Friday, 20 August 2021
Thursday, 19 August 2021
18-8-2021 SANDO, ZAMORA - RED KITE (Milvus milvus)
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The red kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium to large bird of prey, belonging to the family Accipitridae. This elegant raptor is recognized by its rufous plumage, contrasting white underwing flight feathers, and a deeply forked tail which it maneuvers with grace. The species is sexually dimorphic in size, with females being slightly larger than males.
Adult red kites measure 60 to 70 cm in length and boast a wingspan of 175–179 cm. Males typically weigh between 800–1,200 grams, while females range from 1,000–1,300 grams. The species exhibits a dihedral flight posture with long, angled wings and a distinctive long, forked tail that twists fluidly as the bird changes direction. The body, upper tail, and wing coverts are a rich rufous color, while the black wingtips and dark secondaries provide a stark contrast to the white primary feathers.
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Red kites are often found in broadleaf woodlands, pastures, mixed farmland, valleys, and wetland edges. They are adept at navigating a variety of landscapes, from open countryside to urban fringes.
The red kite is native to the western Palearctic, with its breeding range primarily in Europe. Historically, the species also bred in parts of west Asia and northwest Africa, but these populations have largely disappeared. Today, red kites are most commonly found across Europe, from Spain and Portugal to central Russia, and from southern Scandinavia to southern Italy.
Tuesday, 17 August 2021
9-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - DOMESTIC GREYLAG GOOSE (Anser anser var. domesticus)
Domestic Greylag Geese (Anser anser var. domesticus) are large, bulky waterfowl domesticated from the wild Greylag goose. Kept for meat, eggs, and down feathers for over 3,000 years, they are highly alert social birds that can live 20 to 30 years and make excellent flock "watchdogs".
Key Facts & Characteristics
History: Domesticated in Ancient Egypt, they are among the first animals domesticated by humans.
Appearance: They generally feature pale grey-brown plumage, pink or orange legs, and orange or pink bills. Because of selective breeding, they vary widely in size and color, often appearing heavier or having more white feathers than wild ones.
Behavior: Highly sociable and vocal, they are easily tamed and are frequently found in local parks or farmyards.
Diet: Herbivores that prefer grazing on pastures, meadows, and grassy wetlands.
Interbreeding: Because they are the direct descendants of wild Greylag geese, they can easily interbreed with them.
Monday, 16 August 2021
Sunday, 15 August 2021
15-8-2021 ALDEA DEL OBISPO, SALAMANCA - MARBLED CELLAR SPIDER (Holocnemus pluchei)
The Cellar Spider (Holocnemus caudatus) is a small, delicate arachnid native to the Mediterranean. While often overshadowed by its more famous relative, the Marbled Cellar Spider (H. pluchei), it shares many of the fascinating "vibrating" behaviors typical of the Pholcidae family.
Body & Appearance: It features a yellowish-grey, elongated body with a characteristic dark longitudinal stripe on the underside. Its legs are exceptionally long and spindly, often featuring white and black rings at the joints.
Size: Males typically measure between 5–5.5 mm in body length.
Native Range: This species is primarily found in Spain and Sicily.
Saturday, 14 August 2021
Friday, 13 August 2021
13-8-2021 PARQUE DE JESUITAS, SALAMANCA - WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus bonelli)
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The western Bonelli's warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) is a warbler in the leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus. It was formerly regarded as the western subspecies of a wider "Bonelli's warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, they are now usually considered to be two species:
Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli, which breeds in southwest Europe and north Africa
Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis, which breeds in southeast Europe and Asia Minor
The breeding ranges of the two species do not overlap; while their appearance and songs are very similar, the calls are completely different (see below). They also show marked difference in mtDNA sequence.
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The species is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a rare vagrant in Northern Europe.
The genus name Phylloscopus is from Ancient Greek phullon, "leaf", and skopos, "seeker" (from skopeo, "to watch"). The English name and the specific bonelli are for the Italian ornithologist Franco Andrea Bonelli.
Western Bonelli's warbler is a small passerine bird, found in forest and woodland. Four to six eggs are laid in a nest on the ground. The eggs are white with reddish-brown markings and are laid in clutches of 3-5 eggs. The incubation period is around 14 days long, and the chicks fledge after 10-14 days. Cuckoo nest predation and brood parasitism are major hazards to the breeding success of western Bonelli's warblers. Like most warblers, western Bonelli's warbler is insectivorous.
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The adult has a plain grey-green back, green-toned rump and wings and whitish underparts. The bill is small and pointed and the legs brown. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers.
The western Bonelli's warbler has a browner tinge to the upperparts than the eastern Bonelli's warbler; the latter sometimes has a greenish tinge instead. The song is a fast monotone trill, only slightly different from eastern Bonelli's, and also with some similarity to the wood warbler. The call of the western Bonelli's warbler is a disyllabic hu-it, differing from that of the eastern Bonelli's warbler which is a hard chup, reminiscent of a crossbill or a house sparrow.
Thursday, 12 August 2021
12-8-2021 , PLAZA DE LIBERTAD, SALAMANCA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)
Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) are highly social, adaptable urban birds distinguished from females by their striking black throat bibs, bright chestnut napes, and gray crowns. Weighing 25–30 grams and measuring 14–15 cm, they thrive alongside human settlements, relying on opportunistic diets of seeds, grains, and urban scraps.
Distinctive Plumage & StatusThe Bib: A male’s black bib (or throat patch) is a direct indicator of his status within the flock. Studies show males with larger, darker bibs rank higher, hold the safest feeding spots, and secure the best breeding territories.
Colors: They have a steel-gray crown, white cheeks, and a rich rufous-brown back heavily streaked with black.
Sexual Dimorphism: Females are much more drab, featuring plain brown and buff plumage for camouflage while nesting, lacking both the bib and bright markings.
Vocalizations: Males are highly vocal, using their loud, repetitive chirps and cheeps to declare territory and attract mates during the breeding season.
Wednesday, 11 August 2021
10-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - DARKLING BEETLE (Akis acuminata)
Akis acuminata is a species of insects with 63 observations
Tuesday, 10 August 2021
10-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - COMMON WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus)
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The Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a member of the dove and pigeon family (Columbidae), native to the western Palearctic. It has historically been known as the Ring dove, and is locally known in southeast England as the "culver"; the latter name has given rise to several areas known for keeping pigeons to be named after it, such as Culver Down.
The Common wood pigeon is a large member of the dove and pigeon family. Adult birds bear a series of green and white patches on their necks and a pink patch on their chest. Juvenile birds do not have white patches on either side of the neck. When they are about six months old they gain small white patches on both sides of the neck; these patches gradually enlarge until they are fully formed when the bird is about 6-8 months old. Juvenile birds also have a greyer beak and an overall lighter grey appearance than adults.
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