31-5-2021 CARRION DE CALATRAVA, LA MANCHA - SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE (Aquila adalberti)

The Spanish imperial eagle, known scientifically as Aquila adalberti and also referred to as the Iberian imperial eagle, is a majestic bird of prey native to the Iberian Peninsula. This large raptor is adorned with distinctive white "epaulettes" on its shoulders, a feature that has led to its historical moniker, the white-shouldered eagle. The species is named in honor of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria.

Adult Spanish imperial eagles are darker than their eastern imperial and golden eagle counterparts, with a rich blackish-brown plumage extending from throat to belly. The white band on their shoulders and leading edge of the wing is more pronounced than in the eastern species. Their nape and crown are a pale tawny color, contrasting with the golden-yellow of the golden eagle. Juveniles are markedly different, with a pale straw-sandy color and broad black bands on their wings. In flight, they exhibit a flatter wing profile compared to the golden eagle's upturned dihedral.

The Spanish imperial eagle favors the dehesa woodlands of central and southwest Spain, where it finds mature trees for nesting and open shrubby areas for hunting.

This species is predominantly found in central and southwest Spain and parts of Portugal. It is a resident bird, not known for migration. While stable presence in Morocco is debated, immature birds are known to visit during dispersion.

Spanish imperial eagles are shy and territorial, preferring areas with minimal human disturbance. They breed from February to April, constructing large nests in mature trees, often near wetlands. The average clutch size is two to three eggs, but typically only one to two fledglings survive per nest.

Nesting occurs in dry, mature woodlands, with nests built close to areas rich in prey. The species is sensitive to human disturbance, which can lead to nestling mortality alongside other factors such as predation and siblicide.

The diet of the Spanish imperial eagle primarily consists of European rabbits. Following a decline in rabbit populations, the eagles have adapted to hunt a variety of vertebrates, including water birds, partridges, pigeons, crows, and occasionally larger mammals like foxes.

The Spanish imperial eagle is classified as Vulnerable. Conservation efforts have led to a recovery from near extinction in the 1960s to a population of over 300 pairs by 2011. Threats include habitat loss, human encroachment, collisions with powerlines, and a decline in rabbit populations, their primary prey.

30-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - EUROPEAN ROLLER (Coracias garrulas)

The European roller (Coracias garrulus) is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East, Central Asia and the Maghreb.

The European roller is found in a wide variety of habitats, avoiding only treeless plains. Nests usually in tree holes. It winters in Southern Africa - primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains.

The European roller is a bird of warmer regions. The nominate subspecies breeds in northern Africa from Morocco to Tunisia, in southern and east-central Europe, and eastwards through northwestern Iran to southwestern Siberia. The subspecies C. g. semenowi breeds from Iraq and southern Iran east through Kashmir and southern Kazakhstan to Xinjiang. The European range was formerly more extensive, but there has been a long-term decline in the north and west, with extinction as a nesting bird in Sweden and Germany. The European roller is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa south of the Sahara in two distinct regions, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia west (with observations in the Degua Tembien mountains) to Congo and south to South Africa. Some populations migrate to Africa through India. 

30-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - EUROPEAN ROLLER (Coracias garrulas)

This species is assessed as Least Concern. The population size and range are large and do not approach the thresholds for listing as Vulnerable and, although the population is still believed to be declining, the declines are not thought to be sufficiently rapid to warrant listing as Near Threatened. The European population is still thought to be declining but at a less severe rate and the Central Asian population is not thought to be suffering significant declines. Conservation actions in several countries have contributed to national recoveries.

In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 75,000-158,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015). The European population is thought to hold around 40% of the global breeding range; therefore a very approximate estimate of the global population is 188,000-395,000 mature individuals or 282,000-593,000 individuals. The species is here placed in the band 100,000-499,999 mature individuals and 200,000-600,000 individuals.

Spectacular and distinctive: overall brilliant blue, with a rusty back and a stout, crowlike bill; juvenile plumage duller overall. Favors open and semiopen country with scattered trees and wooded patches; often takes larger insects, such as grasshoppers. Mostly seen singly or in small groups, perched on prominent perches, such as bare snags and wires, as well as on the ground. Quiet outside of the breeding season, when birds give harsh rasping calls.

28-5-2021 MERIDA, ESTEMADURA - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)

The Goldfinch is a colourful finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It's a very sociable bird, often breeding in loose groups. It has a delightful twittering song and call. Their fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly, they are visiting bird tables and feeders. In winter, many UK Goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.

The European goldfinch is illegally trafficked and can be found in countries worldwide, including the United States.

The Goldfinch is a colourful finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It's a very sociable bird, often breeding in loose groups. It has a delightful twittering song and call. Their fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly, they are visiting bird tables and feeders. In winter, many UK Goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.

The European goldfinch is illegally trafficked and can be found in countries worldwide, including the United States.

28-5-2021 MERIDA, ESTEMADURA - EURASIAN SPOONBILL (Platalea leucorodia)

The Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), or common spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae, native to Europe, Africa and Asia. The species is partially migratory with the more northerly breeding populations mostly migrating south for the winter.

This species is almost unmistakable in most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its dark legs, black bill with a yellow tip, and a yellow breast patch like a pelican. It has a crest in the breeding season. Non-breeders lack the crest and breast patch, and immature birds have a pale bill and black tips to the primary flight feathers. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched. The Eurasian spoonbill differs from the African spoonbill with which in overlaps in winter, in that the latter species has a red face and legs, and no crest.[citation needed]

They are mostly silent. Even at their breeding colonies the main sounds are bill snapping, occasional deep grunting and occasional trumpeting noises.

This species is found widely in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Europe, it breeds from the United Kingdom and Portugal in the west, locally through the continent; ranging north to Denmark and east to the Balkans and the Black Sea. In Asia, it breeds in a broad band across the central part of the continent, from the Black Sea to the Korean Peninsula, as well as Kuwait, southern Iraq, Iran, southern Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. In Africa, it breeds locally in coastal Mauritania, but more widely along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts. Whereas those breeding in warmer parts of Asia, in Africa and the Iberian Peninsula are resident or only move locally, more northern breeders generally migrate south to winter in southwestern Europe, the northern half of Africa or warm parts of Asia. However, some northern birds do remain in the general region during the winter, including the United Kingdom, the Low Countries and France. Outside of its normal range, they have been recorded as a rare vagrant in Ireland, Belarus, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, the Canary Islands, Greenland, Nigeria, Uganda, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Barbados, and Saint Lucia.

Eurasian spoonbills show a preference for extensive, shallow wetlands with muddy clay or fine, sandy beds. They may inhabit any type of marsh, river, lake, floodplain or mangrove swamp, be it fresh, brackish or saline water. They are especially attracted to locations with undisturbed islands for nesting and habitats with dense, riparian-emergent vegetation (e.g. reedbeds) and scattered trees/shrubs, especially willow Salix spp., oak Quercus spp. or poplar Populus spp. Eurasian spoonbills may also frequent sheltered marine habitats during the winter, such as deltas, estuaries, tidal creeks and coastal lagoons.

In the Palearctic, the species breeds in spring (e.g. from April) but in tropical parts of its range it times breeding to coincide with rainfall. Breeding is normally in single species colonies or in small single species groups amidst mixed-species colonies of other waterbirds such as herons, egrets and cormorants. Most activity takes place during the morning and evening (although in coastal areas foraging is governed by tidal rhythms), they often roost communally in roosts which are up to 15 km (9.3 mi) away from the feeding areas.

The nest is a platform of sticks and vegetation which is either constructed on the ground on islands in lakes and rivers or in dense stands of reeds, bushes, mangroves or deciduous trees up to 5 m (16 ft) above the ground. Within colonies neighbouring nests are usually quite close together, no more than 1 or 2 m (3.3 or 6.6 ft) apart. Breeding colonies are normally sited within 10–15 km (6.2–9.3 mi) of feeding areas, often much less (although the species may also feed up to 35–40 km (22–25 mi) away).

More northerly breeding populations are fully migratory but may only migrate short distances while other, more southerly populations are resident and nomadic or partially migratory. Migration is usually conducted in flocks of up to 100 individuals. As with several bird species, spoonbills spend some days in stopover sites during migration. Spoonbills wintering in Africa facing long-distance travel stay for longer in a stopover site than spoonbills that perform a shorter migration. Stay duration is also determined by population size.

The diet consists of aquatic insects, mollusks, newts, crustaceans, worms, leeches, frogs, tadpoles and small fish up to 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) long. It may also take algae or small fragments of aquatic plants (although these are possibly ingested accidentally with animal matter). They use sideways sweeps of their beaks to filter out the tiny fish and shrimps.

Overall, the Eurasian spoonbill is not threatened and the total global population was estimated at 63–65,000 mature birds in 2015. In Europe, the population experienced a significant decrease between 1960 and 1990, but since then it has been increasing and was estimated to number c. 29,000 mature birds in 2020. For example, in the Netherlands, the population had reached a low point of less than 150 breeding pairs in 1968, but due to better habitat protection and bans of toxins like DDT it rapidly increased from the 1980s, reaching almost 3000 pairs by 2015. 

Up to the early 2000s, in Europe only the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Hungary and Greece had sizeable breeding populations. The northernmost part of the Eurasian spoonbill's range is in Denmark where the first known breeding was in 1900. Through the 1900s, this breeding population was small and highly irregular, including long periods with none. The species became more thoroughly established in Denmark in 1996 (where a few birds, likely from the Netherlands, arrived and began breeding) and its population has since rapidly increased with multiple colonies; first passing 100 pairs in 2011, and with almost 600 pairs as of 2021. It is likely that this northward spread has been aided by increasing temperatures. In the United Kingdom, it was extirpated around 1668, although in the previous century it had been a widespread breeding species in southern England and Wales, even near London. There were breeding attempts again in the mid-1990s, with the first successful breeding in 1998. This culminated with the formation of a small colony of 6 breeding pairs at Holkham in Norfolk in 2010. In 2011, 8 breeding pairs nested, successfully fledging 14 young, and in 2018 the colony had increased to 28 breeding pairs.

25-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAMIEL, LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

 

26-5-2021 TALARUBIAS, EXTREMADURA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

 

27-5-2021 MERIDA, EXTRAMADURA - 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.

25-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAMIEL, LA MANCHA - CORN BUNTING (Emberiza calandra)

The corn bunting (Emberiza calandra ) is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae. This is a large bunting with heavily streaked buff-brown plumage. The sexes are similar but the male is slightly larger than the female. Its range extends from Western Europe and North Africa across to northwestern China.
 

This is an unusual bunting because the plumages of the sexes are similar in appearance, though the male is approximately 20% larger than the female. This large bulky bunting is 16–19 cm long, with a conspicuously dark eye and yellowish mandibles. Males lack any showy colours, especially on the head, which is otherwise typical of genus Emberiza. Both sexes look something like larks, being streaked grey-brown above with whitish underparts. The underparts are streaked over the flanks and breast, and the streaking forms gorget around the throat. The lesser wing coverts are distinctively dark and white-tipped. The tail is plain brown.

The song of the male is a repetitive metallic sound, usually likened to jangling keys, which is given from a low bush, fence post or telephone wires.

It breeds across southern and central Europe, north Africa and Asia across to Kazakhstan. It is mainly resident, but some birds from colder regions of central Europe and Asia migrate southwards in winter.

The corn bunting is a bird of open country with trees, such as farmland and weedy wasteland. It has declined greatly in north-west Europe due to intensive agricultural practices depriving it of its food supply of weed seeds and insects, the latter especially vital when feeding the young. It has recently become extinct in Wales and Ireland, where it was previously common.

Males defend territories in the breeding season and can be polygynous, with up to three females per breeding male. The population sex ratio is generally 1:1, which means some males remain unmated during a season. Males play only a small role in parental care; they are not involved in nest building or incubation, and only feed the chicks when they are over half grown.

The nest is made of grass, lined with hair or fine grass, and is usually built on the ground. Average clutch size is four, but commonly varies from three to five, occasionally six.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL (Lophoceros nasutus)

The African grey hornbill (Lophoceros nasutus) is a notable member of the hornbill family, a group of mainly tropical near-passerine birds. This species, with a length of 45–51 cm (18–20 in), is considered large, though it ranks among the smaller hornbills. Exhibiting a plumage of subdued grey and brown, the bird is darker on the head, flight feathers, and elongated tail. A distinctive white line graces each side of the crown, extending down the back and becoming visible only during flight.

Males can be distinguished by their dark upper mandible adorned with a creamy-yellow mark or stripe, while females boast a tricoloured, red-tipped mandible. Both sexes have a small casque on the upper bill, more pronounced in males. Juveniles resemble adults but initially have uniformly blackish bills. The flight of the African grey hornbill is characterized by a distinctive undulating pattern.

The African grey hornbill is partial to open woodlands and savannahs, where it can be found perched or in flight, traversing the expansive African skies.

This species is a widespread resident breeder across sub-Saharan Africa and extends its range into the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula.

The African grey hornbill is a sociable bird, often seen in pairs or small family groups. It is known for its piping "pee-o pee-o pee-o" call, a sound that resonates through its preferred habitats.

The call of the African grey hornbill is a distinctive and repetitive piping sequence, often rendered as "pee-o pee-o pee-o," which it uses to communicate within its habitat.

During the breeding season, the female lays two to four white eggs in a tree hollow. The entrance is sealed with a mixture of mud, droppings, and fruit pulp, leaving only a narrow slit for the male to pass food to the enclosed female and later, the chicks. As the nest becomes crowded, the female breaks free to assist in feeding the growing brood.

An omnivorous bird, the African grey hornbill's diet consists of insects, fruits, and occasionally reptiles. It predominantly forages in the trees, plucking its varied diet from the foliage.

The IUCN Red List categorizes the African grey hornbill as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant immediate threats to its survival.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - COMMON RED FACED MOUSEBIRD (Urocolius indicus ssp. transvaalensis)

The red-faced mousebird is a social, fruit-eating bird native to southern Africa, easily identified by its slaty-grey body, red facial skin, and long tail. They live in small flocks, preen each other, and breed between June and February, laying clutches of 2–6 eggs. Their diet consists primarily of fruit, but they also eat flowers, nectar, and leaves. 

Identification 

Appearance: Slaty-grey with a reddish facial patch, pale forehead, and a long, streamlined tail.Size: Approximately \(33\) cm long, with the tail making up more than half the length.Juveniles: Lack the crest and have a greenish facial mask. 

Behavior and social structure Gregarious: Almost always found in small flocks, typically of 3 to 10 individuals, and are very sociable.Social interactions: Engage in mutual preening and roost together at night.Vocalization: Give a distinctive, high-pitched call in flight. 

22-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea ostrinaria)

Idaea ostrinaria (Coral-bordered Wave) is a small geometrid moth found in European, Mediterranean, and Western Asian xerophilous (dry) habitats, typically at 0–800m altitude. It features a characteristic coral-red bordered wing and is polyphagous, with larvae feeding on withered foliage and detritus from herbaceous plants like thyme (Thymus) and heliotrope (Heliotropium). 

Key Facts about Idaea ostrinaria:

Scientific Classification: Belongs to the order Lepidoptera, family Geometridae, and subfamily Sterrhinae.

Habitat: Prefers dry, coastal areas, and warm, open landscapes.

Appearance: Known for its reddish or "coral-bordered" wing markings, often featuring a delicate, pale, or brownish-grey ground color.

Larval Diet: Polyphagous, meaning they eat a variety of plants, including Labiatae (mint family), Boraginaceae, Campanulaceae, Convolvulaceae, and Caryophyllaceae.

Range: Primarily found in South-West Europe, the Mediterranean region, and parts of Western Asia.

Flight Season: Frequently observed in late spring and summer months (e.g., June sightings). 

22-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GRASS MOTH (METASIA CUENCALIS)

The Metasia cuencalis is a small micromoth belonging to the family Crambidae (grass moths) and the subfamily Spilomelinae. It is a southwestern European and North African species widely known for its cryptically colored wings and localized habitats.

Key Characteristics & Identification

Appearance: A small moth with cryptic, mostly dark brownish/grayish tones.

Wing Markings: It typically features a thin, transverse black line near the end of the first third of the forewing, which then curves into a distinct semicircular shape.

Family Traits: Like other Crambidae, it possesses highly developed tympanal organs on its abdomen, which allow it to hear the ultrasonic frequencies emitted by predatory bats.

22-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ANGLE MOTH (Ortaliella perspersata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/937434-Ortaliella-perspersata

 

22-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CARPET MOTH (Almeria kalischata)

Almeria kalischata is a species of lepidopteran insects, more specifically moths, belonging to the family Geometridae.

Here are the key details about this insect:

• Taxonomy: It was originally described by entomologist Otto Staudinger in 1870. The genus Almeria was later established by Ramón Agenjo in 1949.

• Appearance: It has a wingspan ranging from 20 to 23 mm for males, and 22 to 25 mm for females. It typically features a grey-to-brown coloration with fine patterned lines, which offers excellent camouflage against rocks and tree bark.

• Distribution: This is an Atlanto-Mediterranean species primarily found across the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). While heavily observed in southern and eastern Spanish coastal regions like Andalusia (including Almería, Málaga, and Grazalema), rare specimens have also been documented further north.

• Diet & Behavior: The caterpillar (larva) is monophagous, meaning it feeds exclusively on pine trees (Pinus species). The adult moths are polyvoltine, meaning they produce multiple generations throughout the year and can be spotted across all seasons (from January to December)

21-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN BUSHBUCK (MALE) (Tragelaphus scriptus)

The Cape bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus), also known as imbabala, 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.

21-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN BROAD BORDERED GRASS YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Eurema brigitta ssp. brigitta)

The Broad-bordered Grass Yellow is a very common butterfly in grassland and savanna habitats, occurring over all of South Africa with the exception of most of the Western and Northern Cape provinces. They’re also widely distributed over the rest of Africa, the islands in the India Ocean, India, south-east Asia, and  Australia. Adults can be seen throughout the year, flying low to the ground, perching on flowers and blades of grass and often congregating at muddy puddles. At rest they’ll often hang below small plants, looking like dead leaves moving in the breeze. Adults have a wingspan of around 3.5cm. 

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - TROPICAL ANOMIS MOTH (Anomis flava)

Anomis flava, the cotton looper, tropical anomis or white-pupiled scallop moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. It is found in large parts of the world, including China, Hawaii, São Tomé and Príncipe, the Society Islands, Thailand, New Zealand, and Australia (New South Wales, Norfolk Island, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia). Subspecies Anomis flava fimbriago is found in North America.

The wingspan is about 28 mm.

The larvae feed on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibiscus cannabinus and Legnephora moorei and Gossypium hirsutum. 

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - CHOBE DWARF GECKO (Lygodactylus chobiensis)

The Okavango dwarf gecko or Chobe dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus chobiensis) is a species of gecko found along the Chobe and Zambesi Rivers and into the Okavango Delta, and into Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

A large dwarf gecko (normally 25–30 mm in snout–vent length) with males being slightly larger than the females. It has a blue-grey back covered with large pale spots and a yellow belly. The male throat may be black or pale yellow and has two dark chevrons.

They mature at around 9 months and have a lifespan of 18 months.

The Okavango dwarf gecko is normally arboreal and can found on tree trunks and sometimes buildings of the tropical savanna and flooded grasslands. It prefers to forage high up in trees and can often be found on acacia, baobab and mopane trees.

Their diet is mainly ants and termites.

Reproduction occurs throughout the year and two hard-shelled eggs (5 × 6.5 mm) are laid every 8 weeks beneath the tree bark or in disused termite mound. The eggs hatch in about 125 days and the young geckos are about 30 mm in length.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - EMERALD SPOTTED WOOD DOVE (Turtur chalcospilos)

The emerald-spotted wood dove or emerald-spotted dove (Turtur chalcospilos) is a bird of the family Columbidae, resident across eastern and southern Africa. It is a species of open drier deciduous woodland and second growth. It is absent from evergreen rainforests and semidesert areas.

The emerald-spotted wood dove is a small plump pigeon, typically 20 cm in length. Its back, hindneck, wings, and tail are pale grey-brown, and the folded wings have green metallic patches. There are blackish bands on the lower back and tail. The forehead, crown, and nape are bluish-grey, fading to pinkish-grey on the throat. The underparts are mauve-pink, becoming whiter on the belly.

The bill of this dove is blackish with a red base. The sexes are similar, but the female may be slightly duller than the male. The immature has duller green spots and buff fringes to the feathers. When flying, the black-billed wood dove is told from this species by its bright chestnut underwings.

The call is in three parts: two soft long coos, followed by a series of slow descending coos lasting 10 seconds, and concluding with 4 seconds of rapid coos, which decrease in volume.

This species shows some geographical variation in plumage, but differences are clinal, and emerald-spotted wood dove is now considered to be monotypic.

20-5-2021 TURIA GARDENS, VALENCIA - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Turdus merula)

Female Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) are distinct from their glossy-black, yellow-billed male counterparts. They are dark sooty-brown with a brownish-white throat, a dull yellowish-brown bill, and a faintly speckled or mottled breast. Females weigh about 80–125 grams and measure 23.5–29 cm in length.

Appearance and Camouflage

Unlike the iconic deep black plumage and bright orange-yellow eye-rings of the males, female Eurasian Blackbirds have adapted a cryptic, earthy appearance. Their dark brown upperparts and subtly streaked breast feathers provide vital camouflage against predators while they sit on nests in dense thickets and hedgerows.

Nesting and Reproduction

Females handle the heavy lifting during the breeding season. They construct a sturdy, deep cup-shaped nest using dry grass, small twigs, leaves, and moss, binding it together with mud and lining it with fine grass. They typically lay a clutch of 2 to 5 bluish-green or pale blue eggs, which are heavily mottled with reddish-brown spots. The female incubates the eggs alone for roughly 12 to 14 days, though both parents share the responsibility of feeding the hatchlings.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Eurasian Blackbirds are highly flexible omnivores. During the spring and summer, females actively hunt protein-rich foods, using their bills to probe leaf litter and turn over mulch in search of earthworms and insects. In the autumn and winter, their diet shifts to accommodate available resources, and they heavily rely on berries, fallen fruit, and seeds.

Vocalization

Though males are universally celebrated for their rich, fluting caroling songs, female Eurasian Blackbirds also sing. A female's song is generally quieter, shorter, and less complex than the male's, typically performed softly during the courtship period or when defending their territory.

20-5-2021 TURIA GARDENS, VALENCIA - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (MALE) (Turdus merula)

The Common Blackbird, Turdus merula, is a true thrush and a familiar sight in gardens and woodlands. The male is distinguished by its all-black plumage, bright yellow eye-ring, and orange-yellow bill, which darkens slightly during winter. Females and juveniles are more demure in their attire, sporting mainly dark brown feathers.

Adult males are entirely black with the exception of the yellow eye-ring and bill. Females are sooty-brown with a duller bill, and juveniles resemble females but have pale spots on their upperparts. The very young may also exhibit a speckled breast.

The Common Blackbird thrives in a variety of habitats including woodlands with dense undergrowth, gardens, parks, and hedgerows. It shows a preference for deciduous trees and areas with thick vegetation.

20-5-2021 TURIA GARDENS, VALENCIA - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Turdus merula)

The Common Blackbird, Turdus merula, is a true thrush and a familiar sight in gardens and woodlands. The male is distinguished by its all-black plumage, bright yellow eye-ring, and orange-yellow bill, which darkens slightly during winter. Females and juveniles are more demure in their attire, sporting mainly dark brown feathers.

Adult males are entirely black with the exception of the yellow eye-ring and bill. Females are sooty-brown with a duller bill, and juveniles resemble females but have pale spots on their upperparts. The very young may also exhibit a speckled breast.

20-5-2021 TURIA GARDENS, VALENCIA - ROSE RINGED PARAKEET (Psittacula krameri)

The Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) is one of the few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in disturbed habitats. As a popular pet species, escaped birds have colonized a number of cities around the world, including Northern and Western Europe. These parakeets are also capable of living in a variety of climates outside their native range and are able to survive low winter temperatures in Northern Europe. The species is not threatened, but its popularity as a pet and unpopularity with farmers have reduced its numbers in some parts of its native range.

The Rose-ringed parakeet is a medium-sized parrot. The adult male sports a red and black neck ring, and the hen and immature birds of both sexes either show no neck rings or display shadow-like pale to dark grey neck rings. Both sexes have a distinctive green color in the wild, and captive-bred ringnecks have multiple color mutations including blue, violet, and yellow. 

8-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SEVEN SPOTTED LADYBIRD (Coccinella septempunctata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/51702-Coccinella-septempunctata

 

19-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CITRONELLA ANT (Subgenus Lasius)

Lasius is a genus of formicine ants. The type species for this genus is the black garden ant, Lasius niger. Other major members, which live in drier heathland, are the cornfield ant, L. neoniger, and L. alienus. Other species include the temporary social parasites of the L. mixtus group and the hyper-social parasite L. fuliginosus. Lasius flavus is also a commonly seen species, building grassy hillocks in undisturbed pasture. In the Alps, these mounds – always aligned east to catch the first rays of the rising sun – have been traditionally used by goatherds as natural compasses.[citation needed] Species in the subgenus Acanthomyops, in particular L. interjectus and L. claviger, are commonly known as citronella ants due to their citronella-like smell.

Several species in this genus are noted to be social parasites. Some species such as Lasius latipes and Lasius murphyi are noted to have their mating flights in mid-late summer and invade other colonies of Lasius, primarily Lasius neoniger. The queens of species Lasius orientalis and Lasius umbratus have been observed using chemical signals to invade other Lasius colonies and trick the workers to kill the residing queen, accepting the invading queen as their own. Other species, such as Lasius claviger, are known to overwinter and invade colonies in the spring.