31-5-2019 THORNTREE CAMP, ZAMBIA - TAWNY FLANKED PRINIA (Prinia subflava)

The tawny-flanked prinia (Prinia subflava) is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Prinia in the family Cisticolidae, a family of Old World warblers. It is widespread and common in most parts of Africa south of the Sahara. The plain prinia (P. inornata) of southern Asia was formerly included in this species but is now usually considered to be a separate species.

The tawny-flanked prinia is 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in) in length with a long, narrow, graduated tail[6] and a fairly long, slender bill. The tail is often held erect or waved from side to side. The upperparts are grey-brown with rufous-brown edges to the flight feathers and a rufous tinge to the rump. The throat and breast are whitish while the flanks and vent are warm buff. There is a whitish stripe over the eye and the lores are dark. The tail feathers have a white tip and a dark subterminal band.

The sexes are similar in appearance. Non-breeding birds have a longer tail than breeding birds. Juveniles have pale yellow underparts and a yellowish bill. There are many recognised subspecies.

The call is short, wheezy and rapidly repeated. The song is a monotonous series of shrill notes. The male often sings from an exposed perch.

The pale prinia (P. somalica) of North-east Africa is similar but paler and greyer with whitish flanks. It inhabits drier, more open habitats than the tawny-flanked prinia. The river prinia (P. fluviatilis) of West Africa is also paler and greyer and has a longer tail. It is restricted to waterside vegetation.

There are ten subspecies distributed across most parts of sub-Saharan Africa except for the driest and wettest areas. It is absent from much of the Congo Basin, southern Namibia, south-west Botswana and the western half of South Africa. It is found amongst shrubs and grass in a variety of habitats including woodland, savanna and cultivated areas. It adapts well to man-made habitats and is not considered to be threatened.

It feeds on insects and other invertebrates. It forages in small flocks which move through shrubs and undergrowth.

The nest is purse-shaped and made of strips of grass woven together. It is built one to two metres above the ground. Two to four eggs are laid; they are variable in ground colour and usually have brown or purple spots or blotches.

4-8-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - CROSS ORBWEAVER SPIDER (Araneus diadematus)

The spider species Araneus diadematus is commonly called the European garden spider, cross orbweaver, diadem spider, orangie, cross spider, and crowned orb weaver. It is sometimes called the pumpkin spider, although this name is also used for a different species, Araneus marmoreus. It is an orb-weaver spider found in Europe, where it is native, and North America, where it was introduced.

A. diadematus has a holarctic distribution throughout Europe and across North America, from southern Canada to Mexico, and from British Columbia to Newfoundland.

Individual spiders' colourings can range from extremely light yellow to very dark grey, but all A. diadematus spiders have mottled white markings across the dorsal abdomen, with four or more segments forming a cross. The markings are formed in cells filled with guanine, which is a byproduct of protein metabolism.

Adult females range in length from 6.5 to 20 mm (0.26 to 0.79 in), while males range from 5.5 to 13 mm (0.22 to 0.51 in). Occasionally, the female will eat the male directly after mating. 

31-5-2019 THORNTREE CAMP, ZAMBIA - BROWN HOODED KINGFISHER (Halcyon albiventris)

The brown-hooded kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris) is a species of bird in the subfamily Halcyoninae, the tree kingfishers. It has a brown head and blackish and turquoise wings. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, living in woodland, scrubland, forest edges, and also suburban areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as being of least concern.

This species was described as Alcedo albiventris by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1786. Four subspecies are recognised: Halcyon albiventris albiventris, H. a. orientalis, H. a. prentissgrayi and H. a. vociferans. Subspecies hylophila and erlangeri have also been described, but they are not considered distinct enough.

The brown-hooded kingfisher is about 22 cm (8.7 in) long. The head is brown, with blackish streaks. There is a broad buffy collar above the brownish-black mantle. The wing coverts are mostly brownish-black, and the secondary flight feathers are turquoise. The rump is azure-blue. The chin is white, the breast is tawny with some dark streaks, and the belly is buffy. The beak is red, tipped brown, the legs are carmine, and the eyes are dark brown. The female has dark brown upperparts, and its underparts are more streaked than the male. The juvenile bird is duller, with scalloped whitish underparts. The subspecies differ in shade and streaking.

This kingfisher is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, in Gabon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Somalia, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Eswatini. It occurs below 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in elevation, living in woodland, grassland with trees, scrubland, forest edge, and also cultivations, parks and gardens. It sometimes occurs near water, and can adapt to suburban habitats. Most populations do not migrate, but there is evidence of seasonal movements in some areas.

This kingfisher is generally seen alone or in pairs. It usually forages on the ground, mainly feeding on insects, and also eating scorpions, reptiles, small birds, rodents and fishes. Eating snakes and lizards as long as 25 cm (9.8 in) has been reported. The song, given while vibrating the wings, is a tiiiu or ki-ti-ti-ti trill, and a sharp cheerit is given when alarmed. The breeding season is mainly between September and April. A burrow nest is dug in a river bank, gully or road cutting. The family stays together for a few weeks after breeding.

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher's vocal repertoire includes a song that sounds like a "tiiiu" or a "ki-ti-ti-ti" trill, often accompanied by wing vibrations. When alarmed, it emits a sharp "cheerit."

Breeding occurs mainly between September and April. The kingfisher digs a burrow nest in a river bank, gully, or road cutting, where it raises its young. After the breeding season, the family stays together for a few weeks.

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher feeds on a variety of prey, including insects, scorpions, reptiles, small birds, rodents, and fish. It is an adept hunter, capable of taking on prey such as snakes and lizards up to 25 cm long.

The IUCN has classified the Brown-hooded Kingfisher as a species of Least Concern, thanks to its large range, stable population, and lack of significant threats.

31-5-2019 THORNTREE CAMP, ZAMBIA - BLACK COLLARED BARBET ( Lybius corquatus)

The black-collared barbet (Lybius torquatus) is a species of bird in the family Lybiidae which is native to sub-Saharan Africa. Indigenous names include Rooikophoutkapper in Afrikaans, isiKhulukhulu and isiQonQotho in Zulu, and Isinagogo in Xhosa.

It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa through Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The black-collared barbet usually is about 20–25 cm long, plump-looking and has a large head. It also has the heavy bill fringed with bristles that is characteristic of the genus Lybius. This barbet has a very obvious black collar and head which gives reference to its name. It also has a fire-engine red coloring around the eyes and beak. It has morphologically variable coloring because there is a replacement of a red head with a black head. It also has a more intense color and is larger than other barbets. This bird is also sexually monomorphic, which means that there is generally no phenotypic difference between the males and females of this species. The morphology, size and behavior are basically the same.

The black-collared barbet is one of the many duetting species in the genus Lybius and it regularly uses duetting in its day-to-day life. There are no solitary song instances heard from this species. Also, the repertoire of the duets do not vary greatly. This species is readily recognized by its loud duet, commonly rendered as "too-puddly too-puddly too-puddly" or "too-doodle too-doodle".... accompanied by wing-flicking. In addition to the wing-flicking, the birds in the pair face each other while calling and lean forward while bowing ceremoniously to each other. This bird produces a variety of calls including its snarling warning call and loud buzzing. The snarling could be the initiating sound of the duet.

The "too-puddly" song is actually an antiphonal duet. That means that one bird out of the pair sings the first note, then the other bird in the pair sings the second note. To bystanders, this does not sound like it comes from two different birds. It has distinct sexual duet roles after a greeting ceremony and the partner's notes do differ. The birds do not sing simultaneously, but are synchronized in their duets. The time between when one bird stops singing to when the other bird in the pair picks the song up is called the auditory response time for the duet. The approximate auditory response time for this bird is 178 ms.

This species also incorporates more wing and flight displays into their greeting ceremonies, mating, and territorial displays. It is a gregarious species, often acting in concert when driving off intruders and roosting together (up to 15 recorded) in nest holes. Their flight is direct with a loud whirring of wings.

31-5-2019 THORNTREE CAMP, ZAMBIA - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

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.

This angry-looking bird lives, breeds and travels in groups of between 4 and 12 or so: very noisy, very active, aggressively flicking aside leaves etc. to find insects and sometimes small reptiles. It also eats seeds and small fruit.  They are hard to miss and common in Harare suburbs, very frequent visitors in the early mornings and evenings. 

They are monogamous, meaning that they mate in single pairs, but co-operative, meaning that the group works together to raise the chicks.  As they move together as a group, they are constantly calling to each other, presumably to keep the group together.  Their alarm call is very characteristic: starting with an individual bird, it swells and grows louder and louder to a deafening crescendo.

31-5-2019 THORNTREE CAMP, ZAMBIA - WAHLBERG STRIPED SKINK (Trachylepis striata ssp. wahlbergi)

Trachylepis wahlbergii, also known commonly as Wahlberg's striped skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to Southern Africa.

Trachylepis wahlbergii has been considered a subspecies of Trachylepis striata. Whether T. wahlbergii is truly distinct from T. striata is not fully settled.

T. wahlbergii occurs in southern Angola, northern Botswana, northern Namibia, western Mozambique, Zambia, and northern, western and southern Zimbabwe.

The specific name, wahlbergi, is in honour of Swedish Naturalist Johan August Wahlberg.

T. wahlbergii is viviparous. In animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the mother, with the maternal circulation providing for the metabolic needs of the embryo's development, until the mother gives birth to a fully or partially developed juvenile that is at least metabolically independent.

31-5-2019 THORNTREE CAMP, ZAMBIA - AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL (Motacilla aguime)

The African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp) is a distinctive black-and-white bird of sub-Saharan Africa, known for its energetic tail-wagging as it hunts insects on the ground near water or in towns, utilizing diverse nesting spots from reedbeds to human structures, and often feeding on insects, seeds, and even scraps, with both parents raising young in monogamous pairs. 

Appearance & Identification

Colors: Striking black, white, and grey-black plumage with a bold white eyebrow and wing panels.

Size: Around 18 cm long with a distinctive long tail that bobs constantly. 

Habitat & Diet

Habitat: Found near water (rivers, marshes) but thrives in human-altered areas like towns, gardens, and farms across tropical Africa.

Diet: Primarily insectivorous (flies, ants, grasshoppers, etc.) but also eats seeds, tadpoles, small fish, and human food scraps. 

30-7-2019 BOTANICO ATLANTICO GIJON, ASTURIAS - SPANISH GATEKEEPER BUTTERFLY (Pyronia bathseba)

Pyronia bathseba, the Spanish gatekeeper, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found on the Iberian Peninsula and in France, Morocco, and Algeria. A similar gatekeeper species is Pyronia tithonus, which is found in northern Europe.

The wingspan is 18–19 mm. The butterfly is on wing from May to July depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Poaceae species, mainly Brachypodium species.

30-7-2019 BOTANICO ATLANTICO GIJON, ASTURIAS - BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (FEMALE) (Calopteryx virgo)

The beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a species of damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. It is found in Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. It is often found along fast-flowing waters.

Females can lay up to 300 eggs at a time on floating plants, such as water-crowfoot. Like the banded demoiselle, they often submerge underwater to do so, and the eggs hatch around 14 days later. The larvae are stick-shaped and have long legs. They develop over a period of two years in submerged vegetation, plant debris, or roots. They usually overwinter in mud or slime.

The larvae of the beautiful demoiselle develop over 10 to 12 stages, each of which ends with a moult. The body length varies and depends on environmental conditions. In the final stage (F-0-stage), larvae are 3.5–4.6 millimetres long and weigh about 4 milligrams, slightly smaller than those of the banded demoiselle. The larvae of the beautiful demoiselle can be recognized by the bristles of the gills on their abdomen.

The body of the larvae shows only a relatively small adjustment to the fast-flowing waters of their habitat. The body is not flattened, but it is very slim, and the legs are long and end with strong claws. Because they reside within the water, and mainly in quiet areas, the danger of being swept by the flow is relatively low. If this happens, they stretch out to grab onto passing vegetation or substrate.

30-7-2019 BOTANICO ATLANTICO GIJON, ASTURIAS - GUADARRAMA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis guadarramae)

The Guadarrama wall lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) is a medium-sized lizard endemic to the granite rocks of the Sierra de Guadarrama and other ranges in western-central Iberia. It is characterized by a flattened head, slender body, and coloration ranging from brown to bright green with dark spots. This species is insectivorous, laying 3-11 eggs and hibernating in winter to escape cold temperatures. 

Description and characteristics

Appearance: Males often have bright, contrasting pale dorsolateral stripes, while females may have uninterrupted or fragmented pale stripes.

Head: A key distinguishing feature is its flattened head with an elongated snout.

Size: Adult males have an average snout-vent length of about 53.8 mm, with females averaging 51.6 mm.

Coloration: Color can range from brown to bright green with dark spots, and it may have a high proportion of black elements in its coloration. 

Habitat and behavior

Habitat: It is a rupicolous species, meaning it lives among rocks and scree, particularly on granite substrates in its namesake range. It can also be found in other rocky areas, including artificial stone walls, and sometimes in sandy areas within forests.

Diet: It is primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide variety of terrestrial invertebrates, but it may also eat fruit and berries.

Reproduction: It is an egg-laying species, typically laying 3-11 eggs once or twice per year, depending on the length of the summer.

Behavior: The Guadarrama wall lizard hibernates for several months to avoid winter cold. Some populations at higher altitudes have larger body size and lay more eggs, which is likely related to environmental factors like food and water availability. 

Geographic distribution

Range: The species is found in the mountain ranges of the Sistema Central in Spain, from the Sierra del Alto Rey in the east to the Sierra de Guadarrama and Sierra de Gredos in the west.

Endemic to: It is endemic to this region, making its presence particularly important to the ecosystem of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. 

26-7-2019 AVILA, CASTILLE AND LEON - EURASIAN JACKDAW (Coloeus monedula)

The western jackdaw (Coloeus monedula), also known as the Eurasian jackdaw, the European jackdaw, or simply the jackdaw, is a passerine bird in the crow family. Found across Europe, western Asia and western North Africa; it is mostly resident, although northern and eastern populations migrate south in the winter. Four subspecies are recognised, which differ mainly in the colouration of the plumage on the head and nape. Linnaeus first described it formally, giving it the name Corvus monedula. The common name derives from the word jack, denoting "small", and daw, a less common synonym for "jackdaw", and the native English name for the bird.

Measuring 34–39 centimetres (13–15 in) in length, the western jackdaw is a black-plumaged bird with a grey nape and distinctive pale-grey irises. It is gregarious and vocal, living in small groups with a complex social structure in farmland, open woodland, on coastal cliffs, and in urban settings. Like its relatives, jackdaws are intelligent birds, and have been observed using tools. An omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, it eats a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates, as well as food waste from urban areas. Western jackdaws are monogamous and build simple nests of sticks in cavities in trees, cliffs, or buildings. About five pale blue or blue-green eggs with brown speckles are laid and incubated by the female. The young fledge in four to five weeks.

27-7-2019 RIBADESELLA, ASTURIAS - BLACK HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small gull that breeds in much of the Palearctic in Europe and Asia, and also locally in smaller numbers in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory and winters further south, but many also remain in the milder areas of northwestern Europe. It was formerly sometimes cited as "common black-headed gull" to distinguish it from "great black-headed gull" (an old name for Pallas's gull).

Black-headed gulls were among the birds most heavily hit by the 2023 avian influenza outbreak, with over 4,000 birds killed in Great Britain by early May; similarly high mortality rates were also reported from France, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany.

The black-headed gull is a bold and opportunistic feeder. It eats insects, fish, seeds, worms, scraps, and carrion in towns, or invertebrates in ploughed fields with equal facility. It is a noisy species, especially in colonies, with a familiar "kree-ar" call.

It displays a variety of behaviour and adaptations. Some of these include removing eggshells from the nest after hatching, begging co-ordination between siblings, differences between sexes, conspecific brood parasitism, and extra-pair paternity. They are found in a variety of different habitats.

27-7-2019 RIBADESELLA, ASTURIAS - SWAN GOOSE (Anser cygnoides var. domesticus)

The Chinese Goose is an international breed of domestic goose, known by this name in Europe and in North America. Unlike the majority of goose breeds, it belongs to the knob geese, which derive from Anser cygnoides and are characterised by a prominent basal knob on the upper side of the bill. It originates in China, where there are more than twenty breeds of knob goose.

Unlike the majority of goose breeds, which derive from the greylag goose, Anser anser, the Chinese belongs to the knob geese, which derive from the swan goose, Anser cygnoides, and are characterised by a prominent basal knob on the upper side of the bill. As the name suggests, it is believed to have originated in China, where there are more than twenty breeds of knob goose.

It was seen in Britain from the early eighteenth century if not before,  and was present in the United States in the latter part of that century – George Washington is believed to have kept some on his plantation at Mount Vernon.

In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed: it is reported to DAD-IS by seven countries – Australia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Slovenia, Suriname and the UK – but none of them report population data. Population data was last reported by the United Kingdom in 2002, when there were between 150 and 1000 birds. The Livestock Conservancy in the United States lists it as watch, its third level of concern.

It appears in two varieties: the grey or brown, with colouring similar to that of the wild Anser cygnoides, and the white.  The bill and the knob are black in the grey-brown variety, and orange in the white; the shanks and feet are always orange.  In birds bred for showing the neck is long and slender.

As a layer of eggs it is the most prolific of any breed of goose, usually laying some 50–60 eggs in a season of about five months, but sometimes reaching 100 eggs during that time. The eggs weigh about 120 g, rather less than those of other geese.  Flocks of the geese may be used to guard property or to keep down weeds.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - MAINLAND EMU (Dromaius novaehollandiae ssp. novaehollandiae)

The emu (/ˈiːmjuː/; Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a species of flightless bird endemic to Australia, where it is the tallest native bird. It is the only extant member of the genus Dromaius and the third-tallest living bird after its African ratite relatives, the common ostrich and Somali ostrich. The emu's native ranges cover most of the Australian mainland. The Tasmanian, Kangaroo Island and King Island subspecies became extinct after the European settlement of Australia in 1788.

The emu has soft, brown feathers, a long neck, and long legs. It can grow up to 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) in height. It is a robust bipedal runner that can travel great distances, and when necessary can sprint at 48 km/h (30 mph). It is omnivorous and forages on a variety of plants and insects, and can go for weeks without eating. It drinks infrequently, but takes in copious amounts of fresh water when the opportunity arises.

Breeding takes place in May and June, and fighting among females for a mate is common. Females can mate several times and lay several clutches of eggs in one season. The male does the incubation; during this process he hardly eats or drinks and loses a significant amount of weight. The eggs hatch after around eight weeks, and the young are nurtured by their fathers. They reach full size after around six months, but can remain as a family unit until the next breeding season.

The emu is sufficiently common to be rated as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Despite this, some local populations are listed as endangered, with all the insular subspecies going extinct by the 1800s. Threats to their survival include egg predation by other animals (especially invasive species), roadkills and habitat fragmentation.

The emu is an important cultural icon of Australia, appearing on the coat of arms and various coinages. The bird features prominently in Indigenous Australian mythologies.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - BARNACLE GOOSE (Branta leucopsis)

The Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis, is a medium-sized member of the black geese genus Branta. It is characterized by its striking black and white plumage, with a distinctive white face, black head, neck, and upper breast. The underparts are predominantly white, while the back and wings boast a silver-gray hue adorned with black-and-white bars that glisten in the sunlight. Adults typically measure between 55 to 70 centimeters in length, with a wingspan stretching from 130 to 145 centimeters, and weigh between 1.21 and 2.23 kilograms.

When observing these geese, look for the white face contrasting sharply with the black head and neck. In flight, the V-shaped white rump patch and silver-gray underwing linings are telltale signs of the species. The barred pattern on the back and wings is also a key feature to distinguish the Barnacle Goose from similar species.

Barnacle Geese are known to breed in the high Arctic regions, often selecting precipitous cliff edges to place their nests, well out of reach of terrestrial predators. They favor coastal areas and are commonly found in wetland environments during winter.

The species has a circumpolar distribution, with breeding grounds in Greenland, Svalbard, and the Russian Arctic. Wintering areas include the British Isles, particularly the Hebrides and parts of western Ireland, as well as the Wadden Sea area in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Notably, new breeding populations have established in Iceland and along the Baltic Sea.

These geese are renowned for their perilous breeding strategy, where goslings must leap from towering cliffs to join their parents on the ground below. This dramatic plunge is a rite of passage, ensuring that only the fittest survive. The goslings imprint on their parents and follow them to feeding grounds, learning to forage under their guidance.

The Barnacle Goose communicates with a repertoire of honking calls, which can be heard during their social interactions and as they fly in formation during migration.

Nesting typically occurs on cliff ledges, where the female lays her eggs far from the reach of predators. The young goslings must make a daring leap to the ground to join their parents after hatching, a testament to the harsh realities of life in the Arctic.

These geese graze on a variety of vegetation, including grasses, aquatic plants, and mosses. They are herbivorous and often feed in wetlands and coastal areas where such food is abundant.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor)

The mute swan, Cygnus olor, is a majestic bird, easily recognized by its all-white plumage and the distinctive orange beak bordered with black. The male, known as a cob, is noted for a prominent knob atop the beak, which is more pronounced than that of the female, or pen.

Adult mute swans measure between 125 to 160 cm in length, with a wingspan of 200 to 240 cm. The males are generally larger than females and possess a larger knob on their bill. The species is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males reaching weights up to 14.3 kg and females up to 10.6 kg. Juveniles, or cygnets, are not as bright white as adults and have a dull greyish-black bill for their first year.

Mute swans are found in a variety of wetland habitats, including lakes, ponds, rivers, and coastal areas, where they build large mounds of vegetation for nesting.

Native to Eurosiberia, the mute swan has been introduced to North America, Australasia, and southern Africa. It is partially migratory in northern latitudes, with some populations moving as far south as North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Mute swans are territorial and monogamous, often reusing the same nest each year. They are less vocal than other swan species but are known for their aggressive defense of their nests and offspring. They can be seen performing a threat display known as busking, with wings half raised and neck curved back.

While not as vocal, mute swans produce a range of sounds including grunting, hoarse whistling, and snorting. They also have a rhythmic song during courtship displays and a unique throbbing sound from their wings in flight.

Mute swans lay 4 to 10 eggs, with the female brooding for around 36 days. Cygnets typically fledge at around 120 to 150 days old.

The mute swan can be distinguished from other swan species by its orange beak with a black border and the pronounced knob on the male's beak.

Their diet consists mainly of submerged aquatic vegetation, which they reach with their long necks, and they also graze on land. They may consume small amounts of aquatic insects, fish, and frogs.

The mute swan is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a native population of about 500,000 birds. However, in some introduced regions, it is considered invasive and subject to population control measures.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - 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.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - RUDDY SHELDUCK (Tadorna ferruginea)

The Ruddy Shelduck, or Brahminy Duck as it is known in India, is a striking member of the Anatidae family. This waterfowl measures 58 to 70 cm in length and boasts a wingspan of 110 to 135 cm. Its plumage is primarily orange-brown, with a paler head and starkly contrasting black tail and flight feathers. The white wing-coverts are a distinctive feature, particularly noticeable in flight.

Males are characterized by their vibrant orange-brown body and paler head, divided from the body by a slender black collar. The females, while similar in color, have a lighter head and lack the black collar. Both sexes exhibit variability in color intensity and can fade with feather aging. The bill is black, and the legs are a dark grey shade.

The Ruddy Shelduck favors inland water bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. It is often found in open areas and is less common in forested regions. It can also be found in brackish waters and saline lagoons.

This species has a broad range, with small resident populations in Northwest Africa and Ethiopia. The main breeding areas span from southeast Europe to central Asia, with migratory populations wintering in the Indian subcontinent. Notably, a stable population has established itself in the Canary Islands.

The Ruddy Shelduck is primarily nocturnal and omnivorous, feeding on a variety of grasses, grains, aquatic plants, and invertebrates. It is typically seen in pairs or small groups and can be aggressive towards others during the breeding season.

The bird's call is a series of loud, nasal honks, with discernible differences between the male and female calls. These calls vary in tone depending on the context in which they are made.

The Ruddy Shelduck forms lasting pair bonds, with the female laying a clutch of about eight eggs in secluded locations, often far from water. Both parents are involved in rearing the young, which fledge approximately eight weeks after hatching.

This species grazes on land and dabbles in shallow waters, occasionally up-ending in deeper water but never diving.

The Ruddy Shelduck is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with stable or increasing populations in central and eastern Asia. However, European populations are generally in decline due to habitat loss and hunting. The species is adaptable, which has allowed it to thrive in some new habitats such as reservoirs.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - SWAN GOOSE (Anser cygnoides)

The Chinese Goose is an international breed of domestic goose, known by this name in Europe and in North America. Unlike the majority of goose breeds, it belongs to the knob geese, which derive from Anser cygnoides and are characterised by a prominent basal knob on the upper side of the bill. It originates in China, where there are more than twenty breeds of knob goose.

Unlike the majority of goose breeds, which derive from the greylag goose, Anser anser, the Chinese belongs to the knob geese, which derive from the swan goose, Anser cygnoides, and are characterised by a prominent basal knob on the upper side of the bill. As the name suggests, it is believed to have originated in China, where there are more than twenty breeds of knob goose. 

It was seen in Britain from the early eighteenth century if not before,  and was present in the United States in the latter part of that century – George Washington is believed to have kept some on his plantation at Mount Vernon.

It was included in the revised 1873 edition of The Poultry Book by William Bernhard Tegetmeier,  and was added to the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1874.

In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed: it is reported to DAD-IS by seven countries – Australia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Slovenia, Suriname and the UK – but none of them report population data.[2] Population data was last reported by the United Kingdom in 2002, when there were between 150 and 1000 birds. The Livestock Conservancy in the United States lists it as watch, its third level of concern.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (JUVENILE) (Larus michahellis)

The yellow-legged gull is a large gull, though the size does vary, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a common gull and the largest males being roughly the size of a great black-backed gull. They range in length from 52 to 68 cm (20 to 27 in) in total length, from 120 to 155 cm (47 to 61 in) in wingspan and from 550 to 1,600 g (1.21 to 3.53 lb) in weight. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 40.8 to 47.2 cm (16.1 to 18.6 in), the bill is 4.6 to 6 cm (1.8 to 2.4 in) and the tarsus is 5.6 to 7.5 cm (2.2 to 3.0 in). Adults are externally similar to herring gulls but have yellow legs. They have a grey back, slightly darker than herring gulls but lighter than lesser black-backed gulls. They are much whiter-headed in autumn, and have more extensively black wing tips with few white spots, just as lesser black-backed. They have a red spot on the bill as adults, like the entire complex. There is a red ring around the eye like in the lesser black-backed gull but unlike in the herring gull which has a dark yellow ring.

First-year birds have a paler head, rump and underparts than those of the herring gull, more closely resembling first-year great black-backed gulls in plumage. They have a dark bill and eyes, pinkish grey legs, dark flight feathers and a well-defined black band on the tail. They become lighter in the underparts and lose the upperpart pattern subsequently. By their second winter, birds are essentially feathered like adults, save for the patterned feathers remaining on the wing coverts. However, their bill tips are black, their eyes still dark, and the legs are a light yellow flesh colour.

The call is a loud laugh which is deeper and more nasal than the call of the herring gull.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis)

The yellow-legged gull is a large gull, though the size does vary, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a common gull and the largest males being roughly the size of a great black-backed gull. They range in length from 52 to 68 cm (20 to 27 in) in total length, from 120 to 155 cm (47 to 61 in) in wingspan and from 550 to 1,600 g (1.21 to 3.53 lb) in weight. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 40.8 to 47.2 cm (16.1 to 18.6 in), the bill is 4.6 to 6 cm (1.8 to 2.4 in) and the tarsus is 5.6 to 7.5 cm (2.2 to 3.0 in). Adults are externally similar to herring gulls but have yellow legs. 

They have a grey back, slightly darker than herring gulls but lighter than lesser black-backed gulls. They are much whiter-headed in autumn, and have more extensively black wing tips with few white spots, just as lesser black-backed. They have a red spot on the bill as adults, like the entire complex. There is a red ring around the eye like in the lesser black-backed gull but unlike in the herring gull which has a dark yellow ring.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)

The Eurasian coot, Fulica atra, also known as the common coot or Australian coot, is a distinctive waterbird with a slaty-black body, a glossy black head, and a striking white bill topped with a white frontal shield. This bird is a member of the Rallidae family, which includes rails and crakes. Both sexes exhibit similar plumage, making them indistinguishable in the field.

Adult Eurasian coots measure 36–38 cm in length with a wingspan of 70–80 cm. Males are slightly heavier than females, weighing around 890 g compared to the females' 750 g. The species is characterized by its white bill and frontal shield, which contrast sharply with its all-black body. Juveniles are paler with a whitish breast and lack the facial shield, which develops fully by one year of age.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (JUVENILE) (Larus michahellis)

The yellow-legged gull is a large gull, though the size does vary, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a common gull and the largest males being roughly the size of a great black-backed gull. They range in length from 52 to 68 cm (20 to 27 in) in total length, from 120 to 155 cm (47 to 61 in) in wingspan and from 550 to 1,600 g (1.21 to 3.53 lb) in weight. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 40.8 to 47.2 cm (16.1 to 18.6 in), the bill is 4.6 to 6 cm (1.8 to 2.4 in) and the tarsus is 5.6 to 7.5 cm (2.2 to 3.0 in). Adults are externally similar to herring gulls but have yellow legs. They have a grey back, slightly darker than herring gulls but lighter than lesser black-backed gulls. They are much whiter-headed in autumn, and have more extensively black wing tips with few white spots, just as lesser black-backed. They have a red spot on the bill as adults, like the entire complex. There is a red ring around the eye like in the lesser black-backed gull but unlike in the herring gull which has a dark yellow ring.