25-2-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

The Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a large long-legged wading bird of the heron native to Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It lives in wetland areas and feeds on various aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water.

The plumage of the Grey heron is largely ashy-grey above, and greyish-white below with some black on the flanks. Adults have a head and neck white with a broad black supercilium that terminates in the slender, dangling crest, and bluish-black streaks on the front of the neck. The scapular feathers are elongated and the feathers at the base of the neck are also somewhat elongated. Immature birds lack the dark stripe on the head and are generally duller in appearance than adults, with a grey head and neck, and a small, dark grey crest. The pinkish-yellow beak is long, straight, and powerful, and is brighter in color in breeding adults. The iris is yellow and the legs are brown and very long.

Grey herons occur in most parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Over much of their range, these birds are resident, but populations from the more northerly parts of Europe migrate southwards; some remain in Central and Southern Europe, and others travel on to Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Grey herons can be found anywhere with suitable watery habitats that can supply their food. Although most common in the lowlands, they also occur in mountain tarns, lakes, reservoirs, large and small rivers, marshes, ponds, ditches, flooded areas, coastal lagoons, estuaries, and seashore. They sometimes forage away from water in the pasture, and can even be found in desert areas, hunting for beetles and lizards. 

Population size

790,000-3.7Mln

Life Span

15-20 years

Top speed

64

km/hmph

km/h mph 

Weight

1-2

kglbs

kg lbs 

Height

84-102

cminch

cm inch 

Length

84-102

cminch

25-2-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)

25-2-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)

The great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), known as the black shag or kawau in New Zealand, formerly also known as the great black cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the black cormorant in Australia, and the large cormorant in India, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds. The genus name is Latinised Ancient Greek, from φαλακρός (phalakros, "bald") and κόραξ (korax, "raven"), and carbo is Latin for "charcoal".

It breeds in much of the Old World, Australia, and the Atlantic coast of North America.

The great cormorant often nests in colonies near wetlands, rivers, and sheltered inshore waters. Pairs will use the same nest site to breed year after year. It builds its nest, which is made from sticks, in trees, on the ledges of cliffs, and on the ground on rocky islands that are free of predators.

This cormorant lays a clutch of three to five eggs that measure 63 by 41 millimetres (2+1⁄2 by 1+5⁄8 in) on average. The eggs are a pale blue or green, and sometimes have a white chalky layer covering them. These eggs are incubated for a period of about 28 to 31 days.

25-2-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

The Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species that belongs to the falcon family Falconidae. This species occurs over a large range and in Britain, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called "kestrel".

Common kestrels are small compared with other raptors, but larger than most songbirds. They are mainly light chestnut brown in color with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside; the remiges are also blackish. The males have fewer black spots and streaks and their cap and tail are blue-grey. The tail is brown with black bars in females and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All Common kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives. The cere, feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow; the toenails, bill, and iris are dark. Juveniles look like adult females, but the underside streaks are wider; the yellow of their bare parts is paler.

Common kestrels are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. These birds are sedentary but in the cold parts of their range, they migrate south in winter. Common kestrels live in open habitats such as tundra, taiga, grassland, shrubland, marshland, fields, and heaths. They can also be found in forested areas and readily adapt to human settlement, as long as sufficient swathes of vegetation are available. They also occur in wetlands, moorlands, arid savanna, and from the sea to the lower mountain range.

Common kestrels are usually seen alone but sometimes may travel in small flocks and nest in loose colonies. These birds hunt by day hovering about 10-20 m (35-65 ft) above the ground, searching for prey, either by flying into the wind or by soaring using ridge lift. Like most birds of prey, Common kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance. Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target. They often hunt along the sides of roads and motorways. Another favorite (but less conspicuous) hunting technique is to perch a bit above the ground cover, surveying the area. When the bird spots prey animals moving by, it will pounce on them. They also prowl a patch of hunting ground in a ground-hugging flight, ambushing prey as they happen across it. Common kestrels communicate with each other using various calls. When alarmed they utter 'kii-kii-kiikii' and in flight, the birds produce a 'kik-kik' call.

Population size

4.3-6.7 Mlnlnn

Life Span

15-18 years

Weight

136-314

goz

g oz 

Length

32-39

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

65-82

cminch

Common kestrels are monogamous and form long-lasting pair bonds. They start breeding in April or May in temperate Eurasia and between August and December in the tropics and southern Africa. Common kestrels nest in cavities, preferring holes in cliffs, trees, or buildings; in built-up areas, the birds will often nest on buildings and will reuse the old nests of other birds. Common kestrels are usually solitary nesters but may sometimes nest in loose colonies. The female lays a clutch of 3 to 7 eggs. Incubation lasts around 4 weeks, and only the female incubates the eggs. The male is responsible for providing her with food, and for some time after hatching this remains the same. Later, both parents share brooding and hunting duties until the young fledge, after 4-5 weeks. The family stays close together for a few weeks, during which time the young learn how to fend for themselves and hunt prey. They become reproductively mature and are ready to breed for the first time by the next breeding season.

25-2-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (MALE) (Bubulcus ibis)

Population size

4-9.8 Mlnlnn

Life Span

23 years

Top speed

51

km/hmph

km/h mph 

Weight

270-512

goz

g oz 

Length

46-56

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

88-96

cminch

The Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron named for its association with cattle. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western cattle egret and the Eastern cattle egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea.

The Cattle egret is a stocky bird. It has a relatively short, thick neck, a sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The nonbreeding adult has mainly white plumage, a yellow bill, and greyish-yellow legs. During the breeding season, adults of the nominate western subspecies develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast, and crown, and the bill, legs, and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing. The sexes are similar, but the male is marginally larger and has slightly longer breeding plumes than the female; juvenile birds lack coloured plumes and have a black bill.

25-2-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus)

The Booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) is a small mostly migratory bird of prey with a wide distribution. Despite its small size, the Booted eagle is a fierce hunter that usually captures and kill its prey in its powerful talons.

There are two relatively distinct plumage forms of the Botted eagle. Pale birds are mainly light grey with a darker head and flight feathers. The other form has mid-brown plumage with dark grey flight feathers.

Booted eagles breed in many different regions in both the northern and southern hemisphere. These include southern Europe, North Africa, and across Asia, and also in western South Africa and Namibia. The northern populations are migratory spending November to February in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, while the small southern African populations are sedentary. Booted eagles prefer to live in wooded, often hilly countryside with some open areas. They breed in rocky, broken terrain but migrants may use almost any type of habitat except the dense forest. The birds of the Palearctic breeding population usually nest in coniferous or deciduous woodlands and often in trees.

Booted eagles are active during the day and are typically seen in pairs or as solitary individuals. They fly at relatively low heights, making them conspicuous. Booted eagles typically hunt on the wing, stooping quickly with wings folded in and feet extended. They can also catch insects while walking on the ground. The common call of Booted eagles is a shrill 'kli-kli-kli'.

Booted eagles are monogamous. They form strong pair bonds that last for life. With the start of the breeding season, pairs can be seen circling high above in spectacular display. Egg-laying takes place between March and June. The female lays 1-2 eggs in a nest built from sticks and lined with green leaves in a tree or on a crag, or it takes over the disused nest of another large bird such as a Black kite or Grey heron. The female incubates the egg for around 45 days and is fed by the male during this time. After hatching she guards the nest and the young while the male provides all the food. The chicks fledge after 50-55 days and continue to be fed by both parents for another 2 weeks.

Population size

150-195 Thou

Life Span

12-15 years

Weight

510-1025

goz

g oz 

Length

40

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

110-132

cminch

cm inch