24-4-2018 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - KALAHARI GO AWAY BIRD (Crinifer concolor ssp. bechuanae)

The grey go-away-bird, also known as the grey lourie, grey loerie, or kwêvoël, is a distinctive bird of the southern Afrotropics. With a smoky-grey plumage, a long tail, and a wispy crest that can be raised in excitement, this bird is a sight to behold. The strong, decurved beak is black, contrasting with the pink gape and tongue, and the plumage varies slightly in shade across different parts of the body.

Adults of both sexes are similar in appearance, measuring 47–51 cm from bill to tail tip and weighing between 200 to 300 grams. The crest, reaching 6 to 7 cm in length, is a key feature for identification. The darkest grey can be found on the chin and throat, while the area around the eyes and belly is paler. The breast plumage may have a slight olive wash, reminiscent of its relative, the bare-faced go-away-bird.

The grey go-away-bird is found in arid to moist, open savanna woodlands, particularly where Acacia trees abound. It is also a common sight in miombo woodlands, along watercourses, dry riparian forests, and in Acacia woodlands on alluvium. These birds are also comfortable in human-altered landscapes such as farms, gardens, and parks.

This species is native to a range of southern African countries, including Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Eswatini.

Despite their somewhat slow and laboured flight, grey go-away-birds are capable of covering considerable distances. They exhibit agility when navigating the treetops, running along limbs and hopping from branch to branch. They are sociable birds, often forming groups of up to 30 individuals that forage together in the canopy.

The grey go-away-bird is vocal, especially when disturbed, making loud and nasal "kweh" or "go-way" calls. The last syllable is typically a descending drawl, which is quite distinctive and memorable.

Breeding involves the construction of a flimsy nest platform made from thin, sometimes thorny sticks, resembling a substantial dove's nest. The nest, often containing three white eggs, is placed at the center of an isolated tree. Both parents share in all aspects of chick rearing, from incubation to feeding the down-covered chicks with regurgitated food.

Due to its unique combination of color, appearance, and habits, the grey go-away-bird is unlikely to be confused with other bird species within its range.

The diet of the grey go-away-bird is predominantly fruit-based, including wild figs, berries, flowers, buds, leaves, termites, and snails. They feed on a variety of plant genera and also consume fruit from exotic invasive species, playing a role in seed dispersal.

The grey go-away-bird is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that it is not currently at significant risk of decline in the wild.

24-4-2018 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - CAPE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer melanurus)

The Cape sparrow, or 'mossie' as it is affectionately known, is a medium-sized bird measuring 14–16 centimeters in length. It boasts a distinctive plumage with large pale head stripes present in both sexes. The male is particularly striking with bold black and white markings on its head and neck, while the female is somewhat duller with a grey head. The plumage across both sexes is a blend of grey, brown, and chestnut hues.

When identifying the Cape sparrow, look for the male's black head with a broad white mark curling from behind the eye to the throat, and a narrow black band connecting the black bib of the breast to the black of the head. The female, though less vivid, shares a similar pattern but with a grey head. Juveniles resemble females, but young males begin to show black head markings early on.

The Cape sparrow is found in semi-arid savannah, cultivated areas, and urban environments. It has adapted well to human settlements and agriculture, often seen in parks, gardens, and other open spaces within towns.

This species ranges from the central coast of Angola through Namibia, Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and into eastern South Africa and Eswatini. It is less common in the driest parts of the Namib Desert and the wet forests of Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal.

Cape sparrows are highly social, forming large nomadic flocks when not breeding. They typically breed in colonies and exhibit a unique social behaviour in Johannesburg, where groups stand closely together in an unexplained ritual.

The calls of the Cape sparrow are more musical and mellow than those of the house sparrow. The basic call, used in flight and while perching socially, can be transcribed as 'chissip' or 'chirrup'. Males have a loud call to advertise nest ownership, written as 'tweeng' or 'twileeng', which can extend into a repetitive song.

Breeding usually occurs in colonies, with the nest constructed in a variety of sites including trees, bushes, cavities, or even disused nests of other species. Clutches typically contain three or four eggs, with both parents involved in the breeding process from nest building to feeding the young.

The Cape sparrow can be confused with the southern grey-headed sparrow and the house sparrow, but it is distinguished by its unique head markings and the male's distinctive plumage.

Primarily seed-eaters, Cape sparrows forage in trees and on the ground, favoring larger seeds of cereals and wild grasses. They also consume buds, soft fruits, and insects, particularly when feeding nestlings.

The Cape sparrow is common throughout most of its range and is not significantly threatened by human activities. It is currently assessed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

24-3-2018 WATERFRONT, CAPE TOWN - CAPE CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax capensis)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_cormorant

23-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - MALBROUCK MONKEY (Chlorocebus cynosuros)

The malbrouck (Chlorocebus cynosuros) is an Old World primate from Africa that belongs to the genus Chlorocebus. The species is sometimes classified as a subspecies of the vervet monkey (C. pygerythrus), or of the widespread grivet (C. aethiops).

The malbrouck is a slim, agile primate with long limbs and a long tail. The fur is olive-grey. The breast and underparts are white, as well as the cheeks and eyebrows, which surround the bald, pale-blotched face.[3] The eyes are brown. The genitals are brightly colored; the scrotum of the male is blue, the penis is red. Males are about 20% larger than females.

The malbrouck is found in central and south-central Africa, ranging from the Albertine Rift in DR Congo west to the Atlantic coast and south to northern Namibia and Zambia west of the Luangwa River. It lives in marshy forest, savanna-forest and montane forest up to an altitude of 4,500 m (14,750 ft).

The malbrouck is a diurnal animal living in large groups, consisting of six to more than 50 animals. The number of males and females is usually about the same. Each group has its own territory, the size of which depends on the amount of available food. The malbrouck uses a wide range of sounds and gestures to communicate with other members of a group.

The diet of this omnivorous species consists of fruit, seeds, flowers, gum, invertebrates, eggs, chicks and lizards. Vegetable food forms the largest part of the diet in most areas.

23-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - COMMON JOKER (Byblia anvatara ssp. acheloia)

The Common Joker Byblia achelonia is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, found in Yemen, south-western Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, eastern Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, northern Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape. It has a wingspan of 38–43 mm in males and 40–45 mm in females and fly year-round. It is similar to the Spotted Joker Byblia ilithyi with both seen together at the Raydah escarpment in the southwest of the Kingdom, near Abha.

Byblia anvatara, the common joker, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Wingspan: 38–43 mm in males and 40–45 mm in females. Its flight period is year round.

Larvae feed on Tragia glabrata and Dalechampia capensis.

Subspecies

Listed alphabetically:

B. a. acheloia (Wallengren, 1857) – Yemen, south-western Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, eastern Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, northern Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape

B. a. anvatara (Boisduval, 1833) – Madagascar, Comoros

B. a. boydi Dixey, 1898 – Socotra

B. a. crameri Aurivillius, 1894 – eastern Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria: south and the Cross River loop, Cameroon to Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania: north-west to the Kagera Region

23-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - COMMON WARTHOG (Phacochoerus Africus)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

23-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN STRIPED SKINK (Trachylepis striata)

The African striped skink (Trachylepis striata), commonly called the striped skink, is a species of lizard in the skink family (Scincidae). The species is widespread in East Africa and Southern Africa. It is not a close relation to the Australian striped skink, Ctenotus taeniolatus.

T. striata is brown or bronze-coloured with two yellowish stripes that run lengthwise on either side of the spine. Both sexes grow to a total length (including tail) of 25 cm (9.8 in).[2] Their tails are often missing due to predators.

23-3-2018 MUIZENBERG, CAPE TOWN - SOUTHERN FISCAL SHRIKE (Lanius collaris)

The Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris), is a striking bird of the shrike family, prevalent throughout much of southern Africa. It is colloquially referred to as the 'jackie hangman' or 'butcher bird', a nod to its unique habit of impaling its prey on acacia thorns, a larder for future feasting. This bird was once considered conspecific with the Northern Fiscal, Lanius humeralis, under the collective title of the Common Fiscal.

Adult Southern Fiscals measure between 21 to 23 centimeters in length. They exhibit a bold dichromatic plumage with crisp white underparts contrasting sharply against their sleek black upperparts. A distinctive white "V" marks their back, and their long black tail is adorned with white outer feathers and white tips. Both sexes possess a black bill, eyes, and legs, with the female distinguished by her rufous lower flanks.

The Southern Fiscal is an adaptable species, inhabiting a variety of environments from grasslands adorned with fences suitable for perching, to acacia thornveld and even woodlands. It tends to avoid overly dense areas that would hinder its hunting prowess.

This bird's range extends across southern and eastern parts of the African continent, including parts of Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

A solitary hunter, the Southern Fiscal typically perches in exposed locations or atop shrubs, from where it preys on insects and small rodents. Its territorial range is influenced by the availability of perching sites, with an increase in artificial perches leading to a reduction in territory size. The bird's hunting strategies and physiology adapt to seasonal variations, with changes in body temperature, metabolic rate, and hunting methods observed in response to different environmental conditions.

The Southern Fiscal's vocal repertoire includes a mix of shrike-like sounds, ranging from harsh alarm calls to more melodious songs. While its song may sound sweet, it is generally used for territorial defense or pair bonding.

The Southern Fiscal's diet consists primarily of insects and small rodents. It has been noted as a significant predator of the plain tiger butterfly in eastern Africa. Seasonal changes influence its foraging behavior, with the bird adjusting its hunting times, attack rates, and prey size in response to the availability of food.

4-5-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ZOROPSIS SPIDER (Zoropsis spinimana)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127112-Zoropsis-spinimana

Zoropsis spinimana is a spider species belonging to the family Zoropsidae.

Males of Z. spinimana reach a length around 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in), while females are 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in) long. This spider resembles a wolf spider, as its eyes are of the same configuration, but unlike wolf spiders, the eyes of Zoropsis spiders are more spread out along the front third of the cephalothorax. The front body (prosoma) is brownish with broad darker markings. The abdomen (opisthosoma) has median black markings. The legs are mainly a speckled brown color.

The abdominal black marking evokes the vampire of the 1922 German silent film Nosferatu, which led to the common German name of the spider, Nosferatu-Spinne.

Zoropsis spinimana is distributed widely in the Mediterranean, but reaches into Russia, and was introduced to the United States, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the United Kingdom, primarily the London area.

Since the mid-1990s, the species has been sighted along Europe's North-South transport routes, like Lucerne, Basel, Freiburg im Breisgau, Duisburg and Innsbruck. It is not clear why the relatively large spider was not found there earlier, as Mediterranean holidays with mobile homes were popular in the 1970s, and would have provided the spiders with many suitable habitats and transport opportunities. Ecologists assume that climate change enabled the spiders to take hold and reproduce north of the Alps.[6] Recent finds presumably near the Northern border of the current distribution range include a 2023 find in Copenhagen.

Spiders of the species can be found on forest edges under rocks and tree bark, where they hunt for prey during the night. Like all zoropsid spiders, Z. spinimana does not build a web, but hunts freely. Since this spider cannot survive in a harsh climate, it often seeks refuge in human habitation and is frequently found in houses, where the temperature is milder and food is more abundant.

Spiders of this species are sexually mature in autumn. The females lay eggs in spring, resting in a brood chamber on the cocoon.

4-5-2018 ULAL DE BOLDOVI, VALENCIA - GULL BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)

Juvenile Sandwich terns have a short bill, and are frequently mistaken for gull-billed tern where the latter species is uncommon, such as North Sea coasts.

It breeds in warmer parts of the world in southern Europe, temperate and eastern Asia, both coasts of North America, eastern South America. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in size and minor plumage details.

All forms show a post-breeding dispersal, but the northern breeders are most migratory, wintering south to Africa, the Caribbean and northern South America, southern Asia and New Zealand.

The gull-billed tern is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

The gull-billed tern breeds in colonies on lakes, marshes and coasts (including bays and earthen levees). It nests in a ground scrape and lays two to five eggs. While widely distributed in freshwater areas in Eurasia, it is associated almost solely with saltwater, coastal areas in North America.

This is a somewhat atypical tern, in appearance like a Sterna tern, but with feeding habits more like the Chlidonias marsh terns, black tern and white-winged tern. It does not normally plunge dive for fish like the other white terns, and has a broader diet than most other terns. It largely feeds on insects taken in flight, and also often hunts over wet fields and even in brushy areas, to take amphibians and small mammals. It is also an opportunistic feeder, and has been observed to pick up and feed on dead dragonflies from the road.

Gull-billed Terns are graceful fliers that swoop above saltmarshes and beaches. They're pale silvery gray and white, with a shallowly forked tail, heavy bill, and (in summer) a neat black cap. The heavy bill is a key to its diet, which is broader than a typical tern's and does not center on fish. They forage in the air for insects, seize crabs and lizards from the ground, pluck fish from the water surface (without diving into the water), steal food from other birds, and even prey on chicks of other species.

Unlike most terns, Gull-billed Terns have a broad diet and do not depend on fish. Instead they commonly feed on insects, small crabs, and other prey snatched from the ground, air, or even bushes. They are also known to eat small chicks of other tern species.

Although mostly restricted to saltwater habitats in North America, Gull-billed Terns are found in a variety of freshwater habitats across Eurasia.

The oldest recorded Gull-billed Tern lived to be at least 20 years old and was found, and banded, in California.

The Gull-Billed Tern prefers inland waters although it is also present in coastal areas. To nest, it uses sandy islets of lagoons and reservoirs, marshes and salt flats. With regards to feeding this bird benefits from crops, olive groves, pastures, flooded areas and inland dry environments.

Summer species present in Malaga during the breeding period. It breeds in colonies at the end of April and makes an annual laying of 2 eggs. Nest on the ground. This tern feeds on insects, both terrestrial and flying, which hunts in flight at ground level. It also captures amphibians, fish, crustaceans and even micromammals or small birds.

Breeding colonies are established on lakes, marshes, and coasts. The Gull-billed Tern's nesting preference for ground scrapes is a notable aspect of its reproductive behavior.

Unlike its plunge-diving relatives, the Gull-billed Tern has a varied diet, feeding on insects in mid-flight, amphibians, and small mammals. It is also known to scavenge, having been observed feeding on dead dragonflies found on roads.

The Gull-billed Tern is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline or habitat loss at a global scale.

23-3-2018 BOULDERS BAY, CAPE TOWN - SOUTHERN BLACKLEG ORBWEAVER SPIDER (Trichonephila fenestrata ssp. fenestrata)

Trichonephilia fenestrata is a species of nephilid spider known from Africa. It was first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1859 as Nephila fenestrata, and was later moved to Trichonephila when it was elevated to genus status by Kuntner in 2019.

Three subspecies are known from different parts of Africa. Males of this species often autotomize their legs as a counter-adaptation to the sexual cannibalism of females.

Trichonephila fenestrata fenestrata (Thorell, 1859)

kingdom Animalia - animals »  phylum Arthropoda - arthropods »  class Arachnida - arachnids »  order Araneae - spiders »  family Araneidae - Orb-weaver spider »  genus Trichonephila »  species Trichonephila fenestrate

Orb-weaver spiders or araneids are members of the spider family Araneidae. They are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields and forests. "Orb" can in English mean "circular", hence the English name of the group. Araneids have eight similar eyes, hairy or spiny legs, and no stridulating organs.

The family is cosmopolitan, including many well-known large or brightly colored garden spiders. With 3122 species in 172 genera worldwide, Araneidae is the third-largest family of spiders (behind Salticidae and Linyphiidae). Araneid webs are constructed in a stereotyped fashion. A framework of nonsticky silk is built up before the spider adds a final spiral of silk covered in sticky droplets.

23-3-2018 BOULDERS BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - CAPE WAGTAIL (Motacilla capensis ssp capensis)

The Cape wagtail, or Wells's wagtail, is a modestly adorned bird with a relatively short tail. Its upperparts are an unassuming olive grey, while the face is similarly hued, accented by a tan supercilium and dark lores. The underparts are a soft creamy white, occasionally showing a subtle pinkish tinge on the lower breast and belly. A dusky breast band is present, and the flanks share the olive-grey of the breast. The wings are a brownish black with pale feather edging, and the tail is predominantly blackish, save for the white outer feathers. Juveniles resemble adults but are a touch browner above and have a more yellowish hue below.

Look for the iconic black triangle on the chest, a key feature for identification. There is no sexual dimorphism in plumage, so males and females appear alike.

The Cape wagtail is a versatile species, inhabiting areas near water such as riverbanks, as well as rocky coastlines, farms, villages, cultivated lands, parks, gardens, and urban centres. In East Africa, it is typically found at altitudes above 2,000 meters.

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SMITH'S BUSH SQUIRREL (Paraderus Cepapi)

Smith's bush squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi), also known as the yellow-footed squirrel or tree squirrel, is an African bush squirrel which is native to woodlands of the southern Afrotropics.

It is found in Angola, Botswana, the DRCongo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is a common rodent which is diurnal by nature.

Its total length is 350 mm, half of which is tail. This species only weighs 200 g. The coat colour varies throughout the region. In the western and arid parts of its range, it is pale grey, and in the eastern localities, more brown. Its head and legs are a rusty colour. Colouration on the chest varies from yellowish to buff in the east, to white in the west. This squirrel's belly is white. These alert and ever busy creatures carry their long tails extended backwards.

Smith's bush squirrels are primarily vegetarian, but like most rodents, they take insect prey and use their front feet to manipulate food items when feeding. They scatter-hoard seeds next to tree trunks or grass tufts, thereby facilitating tree regeneration.

Essentially arboreal animals, they also spend a great deal of time on the ground, foraging for food. When disturbed, Smith's bush squirrels always seek the refuge of trees. At night, territorial family groups nest together in holes in trees. Offspring become sexually mature between six and nine months old, when they are forcibly evicted by the breeding pair. The males are mainly responsible for territorial defense, although females also chase intruders when they care for dependent pups. To promote group cohesion, a common scent is shared by mutual grooming, which is an important facet of the social fibre of this species. Smith's bush squirrels are diligent in their grooming and a mother tree squirrel holds her offspring down with her fore legs while grooming it with licks, nibbles, and scratches with her claws.

A conspicuous feature of their behaviour when under threat is 'mobbing': all the members of the colony make harsh clicking sounds while they flick their tails, building up momentum and gradually getting louder. In some areas, they are solitary, or are found in small family groups; a lone tree squirrel relies on its wits when in danger and always keeps a branch or the trunk of a tree between it and the enemy. Smith's bush squirrels are always alert, and when alarmed, run away with great speed, making for the nearest tree where they lie motionless, flattened against a branch.

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - RING NECKED DOVE (Streptopelia capicola)

The Ring-necked Dove, also known as the Cape Turtle Dove or Half-collared Dove, graces the skies of East and southern Africa with its presence. This bird, mostly sedentary in nature, boasts a semi-collar of black feathers on its lower nape, a characteristic it shares with its Streptopelia kin. The upper parts of its body are cloaked in the darkest shades of grey and brown, while the lower belly and vent gleam white. Notably, the tail feathers are edged with white, a detail most visible during their display flight.

Adult Ring-necked Doves exhibit a variety of grey and brown tones with a hint of lavender on the nape, and a paler underside with a touch of pinkish lavender. The white lower belly and crissum starkly contrast with the slate grey tail feathers tipped with white. Males and females are similar in appearance, though males are marginally larger, measuring between 25–26.5 cm in length and weighing 92–188 g. Their eyes are a deep, almost black hue, complemented by a black bill and dark purple feet. Juveniles are duller and lack the semi-collar, with buff edges on their upper parts and greyish-white edges below.

The Ring-necked Dove thrives in a variety of open habitats, from semi-desert scrub and savannahs to woodlands and farmlands. It avoids closed forests and the arid dune fields and gravel plains of the Namib. In southern Africa, they are frequently spotted in fynbos regions and various grassland types, often near trees planted in groves around farmsteads.

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - RED BILLED SPURFOWL (Pternistis adspersus)

The Red-billed Spurfowl, or Pternistis adspersus, presents a striking figure with its barred underparts and a distinctive yellow eye-ring. This bird, also known as the Red-billed Francolin, is a member of the Phasianidae family. Exhibiting sexual dimorphism, the males are notably larger, reaching lengths of 38 cm and weights between 340-635 grams, while the females are slightly smaller at 33 cm in length and weighing 340-549 grams.

When observing the Red-billed Spurfowl, look for the characteristic barred pattern on the underparts, which sets it apart from similar species such as the Natal Spurfowl. The yellow eye-ring is a conspicuous feature to aid identification. Males are larger than females, which can be a helpful distinction in the field.

The Red-billed Spurfowl is native to Southern Africa, where it frequents a variety of habitats.

This species is widely distributed across Southern Africa, with its range encompassing Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Red-billed Spurfowl is known for its terrestrial habits, often seen foraging on the ground.

The Natal Spurfowl is similar in appearance but can be distinguished by the lack of barred underparts which are present in the Red-billed Spurfowl.

The IUCN Red List has classified the Red-billed Spurfowl as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction.

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)

The Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura, is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. It is a medium-sized, slender bird with a soft, grayish-brown plumage and a long, pointed tail. It is known for its gentle appearance and mournful cooing, which has given rise to its name.

Adult Mourning Doves have light gray and brown feathers with a slightly pinkish hue on the underside. Males and females are similar, but males may exhibit more vibrant purple-pink patches on the neck. The eyes are surrounded by light blue skin, and a distinctive crescent of dark feathers lies below the eye. The tail is long and tapered, with the outer feathers being white, providing a stark contrast to the black inner feathers.

Mourning Doves are found in a variety of open and semi-open habitats, including urban environments, farms, prairies, grasslands, and areas with sparse woodland. They tend to avoid dense forests and swamps.

This species is widespread across North America, from southern Canada through the United States, Mexico, and into Central America. It is also found in the Greater Antilles and Bermuda.

Mourning Doves are known for their swift and direct flight, capable of reaching speeds up to 55 mph. They are strong fliers and exhibit a unique whistling sound from their wings during take-off and landing. These birds are also known for their sunbathing and rain bathing behaviors, often lying on the ground with one wing stretched out.

The male Mourning Dove's call is a sorrowful cooOOoo-wooo-woo-woooo, which is used to attract a mate. Other vocalizations include a soft ork when greeting and a short roo-oo as an alarm call. The wing whistle during flight is a distinctive characteristic of this species.

Mourning Doves are generally monogamous and may raise multiple broods in a single year, especially in warmer regions. Both parents share in the incubation duties and care for the young, known as squabs. The nests are often built with twigs and are relatively flimsy in construction.

The Mourning Dove may be confused with other dove species, but its long, pointed tail and distinctive wing whistle during flight are key identification features.

The diet of Mourning Doves consists almost exclusively of seeds. They forage on the ground and have been observed eating a wide variety of plant seeds, showing preferences for certain species.

4-5-2018 ULAL DE BOLDOVI, VALENCIA - SMALL WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris rapae)

Pieris rapae is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae. It is known in Europe as the small white, in North America as the cabbage white or cabbage butterfly, on several continents as the small cabbage white, and in New Zealand as the white butterfly. The butterfly is recognizable by its white color with small black dots on its wings, and it can be distinguished from P. brassicae by its larger size and the black band at the tip of its forewings.

The caterpillar of this species, often referred to as the "imported cabbageworm", is a pest to crucifer crops such as cabbage, kale, bok choy and broccoli. Pieris rapae is widespread in Europe and Asia; it is believed to have originated in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Europe, and to have spread across Eurasia thanks to the diversification of brassicaceous crops and the development of human trade routes. Over the past two centuries, it spread to North Africa, North America, New Zealand, and Australia, as a result of accidental introductions.

In appearance it looks like a smaller version of the large white (Pieris brassicae). The upperside is creamy white with black tips on the forewings. Females also have two black spots in the center of the forewings. Its underwings are yellowish with black speckles. It is sometimes mistaken for a moth due to its plain appearance. The wingspan of adults is roughly 32–47 mm (1.3–1.9 in).

Pieris rapae has a wingbeat frequency averaging 12.8 flaps per second.

The species has a natural range across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It was accidentally introduced to Quebec, Canada, around 1860 and spread rapidly throughout North America. The species has spread to all North American life zones from Lower Austral/Lower Sonoran to Canada. Estimates show that a single female of this species might be the progenitor in a few generations of millions. It is absent or scarce in desert and semidesert regions (except for irrigated areas). It is not found north of Canadian life zone, nor on Channel Islands off the coast of southern California. By 1898, the small white had spread to Hawaii; by 1929, it had reached New Zealand and the area around Melbourne, Australia, and found its way to Perth as early as 1943. It does not seem to have made it to South America.

In Britain, it has two flight periods, April–May and July–August, but is continuously brooded in North America, being one of the first butterflies to emerge from the chrysalis in the spring and flying until hard freeze in the fall.

The species can be found in any open area with diverse plant association. It can be seen usually in towns, but also in natural habitats, mostly in valley bottoms. Although an affinity towards open areas is shown, the small white is found to have entered even small forest clearings in recent years.

The nominate subspecies P. r. rapae is found in Europe, while Asian populations are placed in the subspecies P. r. crucivora. Other subspecies include atomaria, eumorpha, leucosoma, mauretanica, napi, novangliae, and orientalis.

4-5-2018 EL PERELLO, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

4-5-2018 ULAL DE BOLDOVI, VALENCIA - CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Colias croceus)

Colias croceus, clouded yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites.

Colias croceus has a wingspan of 46–54 millimetres (1.8–2.1 in). The upperside of the wings is golden to orange yellow with a broad black margin on all four wings and a black spot near the centre forewing. Usually these butterflies settles with its wings closed, consequently the black margin of the uppersides of the wings is difficultly visible.

The underside lacks the black borders and is lighter, with a more greenish tint, particularly on the forewings. In the forewing underside is the same dark spot as on the upperside, but often with a light centre; the hindwing underside has a white centre spot, often with a smaller white or dark dot immediately above it. Sometimes, a row of black dots occurs on the underwings' outer margins, corresponding to where the black border ends on the upperside. Females differ from the males in having yellow spots along the black borders on the upperside.

In flight, Colias croceus is easily identifiable by the intense yellow colouring, much brighter than that of the lemon-yellow male common brimstone which also lacks black markings. Like all Colias species they never open their wings at rest.

In about 5% of females, the golden upperside colouration is replaced by a pale cream colour. These females have been distinguished as form helice. The pale form helice does not seem to be distinct, as intermediates exist, and the variation is to some extent related to humidity during development, with dryer conditions producing paler colouration. These pale forms helice can be confused with Berger's clouded yellow (Colias alfacariensis) and the rarer pale clouded yellow (Colias hyale). Even the palest C. croceus tends to have more black on the upperside, however, in particular on the hindwings.

Young caterpillars are yellow-green with a black head. Later they become completely dark green, with a white red-spotted lateral line after the third moult. The pupae are green and have a yellow side stripe.

This species is similar to Colias myrmidone, Colias chrysotheme, Colias erate, Colias hyale, Colias alfacariensis, Colias caucasica, Colias aurorina.

4-5-2018 EL PERELLO, VALENCIA - LITTLE BITTERN (Ixobrychus minutus)

The little bittern or common little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) is a wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. Ixobrychus is from Ancient Greek ixias, a reed-like plant and brukhomai 'to bellow', and minutus is Latin for 'small'.

The little bittern is native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Madagascar. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in Asia, while those nesting in the tropics are sedentary. It is rare north of its breeding range.

In Britain there were intermittent reports of breeding in the nineteenth century, and again in 1946 and 1957, but none of these records were proven. The first proven British breeding record is from Yorkshire in 1984, and the second from the Avalon Marshes in Somerset in 2010, by 2017 this species had been present in this area for nine consecutive years.

Carl Linnaeus described the little bittern in 1766. Member of a cosmopolitan superspecies with I. exilis (North and South America), I. sinensis (Asia) and I. dubius (New Guinea, AUS). I. [m.] minutus itself consists of three clearly differentiated subspecies (groups) to which all-species status could be assigned:

I. m. minutus – (Linnaeus, 1766): nominate, found in Europe, Asia, northern Africa; winters in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia

I. m. payesii – (Hartlaub, 1858): found in sub-Saharan Africa, resident

I. m. podiceps – (Bonaparte, 1855): found in Madagascar, resident

The Australian little bittern (I. dubius) and the extinct New Zealand little bittern (I. novaezelandiae) were formerly considered subspecies of the little bittern.

Comparative studies, especially on shouting / courtship behavior and genetics, are lacking.

The little bittern has a length of 33–38 centimetres (13–15 in) and a wing span of 52–58 centimetres (20–23 in). It is the smallest of the breeding herons of Europe and is characterised by its tiny size, long and sharp bill and thick neck. The males are distinctively patterned and both sexes show pale forewing panels. The males have black with a faint green sheen on the crown, nape, back, tail and scapulars. The underparts are pale buff and the wing has a pinkish buff oval shaped panel which contrasts with the otherwise black wings and is formed by the inner wing coverts. The underwing is completely whiteish in colour. The female is duller than the male and has brownish black upperparts with paler feather margins visible at close range. The underparts of the female are not as clean as those of the male and are streaked with dark buff and brown. The female's wing panel is less obvious than the male's. The juveniles are duller and more rufous than the females and are more heavily streaked on both their upperparts and underparts, including their wing coverts.