24-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EPAULET SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Orthetrum chrysostigma)

Orthetrum chrysostigma, the epaulet skimmer, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi as well as Canary Islands, Israel, and Portugal. It was recorded in the Maltese Islands in 2010. One was also spotted in Tel Aviv, Israel in August 2022.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, intermittent rivers, shrub-dominated wetlands, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and freshwater springs. The adults prey on various flying insects. The bodies of adult males are blue, and those of young and females are yellow and brown.

Very widespread and occurs virtually throughout Africa, including North Africa. It also occurs in parts of Southern Europe and the Middle East. In South Africa it occurs virtually throughout, but is scarce in the dry central regions.

The Epaulet Skimmer is a southern European and African dragonfly. A little similar to the Keeled Skimmer of the UK, it has a narrow elongated body with central raised "keel". Above is the attractive pale blue male with turquoise eyes, but the "epaulet" marking on the thorax that gives it its name is not often clear and darkens with age.

The Epaulet Skimmer frequents a wide range of freshwater habitats, including Rivers, streams, lakes, pans, dams, and water-holes. It prefers sites that are fairly open with exposed rocks, sand, or gravel. The Epaulet Skimmer is most numerous along rivers in the savanna regions.

The Epaulet Skimmer often perches on the ground, but also on rocks and exposed stems and twigs. It hunts from a perch with a rapid, darting flight. Frequently returns to the same perch. Both sexes can be found in the same vicinity.

The Epaulet Skimmer is common and widespread in South Africa. It is listed as of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Epaulet Skimmer is fairly resistant to habitat damage and is often common at man-made and degraded sites.

24-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN BIRD GRASSHOPPER (JUVENILE) (Anacridium aegyptium)

Anacridium aegyptium, the Egyptian grasshopper or Egyptian locust, is a species of insect belonging to the subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae.

A fairly common species, the Egyptian grasshopper is present in most of Europe, the Afrotropical realm, eastern Palearctic realm, the Near East, and North Africa, and has recently been observed in Cape Town, South Africa.

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis, and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea level to 1,500 m.

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

This species is a folivore, essentially feeding on leaves of various plants. It is a solitary species, harmless to crops. Adults are mainly seen in August and September, but they are active throughout the year. After mating, these grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Spawning occurs in spring just under the soil surface and the nymphs appear in April. These grasshoppers undergo several molts.  Nymphs differ from adults in appearance; their color varies from yellow to bright green and ocher and the wings are absent or small, as they are gradually developed after each molt.

14-8-2021 ALDEA DEL OBISPO, SALAMANCA - THEKLA LARK (Galerida theklae)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7359-Galerida-theklae

 

22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - APOLLO BUTTERFLY (Parnassius apollo)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/108799-Parnassius-apollo

14-8-2021 ALDEA DEL OBISPO, SALAMANCA - EURASIAN LINNET (FEMALE) (Linaria cannabina)

The common linnet, Linaria cannabina, is a small, slender finch with a fondness for seeds, particularly those of hemp and flax. The male, in his breeding plumage, is distinguished by a grey nape, a striking red head-patch, and a red breast, while the female and juveniles are more subdued in coloration with white underparts and buff-streaked breasts.

When identifying the common linnet, look for the long tail and the contrast between the brown upper parts and the sullied white throat. The bill is grey, and the male's red accents are most vibrant during the breeding season.

This species prefers open land with dense shrubbery for breeding, including heathlands and gardens.

The common linnet has a wide range across Europe, the western Palearctic, and North Africa. It is partially migratory, with many birds from the east and north moving southward or toward coastal areas during the non-breeding season.

Outside of breeding season, common linnets may gather in large flocks, occasionally mixing with other finch species. They are known for their delightful song, which features rapid trills and twitters. Breeding involves nest building within bushes and laying clutches of four to seven eggs.

The song of the common linnet is characterized by its pleasant and melodious trills and twitters, often heard during the breeding season.

The common linnet's diet consists mainly of seeds, including those from arable weeds, crucifers, chickweeds, dandelions, thistles, and trees such as hawthorn and birch. They also consume a small amount of invertebrates, particularly when feeding chicks.

The common linnet is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. However, in the UK, it is recognized as a priority species for conservation due to significant population declines, largely attributed to changes in agricultural practices. Conservation efforts include promoting bird-friendly farming practices and habitat management.

14-8-2021 ALDEA DEL OBISPO, SALAMANCA - EURASIAN LINNET (MALE) (Linaria cannabina)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/558634-Linaria-cannabina

22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - SLOANE'S URANIA MOTH (Urania sloanus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1070613-Urania-sloanus

22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - COMMON MORPHO (Morpho helenor)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/81741-Morpho-helenor

22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - ORANGE OAKLEAF BUTTERFLY (Kallima inachus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67980-Kallima-inachus

22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - GOLDEN BIRDWING BUTTERFLY (Troides aeacus)

Troides aeacus, the golden birdwing, is a large tropical butterfly belonging to the swallowtail family, Papilionidae.

It is found in northern India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, peninsular Malaysia, and Taiwan.

Although it is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, it may require protection in peninsular Malaya.

4-12-2015 SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA - YELLOW ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY (Ixias pyrene)

Ixias pyrene, the yellow orange tip, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in Sri Lanka, India and southeast Asia.

It is distributed throughout the plains and lowlands of Sri Lanka and peninsular India. It is common in dry deciduous forests, scrub and fallow lands and found throughout the year. However, it is more common during the monsoon and post-monsoon and considerably rare in the summer.

21-8-2021 CIUDAD RODRIGO, ZAMORA - EURASIAN JACKDAW (Corvus 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 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.

The western jackdaw is found from Northwest Africa through all of Europe, except for the subarctic north, and eastwards through central Asia to the eastern Himalayas and Lake Baikal. To the east, it occurs throughout Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwestern India. However, it is regionally extinct in Malta and Tunisia. The range is vast, with an estimated global extent between 1 and 10 million square kilometres (0.4–4 million square miles). It has a large global population, with an estimated 15.6 to 45 million individuals in Europe alone.[45] Censuses of bird populations in marginal uplands in Great Britain show that western jackdaws greatly increased in numbers between the 1970s and 2010, although this increase may be related to recovery from previous periods when they were regarded as pests. The UK population was estimated at 2.5 million individuals in 1998, up from 780,000 in 1970.

20-8-2021 MARTIAGO, SALAMANCA - EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (Merops apiaster)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2191-Merops-apiaster

20-8-2021 MARTIAGO, SALAMANCA - GREATER SHORT TOED LARK (Calandrella brachydactyla)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578093-Calandrella-brachydactyla

19-8-2021 CIUDAD RODRIGO, SALAMANCA - CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Colias croceus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/143294-Colias-croceus

18-8-2021 SANDO, ZAMORA - BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/11901-Hirundo-rustica

17-8-2021 ZAMORA, SALAMANCA - BLACK REDSTART (JUVENILE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13000-Phoenicurus-ochruros

18-8-2021 SANDO, ZAMORA - RED KITE (Milvus milvus)

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.

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.

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.

16-8-2021 BUENAMADRE, ZAMORA - THEKLA LARK (Galerida theklae)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7359-Galerida-theklae

16-8-2021 LEDESMA, ZAMORA - MONTAGU'S HARRIER (Circus pygargus)

Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) is a species of harrier, a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It breeds in large open areas in the Palearctic and is migratory, wintering in Africa, the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu.

Sexual dimorphism is particularly apparent in the plumage of this species. Adult males are characterized by their overall pale grey plumage contrasting with black wingtips. Compared with other harriers this species has characteristic black bands along the secondaries, both above and below the wing and rusty streaks on belly and flanks. Adult females have a broadly similar plumage to that of pallid and hen harriers. The underparts are mostly pale yellow-brown, the belly with longitudinal stripes and the wing coverts spotted. The upper parts are uniform dark brown except for the white upper tail coverts ("rump"), and the sightly paler central wing coverts.

The juvenile plumage resembles that of the female, but differs by the belly and under wing coverts which are not spotted, but uniformly red brown in colour.

A melanistic form occurs regularly in this species. In this form the male is much darker than usual, with a black head, brownish black above and grey underparts. The melanistic female is entirely chocolate brown except for grey flight feathers. Partially melanistic morphs can also be found.

Montagu's harrier has a particularly smooth flight pattern, with powerful and elegant wingbeats which give an impression of buoyancy and ease. In true harrier fashion it searches the countryside, flying low, and generally holds its wings with a marked positive dihedral.

This species can be found in a middle-latitude band of predominantly temperate climates, but also in Mediterranean, and boreal zones. Although it has been found nesting up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft), it is essentially a lowland species, and nests mostly in broad river valleys, plains, and levels bordering lakes and the sea. It can breed in wetlands, though these are often smaller and drier than those used by the marsh harrier. It also utilizes heaths, dunes, moors, and can be found in the steppe. It adapts to shrublands in gorse or heather and to areas planted with young conifers.

When no other suitable habitat is available this harrier will nest in agricultural farmlands where it is vulnerable to early harvesting. Amongst these it chooses especially grasslands and cereal crops such as wheat, barley, oats and colza. In western Europe, up to 70% of the population breeds in artificial habitats.

16-8-2021 LEDESMA, ZAMORA - IBERIAN GREY SHRIKE (Lanius meridionalis)

                            https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/906982-Lanius-meridionalis

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.

15-8-2021 VALE DA MULA, PORTUGAL - CARTILAGE LICHEN (Ramalina fraxinea)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/229765-Ramalina-fraxinea

15-8-2021 VALE DA MULA, PORTUGAL - BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/11901-Hirundo-rustica