5-8-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

The Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus, is a slender wader known for its strikingly long, pink legs and contrasting black-and-white plumage. This elegant bird is a member of the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae.

Adult Black-winged Stilts measure 33–36 cm in length. They possess a long, thin black bill and display a distinctive black and white coloration. The head and neck are predominantly white, with variable black markings depending on the sex and subspecies. Males typically have a glossy or greenish sheen on their black backs, while females exhibit a more brownish tinge. During flight, their long legs trail behind, and their wingbeats are steady.

These birds favor marshes, shallow lakes, and ponds as their breeding grounds. They are also known to inhabit coastal areas during migration and in the winter months.

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.

The IUCN lists the Black-winged Stilt as Least Concern, indicating a stable global population. However, they are protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in their conservation.

5-8-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus)

The greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus, stands as the most widespread and largest member of the flamingo family. This majestic bird is adorned with pinkish-white plumage, save for the red wing coverts and contrasting black primary and secondary flight feathers. The bill is a striking pink with a black tip, and the legs are a uniform pink, completing the iconic look of this species.

Adult greater flamingos can be identified by their height, ranging from 110 to 150 cm, and their weight between 2 and 4 kg. The largest males can reach up to 187 cm tall and weigh 4.5 kg. Observers should note the distinctive coloration, with the majority of the body being pinkish-white, red wing coverts, and black flight feathers. The pink bill with a black tip and entirely pink legs are also key identification features. The call of the greater flamingo is reminiscent of a goose-like honking.

Greater flamingos favor mudflats and shallow coastal lagoons with saline water, where they can be seen stirring the mud with their feet in search of food.

This species is common in the Old World, with a range that includes Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, the Levant, and Southern Europe. Notably, they are found in coastal regions and along water bodies such as the Nile River, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean.

Greater flamingos are social birds, often found in large flocks. They feed with their heads down, filtering out sustenance from the water with their specially adapted bills. During the breeding season, these birds engage in a fascinating display of spreading uropygial secretions over their feathers to enhance their color, a behavior likened to applying "make-up."

The vocalization of the greater flamingo is a distinctive honking, similar to that of a goose, which can be heard over considerable distances.

The species lays a single chalky-white egg on a mud mound, a typical breeding behavior for flamingos.

Greater flamingos feed on a diet that includes small shrimp, seeds, blue-green algae, microscopic organisms, and mollusks. They filter their food from the water with their downward-facing heads and movable upper jaws.

5-8-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON SHELDUCK (FEMALE) (Tadorna tadorna)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7067-Tadorna-tadorna

5-8-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (Merops apiaster)

5-8-2020 EL PALMAR, VALENCIA - BLACK WINGED STILT (JUVENILE) (Himantopus himantopus)

5-8-2020 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

5-8-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - NOMAD DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)

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

5-8-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4450-Sterna-hirundo

5-8-2020 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

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

5-8-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, 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.

5-8-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidris ferruginea)

The Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea, is a small, elegant wader known for its remarkable transformation from the pale grey and white winter plumage to the rich, brick-red underparts of the breeding season. With a length of 18–23 cm and a wingspan of 38–41 cm, it is similar in size to the Dunlin but can be distinguished by its longer, down-curved bill, more elongated neck and legs, and the distinctive white rump that is visible in flight.

In breeding plumage, the adult Curlew Sandpiper sports patterned dark grey upperparts with a striking rusty hue below. During the non-breeding season, it adopts a more subdued appearance with pale grey upperparts and a clean white underside, complemented by a conspicuous white supercilium. Juveniles are characterized by a grey and brown back, white belly, and a peach-coloured breast. The species' elegant, down-curved bill and longer legs are key identification features throughout the year.

The Curlew Sandpiper breeds on the tundra of Arctic Siberia, preferring the edges of marshes or pools, or dry patches of tundra.

A strongly migratory bird, the Curlew Sandpiper winters mainly in Africa, with populations also found in south and southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It is an occasional vagrant to North America.

This species is highly gregarious, often forming flocks with other calidrid waders, especially Dunlins. Despite its easterly breeding range, it is regularly observed on passage in western Europe, likely due to a southwesterly migration route.

The Curlew Sandpiper's vocalizations include a soft "chirrup" often heard during its aerial courtship display.

The breeding season spans from June to late August. Males perform impressive aerial displays to attract mates. Nests are located near marshes or pools, with an average clutch size of 3.8 eggs. Incubation is solely by the female and lasts 19–20 days, with chicks being cared for by the female for 14–16 days post-hatching.

The Curlew Sandpiper can be confused with the Dunlin but can be differentiated by its longer bill, neck, and legs, as well as its white rump and different seasonal plumage.

Foraging primarily in soft mud on marshes and coasts, the Curlew Sandpiper feeds on insects and other small invertebrates, which it picks up by sight.

The Curlew Sandpiper is currently classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Population trends indicate a decline, particularly noted in South Africa and Australia, which may be linked to the effects of global warming on its breeding grounds. The species is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

5-8-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - KENTISH PLOVER (Charadrius alexandrinus)

The Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) is a small wader (40–44 g (1.4–1.6 oz)) of the family Charadriidae that breeds on the shores of saline lakes, lagoons, and coasts, populating sand dunes, marshes, semi-arid desert, and tundra. Both male and female birds have pale plumages with a white underside, grey/brown back, dark legs and a dark bill; however, additionally the male birds also exhibit very dark incomplete breast bands, and dark markings either side of their head, therefore the Kentish plover is regarded as sexually dimorphic.

Charadrius alexandrinus has a large geographical distribution, ranging from latitudes of 10º to 55º, occupying North Africa, both mainland, such as Senegal, and island, such as the Cape Verde archipelago, Central Asia, for example alkaline lakes in China, and Europe, including small populations in Spain and Austria. Some populations are migratory and often winter in Africa, whereas other populations, such as various island populations, do not migrate. Its common English name comes from the county of Kent, where it was once found, but it has not bred in Britain since 1979.

Kentish plovers are ground-nesting birds, often with a preference for low, open, moist nesting sites away from thick vegetation and human activity. They use a number of materials to build their nests, mainly consisting of shells, pebbles, grass and leaves in a small scrape in the ground. Like most plovers, the Kentish plovers are predominantly insectivores, feeding on a large range of arthropods and invertebrates depending on the environment, by using a run and stop method.

Kentish plovers have an extremely wide geographical distribution and their habitats vary not just spatially but environmentally too. They are known to reside and breed in multiple types of habitat, from desert with ground temperatures reaching 50 °C to tundra. The distribution of this species’ breeding areas covers Europe, Asia and Africa. In Europe, populations are typically found in the west; although there was once a breeding population in Hungary, Kentish plovers no longer breed there. In Africa, populations are found on the southern coast of Senegal and along the Northern coast of the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea coast. The breeding area continues along the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain in the Middle East. Small populations can be found on islands too, such as the Cape Verde archipelago, the Canary Islands, and the Azores. It is a rare vagrant in Australia. Some populations do not migrate, such as the Maio (Cape Verde) population, however other populations can migrate reasonable distances, for example, plovers that spend winter in North Africa have been known to migrate to Turkey and Greece in the spring. Some birds breeding in western Europe are not known to travel very far, just within Europe, however some do travel, mainly to Western Africa.

5-8-2020 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias niger)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62148-Chlidonias-hybrida

5-8-2020 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4237-Tachybaptus-ruficollis

4-8-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GROUND SPIDER (Family Gnaphosidae)

Ground spiders (family Gnaphosidae) are a massive, global family of over 2,500 species known for being fast-running, nocturnal,, hunting predators that do not build prey-capture webs. They are identified by their cylindrical, widely separated front spinnerets and often hide under rocks, logs, or in silk-lined tubular retreats during the day. 

Key Facts about Ground Spiders (Gnaphosidae)

Appearance: They are usually dull-colored (black, brown, grey, reddish), ranging from small to medium size (typically less than 1/2 inch). A defining, reliable feature is their cylindrical, barrel-shaped anterior spinnerets, which are separated by about one spinneret diameter.

Hunting Method: Ground spiders are active hunters that run down their prey on the ground surface. Instead of a sticky web, they use a fast, thick, gluey, silk strand to immobilize prey.

Habitat and Behavior: They are found in diverse habitats, including grasslands, forests, and inside homes, often under debris, rocks, or in leaf litter. They are most active at night or during dawn/dusk.

Shelter: While they do not make webs to catch prey, both sexes construct tubular, silk-lined nests or retreats under stones, bark, or in crevices to hide during the day.

Venom and Bite: While they are capable of biting, they are generally not considered dangerous to humans. Their bite is often described as having no consequence, though it can cause minor discomfort, local irritation, or, rarely, tissue damage.

Diversity: With over 2,500 described species in more than 100 genera, it is the seventh largest spider family. Common genera include Gnaphosa, Drassodes, Micaria, Cesonia, and Zelotes.

Identification: They are often confused with other ground-dwelling spiders, but the distinct, prominent, forward-facing, and separated spinnerets are a key indicator. 

4-8-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GALIUM CARPET MOTH (Epirrhoe galiata)

The Galium Carpet (Epirrhoe galiata) is a small geometer moth with a 28-32 mm wingspan, recognized by distinct white, grey, and dark brown bands on its forewings. Primarily found on coastal cliffs, sand dunes, and chalk downland, it flies from June to August and feeds on bedstraw (Galium) plants.

Key Facts about the Galium Carpet Moth:

Appearance: This species features a broad, dark, central band on its forewings, bordered by white, with further darker bands near the base and apex. It is often distinguished from similar carpet moths by its more pointed wings.

Habitat and Distribution: It prefers calcareous and coastal habitats, including lime and chalk downland, sea cliffs, and sand dunes. It is well-distributed throughout England and Wales, but scarcer in Scotland and Ireland.

Lifecycle and Behaviour: The species is usually single-brooded in the north (flying June-August), but can be double-brooded in the south. Adults are nocturnal, active from dusk, and are easily disturbed from low-lying vegetation during the day.

4-8-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic realm. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tircis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The color of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The existence of these subspecies is due to variation in morphology down a gradient corresponding to a geographic cline. 

The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream, or a tawny orange. The speckled wood feeds on a variety of grass species. The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling. The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions. The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.

4-8-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)

3-8-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Genus Idaea)

Idaea, sometimes called Hyriogona (among other synonyms), is a large genus of geometer moths. It was erected by Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1825. They are found nearly worldwide, with many native to the Mediterranean, the African savannas, and the deserts of western Asia.

The genus Idaea refers to a massive, nearly worldwide group of geometer moths (family Geometridae, subfamily Sterrhinae) known for their small size and varied, often cryptic patterns. As of 2013-2022, there are roughly 680 to over 1,000 recognized species in this genus, making it the third most species-rich group in its family. 

Size: They are small moths, with wingspans typically measuring well under 30 mm (often 10-25 mm).

Their wings often feature shades of brown, white, or gray with delicate, wave-like lines (hence the common name "waves" for many species in this subfamily).

Adults frequently rest with their wings spread flat, often blending in with their surroundings. 

3-8-2020 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - SQUACCO HERON (MALE) (Ardeola ralloides)

The Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a diminutive member of the heron family, measuring a mere 44–47 cm in length, with a compact body of 20–23 cm and a wingspan stretching 80–92 cm. This species is adorned with a buff-brown back and, during the summer months, adults boast elongated neck feathers that add to their allure.

The Squacco Heron favors marshy wetlands in temperate regions for its habitat, where the water is warm and inviting.

Originating from the Old World, the Squacco Heron breeds in the southern reaches of Europe and extends into the Greater Middle East. When not breeding, it migrates to winter in the African continent.

This species is migratory by nature, seeking the warmer climates of Africa to spend the winter. It is seldom seen north of its breeding grounds. The Squacco Heron has been observed as a vagrant in the Fernando de Noronha islands and, on rarer occasions, in mainland South America. It nests in modest colonies, often in the company of other wading birds, and constructs its nests from sticks on platforms in trees or shrubs.

The Squacco Heron selects freshwater locales across Europe and the Middle East to breed, later migrating southward to the Sub-Saharan African region. During the breeding season, they lay a clutch of three to four eggs.

Adept at foraging, the Squacco Heron feeds on a diet consisting of fish, frogs, and insects, making the most of its wetland environment.

The underparts are slightly washed cinnamon, especially on chest. We can see some black streaks on breast sides. Wings and tail are white.

On the head, chin and throat are white, whereas crown, head sides and neck are cinnamon. During the breeding period, the adults develop an erectile black and white crest with long and bushy feathers.

The bill is bright cobalt-blue with black tip. Lores are bright greenish-blue. Eyes are yellow. Legs and feet are brighter orange-yellow to reddish with black claws.

The female is similar, but in breeding plumage, she has less conspicuous crest than male.

The juvenile has paler buff ground colour and is browner on head and back with dark streaks on throat and breast. Upperwing-coverts and primary tips are spotted brownish. The crest is shorter than in adults in non-breeding plumage. Bill, legs and feet are greenish-yellow.

3-8-2020 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

The Little Egret, Egretta garzetta, is a dainty heron adorned in pure white plumage. It is characterized by a slender black beak, long black legs, and, notably in the western race, yellow feet. This elegant bird is a sight to behold with its graceful neck and poised stance.

Adult Little Egrets measure between 55–65 cm in length with a wingspan of 88–106 cm, and weigh 350–550 g. Their plumage is predominantly white, though some may exhibit bluish-grey coloration. Breeding adults boast ornate nape plumes reaching about 150 mm, along with distinctive feathers on the breast and elongated scapulars. The bill and lores are black, with greenish-grey skin at the base of the lower mandible and around the eye, which houses a yellow iris. Legs are black with contrasting yellow feet, though juveniles may have greenish-black legs and duller feet. The subspecies E. g. nigripes is distinguished by yellow skin between the bill and eye, and blackish feet.

The Little Egret frequents a variety of wetland habitats, from the shores of lakes and rivers to marshes and coastal regions. It is often found in open environments, such as mangroves, swamps, mudflats, and sandy beaches, as well as human-altered landscapes like rice fields.

The species has a broad breeding distribution across warm temperate to tropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. Northern populations are migratory, wintering in Africa and southern Asia, while others remain as permanent residents in warmer areas.

Little Egrets are social yet territorial when feeding. They exhibit a range of foraging behaviors, from active chasing to patient ambush. Their movements are often in response to the presence of other animals, which may stir up prey.

The Little Egret's vocalizations include croaking and bubbling sounds at breeding colonies and a harsh alarm call when disturbed. These calls are similar to those of the Black-crowned Night Heron and the Cattle Egret.

Breeding colonies are often mixed with other water birds. Nests are platforms of sticks located in trees, shrubs, or reed beds. Clutches typically consist of three to five bluish-green eggs, incubated by both parents for about three weeks. The young fledge at approximately six weeks old.

The diet is diverse, including fish, amphibians, small reptiles, mammals, birds, crustaceans, molluscs, insects, spiders, and worms. The Little Egret employs various hunting techniques, both in water and on land, to capture its prey.

The Little Egret is classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. Conservation measures in the 20th century have allowed populations to recover in Europe, and the species has been expanding its range. It is now successfully colonizing new areas, including the New World.

3-8-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

Native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and much of Asia, the house sparrow has been introduced to various regions worldwide, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most widely distributed wild birds.

3-8-2020 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - COPPER DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (FEMALE) (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis)

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis is a species of damselfly in the family Calopterygidae known by the common names copper demoiselle and Mediterranean demoiselle.

This species is native to the western Mediterranean Basin in Europe (Iberia, southern France, Italy, Monaco) and North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). It is common in much of its range.

It lives along rivers and streams, but also in sunny larger waters. Though it may be affected by habitat changes such as water pollution.

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis can reach a body length of about 45–48 millimetres (1.8–1.9 in). The abdomen length is of about 34–43 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in) in males, of 31–43 millimetres (1.2–1.7 in) in females. The length of the wings is of 23–32 millimetres (0.91–1.26 in) in males, of 25–37 millimetres (0.98–1.46 in) in the females.

The males have a dark, metallic shining body, the color of which can be red-violet, golden or copper-colored. On the underside of the last three abdominal segments there red area, the so-called "red lantern" (hence the Latin species name haemorrhoidalis, meaning "blood flow"). The wings of males show a large dark area, while the females have a brown band to the wing tip and a metallic-green to bronze-colored body, with a brown belt on the back.

The flight time of this species ranges from May to September. The males have a characteristic mating dance, showing the abdomen end and spreading their wings wide. The male of this species is territorial, defending sites where females may choose to lay eggs.

This species can hybridize with Calopteryx splendens.