26-2-2018 PINET, VALENCIA - PINE PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

If you live here in Spain, you need to be aware of a dangerous and often deadly critter known as the Pine Processionary Caterpillar (Thaumetopoea Pityocampa).

Unlike the vast majority of caterpillars, this particular species can be harmful to young children and sometimes fatal to dogs and cats.

Many dog owners have lost their pets after coming into contact with the caterpillars so you must be familiar with them and the potential dangers.

In early spring, the processionary caterpillars leave their nests high up in the Mediterranean pine trees and head to the ground to pupate. When this happens, they potentially come into contact with young children and curious pets.

Below we provide you with everything you need to know about this insect including the dangers, how to identify them, where they can be found, how to stay safe and what to do if you come across them.

What is a Pine Processionary Caterpillar?

The processionary caterpillar is mostly found in wooded forests and can be identified by the thousands of small fine poisonous hairs or bristles that cover their bodies.

The caterpillars are 3-4cm in length and are usually an orange and brown colour.

The name ‘processionary’ comes from the fact that they create a procession or caterpillar style ‘conga’ from head to tail to form a long chain. It is not unheard of to see chains with hundreds of them all joined together.

26-2-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - INDIAN MILKWEED BUG (Spilostethus pandurus)

Spilostethus pandurus is a species of "seed bugs" belonging to the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae.

The species was described in 1763 by Scopoli in his "Entomologica carniolica" with locus typicus from the area around Ljubljana. Scopoli does not mention the etymology of the species name but may have named it for the Panduri infantry unit of the Habsburg monarchy.

This species can be found in the Euro-mediterranean-Turaniaan Region, with a more southern distribution than Spilostethus saxatilis.

It is present in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Lebanon, in the Afrotropical realm. and in the southern Asia to India and China.

Spilostethus pandurus can reach a length of 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in). Body shows a red-black coloration with a white spot in the center of the membrane.

Two wavy, broad, black, longitudinal stripes run from the front to the rear edge of the pronotum. Scutellum is black, sometimes with a small red spot at the end.

The nymphs are bright red, with black markings.

These bugs have two dorsolateral prothoracic glands capable of secreting substances repugnant to predators.

These polyphagous bugs feed on flowers and seeds of many plants. They preferentially feed on the plants of the family Apocynaceae. In Europe, they are present on various toxic plants such as jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) and oleander (Nerium oleander).

They can cause serious damage to the crops of Sesamum indicum (Pedaliaceae) and to Calotropis gigantea and Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae).

It can also attack sorghum crops (Sorghum bicolor), Eleusine coracana, Pennisetum americanum, Phaseolus mungo, Arachis hypogaea, Lycopersicon esculentum, tobacco, sunflowers etc.

26-11-2015 JURONG, SINGAPORE - SUPERB STARLING (Lamprotornis superbus)

The superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus) is a member of the starling family of birds. It was formerly known as Spreo superbus. They are long-lived birds that can live over 15 years in captivity.

This species is 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) in height. These small short-tailed starlings have a long narrow bill, robust bodies, strong feet and a distinctive plumage pattern. Their spectacular iridescent plumage is due to the arrangement of melanin granules within the feathers, resulting in structural blues and greens, rather than colors derived from pigments. The appearance of the superb starling is very similar to the Hildebrandt's starling, also found in East Africa. The superb starling is distinguished by having pale creamy-white eyes, as opposed to red eyes in the Hildebrandt's. Moreover, only adult superb starlings have a white breast band.

The superb starling lives in the savanna, thornbush and acacia arid areas, open woodland, lakeshore woodlands, gardens and cultivated fields, at an elevation of 0–2,650 metres (0–8,694 ft) above sea level. They tend to avoid humid lowland areas. This species has a very large range and can commonly be found in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania. Superb Starlings typically occupy large territories, often exceeding 50 hectares (0.50 km2). When they are not on their territories, they are usually searching for food or heading to water sources. Their group can have more than 40 individuals. The sex ratio in those is approximately equal. In the non-breeding season, being the dry season, the groups of superb starlings live with other starling species such as the Hildebrandt’s starling (Lamprotornis hildebrandti) and the greater blue-eared glossy starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus). They have also been observed with other bird species such as the red-billed buffalo weaver (Bubalornis niger) and the white-headed buffalo weaver (Dinemellia dinemellii) in the Serengeti National Park, in Tanzania. Mixed species flocks might aid in obtaining food and serve as a defense mechanism against predators. When it is the breeding season however, the superb starlings are territorial and chase the birds of other species from the group, especially when they approach their nests.

The superb starling feeds primarily on the ground, often below, or in the vicinity of acacia trees. They are omnivorous. They predominantly rely on insects as their main food source, such as termites (Termitidae), grasshoppers, moth larvae (Lepidoptera), beetles (Carabidae), mantids (Mantidae) and ants. They also feed on berries, small fruits, and seeds. Occasionally, they scavenge on animal carcasses. Additionally, they can also extract nectar from sisal flowers, Agave sisalana. Usually, superb starlings are rather tame and unafraid of people. They scavenge around settlements and picnic sites to find food as well. Unfortunately, Superb starlings in Tanzania cause harm to grapevines in vineyards, and they also disturb sprouting wheat crops as they dig them up.

26-3-2018 HERMANUS, SOUTH AFRICA - KELP GULL (Larus dominicanus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4388-Larus-dominicanus

 

25-2-2018 PILES, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

25-2-2018 RAFELCOFER, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GREENFINCH (Chloris chloris)

The European greenfinch, or simply greenfinch, is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family Fringillidae. Exhibiting a predominantly green plumage with yellow accents on the wings and tail, the male is a vibrant sight, while the female and juveniles are more subdued with brownish tones. This bird measures approximately 15 cm in length with a wingspan ranging from 24.5 to 27.5 cm, resembling the size and shape of a house sparrow.

To identify the European greenfinch, look for its thick and conical bill, a characteristic of seed-eating birds. The male's plumage is a striking green with yellow flashes on the wings and tail, whereas the female and young birds are more muted with brownish backs. The male's display flight is akin to a butterfly, a dance to charm its mate.

The greenfinch favors woodland edges, farmland hedges, and gardens with dense vegetation for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes within these habitats.

This bird has a broad range across Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. It is mainly sedentary, but some populations in the northernmost regions migrate southwards in colder months. The species has also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, and Argentina.

The greenfinch is known for its social nature, often seen in flocks outside the breeding season. It exhibits a breeding season from March to June, with fledglings emerging in early July. The species is capable of producing multiple broods annually.

The song of the greenfinch is a delightful mix of trills and twitters, interspersed with distinctive wheezes, contributing to the rich tapestry of sounds in its natural environment.

The female greenfinch constructs the nest and incubates the eggs, typically laying 4-6 eggs per clutch. Eggs are incubated for about 13-14 days, with chicks being fed an insect larva-rich diet initially, followed by a seed paste as they grow.

The greenfinch can be confused with other finches, but its unique green and yellow plumage, along with its size and bill shape, usually set it apart.

Greenfinches have a varied diet consisting of seeds, berries, fruits, buds, flowers, and some arthropods. They forage in trees, bushes, and on the ground, adapting to available food sources.

The IUCN lists the European greenfinch as Least Concern, indicating a stable population despite some regional declines due to disease outbreaks.

25-2-2018 LA FONTE EN CARROS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)

25-2-2018 RAFELCOFER, VALENCIA - CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)

The cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird of modest size, akin to the familiar yellowhammer. It measures approximately 15.5 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 22 to 25.5 cm. The species is characterized by a robust bill, well-suited for seed consumption.

Males are distinguished by their vivid yellow heads, contrasted by a black crown, eyestripe, and throat. A greenish breast band adorns their yellow underparts, while their backs are cloaked in heavy brown streaks. Females, however, bear a closer resemblance to the yellowhammer, with streaked grey-brown rumps and chestnut shoulders.

Cirl buntings thrive in open areas with a smattering of scrub or trees, showing a particular fondness for sun-drenched slopes.

This bird is native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean islands, and north Africa. It is a year-round resident in these regions, eschewing migration during the winter months. Notably, a population was introduced to New Zealand's South Island in the 19th century, where it persists.

Cirl buntings are sedentary creatures, often venturing a mere 250 meters from their nests to forage in the summer, and up to 2 kilometers in winter in search of stubble.

The male's song is a monotonous, rattling trill, reminiscent of the Arctic warbler or the terminal rattle of the lesser whitethroat.

Breeding commences at one year of age, with nests constructed at low levels within dense vegetation such as thick hedgerows and scrub. The breeding season spans from April to mid-September, with two to five eggs laid per brood. The eggs, marked with hair-like lines, are incubated by the female and hatch after 12-13 days. Both parents tend to the fledglings, which leave the nest after 11-13 days but continue to receive parental care for an additional two to three weeks.

During summer, cirl buntings feed their chicks with invertebrates such as grasshoppers and crickets. In winter, their diet shifts to small seeds from stubbles, fallow land, and grain or hay provided for livestock. They typically feed in flocks during the colder months.

The cirl bunting is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, changes in agricultural practices have led to a decline in populations at the northern edge of their range, particularly in England, where they are now largely confined to south Devon. Conservation efforts, including the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and environmental stewardship by Natural England, aim to preserve and enhance their habitats.

13-12-2015 YANGON, MYANMAR - ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)

The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon (/ˈpɪdʒ.ən/ also /ˈpɪdʒ.ɪn/; Columba livia) is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons).: 624  In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon", although this is the wild form of the bird; the pigeons most familiar to people are the domesticated form of the wild rock dove.

The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica, which includes about 1,000 different breeds) descended from this species. Escaped domestic pigeons have increased the populations of feral pigeons around the world.

Wild rock doves are pale grey with two black bars on each wing, whereas domestic and feral pigeons vary in the colour and pattern of their plumage. Few differences are seen between males and females; i.e they are not strongly sexually dimorphic. The species is generally monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents care for the young for a time.

Habitats include various open and semi-open environments where they are able to forage on the ground. Cliffs and rock ledges are used for roosting and breeding in the wild. Originating in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, pigeons have become established in cities around the world. The species is abundant, with an estimated population of 17 to 28 million feral and wild birds in Europe alone and up to 120 million worldwide.

24-2-2018 GANDIA TOWN, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

Widespread and abundant in cities, neighborhoods, and farms. Avoids dense forests. Flocks gather in dense shrubs, moving and vocalizing among themselves. Males have sleek black bibs, a glossy rufous nape, and wings with bright brown and khaki tones. The underparts are pale gray. Females are uniform brown with a cute face and lighter eyebrow. Native to Eurasia; introduced to North America and not closely related to other sparrows there.

24-2-2018 OLIVA TOWN, VALENCIA - BLACK REDSTART (MALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

26-11-2015 JURONG, SINGAPORE - GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus)

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, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka), the Middle East (Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Iran, Oman, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates) and Southern Europe (including Albania, Bulgaria, Corsica, Croatia, France in the Camargue, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain and the Balearic Islands, and Turkey. The most northern breeding spot is the Zwillbrocker Venn in western Germany, close to the border with the Netherlands. They have been recorded breeding in the United Arab Emirates at three different locations in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. In Gujarat, a coastal state in the west of India, flamingos can be observed at the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Flamingo City, and in the Thol Bird Sanctuary. They remain there during the entire winter season.

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, its upper jaw movable and not rigidly fixed to its skull.

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

The typical lifespan in captivity, according to Basel Zoo, is over 60 years. In the wild, the average lifespan is 30 – 40 years.

Adult greater flamingos have few natural predators. Eggs and chicks may be eaten by raptors, crows, gulls, and the marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer); an estimated half of the predation of greater flamingo eggs and chicks is from the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis).

26-11-2015 BOTANICAL GARDENS, SINGAPORE - ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata)

The zebra dove (Geopelia striata), also known as the barred ground dove, or barred dove, is a species of bird of the dove family, Columbidae, native to Southeast Asia. They are small birds with a long tail, predominantly brownish-grey in colour with black-and-white barring. The species is known for its pleasant, soft, staccato cooing calls.

The birds are small and slender with a long, narrow tail. The upperparts are brownish-grey with black-and-white barring. The underparts are pinkish with black bars on the sides of the neck, breast and belly. The face is blue-grey with bare blue skin around the eyes. There are white tips to the tail feathers. Juveniles are duller and paler than the adults. They can also have brown feathers. Zebra doves are 20–23 centimetres in length with a wingspan of 24–26 cm.

Their call is a series of soft, staccato cooing notes. In Thailand and Indonesia, the birds are popular as pets because of their calls and cooing competitions are held to find the bird with the best voice. In Indonesia this bird is called perkutut. In the Philippines they are known as batobatong katigbe ("pebbled katigbe") and kurokutok, onomatopoeic to their calls. They are also known as tukmo in Filipino, a name also given to the spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) and other wild doves. In Malaysia this bird is called merbuk.

24-11-2015 BOTANICAL GARDENS, SINGAPORE - BUSHWILLOW (Combretum farinosum)

Combretum farinosum is a species of bushwillow in the genus Combretum, native to Central and South America. The species was first described Carl Sigismund Kunth. The plant is widely used as perfume ingredient in cosmetics.

26-11-2015 BOTANICAL GARDENS, SINGAPORE - ASIAN HOUSE GECKO (Hemidactylus frenatus)

The common house gecko is prolific through the tropics and subtropics. It is able to exist in an ecologically analogous place with other Hemidactylus species. Despite being native throughout Southeast Asia, recent introductions, both deliberate and accidental, have seen them recorded in the Deep South of the United States, large parts of tropical and sub-tropical Australia, and many other countries in South and Central America, Caribbean Dominican Republic, Africa, South Asia and the Middle East (Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates). Most recently, this species has also invaded the Caribbean Lesser Antilles, and is now present on Saint Martin (island), Saint Barthélemy, Sint Eustatius, Dominica and Saint Lucia. Their capacity to withstand a wide range of latitudes is also partially facilitated by their capacity to enter a state of brumation during colder months. The prospect of increased climate change interacts synergistically with increased urbanisation, greatly increasing the prospective distribution of the common house gecko. Due to concerns over its potential capacity as an invasive species, there are efforts to limit their introduction and presence in locations where they could be a risk to native gecko species.

In Mexico, H. frenatus was first collected in Acapulco, Guerrero, in March of 1895 and found to be well established there and in the surrounding regions by the early 1940s. It was likely introduced through shipping and cargo. H. frenatus now occurs throughout the lowlands of Mexico on both the Atlantic and Pacific versants including the Yucatan Peninsula, and Baja California, with records from 21 of the 32 Mexican states. Most records of H. frenatus in Mexico are from buildings such as homes, hotels, and other structure in cities and towns, with only a few reports of the species in natural habitat, and its impact, if any, on native fauna there is unknown.

26-11-2015 BOTANICAL GARDENS, SINGAPORE - PINK WATER LILY (Nymphaea rubra)

Nymphaea rubra is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Sri Lanka and northeastern India to western and central Malesia. Additionally, it has been introduced to regions such as Southeast China, Cuba, Guyana, Hungary, and Suriname.

Nymphaea rubra has 15.1 cm long, and 7.9 cm wide rhizomes. The petiolate, orbicular leaves are 25–48 cm wide. The adaxial leaf surface is bronzy red to dark green, and the abaxial leaf surface is dark purple. The leaf venation is very prominent. The petiole is 140 cm long.

23-2-2018 CAMI LES FONTS OLIVA, VALENCIA - COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)

The Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, is a diminutive and sprightly leaf warbler known for its distinctive, onomatopoeic song. This small, migratory passerine is characterized by its greenish-brown upperparts and off-white underparts, with a weight ranging from 6 to 8 grams and a length of 10-12 centimeters.

In the field, look for the Common Chiffchaff's short whitish supercilium, fine dark bill, and dark legs. Its primary projection is short, and the plumage may appear duller and browner as it wears. Juveniles are browner above with yellow-white underparts, but they soon acquire brighter plumage after their first moult.

The Common Chiffchaff breeds in open woodlands with a mix of taller trees and ground cover across northern and temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of north Africa. It prefers woodland with trees at least 5 meters high and an undergrowth of grasses and nettles.

This species has a vast breeding range, extending from Europe to eastern Siberia and northward to about 70 N. It winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia, and north Africa. The Common Chiffchaff is one of the earliest spring migrants to return to its breeding grounds and one of the last to depart in autumn.

The male Common Chiffchaff is fiercely territorial during the breeding season, defending its core territory against rivals. It exhibits a fearless nature, even attacking predators that threaten its nest. Outside the breeding season, these birds may form small flocks with other warblers.

The song is a cheerful "chiff-chaff," which heralds the arrival of spring. Calls include a "hweet" sound, less disyllabic than the calls of closely related warblers. The song is a key distinguishing feature from similar species, such as the Iberian Chiffchaff.

The female constructs a domed nest on or near the ground, lined with feathers. Clutches typically consist of 2-7 cream-colored eggs, which hatch after 13-14 days. The female assumes most of the responsibility for brooding and feeding the chicks, with the male playing a minimal role. The common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), or simply the chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic.

It is a migratory passerine which winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia and north Africa. Greenish-brown above and off-white below, it is named onomatopoeically for its simple chiff-chaff song. It has a number of subspecies, some of which are now treated as full species. The female builds a domed nest on or near the ground, and assumes most of the responsibility for brooding and feeding the chicks, whilst the male has little involvement in nesting, but defends his territory against rivals, and attacks potential predators.

A small insectivorous bird, it is subject to predation by mammals, such as cats and mustelids, and birds, particularly hawks of the genus Accipiter. Its large range and population mean that its status is secure, although one subspecies is probably extinct.

The British naturalist Gilbert White was one of the first people to separate the similar-looking common chiffchaff, willow warbler and wood warbler by their songs, as detailed in 1789 in The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, but the common chiffchaff was first formally described as Sylvia collybita by French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1817 in his Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle. The type locality is the French region of Normandy.

22-2-2018 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

Male Mallards have a dark, iridescent-green head and bright yellow bill. The gray body is sandwiched between a brown breast and black rear. Females and juveniles are mottled brown with orange-and-brown bills. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue “speculum” patch in the wing.

Unlike larger waterfowl such as the Tundra Swan, which mate for life, Mallard pairs only stay together for a season. Courtship and pair formation begin each fall and winter. Groups of males display for a hen with a variety of behaviors, including head and tail shaking, head-bobbing, dipping, and whistling.

The female Mallard has between five and 14 light green eggs that she incubates for 30 days.

The ducklings are lead to water as soon as their soft, downy feathers are dry. ...

Most Mallard ducks live for one or two years, but some can live as long as 16 years!

Mallards swim with their tail held above the water.

22-2-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (MALE) (Bubulcus ibis)

The western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Most taxonomic authorities lump this species and the eastern cattle egret together (called the cattle egret), but some (including the International Ornithologists' Union) separate them. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world in the last century.

It is a white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season. It nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Western cattle egrets exploit drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands and rice paddies. They often accompany cattle or other large mammals, catching insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the cattle egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.

The adult cattle egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species maintains a special relationship with cattle, which extends to other large grazing mammals; wider human farming is believed to be a major cause of their suddenly expanded range. The cattle egret removes ticks and flies from cattle and consumes them. This benefits both species, but it has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases.

The cattle egret has undergone one of the most rapid and wide reaching natural expansions of any bird species. It was originally native to parts of Southern Spain and Portugal, tropical and subtropical Africa and humid tropical and western Asia. In the end of the 19th century it began expanding its range into southern Africa, first breeding in the Cape Province in 1908. Cattle egrets were first sighted in the Americas on the boundary of Guiana and Suriname in 1877, having apparently flown across the Atlantic Ocean. It was not until the 1930s that the species is thought to have become established in that area.

22-2-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

22-2-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

The Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.

The Сommon starling is a medium-sized bird. It has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of the year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the color of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown, or grey in females.

Common starlings are native to Eurasia and are found throughout Europe, northern Africa (from Morocco to Egypt), India (mainly in the north but regularly extending further south and extending into the Maldives) Nepal, the Middle East including Syria, Iran, and Iraq and north-western China. Common starlings in the south and west of Europe are mainly resident, although other populations migrate from regions where the winter is harsh. Most birds from northern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine migrate southwestwards or southeastwards. In the autumn, when immigrants are arriving from eastern Europe, many of Britain's common starlings are setting off for Iberia and North Africa. Common starlings prefer urban or suburban areas, reedbeds, grassy areas such as farmland, grazing pastures, playing fields, golf courses, and airfields where short grass makes foraging easy. They occasionally inhabit open forests and woodlands and are sometimes found in shrubby areas. These birds are also found in coastal areas, where they nest and roost on cliffs and forage amongst the seaweed. 

22-2-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

The common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, is a bird of prey from the kestrel group within the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In the United Kingdom, it is often simply referred to as the "kestrel." This raptor is small compared to other birds of prey but larger than most songbirds, with long wings and a distinctive long tail.

Males and females exhibit sexual dimorphism in their plumage. The male has a blue-grey cap and tail with a black tip bordered by a narrow white rim. Its back is chestnut with black spots, and the underside is buff with black streaks. The female is larger and lacks the blue-grey coloring, having a brown back with black bars and a similar underside to the male. Both sexes have a prominent black malar stripe, bright yellow cere, feet, and eye-ring, with dark toenails, bill, and iris.

The common kestrel favors open habitats such as fields, heaths, shrubland, and marshland. It does not require woodland but needs alternative perching and nesting sites like rocks or buildings. It thrives in treeless steppes and can adapt to human settlements and various landscapes, from wetlands to arid savannas.

This species has a vast range, being widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and occasionally reaching the east coast of North America. It has colonized some oceanic islands, though vagrant individuals are generally rare.

The common kestrel is diurnal and can be sedentary or migratory, depending on the region. It is known for its characteristic hunting behavior, hovering 10-20 meters above the ground before diving steeply onto prey. It is also capable of seeing ultraviolet light, which aids in detecting the urine trails of small mammals.

Breeding occurs in spring or the start of the dry season, with the kestrel preferring cavity nests in cliffs, trees, or buildings. Clutches typically consist of 3-7 eggs, which are incubated by both parents. The young fledge after 4-5 weeks and stay with the family for a short period thereafter.

The common kestrel's diet consists almost exclusively of mouse-sized mammals, such as voles, shrews, and true mice. It may also consume small birds, particularly during the summer when fledglings are abundant. Invertebrates and arthropods can be significant food sources seasonally.

The IUCN lists the common kestrel as Least Concern. Its population has fluctuated but remains generally stable, with an estimated 1-2 million pairs globally. Some subspecies, such as those in the Canary Islands, are rarer and number less than 1000 adult birds.

31-10-2016 XIAN, CHINA - AZURE WINGED MAGPIE (Cyanopica cyanus)

The azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus ) is a bird in the crow family. It is 31–35 cm long and similar in overall shape to the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica ) but is more slender with proportionately smaller legs and bill. It belongs to the genus Cyanopica.

It has a glossy black top to the head and a white throat. The underparts and the back are a light grey-fawn in colour with the wings and the feathers of the long (16–20 cm) tail an azure blue. It inhabits various types of coniferous (mainly pine) and broadleaf forest, including parks and gardens in the eastern populations.

It occurs over a large region of eastern Asia in China, Korea, Japan, and north into Mongolia and southern Siberia. The Iberian magpie from southwestern and central parts of the Iberian Peninsula, in Spain and Portugal was formerly thought to be conspecific, but recent genetic analysis has shown them to be distinct at species level.

Often azure-winged magpies find food as a family group or several groups making flocks of up to 70 birds. The largest groups congregate after the breeding season and throughout the winter months. Their diet consists mainly of acorns (oak seeds) and pine nuts, extensively supplemented by invertebrates and their larvae, soft fruits and berries, and also human-provided scraps in parks and towns.

This species usually nests in loose, open colonies with a single nest in each tree. There are usually 6–8 eggs that are incubated for 15 days. Azure-winged magpies that have asynchronous broods, creating a size hierarchy among nestlings, produce more eggs and fledge more nestlings than those which have synchronous broods.

The voice is a quick fired and metallic sounding kwink-kwink-kwink usually preceded by a single krarrah.

19-11-2016 THA YET MIO, MYANMAR - DITCH JEWEL DRAGONFLY (Brachythemis contaminata)

Brachythemis contaminata, ditch jewel, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in many Asian countries.

It is a small dragonfly with brown-capped yellowish-green eyes. Its thorax is olivaceous-brown, marked with a reddish-brown humeral stripe and two brownish stripes on each side. Wings are transparent; but with a broad bright orange fascia extending from base to within 2 to 3 cells of reddish pterostigma. 

Abdomen is ochreous-red, marked with dorsal and sub-dorsal brown stripes. Anal appendages are in reddish-brown. Female is similar to the male; but in pale yellowish-green color. Wings are transparent, tinted with yellow at extreme base;, but the bright orange fascia seen in the male absent.

It breeds in weedy ponds, lakes, and slowly moving streams; especially in sluggish waters. It is very common along sewage canals, tanks, ponds and ditches.

19-11-2016 THA YET MIO - GLASSY TIGER BUTTERFLY (Parantica aglea)

Parantica aglea, commonly known as the glassy tiger, is a butterfly found in the Indomalayan realm. The species is a member of the Danainae subfamily of the Nymphalidae family.

 

Two subspecies are recognized but neither form is consistent in markings or habitat. In the collection of the British Museum, there are specimens of true Parantica aglea aglea from Myanmar, and others, inseparable from typical Parantica aglea melanoides, from Mysore.

The species is present in the Western Ghats, north-east India, Sri Lanka and the Malay peninsula.