8-1-2026 EL PALMAR, ALBUFERA - SPOTLESS STARLING (Sturnus unicolor)

The Spotless Starling, known scientifically as Sturnus unicolor, is a member of the starling family, Sturnidae. It bears a striking resemblance to its cousin, the Common Starling, but is distinguished by its slightly larger size, measuring 21-23 cm in length and weighing between 70-100 grams. Its plumage is a glossy, oily black, which may exhibit purple or green iridescence under bright light. Notably, during the spring and summer, its feathers are completely devoid of spots, while in winter, it sports only minuscule pale spots.

To identify the Spotless Starling, look for its longer throat feathers, which are double the length of those on the Common Starling, creating a pronounced "beard" especially visible when the bird vocalizes. Its legs are a vivid pink, and the bill color changes with the seasons: yellow with a bluish or pinkish base in summer, and a duller, often blackish hue in winter. Juveniles present a dull brown plumage, darker than their common counterparts, with a black bill and brown legs.

The Spotless Starling is quite adaptable, inhabiting a variety of open environments from farmlands and olive groves to urban areas. It thrives particularly well in open grazed holm oak woods and in cities like Gibraltar, where it is a common sight.

This bird has a more restricted range compared to the Common Starling, being native to the Iberian Peninsula, Northwest Africa, southernmost France, and the islands of Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia. It is largely sedentary, with its population having expanded northward in recent decades.

The Spotless Starling is a sociable creature, often seen in sizeable flocks that can number up to 100,000 in the winter months. These flocks may include Common Starlings as well. It exhibits a strong, direct flight and, like its relative, walks rather than hops.

A vocal bird, the Spotless Starling is an accomplished mimic. Its calls are reminiscent of the Common Starling but are notably louder.

As a cavity-nesting species, the Spotless Starling makes its home in tree holes, buildings, and cliff crevices. It typically lays a clutch of three to five eggs.

An omnivorous bird, the Spotless Starling's diet includes a wide array of invertebrates, berries, and human-provided food scraps.

8-1-2026 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - MALLARD (FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

The Mallard, or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), is a familiar and widespread dabbling duck with a presence across temperate and subtropical regions of the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has also been introduced to parts of the Southern Hemisphere. The male is renowned for its iridescent green head and white collar, while the female sports a brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes boast a speculum—a patch of feathers with iridescent purple or blue hues bordered by white. The Mallard's length ranges from 50 to 65 cm, with a wingspan of 81 to 98 cm, and it typically weighs between 0.7 and 1.6 kg.

Males during the breeding season are unmistakable with their glossy green heads, white collars, and purple-tinged brown breasts. Females are mottled brown with buff cheeks and an eye-stripe. Both sexes have the distinctive speculum on their wings. The male's bill is yellowish-orange tipped with black, while the female's is darker, ranging from black to mottled orange and brown.

Mallards are found in a variety of wetlands, including parks, small ponds, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. They prefer water depths less than 0.9 meters and are drawn to areas with aquatic vegetation.

8-1-2026 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, ALBUFERA - COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)

The Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, is a diminutive and sprightly leaf warbler known for its distinctive, onomatopoeic song. This small, migratory passerine is characterized by its greenish-brown upperparts and off-white underparts, with a weight ranging from 6 to 8 grams and a length of 10-12 centimeters.

In the field, look for the Common Chiffchaff's short whitish supercilium, fine dark bill, and dark legs. Its primary projection is short, and the plumage may appear duller and browner as it wears. Juveniles are browner above with yellow-white underparts, but they soon acquire brighter plumage after their first moult.

The Common Chiffchaff breeds in open woodlands with a mix of taller trees and ground cover across northern and temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of north Africa. It prefers woodland with trees at least 5 meters high and an undergrowth of grasses and nettles.

This species has a vast breeding range, extending from Europe to eastern Siberia and northward to about 70 N. It winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia, and north Africa. The Common Chiffchaff is one of the earliest spring migrants to return to its breeding grounds and one of the last to depart in autumn.

9-10-2019 CORAL RUBIA, ALBACETE - SONG THRUSH (Turdus philomelos)

The Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos, is a charming bird with a sturdy build. It measures between 20 to 23.5 centimeters in length and tips the scales at a modest 50 to 107 grams. Both sexes share a similar appearance, donning plain brown backs and black-spotted cream or yellow-buff underparts, which grow paler on the belly. The underwing exudes a warm yellow, complementing the yellowish bill and pink legs and feet.

To identify the Song Thrush, look for its brown upper-parts and spotted underparts. The juvenile mirrors the adult but is distinguished by buff or orange streaks on the back and wing coverts. In flight, the red underwing is not visible, unlike in the similar Redwing. The Mistle Thrush is significantly larger and has white tail corners, setting it apart from the Song Thrush.

The Song Thrush thrives in forests with rich undergrowth, gardens, parks, and, in the case of the Hebridean subspecies, even open heathland. It is also a common sight in areas with trees and bushes, such as parks and gardens, and can be found up to the tree-line in mountainous regions.

This species has a breeding range that spans across the West Palearctic and extends to Lake Baikal in Russia. It is partially migratory, with many wintering in southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The Song Thrush has also been introduced to New Zealand and Australia.

2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - VERREAUX'S EAGLE OWL (Bubo lacteus)

Verreaux's eagle-owl (Ketupa lactea), also commonly known as the milky eagle owl or giant eagle owl, is a member of the family Strigidae. This species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. A member of the genus Ketupa, it is the largest African owl, measuring up to 66 cm (26 in) in total length. This eagle-owl is a resident primarily of dry, wooded savanna. Verreaux's eagle-owl is mainly grey in color and is distinguishable from other large owls by its bright pink eyelids, a feature shared with no other owl species in the world.

Verreaux's Eagle, or the African Black Eagle, is a large, powerful raptor known for its black plumage, white "V" on its back, and preference for rocky African mountains, specializing in hunting rock hyraxes but also taking other small mammals and birds. These monogamous eagles build huge cliff nests, fiercely defend them, and are distinctive for their yellow feet and eyes, with juveniles showing distinct brown and gold plumage before maturing.

Verreaux's eagle-owl is a highly opportunistic predator equipped with powerful talons. Just over half of its known diet is composed of mammals but equal or even greater numbers of birds and even insects may be hunted locally, along with any other appropriately sized prey that is encountered. This species is considered of Least Concern by IUCN as it occurs over a wide range and has shown some adaptability to human-based alterations and destruction of habitat and adaptability to diverse prey when a primary prey species declines in a region. As a large, highly territorial species of owl, it does, however, occur at fairly low densities and some regional declines have been reported.

Verreaux's eagle-owl is found through most of sub-Saharan Africa, though it is absent from most of the deep rainforests. The species is found at the highest densities in eastern and southern Africa. As this species avoids primary forests, it is found very spottily in west Africa. Their western distribution includes The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Eastward from those countries to the Central African Republic, the species is distributed in a narrow transitional zone between the Sahara and rainforests. Seemingly isolated populations occur in central Nigeria and central Mali. In south-western Africa, they range up to as far north as the southern parts of the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through most of Namibia (excluding the coastal regions) and northern South Africa. In east Africa, their distribution is more or less continuous from southern Sudan, Eritrea and inland Somalia down to South Africa as far as the region of the city of Durban.

3-1-2026 RIO SERPIS, GANDIA - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Black Redstart (\(Phoenicurus\) \(ochruros\)) is a small bird, about the size of a robin, known for its dark plumage and bright red tail. It is adaptable and can be found in both natural rocky habitats and urban environments like cities and quarries. Its diet consists mainly of insects, spiders, and worms, supplemented by seeds and berries, and some populations migrate in winter. 

Appearance Size: Approximately \(14.5\) cm in length, with a wingspan of \(23-26\) cm.Males: Dark grey body with a black face and throat, and a white patch on the wings.Females and Juveniles: Grey-brown all over.Tail: Both sexes have a bright red tail with a single black band down the middle. 

Habitat and Behavior Habitat: Found in warm, sunny rocky areas, quarries, cliffs, and urban settings like cities and villages.Behavior: They are often seen hopping on the ground and frequently sing from high perches on buildings or rocks.

Diet: Primarily insectivores, they eat insects, larvae, spiders, and worms. In the late summer and autumn, they also eat seeds and berries.

Hunting: They can catch insects in the air, but also hunt by hopping on the ground, rocky outcrops, and rooftops. 

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.

3-1-2026 RIO SERPIS, GANDIA - 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.

The European robin is a bird of diverse habitats, found in woodlands, gardens, and parks across its range. It is particularly associated with areas where the soil is dug or disturbed, allowing it easy access This bird has a wide distribution across Europe, extending east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa. It is sedentary in most of its range except the far north, where it is migratory.

2-1-2026 CATARROJA, ALBUFERA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a statuesque wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. It is a familiar sight in both rural and urban settings, often seen standing stoically along the water's edge. An adult Grey Heron is a large bird, reaching up to 100 cm in height, with a wingspan between 155 to 195 cm. It weighs between 1 to 2 kg. The plumage is predominantly ashy-grey above, with a greyish-white underbelly and some black on the flanks. A striking feature is the white head and neck adorned with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The beak is pinkish-yellow, long, and sharply pointed, while the legs are a brown hue.

When identifying the Grey Heron, look for the white head with the black supercilium and crest, the long grey neck, and the ashy-grey wings and back. The underparts are lighter, and the legs are long and brown. Juveniles can be distinguished by their duller grey neck and smaller crest. The beak is a useful indicator of age, being brighter in breeding adults.

Grey Herons are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of watery habitats including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, and coastal environments. They require shallow waters for foraging or areas with shelving margins where they can wade.

2-1-2026 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)

The Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, is a diminutive and sprightly leaf warbler known for its distinctive, onomatopoeic song. This small, migratory passerine is characterized by its greenish-brown upperparts and off-white underparts, with a weight ranging from 6 to 8 grams and a length of 10-12 centimeters.

In the field, look for the Common Chiffchaff's short whitish supercilium, fine dark bill, and dark legs. Its primary projection is short, and the plumage may appear duller and browner as it wears. Juveniles are browner above with yellow-white underparts, but they soon acquire brighter plumage after their first moult.

The Common Chiffchaff breeds in open woodlands with a mix of taller trees and ground cover across northern and temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of north Africa. It prefers woodland with trees at least 5 meters high and an undergrowth of grasses and nettles.

This species has a vast breeding range, extending from Europe to eastern Siberia and northward to about 70 N. It winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia, and north Africa. The Common Chiffchaff is one of the earliest spring migrants to return to its breeding grounds and one of the last to depart in autumn.

2-1-2026 SOLLANA SOUTH, ALBUFERA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

The Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, is a small wader of the Palearctic region, easily recognized by its greyish-brown upperparts and pristine white underparts. Adults typically measure between 18-20 cm in length, with a wingspan of 32-35 cm. They possess short, dark-yellowish legs and feet, and a bill that is pale at the base with a dark tip.

In the field, look for the Common Sandpiper's distinctive stiff-winged flight pattern, just above the water's surface. During the non-breeding season, they appear duller and exhibit more noticeable barring on the wings, which is most visible at close range. Juveniles display heavier barring above and buff edges to their wing feathers. The species can be differentiated from the similar Spotted Sandpiper by its darker legs and feet and the crisper wing pattern, especially in flight.

These birds are often found near freshwater sources, where they nest on the ground in close proximity to the water's edge.

The Common Sandpiper breeds across much of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. During migration, large numbers may congregate in stop-over locations such as Palau in Micronesia.

Common Sandpipers are typically solitary or found in small groups. They may form larger flocks during migration or at breeding season roosts but seldom join multispecies flocks.

When breeding, these birds nest on the ground near freshwater. A notable behavior is the young's ability to cling to a parent's body, being flown to safety when threatened.

The Spotted Sandpiper (A. macularia) is the most similar species, especially in non-breeding plumage. However, the Common Sandpiper's darker legs and more defined wing pattern in flight help distinguish it.

The Common Sandpiper forages by sight, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates from the ground or shallow water. It is also known to catch insects in flight.

The species is widespread and common, thus classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, it is considered vulnerable in some Australian states. The Common Sandpiper is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

2-1-2026 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, ALBUFERA - 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.

This species has a wide breeding range from Europe and northwestern Africa to Central Asia and the northern parts of the Middle East. It is migratory or dispersive, with some populations wintering in southern and western Europe, the Sahel, Nile basin, Great Lakes region in Africa, or in Arabia, the Indian subcontinent, and Myanmar.

The Western Marsh Harrier is a territorial bird during the breeding season and less social than other harriers in winter, likely due to habitat preferences. It hunts in typical harrier fashion, gliding low over open ground with wings held in a shallow V-shape.

Breeding season varies, with males often pairing with multiple females. The ground nest is made of sticks, reeds, and grasses, usually in a reedbed. Clutches typically contain three to eight white eggs with a bluish or greenish tinge, incubated for 31–38 days.

The Western Marsh Harrier feeds on small mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and frogs, hunting by gliding low over the ground in search of prey.

Once declining due to persecution, habitat destruction, and pesticide use, the Western Marsh Harrier is now protected and classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It has made a comeback in areas like Great Britain and Ireland but still faces threats such as shooting during migration and disturbance during breeding.

1-1-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea minuscularia)

Idaea minuscularia, or the Small Dusty Wave moth, is a small, nondescript geometer moth common in coastal Mediterranean areas (SW Europe, NW Africa, Azores) and sometimes Britain, characterized by variable white to grey wings with faint dark lines, often found near lights on buildings in maquis shrubland; its larvae are generalist feeders on low-growing herbs, including ivy and Oxalis, overwintering as caterpillars, with adults typically flying in summer, often having two generations. 

Key Facts:

Identification: A small moth (wingspan 12-21 mm) with white to grey wings, often with indistinct dark markings, though sometimes quite plain.

Habitat: Found in coastal Mediterranean environments (maquis, villages, cultivated areas) and occasionally woodlands/gardens in Britain.

Behavior: Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights, often seen on walls.

Larval Diet: Feeds polyphagously on ground-level plants like ivy (Hedera helix) and Oxalis.

Generations: Produces one or two broods per year, flying from June to September in warmer areas.

Range: SW Europe, NW Africa, and the Azores; common in the UK (except far north). 

1-1-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - INDIAN MILKWEED BUG (Spilostethus pandurus)

Spilostethus pandurus is a species of "seed bugs" belonging to the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae.

The species was described in 1763 by Scopoli in his "Entomologica carniolica" with locus typicus from the area around Ljubljana. Scopoli does not mention the etymology of the species name but may have named it for the Panduri infantry unit of the Habsburg monarchy.

This species can be found in the Euro-mediterranean-Turaniaan Region, with a more southern distribution than Spilostethus saxatilis.

It is present in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Lebanon, in the Afrotropical realm. and in the southern Asia to India and China.

Spilostethus pandurus can reach a length of 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in). Body shows a red-black coloration with a white spot in the center of the membrane.

Two wavy, broad, black, longitudinal stripes run from the front to the rear edge of the pronotum. Scutellum is black, sometimes with a small red spot at the end.

1-1-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN NURSERY WEB SPIDER (Pisaura mirabilis)

The nursery web spider Pisaura mirabilis is a spider species of the family Pisauridae.

saura mirabilis are its long legs (the fourth pair being the longest) and its slender abdomen (opisthosoma). The male is between 10 and 13 mm, while the female is 12 to 15 mm. After final ecdysis, the male spiders weigh on average 54 mg and females 68 mg.

The prosoma (cephalothorax) is variable in color, ranging from light to reddish brown and from gray to black. A lighter stripe is visible down the middle of the prosoma. The opisthosoma (abdomen) is long and narrow and tapered towards the rear end.

The female spiders has a dark patch (epigyne) on the underside of her abdomen that includes the copulatory organs. Male genital openings can be found at the same location, but remain inconspicuous.

Patterning and coloration varies due to polymorphism. These patterns, which can be caused by hair and pigments, change with the growth of the spider (ontogenesis).

Male spiders exhibit a stronger contrast than females and appear black, especially when compared to the white nuptial gifts. Females tend to get paler towards the end of summer. The stripe along the back of the body can be found in all spiders and can be seen as crypsis, a protective measure against predators.