26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - EASTERN FORK TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus adsimilis ssp. fugax)

The East African Fork-Tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis fugax) is a medium-sized passerine songbird. It is also known as the Common Drongo, the African Drongo, or the Savannah Drongo.

The East African Fork-Tailed Drongo is glossy black, with duller black wings. It has patches of brown feathers. It has a large head, and a light-grey thick, hooked beak, with nasal bristles (hairs). It has orange-brown eyes. It has short legs. The feathers on its tail curve outwards, forming a fork tail.

The term "eastern fork-tailed drongo" refers to Sharpe's Drongo (\(<<!nav>>Dicrurussharpeisharpei<<!/nav>>\)) or can be a less common way to refer to the Fork-tailed Drongo (\(<<!nav>>Dicrurusadsimilis<<!/nav>>\)), which has populations in eastern Africa. Both are black, fork-tailed birds, with the fork-tailed drongo being more widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and Sharpe's drongo primarily found in eastern and central Africa's forests. They are known for their bright red eyes and ability to mimic other birds to steal food. Sharpe's Drongo (\(Dicrurussharpei\)) Identification: An all-black bird with a deep fork in its tail and a glossy, blue-green sheen on its head and upperparts.

Habitat: Found primarily in forest habitats, particularly in eastern Africa.Behavior: Mimics other birds, including warning calls, to steal food. Fork-tailed Drongo (\(Dicrurusadsimilis\)) Identification: A black bird with a deeply forked tail, red eyes, and a slight blue-green gloss on its upperparts.Habitat: Inhabits more open country across sub-Saharan Africa and is absent from dense forests and high-altitude areas.Behavior: Known for mimicking the alarm calls of other birds to steal food. 

26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - CROWNED HORNBILL (Lophoceros alboterminatus)

The crowned hornbill, known scientifically as Lophoceros alboterminatus, is a medium-sized bird, measuring between 50 to 54 centimeters in length. It boasts a striking contrast with its white belly set against a black back and wings. The tail feathers are tipped with white, adding to its distinctive appearance. The bird's eyes gleam with a yellow hue, while the beak is a vibrant red, topped with a prominent casque on the upper mandible. In females, this casque is notably smaller, a subtle difference that aids in gender identification.

To identify the crowned hornbill, look for its shorter beak which sets it apart from the similar Bradfield's hornbill. The male's casque is more pronounced than the female's, and the white tips on the long tail feathers are a key characteristic to watch for.

This hornbill species is a familiar sight in the coastal and riverine forests stretching from the eastern coast of southern Africa to the northeastern regions of the continent.

The crowned hornbill is an arboreal forager, predominantly feeding in the trees. Its diet is varied, consisting of insects, which it often snatches in flight, as well as small rodents, reptiles, eggs, seeds, and fruits. This bird is known to gather in flocks, particularly during the dry season.

The breeding habits of the crowned hornbill involve laying a clutch of four to five pristine white eggs. These eggs undergo an incubation period lasting between 25 to 30 days. Post-hatching, the juveniles remain under the care of both parents for approximately 8 weeks, learning the ways of the forest.

The IUCN Red List has classified the crowned hornbill as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species does not face an immediate threat of extinction in the wild.

3-7-2019 TANCAT DE MILLA, VALENCIA - WESTERN SWAMPHEN (FEMALE and JUVENILE) (Porphyrio porphyrio)

The western swamphen (known as Purple Swamphen) (Porphyrio porphyrio ) is a swamphen in the rail family Rallidae, one of the six species of purple swamphen. From the French name talève sultane, it is also known as the sultana bird. This chicken-sized bird, with its large feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily recognisable in its native range. It used to be considered the nominate subspecies of the purple swamphen, but is now recognised as a separate species. The western swamphen is found in wetlands in Spain (where the largest population lives), Portugal, southeastern France, Italy (Sardinia and Sicily) and northwestern Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia).

The species makes loud, quick, bleating and hooting calls which are hardly bird-like in tone. It is particularly noisy during the breeding season. Despite being clumsy in flight, it can fly long distances and is a good swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet.

Western swamphens are generally seasonal breeders, correlating with peak rainfall in many places, or summer in more temperate climes. The purple swamphen breeds in warm reed beds. The pattern of social behaviour tends to be monogamy.

Pairs nest in a large pad of interwoven reed flags, etc., on a mass of floating debris or amongst matted reeds slightly above water level in swamps, clumps of rushes in paddocks or long unkempt grass. Each bird can lay 3–6 speckled eggs, pale yellowish stone to reddish buff, blotched and spotted with reddish brown. The incubation period is 23–27 days, and is performed by both sexes. The precocious chicks are feathered with downy black feathers and able to leave the nest soon after hatching, but will often remain in the nest for a few days. Young chicks are fed by their parents (and group members) for between 10–14 days, after which they begin to feed themselves.

3-7-2019 SOLLANA, VALENCIA - BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)

The Black-crowned Night Heron, scientifically known as Nycticorax nycticorax, is a medium-sized heron with a global presence, spanning parts of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It is distinguished by its black crown and back, contrasting with a white or grey body, red eyes, and short yellow legs. Notably, it deviates from the typical heron silhouette, appearing more robust with shorter bills, legs, and necks compared to its egret and day heron relatives.

Adults boast a striking black crown and back, with the rest of their plumage primarily white or grey. Their eyes are a vivid red, and they stand on short yellow legs. During social interactions, such as greeting or courtship, they display two or three elongated white plumes that extend from the back of their heads. Males and females are similar in appearance, though males may be marginally larger. Juveniles, on the other hand, are cloaked in a dull grey-brown with pale spots and streaks, and their eyes are a more subdued orange with less vibrant legs.

These herons favor fresh and salt-water wetlands as their breeding grounds, which are found across their vast range.

The Black-crowned Night Heron breeds across various regions: from Eurasia to Africa, the Indonesian Archipelago, North and South America, and even the remote Falkland Islands. While migratory in the northern extremes, it is generally a resident species, with North American populations wintering in warmer climes from Mexico to the West Indies.

3-7-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - NOMAD DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)

The red-veined darter or nomad (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum.

Sympetrum fonscolombii was named under the protonym Libellula fonscolombii by the Belgian entomologist Edmond de Sélys Longchamps, in 1840, in honor of the French entomologist Étienne of Fonscolombe (hence the species name). Its name is sometimes spelt fonscolombei instead of fonscolombii but Askew (2004) gives the latter as the correct spelling.

Sympetrum fonscolombii can reach a body length of 38–40 millimetres (1.5–1.6 in). This species is similar to other Sympetrum species but a good view with binoculars should give a positive identification, especially with a male.

Males have a red abdomen, redder than many other Sympetrum species. The frons and the thorax are red-brown. The eyes are brown above and blue/grey below. The wings have red veins and the wing bases of the hind-wings are yellow. The pterostigma is pale yellow with a border of black veins.

Female are similar but the abdomen is ochre yellow, not red, with two black lines along each side. The wings have yellow veins at the costa, leading edge and base, not red veins as found in the males. The legs of both sexes are mostly black with some yellow.

Immature males are like females but often with more red and a single line along each side of the abdomen.

3-7-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui)

Vanessa cardui is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan.

V. cardui is one of the most widespread of all butterflies, found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. In Australia, V. cardui has a limited range around Bunbury, Fremantle, and Rottnest Island. However, its close relative, the Australian painted lady (V. kershawi, sometimes considered a subspecies) ranges over half the continent. Other closely related species are the American painted lady (V. virginiensis) and the West Coast lady (V. annabella).

Larvae feed on Asteraceae species, including Cirsium, Carduus, Centaurea, Arctium, Onopordum, Helianthus, and Artemisia.

The painted lady uses over 300 recorded host plants according to the HOSTS database.

Adult butterflies feed on flower nectar and aphid honeydew.

21-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - PINK JACARANDA (Stereospermum kunthianum)

Stereospermum kunthianum is an African deciduous shrub or small tree occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It is widespread across Africa to the Red Sea, and reaches as far south as Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. There are some 30 species with a Central African and Asian distribution.

Growing to 25 cm diameter, it has thin, grey-black bark, smooth or flaking in patches resembling the London plane; the trunk is rarely straight, with twisted branches. Usually 5m tall, but occasionally up to 15m, with abundant, fragrant, precocious, pink or purplish flowers, making the tree a spectacular sight. The alternate leaves are imparipinnately compound and some 25 cm long; leaflets are nearly opposite with one terminal leaflet, and with short, soft hairs, oblong to oblong-elliptic in shape, green and hairless above, yellowish-green with prominent venation below, apex somewhat attenuate, and the base tapering. The leaf margin may be entire or sometimes toothed in coppice shoots, while petiolules are virtually absent. Petioles may be up to 7 cm long, and are caniculate. Immature leaves are occasionally toothed and hairy.

The calyx is campanulate, 5-6mm long and almost glabrous; the corolla is some 5 cm long, with the tube softly pubescent; panicle large, usually softly pubescent. Fruits are slender, flat, paired pods up to 60 x 1 cm, cylindrical, pendulous, spirally twisted, smooth, splitting in two and releasing many flat, long, narrow seeds winged at each end, 2.5–3 cm long. The remains of the pods persist on the tree for several months. Preferring sandy and clay soils, it is often found in association with termite mounds.

The timber is white with yellowish or pinkish stains, and is used for making mortars. The bark is used for treating bronchitis and other pulmonary complaints, while roots and leaves are also used in traditional medicine.

3-7-2019 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis)

The Zitting Cisticola, or Streaked Fantail Warbler, is a diminutive bird, measuring a mere 10 to 12 centimeters in length. Its upper parts are adorned with a brown plumage, intricately streaked with black, while its underparts remain a modest whitish hue. The tail is a noteworthy feature, broad and tipped with white, and is frequently flicked—a behavior that has inspired one of the bird's colloquial names.

To identify the Zitting Cisticola, look for its rufous rump and the absence of gold on the collar. The tail, brownish with white tips, is another distinguishing characteristic. Males, during the breeding season, exhibit less crown streaking and more pronounced back markings than females, though differences between sexes are generally subtle.

The Zitting Cisticola favors grasslands as its primary habitat, often found in proximity to bodies of water.

This species boasts a broad range, encompassing southern Europe, Africa (excluding deserts and rainforests), and southern Asia, extending to northern Australia. It is largely sedentary, though certain East Asian populations undertake migrations to warmer climes in winter.

These birds are predominantly insectivorous and may be observed in small flocks. The breeding season is timed with the rains, and in many regions, the Zitting Cisticola is known to produce two broods annually. Males display polygynous tendencies, though monogamous pairings are not uncommon. The male initiates nest construction within the grasses and performs a specialized display to attract females, who then complete the nest.

The male's breeding season is marked by a distinctive flight display, punctuated by a series of "zitting" calls reminiscent of the sound of scissors snipping.

Nests are artfully constructed with living leaves woven into a soft matrix of plant down, cobwebs, and grass. The structure is cup-shaped with an overhead canopy for camouflage. Females lay 3 to 6 eggs and are solely responsible for incubation, which lasts approximately 10 days. Multiple broods may be raised in a single season.

Their diet consists primarily of insects, which they forage for within their grassland habitats.

26-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - KALAHARI YELLOW BILLED HORNBILL (Tockus leucomelas ssp. leucomelas)

The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, known scientifically as Tockus leucomelas, is a medium-sized bird, with a length ranging from 48 to 60 centimeters and a weight between 132 and 242 grams. Its most striking feature is the long, down-curved yellow beak, which is disproportionately large compared to its body, making up to one-sixth of its body length. Males boast a longer beak, averaging 90 millimeters, while females have a slightly shorter one, averaging 74 millimeters. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males generally larger than females. The bird's plumage is a combination of white, grey, and black, with the white belly and grey neck contrasting against the black back adorned with white spots and stripes. The eyes are typically yellow, though brown variations exist, and the skin around the eyes and malar stripe is pinkish.

To identify the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, look for the long yellow beak and modest-sized casque that covers almost the entire length of the beak in males. The bird's white belly, grey neck with spots, and black back with white markings are also distinctive. The male's larger size and longer beak are reliable indicators for sex differentiation in the field.

This hornbill species is a common and widespread resident of the dry thornveldt and broad-leafed woodlands, often seen along roads and watercourses. They show a preference for acacia and broadleaved woodlands when available.

The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is near-endemic to the dry savannas of southern Africa, with its range extending from Angola and Namibia in the west to Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal in the east, including Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northern South Africa.

Active during the day, these birds are often solitary, but may form couples or small groups, especially during breeding or nesting seasons, or when local migration occurs during the dry season. They are ground foragers, not digging but rather overturning debris to find food. They are sedentary but may roam in search of sustenance during dry spells. Monogamous pairs defend their territories with elaborate displays.

The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill's vocal repertoire includes a piercing cry, whistles, grunts, and cackles. These calls are used for territory demarcation and long-distance communication, often accompanied by physical displays.

Their diet consists mainly of arthropods like termites, beetles, larvae, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, supplemented by small mammals, berries, fruits, nuts, and eggs from other species. They use their beak as forceps to grasp and toss food into their throat, with serrated inner edges aiding in crushing and fragmenting their prey.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

The arrow-marked babbler (Turdoides jardineii) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is native to woodlands in the southern Afrotropics.

It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, DRC, Eswatini, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.

The arrow-marked babbler is a medium-sized babbler, 22 to 25 cm (8.7–9.8 in) in length and weighing 56 to 85 g (2.0–3.0 oz). The common name for the species is derived from its plumage, which is brownish-grey above and lighter below, with white tips to the feathers on the throat, neck and head. The outer iris is bright red and the inner bright yellow or orange. Males and females are identical in appearance. Juveniles have brown eyes and less arrow-shaped streaking on the breast.

The arrow-marked babbler lives in social groups of between 3 and 15 birds (six being the average) that defend large territories, with the size of the territory being dependent upon the number of individuals in the group. They feed on insects, spiders and sometimes snails and lizards, as well as fruits. Foraging occurs near the ground, sometimes in association with other babblers or bulbuls.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - MEVES'S STARLING (Lamprotornis mevesii)

Meves's starling (Lamprotornis mevesii) or Meves's glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Its common name and Latin binomial commemorate the German ornithologist Friedrich Wilhelm Meves. A medium-large, iridescent glossy starling with a very long and graduated tail. The color of the iridescence is blue and purple in most of the range, but the southwestern Angola population shows yellowish bronzy gloss. Pairs, groups, and flocks are resident in open savanna, preferring broadleaf woodland like Brachystegia (miombo) and areas with baobabs.

The species feeds on the ground, walking with long strides, and sits low in trees, searching mostly for insects to eat. The similar Burchell’s Starling differs from Meves’s Starling by being greener and larger, with a less graduated tail that is proportionately shorter. This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). 

The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

21-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN FISH EAGLE (Haliaeetus vocifer)

The African fish eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer) or the African sea eagle is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. It is the national bird of Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. As a result of its large range, it is known in many languages. Examples of names include: visarend in Afrikaans, nkwazi in Chewa, aigle pêcheur in French, idì in Yoruba, hungwe in Shona, inkwazi in isiZulu, and ntšhu in Northern Sotho. Though this species may superficially resemble the bald eagle in appearance they are not closely related and the two species occur on different continents, with the bald eagle being endemic to North America.

The African fish eagle is a species placed in the genus Icthyophaga (fish eagles). Its closest relative appears to be the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle (I. vociferoides). Like all sea eagle species pairs, this one consists of a white-headed species (the African fish eagle) and a tan-headed one (Madagascar fish eagle). These are an ancient lineage of sea eagles; like other sea eagles, they have dark talons, beaks, and eyes. Both species have at least partially white tails even as juveniles. The vocifer is derived from its original genus name, so named by the French naturalist François Levaillant, who called it 'the vociferous one'.

21-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - RED WINGED STARLING (Onychognathus morio)

The red-winged starling (Onychognathus morio) is a bird of the starling family Sturnidae native to eastern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape in South Africa. An omnivorous, generalist species, it prefers cliffs and mountainous areas for nesting, and has moved into cities and towns due to similarity to its original habitat.

The male of this 27–30-centimetre (11–12 in) long starling has mainly iridescent black plumage, with chestnut flight feathers, which are particularly noticeable in flight. The female has an ash-grey head and upper breast. The juvenile resembles the male, but is less glossy than the adults, and has brown rather than dark red eyes. The Ethiopian subspecies O. m. rupellii is longer-tailed than the nominate form and intergrades with it.

This species has a number of whistled calls, but the most familiar is the contact call, cher-leeeoo.

The range runs down eastern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng in South Africa. This species has a wide habitat tolerance. It may be found in forest, savannah, grassland, wetlands, fynbos, farmlands and commercial plantations, as well as urban centres. It is now common in many urban areas, due to the similarity between the structure of tall buildings and houses as nest sites with the cliffs of its original habitat. It may also nest in residential areas, breeding in roofs and apertures and up house eaves.

1-7-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GRAMMODES BIFASCIATA MOTH (family Erebidae)

Grammodes bifasciata is a moth species known for its distinctive dark brown forewings with lighter bands. It is found in regions including Madagascar, eastern and northern Africa, and the Mediterranean Basin. The larvae are polyphagous, feeding on plants like Cistus, Rubus, and Smilax. 

Characteristics and habitat

Appearance: The adult moth has dark brown forewings that are framed by a walnut-colored area and a lighter line on the rear wing. When at rest, the wings form a characteristic triangular shape.

Size: The wingspan is approximately $30-35$mm.

Habitat: It prefers coastal and lowland areas, particularly wetlands and sandy areas, where its host plants are present. 

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTH AFRICAN HIPPOPOTAMUS (Hippopotamus amphibius ssp. capensis)

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) (/ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/; pl.: hippopotamuses; often shortened to hippo (pl.: hippos), further qualified as the common hippopotamus, Nile hippopotamus and river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis). Its name comes from the ancient Greek for "river horse" (ἱπποπόταμος).

After elephants and rhinoceroses, the hippopotamus is the next largest land mammal. It is also the largest extant land artiodactyl. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, the closest living relatives of the hippopotamids are cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises, etc.), from which they diverged about 55 million years ago. Hippos are recognisable for their barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths with large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, pillar-like legs, and large size: adults average 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) for bulls (males) and 1,300 kg (2,900 lb) for cows (females). Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it is capable of running 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances.

Hippos inhabit rivers, lakes, and mangrove swamps. Territorial bulls each preside over a stretch of water and a group of five to thirty cows and calves. Mating and birth both occur in the water. During the day, hippos remain cool by staying in water or mud, emerging at dusk to graze on grasses. While hippos rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos typically do not display territorial behaviour on land. Hippos are among the most dangerous animals in the world due to their aggressive and unpredictable nature. They are threatened by habitat loss and poaching for their meat and ivory (canine teeth).

2-7-2019 OLIVA, VALENCIA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui)

Vanessa cardui is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan.

V. cardui occurs in any temperate zone, including mountains in the tropics. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates in spring, and sometimes again in autumn. It migrates from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Britain and Europe in May and June, occasionally reaching Iceland, and from the Red Sea basin, via Israel and Cyprus, to Turkey in March and April. The occasional autumn migration made by V. cardui is likely for the inspection of resource changes; it consists of a round trip from Europe to Africa.

For decades, naturalists have debated whether the offspring of these immigrants ever make a southwards return migration. Research suggests that British painted ladies do undertake an autumn migration, making 14,500 km (9,000 mi) round trip from tropical Africa to the Arctic Circle in a series of steps by up to six successive generations. The Radar Entomology Unit at Rothamsted Research provided evidence that autumn migrations take place at high altitude, which explains why these migrations are seldom witnessed. In recent years, thanks to the activity of The Worldwide Painted Lady Migration citizen science project, led by the Barcelona-based Institute of Evolutionary Biology (Catalan: Institut de Biologia Evolutiva), the huge range of migration has begun to be revealed. For example, some butterflies migrated from Iceland to the Sahara desert, and even further south.

1-7-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SICKLE BEARING BUSHCRICKET (Genus Phaneroptera)

The Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket (Phaneroptera falcata) is a slender, green insect in warm grasslands, known for its long wings, herbivorous diet (plants), and distinctive sickle-shaped ovipositor in females, used for laying eggs within leaves, with males chirping to attract mates. They are active in late afternoons/evenings, can fly long distances when startled, and are often found in gardens, shrubbery, and scrubland, sometimes mistaken for the similar Mediterranean Katydid. 

Key Characteristics

Appearance: Slender, bright green body, very long antennae, and wings that extend well past the body.

Size: Adults are typically 24-36 mm long.

Distinguishing Feature (Female): A sharp, right-angled turn on the ovipositor (egg-laying tube).

Distinguishing Feature (Male): Sub-genital plates end in diverging points. 

Habitat & Behavior

Habitat: Warm, dry areas like grasslands, shrubbery, gardens, and sand pits.

Activity: Most active in warm late afternoons and evenings.

Diet: Herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers, and pollen.

Flight: Capable of flying long distances when threatened.

Sound: Males produce chirps (stridulation) to attract females, heard via hearing organs (tympanal organs) on their front legs. 

Life Cycle & Reproduction

Egg-laying: Females insert eggs into plant leaves, often blackthorn, by bending their abdomen.

Eggs: Can be laid between leaf layers, making them flat. 

Often confused with the Mediterranean Katydid (Phaneroptera nana), but P. falcata has a more angular ovipositor and pronotum (body section). 

30-6-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - DOUBLE STRIPED PUG MOTH (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

The double-striped pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a widespread and common species, being found throughout the Palearctic region, including the Near East and North Africa.

This is a variable species but always easy to recognize due to the two prominent dark fascia across each forewing which give the species its common name. The forewing ground colour ranges from light to dark reddish brown. The crosslines are distinct. The inner margin of the pale white sub-marginal line bears black marks. The hindwings are pale grey with darker fringes, darker lines and a small black discal spot. There is a dark band across the basal segments of the abdomen. The wingspan is 15–19 mm.

The caterpillars reach a length of up to 17 millimeters and have a very variable basic colouration. It ranges from whitish to yellowish green, brown, red to purple. On the back there is a pale band marked with a series of dark diamonds or triangles. The drawing resembles a rear-facing trident, is sometimes crow-foot-like and can occasionally be only weakly formed. The head is yellowish brown.

Two, sometimes three, broods are produced each year and the adults are on the wing in April and May (sometimes earlier), July and August, and sometimes later in the autumn. Later broods are more heavily marked. It flies at night and is attracted to light and flowers, both of its food plants and others.

The larva feeds on the flowers of a huge range of plants (see list below) and has also been known to feed on the larvae of other lepidoptera. The species overwinters as a pupa.

30-6-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (Tarentola mauritanica)

Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It has been introduced to Madeira and Balearic Islands, and the Americas (in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and California). A nocturnal animal with a predominantly insectivorous diet, it is commonly observed on walls in urban environments in warm coastal areas; it can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as an insect hunter. 

A robust species, up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, its tubercules are enlarged and give the species a spiny armoured appearance.

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is also known as moorish gecko, crocodile gecko, European common gecko, and, regionally, as osga (in Portuguese), salamanquesa (in Spanish) and dragó (in Catalan).

21-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - VERVET MONKEY (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)

The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus. The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. These mostly herbivorous monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in body length from about 40 cm (16 in) for females, to about 50 cm (20 in) for males.

In addition to behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension, anxiety, and social and dependent alcohol use. Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males moving to other groups at the time of sexual maturity. Studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition, and particular predator sightings.

The vervet monkey ranges throughout much of Southern and East Africa, being found from Ethiopia and extreme southern South Sudan all the way down to South Africa. It is not found west of the East African Rift or the Luangwa River, where it is replaced by the closely related malbrouck (C. cynosuros) species. The vervet monkey inhabits savanna, riverine woodland, coastal forest, and mountains up to 4000 m (13,100 ft). They are adaptable and able to persist in secondary and/or highly fragmented vegetation, including cultivated areas, and sometimes are found living in both rural and urban environments. Annual home range size has been observed to be as high as 176 ha, with an average population density of 54.68 animals/km2.

Vervet monkeys that are naturalised (introduced by humans) are found in Cape Verde, Ascension Island, Saint Helena, St Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados. Dania Beach, Florida, is home to about 40 introduced vervets.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN PIPIT (Merops pusillus ssp. meridionalis)

The African pipit, or Anthus cinnamomeus, is a modestly sized member of the pipit genus within the Motacillidae family. It is also referred to by the names grassveld pipit or grassland pipit. This bird is characterized by its slender build and an upright posture, measuring between 15 to 17 centimeters in length.

Adult African pipits exhibit a buffy-brown coloration on their upper parts, adorned with darker streaks. Their underparts are predominantly white or pale buff, featuring a streaked breast and unmarked belly and flanks. A distinctive facial pattern includes a pale supercilium and a contrasting dark malar stripe. The outer tail feathers are white, providing a clear identification mark in flight. Legs are long and exhibit a pinkish hue, while the bill is slender and dark with a yellowish base on the lower mandible. Juveniles can be recognized by their blotched breasts, scalloped upper parts, and some flank streaking.

The African pipit favors grasslands and fields, thriving in these open environments across Southern, Central, and East Africa, as well as in southwestern Arabia.

This species is widely distributed south-east of a line from Angola through the Democratic Republic of Congo to Sudan. An isolated population exists in the highlands of Cameroon, which is sometimes considered a distinct species.

The African pipit is known for its undulating song-flight, during which it delivers a series of twittering notes. It may also sing from a low perch. When not in flight, it maintains an erect stance, indicative of its alert nature.

The bird's vocalizations consist of a repeated sequence of twittering sounds, which are particularly noticeable during its characteristic undulating flight display.

21-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SUB SAHARAN STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata ssp. atricapilla)

The Little Heron (Butorides atricapilla or striata), common in Sub-Saharan Africa, is a small, solitary heron found in wetlands, featuring slate-grey plumage, a black cap, and yellow legs, known for patiently ambushing small fish, frogs, and insects, sometimes using bait, and nesting in low vegetation. It's a sedentary species, highly adapted to various water bodies, and has subspecies varying across its vast African, Asian, and Australian range, often mistaken for or closely related to other small herons like the Green Heron. 

Key Facts for Sub-Saharan Africa:

Identification: Adults are slate-grey with a black cap and nape plumes, blackish bill with a yellow base, and yellowish-orange legs; juveniles are browner and streaked.

Habitat: Densely vegetated rivers, swamps, mangroves, estuaries, and floodplains.

Diet: Small fish, frogs, crabs, shrimps, insects, and reptiles, caught by stealthily waiting or using bait.

Behavior: Usually solitary, often crepuscular (active at dusk/dawn), employing ambush tactics.

Breeding: Nests in low bushes or trees over water, often near other herons, laying pale blue eggs.

Movement: Generally sedentary but makes local movements following rains.

 

Key Facts (General):

Scientific Name: Butorides atricapilla (or Butorides striata in some classifications).

Range: Africa, Asia, Australia, South America.

Conservation: Status varies by region, but generally common; threatened by habitat loss and pollution. 

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SQUARE TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus fossii)

The Square-tailed Nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii, is a nocturnal bird native to the tropical and subtropical woodlands of the Afrotropics. Its name, while not entirely accurate, draws attention to a notable characteristic of its tail, which is not completely square but is distinctive enough to warrant mention. This bird is also referred to by various names depending on the region, including the Gabon Nightjar, Gaboon Nightjar, or Mozambique Nightjar.

The Square-tailed Nightjar can be identified by its unique tail shape, which is less elongated than that of its close relatives. It exhibits a cryptic plumage that blends seamlessly with the woodland floor, an adaptation for its nocturnal habits.

This species thrives in tropical and subtropical woodlands, preferring environments that offer ample cover and open spaces for its nocturnal foraging.

The Square-tailed Nightjar is predominantly found south of the African equator, extending its range into the tropics during the northern hemisphere summer. It is a seasonal visitor to regions such as the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Tanzania, southern Kenya, and southern Uganda. The bird is present year-round in countries including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

18-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - LAUGHING DOVE (Streptopelia senegalensis)

The laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) is a small pigeon that is a resident breeder in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Western Australia where it has established itself in the wild after being released from Perth Zoo in 1898. This small long-tailed dove is found in dry scrub and semi-desert habitats where pairs can often be seen feeding on the ground.

It is closely related to the spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) which is distinguished by a white and black chequered necklace. Other names include laughing turtle dove, palm dove and Senegal dove while in Asia the name little brown dove is often used.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - COMMON IMPALA (MALE) (Aepyceros melampus ssp. melampus)

The impala or rooibok (Aepyceros melampus, lit. 'black-footed high-horn' in Ancient Greek) is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The only extant member of the genus Aepyceros, and tribe Aepycerotini, it was first described to Europeans by German zoologist Hinrich Lichtenstein in 1812. Two subspecies are recognised—the grassland-dwelling common impala (sometimes referred to as the Kenyan impala), and the larger and darker black-faced impala, which lives in slightly more arid, scrubland environments. The impala reaches 70–92 cm (28–36 in) at the shoulder and weighs 40–76 kg (88–168 lb). It features a glossy, reddish brown coat. The male's slender, lyre-shaped horns are 45–92 cm (18–36 in) long.