24-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HORNET MIMIC HOVER FLY (Volucella zonaria)

Volucella zonaria, the hornet mimic hoverfly, is a species of hoverfly. These flies are capable of buzz pollination.

This species is present in most of Europe, in Tunisia, Iran, Russia (to Far East) and in Mongolia.

In Great Britain, it was only known from two specimens prior to 1940, so was regarded as rare. Since then, it has become increasingly widespread in many parts of the South and South East England, often in association with parks and gardens, where adults are usually seen visiting flowers. Elsewhere in England, only a few scattered records exist.

These hoverflies usually inhabit meadows close to forests. 

24-5-2026 ADOR CAMPO, VALENCIA - RED VALERIAN (Centranthus ruber)

Valeriana rubra (synonym 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.

Valeriana rubra is a perennial plant, usually as a subshrub though it can take any form from a herbaceous plant to a shrub depending on conditions; the plants are usually woody at the base. The leaves are generally 5–8 cm in length. Their form changes from the bottom to the top of the plant, the lower leaves being petiolate while the upper leaves are sessile. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are oval or lanceolate in shape. The plant flowers profusely, and though the individual flowers are small (no more than 2 mm), the inflorescences are large and showy. The flowers are small in rounded clusters each with 5 fused petals and a spur. The most typical color is a brick red or purplish red, but colors include deep crimson, pale pink, and lavender. Centranthus ruber 'Albus' (about 10% of individuals) has white blooms. Flowering takes place in early summer and, in cool summer areas, continues sporadically throughout the summer and into fall. The cultivar 'coccineus' is especially long-blooming. The blooms have a strong and somewhat rank scent. They are pollinated by both bees and butterflies and the plant is noted for attracting insects. It is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including angle shades. Seeds have tufts similar to dandelions that allow wind dispersal, and as such can self-seed freely and become invasive if not properly controlled.

26-5-2026 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - BROAD SCARLET DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Crocothemis erythraea)

The scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Its common names include broad scarlet, common scarlet-darter, and scarlet darter.

The scarlet dragonfly is a common species in southern Europe and throughout Africa. It also occurs across western Asia as far as southern China. It is a very rare vagrant in Britain. Its first record in the country was at Hayle Kimbro Pool, The Lizard, Cornwall, on 7 August 1995. Since then there have been a few further records at scattered locations throughout Britain.

A wide range of both running and standing waters, except those that are shaded. Adults may be found some distance from water in habitats ranging from desert to open woodland; absent from dense forest.

25-5-2026 RIVER SERPIS, GANDIA - DESERT DARTER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum sinaiticum)

34-37 mm. Medium-sized dragonfly of the Libellulidiae family; it is distributed throughout the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, with a tendency to expand its peninsular distribution.

Sexual dimorphism is present in mature males, which have brown upper eyelids and light gray lower eyelids. Their thorax is brown on top and lighter on the sides, with black-edged sutures. The abdomen is pale red on top with orange sides. The sides of segments S1 to S3 are pale and have a distinctive elongated black spot. The last segments are also spotted with black on the sides. The wings are hyaline with a bright red leading edge and a reddish (sometimes pale yellow) pterostigma. The leading edge of the wing is somewhat colored. 

The legs are edged in black, and the rest of the plumage is straw-colored to brownish with a light blue interior. The female is straw-yellow, lacking any orange coloration. She has the same black markings on the sides of her abdomen as the male, which helps in identification. The only other feature she shares with the male is the eye color, although it is somewhat duller.

It inhabits open spaces in warm areas, in all types of stagnant or slow-moving water. 

26-5-2026 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.

26-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COMMON ANDRYALA (Andryala integrifolia)

Common Andryala (Andryala integrifolia) is a Mediterranean wildflower in the daisy family (Asteraceae) known for its bright yellow blooms, distinctive woolly texture, and highly resilient nature.

Scientific TaxonomyFamily: Asteraceae 

(Compositae)Genus: AndryalaSpecies: Andryala integrifolia (originally cataloged by Carl Linnaeus in 1753)

Common Names: Hoary Andryala, Lanutella comune (Italian), Cerraja lanuda or Carmelita descalza (Spanish), and Alface-do-monte (Portuguese).

 Physical CharacteristicsAppearance: An annual to biennial herbaceous plant that typically grows between 20 to 100 centimeters in height.

Foliage: The alternate, lance-shaped leaves are entirely undivided or unlobed, which explains the specific epithet integrifolia (Latin for "entire leaf").

Texture: The stems and leaves are covered in a dense layer of soft, whitish, and sometimes sticky hairs, giving the plant a distinctive "hoary" or frosted look.

Flowers: Bright yellow flower heads (capitula) measuring roughly 3 cm across are clustered together in flat-topped clusters called corymbs. They bloom from April to August.

Habitat & DistributionNative Range: It is highly widespread across the Western and Central Mediterranean region, heavily blanketed across the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), Southern France, Italy, and parts of North Africa.

Growing Conditions: It thrives in disturbed, sunny, open landscapes. You will frequently spot it growing in sandy or rocky soils, along roadsides, in ditches, abandoned farmlands, and dry pastures.

Ecological Status: While native to the Mediterranean, it has been introduced to places like Belgium and Sweden, and is flagged as an alien species on the island of Madeira, where it poses a hybridization risk to rare local flora.

Toxicity & DefenseChemical Profile: The plant produces a milky latex.Toxicity: This latex contains toxic compounds, including hydrogen cyanide. Because of this chemical defense mechanism, no parts of the plant should ever be ingested by humans or livestock.

25-5-2026 RIVER SERPIS, GANDIA - 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.

25-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVED UMBER MOTH

Menophra abruptaria, the waved umber, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1792. It is found in south-western North Africa, southern Europe and Anatolia; in the north, it is found from England to Switzerland, south-western Germany, Bangladesh . The wingspan is 36–42 mm. Adults are on wing from April to June. Normally, there is one generation per year, although there can be a partial second generation in summer.

The larvae feed on Ligustrum ovalifolium and Syringa vulgaris.

A distinctive species, occurring reasonably commonly in the south of England and Wales, becoming scarcer into the northernmost English counties.

It inhabits woodland, parks and gardens, and flies in a single generation from April into June.

The larvae feed on garden privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) and lilac (Syringa vulgaris).

14-9-2015 CIUDAD DE ENCANTADA, CUENCA - EURASIAN NUTHATCH (Sitta europaea)

The Eurasian nuthatch or wood nuthatch (Sitta europaea) is a small passerine bird found throughout the Palearctic and in Europe. Like other nuthatches, it is a short-tailed bird with a long bill, blue-gray upperparts and a black eye-stripe. It is a vocal bird with a repeated loud dwip call. There are more than 20 subspecies in three main groups; birds in the west of the range have orange-buff underparts and a white throat, those in Russia have whitish underparts, and those in the east have a similar appearance to European birds, but lack the white throat.

Its preferred habitat is mature deciduous or mixed woodland with large, old trees, preferably oak. Pairs hold permanent territories, and nest in tree holes, usually old woodpecker nests, but sometimes natural cavities. If the entrance to the hole is too large, the female plasters it with mud to reduce its size, and often coats the inside of the cavity too. The six to nine red-speckled white eggs are laid on a deep base of pine or other wood chips.

The Eurasian nuthatch eats mainly insects , particularly caterpillars and beetles, although in autumn and winter its diet is supplemented with nuts and seeds. The young are fed mainly on insects, with some seeds, food items mainly being found on tree trunks and large branches. The nuthatch can forage when descending trees head first, as well as when climbing. It readily visits bird tables, eating fatty man-made food items as well as seeds. It is an inveterate hoarder, storing food year-round. Its main natural predator is the Eurasian sparrowhawk.

24-5-2026 POTRIES, VALENCIA - LARGE WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata maera)

 Lasiommata maera, the large wall brown, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

The species is common in continental Europe. It is also present in the Urals, south western Siberia, Asia Minor, Syria, Iran, Central Asia and the Himalayas. It is absent from the United Kingdom. Its preferred habitats are edges of the forest, unmanaged clearings on forested areas, rocky dry areas and stony slopes, at an elevation of 0–2,000 metres (0–6,562 ft) above sea level.

Lasiommata maera has a wingspan of 44–56 millimetres (1.7–2.2 in). These large butterflies are quite variable in color and pattern. Usually the upperside is orange in the forewings and mostly brown in the hindwings. The forewings always show a single ocellus, while the hindwings bear two or three ocelli. The underside of the forewings is orange and the underside of the hindwings is marbled with gray brown. 

This species is quite similar to Lasiommata megera, that is smaller and has paler yellow-orange forewings. Seitz P. maera L. (= adrasta Dup.) (45 d). On an average larger than hiera, more evenly coloured, the black markings of the ground less prominent in the nymotypical form with a sooty brown disc; the forewing of the male more pointed, with longer costal margin and more oblique distal margin; on the underside of the forewing the distal band extends without interruption across the median veins to the hindmargin. The underside of the hindwing has a much purer ground-colour, i. e. there are less clouds and shadows between the various dentate lines which cross the disc.

23-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea minuscularia)

Idaea minuscularia is a small, whitish-grey geometrid moth found in Southwest Europe and Northwest Africa, often in coastal maquis, cultivated areas, and villages, feeding on ground-level herbs like Oxalis, and recognized by its pale color with fine dark markings and a simple wing edge, differentiating it from similar Idaea species. 

Appearance: Small (1.2-1.8 cm wingspan), white/grey wings with scattered dark scales, often with indistinct lines and a dotted border on the wing edge.

Habitat: Common near coasts in maquis shrubland, cultivated fields, and walls in SW Europe & NW Africa.

8-3-2020 PERIYAR RIVER LODGE, INDIA - ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN (Copsychus saularis)

The Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) is a small, striking passerine bird, once grouped with thrushes but now classified among the Old World flycatchers. Males are characterized by their black upperparts, head, and throat, contrasted with a white shoulder patch and white underparts extending to the sides of their long tail. Females, on the other hand, display a more subdued greyish black above and greyish white below. Juveniles bear scaly brown upperparts. This species is known for its long tail, typically held upright, and its melodious song, which has made it a favored cagebird in the past.

The Oriental magpie-robin measures about 19 centimeters in length, including its distinctive long tail. The male's black and white plumage and the female's greyish tones are key identification features. The tail is often cocked upright when the bird is active on the ground, but it assumes a normal position during singing.

These birds are adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, from urban gardens to forests. They are often seen close to the ground, foraging in leaf-litter or perching conspicuously.

3-7-2020 ALDEAROQUETA, CASTELLON - COMMON HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum)

 The Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes known as the Common House Martin, is a migratory passerine bird belonging to the swallow family. It is characterized by a blue head and upperparts, a distinctive white rump, and pure white underparts. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with both sexes appearing similar, and juveniles displaying a sooty black coloration with white-tipped wing coverts and quills.

Adults measure approximately 13 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 26 to 29 cm and an average weight of 18.3 grams. They possess brown eyes, a small black bill, and pink toes and exposed leg parts. The white rump and underparts are particularly noticeable in flight, aiding in distinguishing them from other swallows.

The Western House Martin favors open country with low vegetation, such as pastures, meadows, and farmland, often near water. It is also found in urban areas and can nest in city centers if air quality permits.

20-5-2026 RACO DE OLLA, ALBUFERA - PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta)

The pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta, presents a striking silhouette with its bold black and white plumage. This large wader, belonging to the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae, is adorned with a distinctive black cap and black markings on its wings and back, contrasting sharply against its otherwise white body. The species is noted for its elegant, upturned bill and elongated, bluish legs, which add to its graceful demeanor.

Adult pied avocets measure approximately 16.5–17.75 inches in length, with a wingspan stretching around 30–31.5 inches. Their long legs and upturned bills, measuring about 2.95–3.35 inches and 3–4 inches respectively, are key features for identification. Both sexes appear similar, while juveniles can be distinguished by their more greyish and sepia tones.

20-5-2026 EL SALER, ALBUFERA - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

The Common Redshank, Tringa totanus, is a Eurasian wader belonging to the large family Scolopacidae. Exhibiting a striking change in plumage, they don a marbled brown color during the breeding season, which transitions to a plainer greyish-brown above and whitish below in the winter. Their legs are a vibrant red, complemented by a black-tipped red bill. In flight, they reveal a distinctive white pattern up the back and on the wings.

To identify the Common Redshank, look for the red legs and the black-tipped red bill, which are characteristic of the species. The white trailing edge on the wings is also a key feature, particularly visible during flight. In breeding plumage, they exhibit a marbled brown coloration, while in winter, they adopt a less patterned greyish-brown and whitish color scheme.

20-5-2026 SOLLANA, ALBUFERA - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

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.

20-5-2026 EL SALER, ALBUFERA - COLLARED PRATINCOLE (Glareola pratincola)

The collared pratincole (Glareola pratincola ), also known as the common pratincole or red-winged pratincole, is a wader in the pratincole family, Glareolidae. As with other pratincoles, it is native to the Old World.

This pratincole is 24–28 cm (9.4–11.0 in) long with a 60–70 cm (24–28 in) wingspan. It has short legs, long pointed wings, a long forked tail, and a short bill, which is an adaptation to aerial feeding. The back and head are brown, and the wings are brown with darker flight feathers. The belly is white. The underwings are chestnut, but look dark below.

Very good views are needed to distinguish this species from other pratincoles, such as the black-winged pratincole and the oriental pratincole, which may occur in its range. The latter species also has a chestnut underwing, but is shorter-tailed.

The collared pratincole is a bird of open country, and is often seen near water in the evening, hawking for insects. It is found in the warmer parts of Europe, southwest Asia and Africa. It is migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, and is rare north of the breeding range.

 The Collared Pratincole's diet consists primarily of insects, which it adeptly catches in flight, demonstrating its aerial agility.

The Collared Pratincole is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is also a species protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). The Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) is a distinctive Old World wader known for its aerial insect-catching, featuring brown upperparts, white belly, chestnut underwings, long pointed wings, forked tail, and short bill, often seen near water and considered a migratory species. It's a member of the pratincole family (Glareolidae) and hunts like a swallow, distinguishing itself from longer-legged coursers. 

21-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - THERESIAN MOTH (Lamoria anella)

Lamoria anella is a species of snout moth described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775 found in Africa, Asia and Europe.

The wingspan measures 18–28 mm for males and 30–40 mm for females. The head, thorax, and abdomen are greyish brown. The forewings are grey-brown, often entirely suffused with red or fuscous. There is an indistinct, highly dentate antemedial line. A more or less developed speck is present in the cell and the discocellular spot. A highly dentate postmedial line is sharply angled on vein 4 and often reduced to streaks on the veins. A marginal specks series is present. The hindwings are pale semi-hyaline, suffused with fuscous towards the margin.

21-5-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HALF EDGED WALL JUMPING SPIDER (Menemerus semilimbatus)

Menemerus semilimbatus are about 6.5–8.4 millimetres (0.26–0.33 in) long, the male being slightly smaller than the female. These fairly big jumping spiders are dorso-ventrally flattened and are covered with short dense, grayish-white hairs, with hairy whitish palps and a white band on the side margins of the carapace, showing also a small white, triangular marking in the middle. The eyes are large and forward-facing. The legs are light brown with darker rings and patches, while the abdomen is dorsally yellowish or grayish, with a characteristic pattern of several bright V-shaped markings. The females show a notch at the posterior edge of the epigyne and two oval depressions in the anterior half.

18-5-2026 GANDIA MARJAL, VALENCIA - WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Lanius senator)

The Woodchat Shrike, Lanius senator, is a captivating bird, slightly larger than its cousin, the Red-backed Shrike. The male boasts a distinctive appearance with black and white upper parts and a rich chestnut crown, while the female and juveniles display a more subdued brown and white vermiculated plumage with buff underparts.

To identify the Woodchat Shrike, look for the male's striking black and white upper parts and chestnut crown. The female and young birds are less conspicuous with their vermiculated brown and white upper parts and buff underparts. The western Mediterranean race, L. s. badius, lacks the prominent white wing patches seen in other subspecies.

This species has a preference for open wooded areas with scattered trees, such as orchards, especially where the ground is bare or sandy. 

The Woodchat Shrike breeds across southern Europe, the Middle East, and northwest Africa, and migrates to winter in tropical Africa. Its range spans from Portugal to Greece and from Mauritania to Libya, with occasional sightings as far north as Great Britain.

The Woodchat Shrike is known for its perching behaviour, often seen on exposed lookouts from where it swoops down or glides to capture its prey. It is also known to occasionally impale its prey on thorns, a behaviour typical of shrikes.

Breeding occurs from early May to mid-July. Both sexes contribute to nest building, which is typically situated in a tree. The clutch consists of 5-6 eggs, incubated mainly by the female, with fledglings cared for by both parents.

The diet of the Woodchat Shrike is primarily insectivorous, with beetles being a favoured choice. It employs a sit-and-wait hunting strategy from elevated perches and is known to dismember larger insects.

The Woodchat Shrike is currently classified as Near Threatened due to long-term population declines attributed to habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, hunting during migration, and other factors. Despite this, it has a large estimated population of 5.9-10 million individuals.

 

17-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MORNING GLORY PLUME MOTH (Emmelina monodactyla)

Emmelina monodactyla, commonly known as the Common plume or Morning-glory plume, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae found in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

The moths fly nearly year-round. They are pale russet in colour, with a wingspan of 18–27 millimeters. The colouration is extremely variable, ranging from off-white with indistinct markings to a strong rust brown. The markings may vary considerably in size. The second and third segments are elongate. The caterpillars are greenish-yellow with a broad green band on the back, and a narrow broken yellow line running down the center. Some specimens may also have a wine-red marking on the back. The colour of the pupae may range from green to reddish brown, sometimes with black markings.

The moth often rests with its wings collapsed together tightly.

The common name "Morning glory plume" refers to its association with Ipomoea.

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - MALABAR BARBET (Psilopogon malabaricus)

The Malabar barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) is an Asian barbet native to the Western Ghats in India. It was formerly treated as a race of the crimson-fronted barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus). It overlaps in some places with the range of the coppersmith barbet (Psilopogon haemacephala) and has a similar but more rapid call.

This species can be told apart from the coppersmith barbet by the crimson face and throat. The call notes are more rapidly delivered than in the other species.

This species is found in the Western Ghats from around Goa south to southern Kerala in moist evergreen forest mainly below 1200 m elevation. They are also found in coffee estates. They often visit fruiting Ficus species, joining flocks of green pigeon and mynas.

These birds are usually seen in pairs during the breeding season but are gregarious in the non-breeding season. In flight, their straight and rapid flight can resemble that of lorikeets. The breeding season is mainly February–March prior to the rains. The nest hole is excavated on the underside of thin branches. It takes about 18 days to excavate the nest. These nest holes are often destroyed by larger barbets that may attempt to enlarge the hole. 

15-5-2026 SOLLANA SOUTH, ALBUFERA - 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.

19-5-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CANTERBURY BELLS (Campanula medium)

Campanula medium, common name Canterbury bells, is an annual or biennial flowering plant of the genus Campanula, belonging to the family Campanulaceae. In floriography, it represents gratitude, or faith and constancy. It is the national flower of Monaco 

The plant's common name originates from its resemblance to the bells of Canterbury Cathedral and the bells worn by pilgrims although some sources claim they were originally called Coventry bells. The plant was brought into the UK in the 16th century[better source needed] while other sources state the plant arrived in the 19th century.

The specific epithet medium means that this plant has intermediate characteristics in respect of other species of the genus Campanula. In Persian, it is called گل استکانی (gol-e estekani) meaning "glass flower", because the flower resembles a drinking glass. 

Campanula medium reaches approximately 60–80 cm (24–31 in) in height. This biennial herbaceous plant forms rosettes of leaves in the first year, stems and flowers in the second one. The stem is erect, robust, reddish-brown and bristly hairy. The basal leaves are stalked and lanceolate to elliptical and 12–15 cm (5–6 in) long with serrated leaf edge. The upper leaves are smaller, lanceolate and sessile, almost embracing the stem.

The flowers are arranged in a racemose inflorescence of extremely long-lasting blooms. These attractive bell-shaped flowers are short-stalked, large and hermaphroditic, with different shades of violet-blue or rarely white. The corolla has five fused petals with lightly bent lobes (known as a coronate flower type).

The flowering period extends from May to July in the Northern Hemisphere. The flowers are either self-fertilized (autogamy) or pollinated by insects such as bees and butterflies (entomogamy). The seeds ripen from August to September and are dispersed by gravity alone (barochory).

Campanula medium originates in southern Europe. It is naturalized in most of European countries and in North America and it is widely cultivated for its beautiful flowers.

It grows on stony, rocky and bushy slopes, at an altitude of 0–1,500 metres (0–4,921 ft) above sea level.

In gardens, they are best in massed planting in borders or among shrubs. It prefers cool or warm zones; not suitable for the tropics or hot, dry regions. Seeds take 14–21 days to germinate. The plant thrives in lightly shaded to sunny locations in well-drained soil. Canterbury bells grows nicely in flower beds, borders, and containers. Keep well watered.

This flower works well cut in floral arrangements. Beekeepers sometimes use the Canterbury Bell for making potently sweet honey.

15-5-2026 FARO DE CULLERA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN SHAG (JUVENILE) (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

The European shag, or common shag (Gulosus aristotelis), is a medium-large seabird with a distinctive yellow throat-patch. During the breeding season, adults sport a small crest. This species is characterized by its metallic green-tinged sheen and a longish tail, setting it apart from its relatives with a lighter build and a more slender bill.

To identify the European shag, look for a bird measuring 68 to 78 cm in length with a wingspan of 95 to 110 cm. The adult shag has a green sheen on its feathers and a yellow patch on its throat. The bill is lighter and narrower compared to the great cormorant. Juveniles have darker underparts, and the tail consists of 12 feathers, as opposed to the great cormorant's 14.

The European shag is a coastal bird, preferring rocky shores for breeding and nesting. It is rarely found inland, as it is adapted to life at sea.

This species breeds along the rocky coasts of western and southern Europe, southwest Asia, and north Africa. It mainly winters within its breeding range, except for the northernmost populations. The largest colony is found in the Cíes Islands, Spain.