14-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - UNDERWING MOTH (Zebeeba falsalis)

Zebeeba is a monotypic moth genus in the family Erebidae erected by William Forsell Kirby in 1892. Its only species, Zebeeba falsalis, was first described by Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer in 1839. 

It is found in northern Africa, southern Europe, Asia Minor and the Levant.

14-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVED UMBER MOTH (Menophra abruptaria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/125221-Menophra-abruptaria

12-7-2020 MONTAVENER, VALENCIA - COMMON MAQUIS GRASSHOPPER (Pezotettix giornae)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/333530-Pezotettix-giornae

12-7-2020 ALFARRASI, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN RABBIT (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The European rabbit is smaller than the European hare and Mountain hare and lacks black ear tips, as well as having proportionately shorter legs. The fur of the European rabbit is generally greyish-brown, but this is subject to much variation. The guard hairs are banded brown and black, or grey, while the nape of the neck and scrotum are reddish. The chest patch is brown, while the rest of the underparts are white or grey. A white star shape is often present on kits' foreheads but rarely occurs in adults. The whiskers are long and black, and the feet are fully furred and buff-coloured. The tail has a white underside, which becomes prominent when escaping danger. This may act as a signal for other rabbits to run. Moulting occurs once a year, beginning in March on the face and spreading over the back. The underfur is completely replaced by October-November. The European rabbit exhibits great variation in colour, from light sandy to dark grey and completely black. Such variation depends largely on the amount of guard hairs relative to regular pelage.

European rabbits are found in southwestern Europe (including Portugal, Spain, and western France) and in northwest Africa (including Morocco and Algeria). Their ideal habitat consists of short grasslands with secure refuge (such as burrows, boulders, hedgerows, scrub, and woodland) near feeding areas. In large coniferous plantations, European rabbits only occur in peripheral areas and along fire breaks and rides.

European rabbits are herbivores (graminivores) and coprophages. They eat a wide variety of herbage, especially grasses, favoring the young, succulent leaves and shoots of the most nutritious species. Hungry rabbits in winter may eat tree bark and blackberries. Like other leporids, European rabbits also consume their own fecal pellets, which are filled with protein-rich bacteria.

European rabbits exhibit an interesting mating system; dominant bucks are polygynous, whereas lower-status individuals (both bucks and does) often form monogamous pairs. Rabbits signal their readiness to mate by marking other animals and inanimate objects with an odoriferous substance secreted through a chin gland; this process is known as "chinning". The breeding season usually takes place from January to August. Does give birth to 3-7 kittens after the gestation period of 30 days. Shortly before giving birth, the doe will construct a separate burrow known as a "stop" or "stab", generally in an open field away from the main warren. These breeding burrows are typically a few feet long and are lined with grass and moss as well as fur plucked from the doe's belly. The breeding burrow protects the kittens from adult bucks as well as from predators. Kittens are altricial, being born blind, deaf, and furless, and they are totally dependent upon their mother. The young born to the dominant buck and doe enjoy better nesting and feeding grounds; they tend to grow larger and stronger and become more dominant than kittens born to subordinate rabbits. Does nurse their kittens once a night, for only a few minutes. After suckling is complete, the doe seals the entrance to the stop with soil and vegetation. The kittens grow rapidly and their eyes open 11 days after birth. The ears do not gain the power of motion until 10 days of age and can be erected after 13. At 18 days, the kittens begin to leave the burrow and at 4 weeks they are weaned. Young bucks become reproductively mature at four months of age, while does can begin to breed at three to five months.

12-7-2020 ALFARRASI, VALENCIA - LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua)

This owl usually perches in an elevated position ready to swoop down on any small creature it notices. It feeds on prey such as insects and earthworms, as well as small vertebrates including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. It may pursue prey on the ground and it caches surplus food in holes or other hiding places. A study of the pellets of indigestible material that the birds regurgitate found mammals formed 20 to 50% of the diet and insects 24 to 49%. Mammals taken included mice, rats, voles, shrews, moles and rabbits. The birds were mostly taken during the breeding season and were often fledglings, and including the chicks of game birds. The insects included Diptera, Dermaptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Some vegetable matter (up to 5%) was included in the diet and may have been ingested incidentally.

The little owl is territorial, the male normally remaining in one territory for life. However, the boundaries may expand and contract, being largest in the courtship season in spring. The home range, in which the bird actually hunts for food, varies with the type of habitat and time of year. Little owls with home-ranges that incorporate a high diversity of habitats are much smaller (< 2 ha) than those which breed in monotonous farmland (with home-ranges over 12 ha). Larger home-ranges result in increased flight activity, longer foraging trips and fewer nest visits. If a male intrudes into the territory of another, the occupier approaches and emits its territorial calls. If the intruder persists, the occupier flies at him aggressively. If this is unsuccessful, the occupier repeats the attack, this time trying to make contact with his claws. In retreat, an owl often drops to the ground and makes a low-level escape. The territory is more actively defended against a strange male as compared to a known male from a neighbouring territory; it has been shown that the little owl can recognise familiar birds by voice.

10-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)

The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is a modestly adorned yet charming small passerine bird belonging to the Old World flycatcher family. It is a migratory species, breeding across Europe and the Palearctic as far as Siberia, and spending the winter months in Africa and southwestern Asia. Despite its widespread presence, there is concern over its decline in certain areas.

Adult Spotted Flycatchers possess grey-brown upperparts and a somewhat pallid underbelly. Their crown and breast are streaked, which is the origin of their common name. They have short, black legs and a black bill shaped to suit their insectivorous diet. Juveniles can be distinguished by their browner plumage and the presence of spots on their upperparts.

These birds favor deciduous woodlands, parks, and gardens, particularly those with open spaces amidst trees.

The Spotted Flycatcher has a broad breeding range, extending from Europe to western Siberia and northwest Africa. During the non-breeding season, they migrate to southern Africa.

With an upright posture, these flycatchers are often seen hunting from prominent perches, darting out to snatch flying insects and frequently returning to the same spot.

The call of the Spotted Flycatcher is a soft, high-pitched, and slightly descending 'tssssseeeeeppppp'.

The Spotted Flycatcher constructs an open nest in a recess, often against a wall, and is amenable to using open-fronted nest boxes. Clutches typically consist of 4-6 eggs. Remarkably, they exhibit excellent egg recognition, a likely evolutionary response to past parasitism by the common cuckoo.

The Mediterranean flycatcher, previously considered a subspecies, is similar in appearance but has been recognized as a separate species due to genetic differences.

As aerial insectivores, Spotted Flycatchers feed on flying insects, which they catch in mid-air from their vantage points.

9-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - DOUBLE STRIPED PUG MOTH (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/311619-Gymnoscelis-rufifasciata

8-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN LION (Panthera leo)

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large cat of the genus Panthera, native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the tip of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion's pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on medium-sized and large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator.

The lion inhabits grasslands, savannahs, and shrublands. It is usually more diurnal than other wild cats, but when persecuted, it adapts to being active at night and at twilight. During the Neolithic period, the lion ranged throughout Africa and Eurasia, from Southeast Europe to India, but it has been reduced to fragmented populations in sub-Saharan Africa and one population in western India. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 because populations in African countries have declined by about 43% since the early 1990s. Lion populations are untenable outside designated protected areas. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are the greatest causes for concern.

One of the most widely recognised animal symbols in human culture, the lion has been extensively depicted in sculptures and paintings, on national flags, and in literature and films. Lions have been kept in menageries since the time of the Roman Empire and have been a key species sought for exhibition in zoological gardens across the world since the late 18th century. Cultural depictions of lions have occurred worldwide, particularly has a symbol of power and royalty.

Among felids, the lion is second only to the tiger in size. The size and weight of adult lions vary across its range and habitats. 

African lions live in scattered populations across sub-Saharan Africa. The lion prefers grassy plains and savannahs, scrub bordering rivers, and open woodlands with bushes. It rarely enters closed forests. On Mount Elgon, the lion has been recorded up to an elevation of 3,600 m (11,800 ft) and close to the snow line on Mount Kenya. Savannahs with an annual rainfall of 300 to 1,500 mm (12 to 59 in) make up the majority of lion habitat in Africa, estimated at 3,390,821 km2 (1,309,203 sq mi) at most, but remnant populations are also present in tropical moist forests in West Africa and montane forests in East Africa. The Asiatic lion now survives only in and around Gir National Park in Gujarat, western India. Its habitat is a mixture of dry savannah forest and very dry, deciduous scrub forest.

8-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/73222-Phoenicopterus-roseus

7-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (JUVENILE) (Tarentola mauritanica)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/33602-Tarentola-mauritanica

8-7-2020 EL PALMAR, ALBUFERA - PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4951-Ardea-purpurea

8-7-2020 EL PALMAR, ALBUFERA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

8-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

The Black-winged Stilt has a wide range, extending across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some populations migrate to coastal regions in winter, while others in milder climates may remain resident or engage in short-range movements.

Black-winged Stilts are often seen foraging in shallow waters, gracefully picking insects and crustaceans from the surface. They are known to nest in small groups, sometimes alongside avocets, and exhibit a variety of courtship behaviors, including intricate displays and duets.

The flight call of the Black-winged Stilt is a sharp and clear kleek, typically heard during its aerial maneuvers.

Nests are simple bare spots on the ground near water. These birds are communal nesters and may breed in loose colonies. They have been known to breed as far north as Britain, with recent successful breeding events recorded in Southern and Northern England.

The Black-winged Stilt can be confused with other stilt species, such as the Black-necked Stilt (H. mexicanus) in the Americas, the White-backed Stilt (H. melanurus), and the Pied Stilt (H. leucocephalus) in Australasia and New Zealand.

Their diet consists mainly of insects and crustaceans, which they deftly pick from the water's surface or from wet sand.

8-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - COLLARED PRATINCOLE (Glareola pratincola)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4604-Glareola-pratincola

8-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4994-Ardeola-ralloides

8-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4954-Ardea-cinerea

8-7-2020 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4835-Himantopus-himantopus

8-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - 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.

8-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - NOMAD DRAGONFLY (MALE) (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.

Male S. fonscolombii can be mistaken for Crocothemis erythraea as both are very red dragonflies with yellow bases to the wings, red veins and pale pterostigma. However C. erythraea has no black on the legs, a broader body and no black on the head. Also C. erythraea females do not oviposit in tandem. The gestalt image of these two species is different and with some experience are easy to tell apart.

8-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - NOMAD DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/113507-Sympetrum-fonscolombii

8-7-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, ALBUFERA - BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is a migratory passerine bird, recognized as the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It is a distinctive bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail, known for its graceful flight and agile maneuvers. The adult male of the nominate subspecies is 17–19 cm in length, including elongated outer tail feathers, and has a wingspan of 32–34.5 cm. It is adorned with a rufous forehead, chin, and throat, which are set apart from the off-white underparts by a broad dark blue breast band. The outer tail feathers are elongated, contributing to the iconic "swallow tail."

The barn swallow can be identified by its steel blue upperparts, a rufous face, and a dark blue breast band that separates the rufous from the off-white underparts. The deeply forked tail is a key characteristic, with a line of white spots across the upper tail's outer end. Females resemble males but have shorter tail streamers and less glossy blue coloring. Juveniles are browner with paler rufous faces and whiter underparts, lacking the adult's long tail streamers.

The barn swallow favors open country with low vegetation, such as pastures, meadows, and farmland, often near water. It avoids heavily wooded or steep areas and densely built-up locations. The species typically nests in man-made structures like barns and stables, or under bridges and wharves.

10-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata megera)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/147298-Lasiommata-megera

10-7-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SARDINIAN WARBLER (MALE) (Sylvia melanocephala)

The Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala, presents itself as a charming and distinctive bird of the Mediterranean. The males are adorned with a sleek grey back and pristine whitish underparts, crowned with a striking black head, a pure white throat, and captivating red eyes. The females, on the other hand, exhibit a more subdued palette, with brown upperparts and buff underparts, complemented by a subtle grey head.

When attempting to identify the Sardinian warbler, look for the male's black head and red eyes, which contrast with the white throat and grey back. Females can be recognized by their brown and buff coloration with a greyish head. The variability in plumage, including the presence or absence of a reddish hue, can be a helpful clue in distinguishing between subspecies.

This typical warbler favors open landscapes and cultivated areas, where it can find bushes suitable for nesting. Its preference for such environments makes it a familiar sight in the Mediterranean countryside.

The Sardinian warbler is a resident of the southernmost regions of Europe, extending its range into Asia in Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. While not extensively migratory, some individuals do venture to North Africa for the winter, and the species has been known to appear as a vagrant as far as Great Britain.

8-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)

The Common tern (Sterna hirundo) is a seabird that has a circumpolar distribution. it has four subspecies breeding in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Its large population and huge breeding range mean that this species is classed as being of least concern, although numbers in North America have declined sharply in recent decades.

Known for its attractive plumage and graceful flight, Common terns have a slender body and a smoothly rounded head, and long pointed wings. Their breeding plumage is light silvery-gray upperparts and clear black outer primaries on its wingtips. Outside the breeding season, the birds keep some of their distinguishable black cap, but their forehead and face turn white. Their legs and bill turn black, losing their orange-red coloration. Male and female are similar in appearance throughout the year. Juvenile Common terns have pale grey upper wings with a dark carpal bar. The crown and nape are brown, and the forehead is ginger, wearing to white by autumn. The upper parts are ginger with brown and white scaling, and the tail lacks the adult's long outer feathers. Birds in their first post-juvenile plumage, which normally remain in their wintering areas, resemble the non-breeding adult but have a duskier crown, dark carpal bar, and often very worn plumage. By their second year, most young terns are either indistinguishable from adults, or show only minor differences such as a darker bill or white forehead.

Common terns occur from northern Canada to the Caribbean Sea in the south, throughout Europe, Northern Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Outside of the mating season, these birds winter along the coasts of South America and Central America, along Africa’s coast and the Arabian Peninsula, as well as on islands in the Indian Ocean and throughout Australasia and much of Southeast Asia. They breed on sand spits, beaches and low-lying inshore islands. They also nest inland near slow-flowing rivers, and lakes in open country. This species favors areas that have close shallow waters where they can fish. During migration, they are mainly seen along coasts, at freshwater inland lakes and in estuaries. During winter, they are mostly coastal, in warm tropical and subtropical waters.

Common terns are diurnal birds and they live in colonies with no clear hierarchy among them, with all seeming to be equal. Although Common terns all migrate and live together, the family unit is responsible to feed and care for its own eggs and chicks, and individuals will often defend feeding territories. This species forages by flying above water and hovering, often plunge-diving to catch prey under the surface. It will also swim as it picks up food from the surface of the water or just below it. A highly migratory bird, it leaves the breeding grounds for the wintering sites typically from August to October, soon after all the chicks fledge. These birds communicate mostly by means of their unusual, hoarse voices, having three different and distinct calls. Communication during mating is mainly visual and/or tactile.

8-7-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON SHELDUCK (FEMALE) (Tadorna tadorna)

The common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna, is a waterfowl species that graces the Euro-Siberian region with its presence. It is a medium-sized bird, akin to a small, short-necked goose, and is quite the sight with its white plumage contrasted by chestnut patches and a black underbelly. The head and neck are a dark, iridescent green, and the bill is a reddish-pink, with the male sporting a conspicuous knob on the forehead during the breeding season. Pink feet complete the ensemble, making this bird a striking figure in its habitat.

To identify the common shelduck, look for the distinctive reddish-pink bill and pink feet. The male, especially in breeding plumage, has a bright red bill with a prominent knob. The female is slightly smaller and has white facial markings. Both sexes have a white body with chestnut patches, a black belly, and a dark green head and neck. In flight, the green and chestnut secondary feathers become visible, contrasting with the predominantly white underwings.

The common shelduck is found in a variety of wetland habitats, including temperate lakes and rivers, as well as estuaries and tidal mudflats in winter. It has a particular fondness for salt marshes and estuaries and is known to breed in rabbit burrows, tree holes, and even haystacks.

This species is widespread across temperate Eurasia. It breeds in temperate regions and migrates to subtropical areas for wintering. Some populations remain resident in the westernmost parts of Europe, while others undertake movements to moulting grounds like the Wadden Sea.

The common shelduck is a sociable bird, often seen in large moulting flocks that can number up to 100,000 individuals. It is known for leaving its young in crèches supervised by a few adults. The species is also covered by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), highlighting its ecological importance.

The vocalization of the common shelduck is a loud, unmistakable honk, which can be heard over considerable distances.

During the breeding season, the male's bill becomes particularly vibrant, and the species is known to nest in a variety of locations, from rabbit burrows to tree holes.

While the common shelduck is quite distinctive, it could potentially be confused with other shelduck species. However, its unique coloration and size generally make it easy to distinguish.

The common shelduck feeds on a variety of items, including mollusks and small aquatic creatures, which it often forages for in the mudflats during low tide.

The IUCN Red List classifies the common shelduck as Least Concern, indicating that, currently, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers on a global scale.