26-4-2023 BICORP, VALENCIA - WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata megera)

The species lives in North Africa, Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, the Middle East, western Siberia, northern Tian Shan, Dzungarian Alatau, Kazakhstan and Dzungaria.

Habitats include forest edges and clearings, shrubby areas in ravines and river valleys and sparse woodlands. It is also found in mountain habitats up to 0–3,000 metres (0–9,843 ft) above sea level.

26-4-2023 BICORP, VALENCIA - SPANISH GATEKEEPER BUTTERFLY (Pyronia bathseba)

Pyronia bathseba, the Spanish gatekeeper, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found on the Iberian Peninsula and in France, Morocco, and Algeria. A similar gatekeeper species is Pyronia tithonus, which is found in northern Europe.

The larvae feed on Poaceae species, mainly Brachypodium species.

Pyronia bathseba, the Spanish gatekeeper, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found on the Iberian Peninsula and in France, Morocco, and Algeria. A similar gatekeeper species is Pyronia tithonus, which is found in northern Europe.

The wingspan is 18–19 mm. The butterfly is on wing from May to July depending on the location.

26-4-2023 BICORP, VALENCIA - LULWORTH SKIPPER BUTTERFLY (Thymelicus acteon)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/362093-Thymelicus-acteon

The Lulworth skipper (Thymelicus acteon) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. Its name is derived from Lulworth Cove in the county of Dorset, England, where the first specimens in Great Britain were collected in 1832 by English naturalist James Charles Dale.

The species occurs locally across Central Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa, where its population is considered stable. Its numbers have declined in Northern Europe, leading to its European status of "vulnerable". Its range in Britain is restricted to the south coast of Dorset, however it is locally abundant and its numbers currently are perhaps at their greatest since its discovery there.

With a wingspan of 24 to 28 millimetres, females being larger than males, the Lulworth skipper is a small butterfly, the smallest member of the genus Thymelicus in Europe and among the smallest butterflies in Britain. Aside from the size difference, the sexes are distinguished by females having a distinct circle of golden marks on each forewing. Due to their likeness to the rays around the eye of a peacock's feather, these are often known as "sun-ray" markings, and they can faintly appear on males.

26-4-2023 BICORP, VALENCIA - IBERIAN GREEN FROG (Pelophylax perezi)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/66331-Pelophylax-perezi

The Perez's frog (Pelophylax perezi), also known as Iberian waterfrog, Iberian green frog or Coruna frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is native to southern France, Portugal, Spain, and has been introduced to the Canary and Balearic Islands, Madeira, the United Kingdom, and the Azores. In the Iberian Peninsula it is widespread and common.

Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, sandy shores, arable land, and urban areas.

25-4-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EMERALD MOTH (Phaiogramma faustinata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/494405-Phaiogramma-faustinata

25-4-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED FOOTMAN MOTH (Coscinia cribraria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/130874-Coscinia-cribraria

Coscinia cribraria, the speckled footman, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is found in Europe except the most northern parts; also in north-western Africa, Kazakhstan, Siberia, Mongolia, north-western and north-eastern China.

The wingspan is 30–35 mm. The moth flies from July to August depending on the location.

The larvae feed on various herbaceous plants, including Festuca, Calluna vulgaris and Plantago lanceolata.

25-4-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (Tarentola mauritanica)

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

Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It has been introduced to Madeira and Balearic Islands, and the Americas (in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and California). A nocturnal animal with a predominantly insectivorous diet, it is commonly observed on walls in urban environments in warm coastal areas; it can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as an insect hunter. A robust species, up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, its tubercules are enlarged and give the species a spiny armoured appearance.

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is also known as moorish gecko, crocodile gecko, European common gecko, and, regionally, as osga (in Portuguese), salamanquesa (in Spanish) and dragó (in Catalan).

24-4-2023 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)

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

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It appears to have the largest natural distribution of any of the world's passerines, ranging over 251 million square kilometres globally. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. In Anglophone Europe it is just called the swallow; in northern Europe it is the only common species called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

24-4-2023 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - RED VALERIAN (Centranthus ruber)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57283-Centranthus-ruber

Centranthus ruber, the red valerian, spur valerian, kiss-me-quick, fox's brush, devil's beard or Jupiter's beard, is a popular garden plant grown for its ornamental flowers.

24-4-2023 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - LARGE WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris brassicae)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/55401-Pieris-brassicae

24-4-2023 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - IBERIAN SCARCE SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY (Iphiclides feisthamelii)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/130391-Iphiclides-feisthamelii

After many years being considered a subspecies of the scarce swallowtail I. podalirius this taxon can now be accepted as a full species.

Identification & Similar species: Compared to the scarce swallowtail I. podalirius, this species has a white/ grey-white rather than yellowish ground colour, but sometimes with faint yellow in the female. Markings are also darker, at least in the spring brood. The differences are subtle...

Genetalia are reportedly slightly different and there is some differentiation in mitochondrial DNA.

Distribution & Flight: North Africa, Spain and southwest France. There may be overlap with the scarce swallowtail I. podalirius in some areas particularly as these are mobile butterflies. Flies from March or April to the end of summer in multiple broods.

Habitat & Behaviour: Diverse habitats: scrub, meadows, parks, gardens, coasts to mountains.

24-4-2023 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - OLD WORLD SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/56529-Papilio-machaon

Papilio machaon, the Old World swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. The butterfly is also known as the common yellow swallowtail or simply the swallowtail (a common name applied to all members of the family, but this species was the first to be given the name). It is the type species of the genus Papilio. This widespread species is found in much of the Palearctic (it is the only swallowtail in most of Europe) and in North America.

There are usually two to three broods in a year, but in northern areas, the species may be univoltine. In some places such as the UK, some will pupate and emerge in the same year and others will overwinter as pupae before emerging the following year, a situation known as being partially bivoltine.

The caterpillar spends the first part of its life with the appearance of a bird dropping, an effective defense against predators. As the caterpillar grows larger, it becomes green with black and orange markings. It has a defense against predators in the form of an osmeterium, which consists of retractable, fleshy projections behind its head that can release a foul smell if disturbed, which deters insects, but not birds.

24-4-2023 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - BATH WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pontia daplidice)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/123810-Pontia-daplidice

Pontia daplidice, the Bath white, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites, which occurs in the Palearctic region. It is common in central and southern Europe, migrating northwards every summer, often reaching southern Scandinavia and sometimes southern England.

The Bath white is a small white butterfly with a wingspan of 45 to 50 mm. The underside of the hindwing has a pattern of greenish blotches, which is characteristic of the Bath whites and easily identifies it from other pierids.

Sexes can be differentiated by markings on the forewing. The male is differentiated from the female by the markings on the upperside of the forewing. The apex of the forewing is black with white spots and lines. There is a black spot at the end of the cell. In the case of the female, there is an additional discal spot in 1b. The female also has an obscure row of terminal and marginal spots on the upper hindwing.

24-4-2023 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - PROVENCE ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY (Anthocharis euphenoides)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/94212-Anthocharis-euphenoides

Anthocharis euphenoides, the Provence orange tip, is a species of butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in the Iberian Peninsula (missing in the southwest and northeast), in the south of France (from the eastern Pyrenees to the Alpes-Maritimes) and in Italy in the Abruzzo. There are a few records from Switzerland (Southern Ticino). Its caterpillars use Biscutella as their food source.

A. euphenoides is distinguished in both sexes only by the colour and markings of the underside of the hindwing. In the females the colour of the apical area of the upperside of forewing is very variable, for there occur also specimens with rather large reddish yellow patch. — ab. lecithosa Tur., hitherto only found in South France, has no orange patch in the male, but, like the female of this form, a sulphur-yellow apical spot. — Larva greenish, with yellow and black dorsal markings , white lateral stripes and large black dots, head green; in autumn on Biscutella species; it is a so-called cannibal-caterpillar. Pupa light brown, also green, very strongly incurved (Spuler)

24-4-2023 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - COMMON CHAFFINCH (FEMALE) (Fringilla coelebs)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/10070-Fringilla-coelebs

23-4-2023 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (Tarentola mauritanica)

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

23-4-2023 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON SHELDUCK (FEMALE) (Tadorna tadorna)

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

Distinctive, large, rather gooselike duck of coastal wetlands, tidal mudflats, and nearby grassy fields. Striking plumage often looks simply black-and-white; at close range, head is deep glossy green, broad breast band dark rusty. Male has raised knob at base of red bill; juvenile duller overall, with whitish face and eyering. Less numerous and more local inland at lakes and along rivers. Often seen walking and grazing, at times in flocks.

23-4-2023 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON SHELDUCK (MALE) (Tadorna tadorna)

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

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. 

Diet Its diet consists predominantly of salt-water molluscs (e.g. Hydrobia spp.) as well as other aquatic invertebrates (e.g. insects, crustaceans and worms), small fish, fish spawn and plant material (e.g. algae, seeds and agricultural grain)

Breeding site The nest is commonly positioned in a tree-hollow up to 8 m above the ground or in a mammal burrow (e.g. of European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus).  Rarely nests may also be placed in the open or in dense vegetation up to 1 km from water. The species will also nest in artificial nest-boxes.

23-4-2023 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus)

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

The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread and largest species of the flamingo family. It is found in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and in southern Europe.

The greater flamingo resides in mudflats and shallow coastal lagoons with salt water. Using its feet, the bird stirs up the mud, then sucks water through its bill and filters out small shrimp, seeds, blue-green algae, microscopic organisms, and mollusks. The greater flamingo feeds with its head down, and its upper jaw is movable and not rigidly fixed to its skull.

Like all flamingos, this type of species lays a single chalky-white egg on a mud mound

23-4-2023 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)

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

The common tern is an agile flyer, capable of rapid turns and swoops, hovering, and vertical take-off. When commuting with fish, it flies close to the surface in a strong head wind, but 10–30 m (33–98 ft) above the water in a following wind. Unless migrating, normally it stays below 100 m (330 ft), and averages 30 km/h (19 mph) in the absence of a tail wind.[5] Its average flight speed during the nocturnal migration flight is 43–54 km/h (27–34 mph)[22] at a height of 1,000–3,000 m (3,300–9,800 ft).

23-4-2023 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

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

23-4-2023 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

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

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.

23-4-2023 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - BLACK HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/144510-Chroicocephalus-ridibundus

The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small gull that breeds in much of the Palearctic including Europe and also in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory and winters further south, but some birds reside in the milder westernmost areas of Europe. Small numbers also occur in northeastern North America, where it was formerly known as the common black-headed gull. As is the case with many gulls, it was previously placed in the genus Larus.

The black-headed gull displays a variety of compelling behaviours and adaptations. Some of these include removing eggshells from one's nest after hatching, begging co-ordination between siblings, differences between sexes, conspecific brood parasitism, and extra-pair paternity. They are an overwintering species, found in a variety of different habitats.

23-4-2023 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52592-Pararge-aegeria

A medium-sized butterfly, the speckled wood is on the wing in two or three broods between the end of March and October. It is a common and widespread butterfly of woodland edges and rides, where it flies in the dappled sunlight, and can also be seen in hedgerows and gardens. Adults feed on honeydew, while the caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses, including false broom and cock's-foot.

The speckled wood is dark brown with creamy yellow spots. The best way to identify the 'brown' butterflies is by looking at the eyespots on their wings. The speckled wood is the only brown butterfly with three small, cream-ringed eyespots on each hindwing and one on each forewing.

23-4-2023 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides)

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

The squacco heron is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is rare north of its breeding range. The species has been recorded in Fernando de Noronha islands, and more rarely in mainland South America, as a vagrant. This is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings.

The squacco heron's breeding habitat is marshy wetlands in warm countries. The birds nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Three to four eggs are laid. They feed on fish, frogs and insects.