BIRDWALKERMONDAY

Friday, 3 May 2019

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - GIRAFFE (Giraffa giraffa ssp. giraffa)

The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa giraffa or Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a species or subspecies of giraffe found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves.

In 2016, the population was estimated at 31,500 individuals in the wild.

The IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies. The Cape giraffe, along with the whole species, were first known by the binomen Camelopardalis giraffa as described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in his publication Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen (The Mammals Illustrated from Nature with Descriptions) during his travel in the Cape of Good Hope in 1784. Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert also described it under the binomial name Giraffa giraffa whilst also identifying the nominate specimen of said species under the ternary name Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa in 1785.

The South African giraffe has dark, somewhat rounded patches "with some fine projections" on a tawny background colour. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller. The median lump of males is less developed.

The South African giraffe is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and south-western Mozambique. After local extinctions in various places, South African giraffes have been reintroduced in many parts of Southern Africa, including in Eswatini. They are common in both in and outside of protected areas. South African giraffes usually live in savannahs and woodlands where food plants are available. Giraffes are herbivorous. They feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and shoots of woody plants such as Acacia.

South African giraffes live in a fission–fusion society system based on factors such as sex, age, season, and kinship. This allows them to adapt to environmental changes.

At present[when?], the South African giraffe population is estimated at 37,000 individuals, showing an increase of over 150% over the past three decades. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the body that administers the world's official endangered species list, announced in 2016 that it was moving the giraffe from a species of Least Concern to Vulnerable status in its Red List of Threatened Species report. That means the animal faces extinction in the wild in the medium-term future if nothing is done to minimize the threats to its life or habitat.

South African giraffes are uncommon in captivity. As of 2010, there are around 45 South African giraffes breeding in zoos. Approximately 12,000 privately owned farms, ranches, and national parks maintain populations of this giraffe.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE) (Panthera pardus pardus)

29-4-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - JERUSALEM SAGE (Phlomis fruticosa)

29-4-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - BERGERS CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Colias alfacariensis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/344763-Colias-alfacariensis

29-4-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - WHITE ASPHODEL (Asphodelus albus )

29-4-2019 CASTELL DE CASTELLS, ALICANTE - PERENNIAL FLAX (Linum perenne)

Thursday, 2 May 2019

2-5-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PORTLAND RIBBON WAVE MOTH (Idaea degeneraria)

2-5-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

4-4-2018 PHINDA GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - WHITE EARED BARBET (Stactolaema leucotis)

The White-eared Barbet, known scientifically as Stactolaema leucotis, is a charming bird belonging to the Lybiidae family, which encompasses the African barbets. This species is adorned with a distinctive white ear patch that contrasts with its predominantly green plumage.

When observing the White-eared Barbet, look for its striking white ear coverts and the greenish hue of its body. The bird's appearance is further accentuated by a robust bill typical of barbets, which is well-suited for its fruit-eating habits.

The White-eared Barbet is known to inhabit a variety of woodland and forest habitats. It is often found in regions where fruiting trees are abundant, providing ample food sources for this species.

This species graces the landscapes of several African countries, including Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Its presence across these regions is a testament to its adaptability to different environments within the continent.

Observations of the White-eared Barbet reveal a bird that is partial to fruit, often seen indulging in this natural bounty. Its behavior is typical of barbets, engaging in activities that revolve around its diet and habitat.

7-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - BEARDED SCRUB ROBIN (Cercotrichas quadrivirgata)

The bearded scrub robin, scientifically known as Cercotrichas quadrivirgata, is a modestly sized bird, with a length of 15–17 cm and a weight of approximately 20–31 g. Both sexes are similar in appearance, though the female is marginally smaller. The species is adorned with a dark olive-brown crown and upperparts, while the tail is a darker brown with white-tipped outer feathers. The wing coverts are a subtle grey-brown with olive-brown edges, and the flight feathers are dark brown with a distinctive white patch.

Upon closer inspection, one can observe the bearded scrub robin's facial features, which include a white supercilium, a white crescent below the eye, a white moustachial line, and a striking black malar stripe. Above the supercilia, black lines are also present. The eyes are a deep brown, and the lores are black. The throat and upper breast are white, transitioning to a rufous-brown to rufous color on the breast and neck-sides, with the belly and undertail coverts returning to white. The beak is black, and the legs are a pinkish-brown hue.

The bearded scrub robin is typically found in sand forests, riverine woodlands, scrubs, and evergreen forests. Occasionally, it may venture into gardens and reedbeds, though it generally avoids damp areas.

This species graces the landscapes of eastern and southern Africa, with sightings in Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its distribution spans an impressive 5,390,000 km².

The bearded scrub robin is often seen in pairs or small groups. It is a territorial bird, with territories reaching up to 1 hectare. The bird's calls are varied, including a 'chuck', 'chrrrt', and a 'seeeep', while its song is a melodious series of whistles that may incorporate mimicry of other bird species. It forages on the ground, primarily consuming ants, termites, beetles, and other insects, and is also known to partake in sandbathing.

The bearded scrub robin's vocal repertoire includes a 'chuck', 'chrrrt', 'chek-chek-kwezzzzzzz', and a 'seeeep'. Its song is a series of melodious whistles, which may include mimicked calls from other bird species.

The mating system of the bearded scrub robin is monogamous. Breeding seasons vary by region, occurring from December to February in eastern Africa, September to January in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and September to December in South Africa. The nest is constructed from plant material, lichen, and hair, and typically contains two to three eggs, which may be white, pale green, or bluish with many spots. The female is responsible for incubating the eggs.

The diet of the bearded scrub robin consists mainly of ants, termites, beetles, and other insects. It forages on the ground and is also known to engage in sandbathing.

The bearded scrub robin is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The population size is not precisely known, but the species benefits from a large range and appears to have a stable population trend without facing significant threats.

7-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - BLACK BACKED PUFFBACK (Dryoscopus cubla)

The black-backed puffback (Dryoscopus cubla) is a species of passerine bird in the family Malaconotidae. They are common to fairly common sedentary bushshrikes in various wooded habitats in Africa south of the equator. They restlessly move about singly, in pairs or family groups, and generally frequent tree canopies. Like others of its genus, the males puff out the loose rump and lower back feathers in display, to assume a remarkable ball-like appearance. They draw attention to themselves by their varied repertoire of whistling, clicking and rasping sounds. Their specific name cubla, originated with Francois Levaillant, who derived it from a native southern African name, where the "c" is an onomatopoeic click sound. None of the other five puffback species occur in southern Africa.