26-6-2018 ADOR CAMPO, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)

The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is a modestly adorned yet charming small passerine bird belonging to the Old World flycatcher family. It is a migratory species, breeding across Europe and the Palearctic as far as Siberia, and spending the winter months in Africa and southwestern Asia. Despite its widespread presence, there is concern over its decline in certain areas.

Adult Spotted Flycatchers possess grey-brown upperparts and a somewhat pallid underbelly. Their crown and breast are streaked, which is the origin of their common name. They have short, black legs and a black bill shaped to suit their insectivorous diet. Juveniles can be distinguished by their browner plumage and the presence of spots on their upperparts.

These birds favor deciduous woodlands, parks, and gardens, particularly those with open spaces amidst trees.

The Spotted Flycatcher has a broad breeding range, extending from Europe to western Siberia and northwest Africa. During the non-breeding season, they migrate to southern Africa.

With an upright posture, these flycatchers are often seen hunting from prominent perches, darting out to snatch flying insects and frequently returning to the same spot.

The call of the Spotted Flycatcher is a soft, high-pitched, and slightly descending 'tssssseeeeeppppp'.

The Spotted Flycatcher constructs an open nest in a recess, often against a wall, and is amenable to using open-fronted nest boxes. Clutches typically consist of 4-6 eggs. Remarkably, they exhibit excellent egg recognition, a likely evolutionary response to past parasitism by the common cuckoo.

The Mediterranean flycatcher, previously considered a subspecies, is similar in appearance but has been recognized as a separate species due to genetic differences.

As aerial insectivores, Spotted Flycatchers feed on flying insects, which they catch in mid-air from their vantage points.

The IUCN currently lists the Spotted Flycatcher as Least Concern, although there are noted declines in some regions of its range.

18-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - YELLOW BILLED DUCK (Anas undulata)

The yellow-billed duck (Anas undulata) is a 51–58 cm long dabbling duck which is an abundant resident breeder in southern and eastern Africa. This duck is not migratory, but wanders in the dry season to find suitable waters. It is highly gregarious outside the breeding season and forms large flocks.

These are mallard-sized mainly grey ducks with a darker head and bright yellow bill. The wings are whitish below, and from above show a white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are similar, and juveniles are slightly duller than adults. The north-eastern race is darker and has a brighter bill and blue speculum.

It is a bird of freshwater habitats in fairly open country and feeds by dabbling for plant food mainly in the evening or at night. It nests on the ground in dense vegetation near water. Rarely, it is found in suburban areas, in close proximity to golf courses, parks and lakes or dams. The clutch numbers between six and twelve eggs.

The male has a teal-like whistle, whereas the female has a mallard-like quack.

There are two subspecies of the yellow-billed duck: A. undulata rueppelli (northern yellow-billed duck) and A. undulata undulata (southern yellow-billed duck). The yellow-billed duck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. The southern nominate subspecies is declining due to competition and hybridization with feral mallards (Rhymer 2006)

Male and female yellow-billed ducks have a statistically significant difference in life spans. Male ducks live for 4 years and 4 months on average while female ducks only live for just over 3 years. As such the difference in survival rate is statistically significant as well. 79% of males survive any given year while only 72% of females do. While the juvenile survival rate is highly variable year to year, on average 67% of juveniles survive. Highest mortality for the yellow-billed duck occurs in the summer months with December typically having the highest death rate out of any month of the year closely followed by January.

The male yellow-billed duck performs multiple displays of courtship, similar to many other African ducks. The number of courtship displays the yellow-billed ducks perform is greater than many other African ducks. Ornithologists have noted seven major displays of courtship similar African ducks perform; most species do not perform all seven, however, the yellow-billed duck will engage in all seven forms of courtship. The lack of sexual dichotomy and generally bland plumage may be the driving factor for the elaborate displays of courtship.

In the mid-20th century, mallards were introduced to Africa and as the invasive population size has grown, concerns over possible hybridization with the yellow-billed duck have occurred. This fear is fueled by other examples of invasive mallards causing localized extinction of other native ducks around the world because of hybridization.

The fear of possible hybridization between mallards and yellow-billed ducks has been exacerbated by casual observations that suggest possible hybridization of the yellow-billed duck with other native ducks is occurring, however, no genetic tests have been done to shine additional light on these morphological observations to confirm if these individuals are truly hybrids.

Even when genetics have been used, it is still difficult to understand if hybridization is occurring. If hybridization between mallards and yellow-billed ducks is occurring is still debated. Two recent (2019 and 2020) DNA sequencing studies reached opposite conclusions on if hybridization between mallards and yellow-billed ducks is happening. Nevertheless, scientists agree that changes to the gene pool of yellow-billed ducks from possible hybridization, even in the long term, is likely to be negligible. This is because even if mallard and yellow-billed duck hybridization is occurring, introgression is mainly occurring to the mallards’ gene pool, keeping the yellow-billed ducks genetics fairly intact.

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN AVIARY, CAPE TOWN - CAPE SHOVELER (Spatula smithii)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_shoveler

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN AVIARY, CAPE TOWN - GREATER BLUE EARED STARLING (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN AVIARY, CAPE TOWN - AFRICAN SACRED IBIS (Threskiornis aethiopicus ssp. aethiopicus)

26-6-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SARDINIAN WARBLER (MALE) (Sylvia melanocephala)

26-6-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SARDINIAN WARBLER (FEMALE) (Sylvia melanocephala)

The Sardinian warbler is a resident of the southernmost regions of Europe, extending its range into Asia in Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. While not extensively migratory, some individuals do venture to North Africa for the winter, and the species has been known to appear as a vagrant as far as Great Britain.

This species is known for its affinity for open and cultivated areas with ample shrubbery for nesting. The Sardinian warbler constructs its nest in low shrubs or brambles, where it lays a clutch of 3-6 eggs. Its diet is primarily insectivorous, but it will not shy away from indulging in berries and other soft fruits.

The Sardinian warbler's song is a rapid and rattling melody, a sound that has become synonymous with the Mediterranean landscapes where it thrives.

25-6-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - COPPER DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (FEMALE) (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis)

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis is a species of damselfly in the family Calopterygidae known by the common names copper demoiselle and Mediterranean demoiselle.

This species is native to the western Mediterranean Basin in Europe (Iberia, southern France, Italy, Monaco) and North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). It is common in much of its range.

It lives along rivers and streams, but also in sunny larger waters. Though it may be affected by habitat changes such as water pollution.

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis can reach a body length of about 45–48 millimetres (1.8–1.9 in). The abdomen length is of about 34–43 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in) in males, of 31–43 millimetres (1.2–1.7 in) in females. The length of the wings is of 23–32 millimetres (0.91–1.26 in) in males, of 25–37 millimetres (0.98–1.46 in) in the females.

The males have a dark, metallic shining body, the color of which can be red-violet, golden or copper-colored. On the underside of the last three abdominal segments there red area, the so-called "red lantern" (hence the Latin species name haemorrhoidalis, meaning "blood flow"). The wings of males show a large dark area, while the females have a brown band to the wing tip and a metallic-green to bronze-colored body, with a brown belt on the back.

25-6-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum salicaria)

25-6-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (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).

25-6-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - COPPER DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (MALE) (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis)

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis is a species of damselfly in the family Calopterygidae known by the common names copper demoiselle and Mediterranean demoiselle.

The Copper Demoiselle is a species of damselfly which is found in southern Europe. It is often found along streams and rivers, which are clear and rich in oxygen. The abdomen of the male shows a distinctive pink rear.

The wingspan is 60–70 mm. Adults fly from April to September.

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis is a species of damselfly in the family Calopterygidae known by the common names copper demoiselle and Mediterranean demoiselle.

This species is native to the western Mediterranean Basin in Europe (Iberia, southern France, Italy, Monaco) and North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). It is common in much of its range.

It lives along rivers and streams, but also in sunny larger waters. Though it may be affected by habitat changes such as water pollution.

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis can reach a body length of about 45–48 millimetres (1.8–1.9 in). The abdomen length is of about 34–43 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in) in males, of 31–43 millimetres (1.2–1.7 in) in females. The length of the wings is of 23–32 millimetres (0.91–1.26 in) in males, of 25–37 millimetres (0.98–1.46 in) in the females.

The males have a dark, metallic shining body, the color of which can be red-violet, golden or copper-colored. On the underside of the last three abdominal segments there red area, the so-called "red lantern" (hence the Latin species name haemorrhoidalis, meaning "blood flow").[6] The wings of males show a large dark area, while the females have a brown band to the wing tip and a metallic-green to bronze-colored body, with a brown belt on the back.

The flight time of this species ranges from May to September. The males have a characteristic mating dance, showing the abdomen end and spreading their wings wide. The male of this species is territorial, defending sites where females may choose to lay eggs.

25-6-2018 VILLALONGA, VALENCIA - GREAT WILLOWHERB (Epilobium hirsutum)

Epilobium hirsutum is a flowering plant belonging to the willowherb genus Epilobium in the family Onagraceae. It is commonly known as the great willowherb, great hairy willowherb or hairy willowherb. Local names include codlins-and-cream, apple-pie and cherry-pie.

It is a tall, perennial plant, reaching up to 2 metres in height. The robust stems are profusely hairy with soft spreading hairs. The hairy leaves are 2–12 cm long and 0.5–3.5 cm wide. They are long and thin and are widest below the middle. They have sharply toothed edges and no stalk. The large flowers have four notched petals. These are purple-pink and are usually 10–16 mm long.  The stigma is white and has four lobes. The sepals are green.

The native range of the species includes North Africa, most of Europe up to southern Sweden, and parts of Asia. It is absent from much of Scandinavia and north-west Scotland. It has been introduced to North America and Australia. It typically grows in wet or damp habitats without dense tree-cover up to 2,500 metres above sea-level. Common habitats include marshland, ditches and the banks of rivers and streams. It flowers from June to September, with a peak in July and August. The flowers are visited by many types of insects, and can be characterized by a generalized pollination syndrome. A number of insects feed on the leaves including the elephant hawkmoth, Deilephila elpenor.

24-4-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - EPAULET SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Orthetrum chrysostigma)

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

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

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

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

24-4-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - WAVYLEAF MULLEIN (Verbascum sinuatum)

Verbascum sinuatum, commonly known as the scallop-leaved mullein, the wavyleaf mullein, or Candela regia, is a species of perennial herbaceous plants in the genus Verbascum (mullein), growing in heavy soils in Central Asia and the Mediterranean region. It grows to 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft). The plant has an erect inflorescence stem, and is entirely covered with stellate hairs (trichomes) which are not pleasant to the touch.

In the winter, a rosette of broad-leaves grows at the base of the Scallop-leaved mullein and spreads itself on the ground (length 30–50 cm). In the spring, a leafless stalk grows from the base of the plant, splitting into many diagonal stems that can grow as much as 50 to 100 cm. in length, on which the flowers are located. The plant bears simple, emarginate leaves, and has a yellow lamp-shaped flower (hence its name Candela) of 5 petals, blossoming mostly in late May to August, although sometimes as late as October.

The plant's leaves are alternate, rosette, entire, dentate or serrate.

The plant has a broad Irano-Turanian distribution, as well as a broad Mediterranean distribution (stretching from the Mediterranean coastal regions to West and South Iran). The plant is native to Israel, where it grows in the Golan, the Hermon, the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, Gilboa, Carmel, Samarian Mountains, Judean Mountains, the Jordan Valley, the Sharon valley, Shephelah, Northern Negev, and Eilat Mountains, and the Arabah, typically found in waste habitats, along waysides, and in open chaparrals (shrublands) and phrygana.

25-6-2018 VILLALONGA, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)

24-6-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (Tarentola mauritanica)

24-6-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (JUVENILE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.

The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away from human development. For sustenance, the house sparrow routinely feeds at home and public bird feeding stations, but naturally feeds on the seeds of grains, flowering plants and weeds. However, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches insects, their larvae, caterpillars, invertebrates and many other natural foods.

24-6-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)

24-4-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - SCARLET DARTER 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.

Crocothemis erythraea can reach a length of 33–44 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in). These dragonflies haves a flattened and rather broad abdomen. The adult male scarlet dragonfly has a bright scarlet red, widened abdomen, with small amber patches at the bases of the hindwings. Also the veins on the leading edges of the wings are red. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax.

24-6-2018 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua)

24-6-2018 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - RED VEINED DARTER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)

24-6-2018 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - RED VEINED DARTER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)

24-4-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - WESTERN MONTPELLIER SNAKE (Malpolon monspessulanus)

It is very common in Spain, Portugal and Northwest Africa, being also present in the southern Mediterranean coast of France. The snake's specific name, monspessulanus, is a Latinized form of Montpellier, a city in southern France.

Although it is venomous, only a few cases of envenomation of humans are known, one of which occurred when a finger was inserted into the snake's mouth. The Montpellier snake is not a dangerous snake for humans. The rear fangs reduce the possibility of venom injection, and the venom is of low toxicity. Venom injections are possible in bites of big individuals. The venom is not very dangerous; symptomatic treatment suffices to treat an envenomation. The unthreatening nature of the snake, along with its relatively mild persecution by man, has made it one of the most common species throughout its range, even in areas occupied by humans.

This is a large but not very strong snake. It is the biggest snake that we can find in the province, as it can be nearly 2 meters long (normally 150 cm). Its head and its tail are narrow and long. The scales around its eyes are prominent on its head, forming a protrusion resembling an eyebrow, giving it a special profile.  Pupils are round and the frontal scale (located on the upper part of the head, just in the middle) is twice as long as it is wide. The scales are smooth (without any long and prominent midway line), they are not shiny and are a bit depressed in the middle. Adult males are uniformly green, with an ashen black spot in the first third of the body (called "riding saddle"); whereas females and young snakes are a russet brown, with a regular spotted brown, white and black pattern. Male and female's abdomen is white or smooth dirty-yellowish coloured.

A typical specimen of the Mediterranean mountains. It lives in nearly every type of hills with natural vegetation and warm and sunny environment. It can easily adapt to places altered by people and it is very common in agricultural areas, as well as in urban centres, suburbs and small villages.

It is a snake with terrestrial and daytime habits. It likes having long sun baths in stony places, cairns and rock walls, where it can actively hunt.  It has a very diverse diet: from insects (especially young ones) to chicken and bird eggs, little mammals and other reptiles. Sometimes it ingests decaying flesh. It can be aggressive if someone tries to catch it and it could even bite. It is an opisthoglyphous snake: that means it has special teeth at the back of its mandible to release venom. These teeth are ribbed and connected to venom glands, but its position makes it complicated to release venom to humans if bitten. The bite is not dangerous; it can cause a small reaction, but it usually does not represent a real danger for people who endure it.

The mating period lasts from May to June. Some 20-30 days after mating, a female lays between 3 and 15 eggs in a humid and sunny place (under leaves, in holes between rocks, dumps, under trunks, rabbit holes or abandoned beehives...). Pups are born from August to September and are very small (20-30 cm) compared to  adults.

It is a common species. It is one of the most common snakes; it is very easy to observe, because of its population density and ubiquity. Its size and day-time habits helps to detect it. It is very common in the province of Málaga. Although we can find it all over the province, it is more common in protected areas (the west half part of the province and mountain ranges), and sparser in modified areas (northern farming lands, Costa del Sol...). We can find it on every stage of the Great Path (Gran Senda).

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN AVIARY, CAPE TOWN - SENEGAL PARROT (Poicephalus senegalus)

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN AVIARY, CAPE TOWN - RED WINGED STARLING (Onychognathus morio)

The red-winged starling is not endangered and can be a pest in some areas, raiding orchards and attacking people that wander too close to their nests.