25-5-2017 USERES, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (MALE) (Carduelis carduelis)

The European goldfinch, or simply goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), is a small, vibrant passerine bird belonging to the finch family. This charming avian species is adorned with a striking red face, encircled by black markings near the eyes, and a black-and-white head. The back and flanks exhibit a warm buff or chestnut brown, while the wings are black with a prominent yellow bar. The tail is black, and the rump is a contrasting white. Males and females are similar in appearance, though the male boasts a slightly more extensive red mask.

Upon closer inspection, one can discern the male goldfinch by its larger, more vivid red mask that extends just beyond the eye. The female's red face does not reach past the eye, and her shoulder feathers are brown, as opposed to the male's black. The bill is ivory-colored, long, and pointed, and the tail is forked. Juveniles can be identified by their plain heads and greyer backs, but the yellow wing stripe is a clear indicator of their species.

The European goldfinch favors open, partially wooded lowlands and is a resident in the milder western parts of its range. In colder regions, it migrates to escape the harsh weather.

Native to Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia, the European goldfinch has also been introduced to various regions across the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, and Uruguay.

5-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PSILOTHRIX VIRIDICOERULEA (subfamily Dasytinae)

5-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

7-5-2017 SEVILLE , ANDALUCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.

The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away from human development. For sustenance, the house sparrow routinely feeds at home and public bird feeding stations, but naturally feeds on the seeds of grains, flowering plants and weeds. However, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches insects, their larvae, caterpillars, invertebrates and many other natural foods.

7-5-2017 SEVILLE , ANDALUCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

Male Mallards have a dark, iridescent-green head and bright yellow bill. The gray body is sandwiched between a brown breast and black rear. Females and juveniles are mottled brown with orange-and-brown bills. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue “speculum” patch in the wing.

Unlike larger waterfowl such as the Tundra Swan, which mate for life, Mallard pairs only stay together for a season. Courtship and pair formation begin each fall and winter. Groups of males display for a hen with a variety of behaviors, including head and tail shaking, head-bobbing, dipping, and whistling.

The female Mallard has between five and 14 light green eggs that she incubates for 30 days.

The ducklings are lead to water as soon as their soft, downy feathers are dry. ...

Most Mallard ducks live for one or two years, but some can live as long as 16 years!

Mallards swim with their tail held above the water.

29-2-2020 SAN CARLOS PARQUE, MADRID - EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica)

13-4-2017 HUELVA, SPAIN - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.

The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away from human development. For sustenance, the house sparrow routinely feeds at home and public bird feeding stations, but naturally feeds on the seeds of grains, flowering plants and weeds. However, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches insects, their larvae, caterpillars, invertebrates and many other natural foods.

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FALSE BLISTER BEETLE (Family Oedemeridae)

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG JOINTED BEETLE (Lagria grenieri)

Lagria grenieri is a species of beetle belonging to the family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Lagriinae (often referred to as long-jointed beetles or lagriid beetles). 

Here are the key facts about Lagria grenieri:

Appearance and Identification: The species is characterized by a completely black body, with the exception of the elytra (wing covers), which are yellow and covered with long yellow hairs. They have a narrow pronotum (the top part of the thorax) and elytra that are clearly enlarged towards the back.

Sexual Dimorphism: Males and females are easily distinguished. Males are generally smaller and narrower than females. A key identifying feature is that in males, the last antennomere (terminal segment of the antenna) is as long as the following five segments combined.

Habitat and Distribution: Lagria grenieri was originally described from France but is distributed across the Iberian Peninsula. It is found in Spain and has been recorded in the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca.

Taxonomy: It belongs to the genus Lagria, in the tribe Lagriini.

Biology: Like other beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, Lagria grenieri is a part of the Coleoptera order (beetles). While not specifically highlighted as a pest in the search results, they are part of the broader group known to have complex, often symbiotic, relationships with microorganisms. 

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BURROWING BUG (Cydnus aterrimus)

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREY LEAVED CISTUS (Cistus albidus)

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE ROCK THRUSH (MALE) (Monticola solitarius)

21-5-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer montanus)

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a charming passerine bird, easily recognized by its rich chestnut crown and nape, and a distinctive black patch on each pure white cheek. Both sexes are similarly adorned, and the juveniles mirror the adults, albeit with slightly duller hues. This species is somewhat smaller than the closely related house sparrow, and its size is approximately 12.5–14 cm in length, with a wingspan of about 21 cm.

To identify the Eurasian tree sparrow, look for the kidney-shaped black ear patch on each white cheek, the black chin and throat, and the light brown upperparts streaked with black. The wings bear two narrow white bars, and the legs are pale brown. The bill is lead-blue in summer, darkening almost to black in winter. Unlike the house sparrow, there is no sexual dimorphism in plumage, making both males and females equally easy to identify.

In Europe, the Eurasian tree sparrow is typically found in lightly wooded open countryside, while in eastern Asia, it is more common in urban settings. It prefers nesting in natural cavities, holes in buildings, or even the abandoned nests of other large birds. This species is not typically found in mountainous regions, despite its scientific name suggesting otherwise.

The Eurasian tree sparrow has a broad distribution across temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, and it has been introduced to other regions such as the United States. Its range extends from Europe across Asia to the Lena River and south to the northern regions of Turkey, the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and North Korea.

29-4-2020 PARQUE NAT DE CABANEROS, CIUDAD REAL - LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59845-Falco-naumanni

 

10-3-2020 THATTEKAD BIRD SANCTUARY, INDIA - ROCK DRAGON (Psammophilus dorsalis) PHOTO COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/31408-Psammophilus-dorsalis

3-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

3-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CATALONIA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis liolepis)

1-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RHOPTRIA ASPERARIA MOTH (Family Geometridae)

4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) PHOTO COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - INDIAN PEAFOWL (Pavo cristatus) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa)

The Common Hill Myna, Gracula religiosa, is a robust, starling family member, cloaked in a glossy black plumage with a striking purple hue on its head and neck. This bird, approximately 29 cm in length, is adorned with bright orange-yellow patches of naked skin and fleshy wattles on the side of its head and nape, distinguishing it from its relatives.

When perched, the large white wing patches of the Common Hill Myna are mostly concealed, yet they become quite conspicuous in flight. The bird's bill and strong legs are a vivid yellow, complemented by yellow wattles on the nape and under the eye, which vary subtly in shape among the species' subspecies.

The Common Hill Myna is an arboreal creature, preferring the tree-tops at the forest's edge, where it moves in large, noisy groups.

This species is native to the hill regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia, extending from Kumaon division in India through Nepal, Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh, and further east to southern China, Thailand, and northern Indonesia to Palawan in the Philippines.

The Common Hill Myna exhibits a unique sideways hop along branches, unlike the jaunty walk typical of other mynas. It is most vocal at dawn and dusk, and while it does not mimic other birds in the wild, it is an exceptional mimic of human speech in captivity.

1-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN HOUSE GECKO (Hemidactylus turcicus)

1-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE APHYLLANTHES (Aphyllanthes monspeliensis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/179648-Aphyllanthes-monspeliensis

1-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE ROCK THRUSH (FEMALE) (Monticola solitarius)

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