Wednesday, 10 November 2021
3-11-2021 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - ROCK HYRAX (Procavia capensis)
The Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) is a medium-sized terrestrial mammal native to Africa and the Middle East. It is also commonly referred to in South Africa as the dassie. These cute animals are the only extant terrestrial afrotherians in the Middle East. Along with other hyrax species and the sirenians, Rock hyraxes are the most closely related to the elephant.
The Rock hyrax is an unusual creature that lacks tail. The coat of this animal is dense and varies greatly in color. However, the upper parts of the hyrax are usually brownish-grey, whereas the underparts are lighter. On its back, the Rock hyrax exhibits a characteristic marking, colored in black, yellow, or orange. Underneath this patch, the animal has a special gland, giving off a specific odor. The hyrax also possesses moist and rubber-like foot soles, allowing it to easily grasp objects when climbing steep rocks of its range.
The Rock hyraxes are highly sociable animals, forming groups of 2-26 individuals. These colonies usually consist of one breeding male and multiple adult females with their young. Occasionally, subordinate males can be observed in these groups. Although they are generally active by day, these animals have also been known to be active and communicate through calls during moonlit nights. Coming out of their shelters, they take sunbaths for 1-2 hours in order to warm up. Rock hyraxes start foraging by afternoon. During overcast, rainy, or cold days, these animals rarely come out of their shelters. Meanwhile, they tend to remain in shady sites during extremely hot days. As grazers, hyraxes feed on the ground, sometimes climbing trees to feed on fresh leaves.
3-11-2021 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - ADDAX (MALE - SUMMER COAT) (Addax nasomaculatus)
The addax (Addax nasomaculatus), also known as the white antelope and the screwhorn antelope, is an antelope native to the Sahara Desert. The only member of the genus Addax, it was first described scientifically by Henri de Blainville in 1816. As suggested by its alternative name, the pale antelope has long, twisted horns – typically 55 to 80 cm (22 to 31 in) in females and 70 to 85 cm (28 to 33 in) in males. Males stand from 105 to 115 cm (41 to 45 in) at the shoulder, with females at 95 to 110 cm (37 to 43 in). They are sexually dimorphic, as the females are smaller than the males. The colour of the coat depends on the season – in the winter, it is greyish-brown with white hindquarters and legs, and long, brown hair on the head, neck, and shoulders; in the summer, the coat turns almost completely white or sandy blonde.
3-11-2021 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - PIN TAILED SANDGROUSE (Pterocles alchata)
The pin-tailed sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family. It has a small, pigeon-like head and neck and a sturdy, compact body. It has long pointed wings, which are white underneath, a long tail and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn. The call is a loud kattar-kattar. This gregarious species breeds on dry open treeless plains and similar habitats. Its nest is a ground scrape into which two or three cream-coloured eggs with cryptic markings are laid. Both sexes incubate the eggs.
The pin-tailed sandgrouse is about 35 centimetres (14 in) long. Its head and upperparts are yellowish-green. The underparts are white with a chestnut breast band separating the belly from the green neck. Sexes are somewhat similar, but the female is better camouflaged and has a shorter tail than the male. There are two subspecies; P. a. alchata breeds in southern Europe and P. a. caudacutus breeds in northwestern Africa, the Middle East and southeastern Asia. It is a partial migrant, with some Asian birds moving to the Middle East and northern Pakistan in winter. Males of the eastern race have duller underparts than the European birds, and the females have white, rather than yellow, wing coverts.The pin-tailed sandgrouse is a robust, medium-sized bird about 31 to 39 centimetres (12 to 15 in) in length. The general colouring is cryptic, a blend of barred and flecked olive green, brown, buff, yellow, grey and black. The underparts and the feathered legs are dull white.
The sexes are different and the male's plumage varies with the time of year. In the breeding season, the male has the crown, most of the neck, the back and under-wing coverts a yellowish-green colour with dull yellow spots in the shoulder region. The cheeks are also yellow with a narrow black line extending from the beak, through the eye to the nape of the neck. The irises are brown and the beak is slatey grey. There is a black patch on the throat immediately below the beak and below this, there is a broad, reddish-brown band round the breast, bordered by a thin black stripe above and below the band. The outer wing coverts are chestnut edged with black and white and the primaries are black with pale edges which gives both the leading and trailing edges of the wing the appearance of a black rim in flight. The rump and the tail are distinctly barred in black and brownish-yellow and the streamers on the central tail feathers are slate-grey. Outside the breeding season, all the upper parts, including the crown and cheeks, are barred in black and brownish-yellow and the throat loses its black patch, becoming whitish.
The female is generally similar to the male but the colours are duller. The cheeks and neck are golden-buff and lack the greenish tinge of the male. There is a black stripe running through the eye. The chin is white and there is an additional yellow-buff band across the breast with a broad black stripe above, another thinner one about a third of the way down and a further narrow black stripe at the base. The back and wings are grey, barred with black. The rump and the tail (which has shorter central feathers than the male) are similar in colouration to the male but have finer black barrings.
In flight, the pin-tailed sandgrouse can be identified by its bright, white underparts and under-wing coverts, and the long feathers in the centre part of its tail. It is usually silent when on the ground but in the air communicates with other birds with a frequently uttered, loud "kattar-kattar", a nasal "ga-ga-ga" and a low-pitched "gang gang".
The pin-tailed sandgrouse breeds in North Africa and the Middle East, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Kazakhstan. In Europe it breeds in Spain, Portugal and the southern part of France. Eastern populations, particularly those from Kazakhstan, migrate to Pakistan and parts of northern India in winter.
The pin-tailed sandgrouse inhabits open areas of stony land, semi arid areas at the edge of deserts, treeless plains and occasionally dried-out mud flats. In winter it may visit ploughed or fallow land but prefers sandy soils and is much less reliant on vegetation cover than the black-bellied sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) which has a similar range. It does not occur at elevations above about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).
21-10-2021 AGIOS NIKOLAOS, GREECE - PLAIN TIGER BUTTERFLY (Danaus chrysippus)
D. chrysippus encompasses three main subspecies: D. c. alcippus, D. c. chrysippus, and D. c. orientis. These subspecies are found concentrated in specific regions within the larger range of the entire species.
The plain tiger is believed to be one of the first butterflies depicted in art. A 3,500-year-old ancient Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest known illustration of this species.
19-10-2021 KUSADASI, TURKEY - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (JUVENILE) (Larus michahellis)
The Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) is a large, robust seabird with a commanding presence. Its size can be quite variable, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a Common Gull, and the largest males approaching the heft of a Great Black-backed Gull. Adults typically exhibit a grey back, a shade lighter than that of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, and their heads are notably whiter in the autumn months. A distinctive feature is their yellow legs, which give this species its common name.
When observing the Yellow-legged Gull, look for the yellow legs that contrast with the grey back and the white head, which becomes even whiter during the autumn. The wing tips are black with limited white spots, and adults have a red spot on the bill. The eye is surrounded by a red ring. Juveniles can be identified by their paler head, rump, and underparts, dark bill and eyes, and a black band on the tail.
This gull favors a variety of coastal environments, often nesting on sea cliffs, islands, and occasionally on buildings within urban settings. It is also known to breed on trees in some regions.
The Yellow-legged Gull has a breeding range centered around the Mediterranean Sea, extending to the Atlantic islands and coasts as far north as Brittany and west to the Azores. Its presence is also noted on the western side of the Black Sea.
The species is known for its adaptability, with many individuals remaining in the same area year-round, while others migrate to milder regions of western Europe or head south to areas such as Senegal and the Red Sea. Post-breeding dispersal can lead to increased numbers in regions like southern England from July to October.
The vocalizations of the Yellow-legged Gull are characterized by a loud, laughing call that is deeper and more nasal than that of the Herring Gull.
Breeding typically occurs in colonies, with nests constructed on the ground or cliff ledges. The nests are mounds of vegetation, and the species is known for its vigorous defense of its eggs, usually numbering three. Incubation lasts for 27–31 days, and fledging occurs after 35–40 days.
An opportunistic forager, the Yellow-legged Gull is omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of items from rubbish tips to field prey, coastal offerings, and even other seabirds' catches. Remarkably, during periods of food scarcity, such as the lockdown in Italy in 2020, these gulls have been observed preying on larger animals like rats and rock doves.
The Yellow-legged Gull is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction.
19-10-2021 KUSADASI, TURKEY - EGYPTIAN BIRD GRASSHOPPER (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.
Tuesday, 9 November 2021
16-10-2021 AXIOS NAT PARK THESSALONIKI, GREECE - GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus)
%2020.jpg)
The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread and largest species of the flamingo family. Common in the Old World, they are found in Northern (coastal) and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent (south of the Himalayas), the Middle East, the Levant, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe.
It is found in parts of Northern Africa (including coastal areas of northern Algeria, Egypt further inland along the Nile River, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia), portions of Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda), Southern Asia (coastal Bangladesh,India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), the Western Asia (Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Iran, Oman, Israel, Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates) and Southern Europe (including Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, France in the Camargue and Corsica, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain and the Balearic Islands, and Turkey).
16-10-2021 AXIOS NAT PARK THESSALONIKI, GREECE - COMMON SHELDUCK (MALE) (Tadorna tadorna)
%20(Tadorna%20tadorna)%2020.jpg)
The common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna ) is a waterfowl species of the shelduck genus, Tadorna. It is widespread and common in the Euro-Siberian region of the Palearctic, mainly breeding in temperate and wintering in subtropical regions; in winter, it can also be found in the Maghreb.
Fossil bones from Dorkovo (Bulgaria) described as Balcanas pliocaenica may actually belong to this species. More likely, they are an extinct species of Tadorna (if not a distinct genus) due to their Early Pliocene age; the present species is not unequivocally attested from the fossil record until some 2–3 million years later (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene).
%20(Tadorna%20tadorna)%2021.jpg)
The common shelduck resembles a small short-necked goose in size and shape. It is a striking bird, with a reddish-pink bill, pink feet, a white body with chestnut patches and a black belly, and a dark green head and neck. The wing coverts are white, the primary remiges black, and the secondaries green (only showing in flight) and chestnut. The underwings are almost entirely white. Sexes are similar, but the female is smaller, with some white facial markings, while the male is particularly crisply coloured in the breeding season, his bill bright red and bearing a prominent knob at the forehead.
%20(Tadorna%20tadorna)%2022.jpg)
Ducklings are white, with black cap, hindneck and wing and back patches. Juveniles are similarly coloured, greyish above and mostly white below, but already have the adult's wing pattern.
The call is a loud honk.
Habitat The species shows a preference for saline habitats and frequents mudflats and muddy or sandy estuaries in coastal regions, and occurs inland on saline and brackish lakes in steppe or semi-desert. Asiatic populations also occupy freshwater rivers or marshes and other populations utilise freshwater habitats on migration.
16-10-2021 AXIOS NAT PARK THESSALONIKI, GREECE - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)
%2019.jpg)
The crested lark (Galerida cristata) is a small, non-migratory songbird (17–19 cm) known for its distinctive spiky, long crest and cheerful, musical warbling song. They thrive in dry, open habitats, including arid plains, agricultural fields, and disturbed urban areas, feeding primarily on seeds and insects.
Habitat: They prefer dry, open, sparse vegetation like steppe, farmland, and semi-deserts, and are often seen near coastal areas and roadsides.
Appearance: A medium-sized lark with brownish streaking, a short tail, and a prominent crest that rises during display.
%2020.jpg)
Eggs & Breeding: Monogamous breeders that nest on the ground. They lay clutches of 3 to 5 eggs that are gray-white to brownish and finely speckled. They often raise two broods per year.
Diet: Primarily granivorous (seeds and grains) but also consume invertebrates like beetles, often digging for food in the ground.
Behavior: They are known to be non-migratory (sedentary) and often show high adaptability to human-modified landscapes, including airports and urban outskirts.
Monday, 8 November 2021
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)