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Saturday, 11 May 2019

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE)


The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course of habitat conversion. Leopards have also been recorded in North Africa as well.
The African leopard exhibits great variation in coat color, depending on location and habitat. Coat colour varies from pale yellow to deep gold or tawny, and sometimes black, and is patterned with black rosettes while the head, lower limbs and belly are spotted with solid black. Male leopards are larger, averaging 58 kg (128 lb) with 90 kg (200 lb) being the maximum weight attained by a male. Females weigh about 37.5 kg (83 lb) on average.


The African leopard is sexually dimorphic; males are larger and heavier than females. Between 1996 and 2000, 11 adult leopards were radio-collared on Namibian farmlands. Males weighed 37.5 to 52.3 kg (83 to 115 lb) only, and females 24 to 33.5 kg (53 to 74 lb). The heaviest known leopard weighed about 96 kg (212 lb), and was recorded in South West Africa.
The African leopards inhabited a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannahs, excluding only extremely sandy desert. It is most at risk in areas of semi-desert, where scarce resources often result in conflict with nomadic farmers and their livestock.


It used to occur in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats. It lived in all habitats with annual rainfall above 50 mm (2.0 in), and can penetrate areas with less than this amount of rainfall along river courses. It ranges up to 5,700 m (18,700 ft), has been sighted on high slopes of the Ruwenzori and Virunga volcanoes, and observed when drinking thermal water 37 °C (99 °F) in the Virunga National Park.


It appears to be successful at adapting to altered natural habitat and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution. It has often been recorded close to major cities. But already in the 1980s, it has become rare throughout much of West Africa. Now, it remains patchily distributed within historical limits. During surveys in 2013, it was recorded in Gbarpolu County and Bong County in the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia.


Leopards are rare in North Africa. A relict population persists in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in forest and mountain steppe in elevations of 300 to 2,500 m (980 to 8,200 ft), where the climate is temperate to cold.

In 2014, a leopard was killed in the Elba Protected Area in southeastern Egypt. This was the first sighting of a leopard in the country since the 1950s.

10-5-2019 MARXUQUERA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)





18-4-2018 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA - LESSER KESTREL (FEMALE) (Falco naumanni)



Friday, 10 May 2019

10-5-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)



10-5-2019 GANDIA, VALENCIA - BEAR'S BREECHES (Acanthus mollis)


10-5-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SMALL DUSTY WAVE MOTH (Idaea seriata)


8-5-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)






8-5-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - COMMON SLIDER TERRAPIN (Trachemys scripta)






8-5-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - MALLARD (FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)


8-5-2019 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)





Thursday, 9 May 2019

9-5-2019 OLIVA CAMPO, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)



9-5-2019 OLIVA CAMPO, VALENCIA - FIELD BINDWEED (Convolvulus arvensis)



9-5-2019 OLIVA CAMPO, VALENCIA - CHINABERRY (Melia azedarach)



22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - VOMITDAISIES (Genus Geigeria)


Geigeria is a genus of African flowering plants in the daisy family.

Species
Geigeria acaulis
Geigeria acicularis
Geigeria affinis
Geigeria alata
Geigeria angolensis
Geigeria aspalathoides
Geigeria aspera
Geigeria brachycephala
Geigeria brevifolia
Geigeria burkei
Geigeria decurrens
Geigeria elongata
Geigeria englerana
Geigeria filifolia
Geigeria hoffmanniana
Geigeria lata
Geigeria linosyroides
Geigeria mendoncae
Geigeria nianganensis
Geigeria obtusifolia
Geigeria odontoptera
Geigeria ornativa
Geigeria otaviensis
Geigeria pectidea
Geigeria pilifera
Geigeria plumosa
Geigeria rigida
Geigeria schinzii
Geigeria spinosa
Geigeria vigintisquamea

Monday, 6 May 2019

7-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - NATAL FRANCOLIN (Pternistis natalensis)


The Natal spurfowl, also known as the Natal francolin, is a bird belonging to the family Phasianidae. It is a creature of considerable charm, with a plumage that blends seamlessly into the brushwood thickets it calls home.

When attempting to identify the Natal spurfowl, look for a bird with a robust build typical of the Phasianidae family. Its feathers are artfully patterned to provide camouflage in its natural habitat.


The Natal spurfowl is most commonly found amidst the brushwood thickets, where it can easily conceal itself. These environments provide the cover and resources it requires.

This species graces the landscapes of several African countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is a bird that knows no borders, thriving across a diverse range of southern African territories.

BirdLife International has classified the Natal spurfowl as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species graces the African skies in healthy numbers.

4-4-2018 PHINDA GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - JACOBIN CUCKOO (Clamator jacobinus)


The Jacobin cuckoo, also known as the pied cuckoo or pied crested cuckoo, is a medium-sized, slim bird with a distinctive black and white plumage and a crest. Its striking appearance is characterized by a white wing patch on the black wing, which is particularly noticeable in flight.

When observing the Jacobin cuckoo, look for its black and white coloration and the prominent white wing patches and tail edges during flight. The bird's crest and the pattern of its plumage make it unmistakable among its avian peers.

This species favors thorny, dry scrub or open woodland, typically avoiding dense forests or extremely arid environments.

The Jacobin cuckoo is found south of the Sahara in Africa and south of the Himalayas in India, extending to Sri Lanka and parts of Myanmar. It is partially migratory, with some populations moving seasonally.


During the breeding season, these birds are quite vocal and engage in aerial displays, including slow wing-beats and pigeon-like clapping flight. They are known for their brood parasitism, laying eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly babblers.

The Jacobin cuckoo's call is a series of ringing whistling notes, described as "piu-piu." The calls vary slightly between subspecies, with the nominate form's calls being more rapid and slightly mellower.

As a brood parasite, the Jacobin cuckoo does not build its own nest but instead lays eggs in the nests of host species. The eggs of this cuckoo often match the color of the host's eggs, aiding in the deception.

The diet of the Jacobin cuckoo primarily consists of insects, including hairy caterpillars. They have a unique method of pressing caterpillars to remove their guts before consumption and will also eat fruits occasionally.

The Jacobin cuckoo is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline or extinction.