellow flashes on the wings and tail, whereas the female and young birds are more muted with brownish backs. The male's display flight is akin to a butterfly, a dance to charm its mate.

The greenfinch favors woodland edges, farmland hedges, and gardens with dense vegetation for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes within these habitats.

This bird has a broad range across Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. It is mainly sedentary, but some populations in the northernmost regions migrate southwards in colder months. The species has also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, and Argentina.

The greenfinch is known for its social nature, often seen in flocks outside the breeding season. It exhibits a breeding season from March to June, with fledglings emerging in early July. The species is capable of producing multiple broods annually.

The song of the greenfinch is a delightful mix of trills and twitters, interspersed with distinctive wheezes, contributing to the rich tapestry of sounds in its natural environment.

The female greenfinch constructs the nest and incubates the eggs, typically laying 4-6 eggs per clutch. Eggs are incubated for about 13-14 days, with chicks being fed an insect larva-rich diet initially, followed by a seed paste as they grow.

The greenfinch can be confused with other finches, but its unique green and yellow plumage, along with its size and bill shape, usually set it apart.

Greenfinches have a varied diet consisting of seeds, berries, fruits, buds, flowers, and some arthropods. They forage in trees, bushes, and on the ground, adapting to available food sources.

The IUCN lists the European greenfinch as Least Concern, indicating a stable population despite some regional declines due to disease outbreaks.