24-8-2016 ATOCHA ESTACION, MADRID - OUACHITA MAP TURTLE (Graptemys ouachitensis)

The Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) is a species of turtle belonging to the family Emydidae.

This species is endemic to the United States. It can be found in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee and Kentucky. G. o. sabinensis exists only in the Sabine River of Louisiana and Texas. Both G. o. ouachitensis and G. o. sabinensis are freshwater riverine turtles. The G. o. ouachitensis is rarely seen on land unless it is nesting season or it is basking. 

This species' carapace features a row of low vertebral spines, and is serrated on the posterior rim. The carapace is olive, dark brown, or black in coloration with light yellowish markings with dark borders. The plastron color varies from cream to yellow and is patterned with dark lines and swirls. The body color is grayish brown to blackish and is marked with yellowish stripes.

On the head, it has light yellow spots: a rectangular one behind each eye, an oval under each eye, and a round one on each side of the jaw. In some specimens, the spot behind and the spot under the eye can combine to form a single thick "C" stain. The eye has a black stripe in the middle.

Males are significantly smaller than females. The males can grow to be as large as 5 in (12 cm) in carapace length. The females can grow to be up to 10 in (25 cm) in carapace length.

24-8-2016 ATOCHA ESTACION, MADRID - FALSE MAP TURTLE (Graptemys pseudogeographica)

The False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) is a species of freshwater turtle that is found in the United States. It is occasionally called "sawback", in reference to the serrated keels on its shell.

Population size

Unknown

Life Span

30-50 years

Weight

1-1.8

kglbs

kg lbs 

Length

9-27

cminch

The False map turtle has a carapace featuring a vertebral row of low spines and is serrated on the posterior rim. The carapace is olive to brown in color with light yellowish markings with dark borders. The plastron color varies from cream to yellow and is patterned with dark lines along the seams in juveniles. The body color of the false map turtle is grayish-brown to blackish and is marked with light brown, yellow, or whitish stripes. The eye can be brown, light yellow, white, or green and is crossed with a dark bar. Narrow hooked marks behind the eye fuse with dorsal lines on the head and neck. Also, small light-colored spots occur below the eye and on the chin.

False map turtles live in large streams of the Missouri and Mississippi River systems, ranging from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, through the Dakotas southward to southwestern Alabama, southern and western Mississippi, and Louisiana. They also occur in several other river systems of Southwest Louisiana and East Texas. False map turtles prefer rivers and large creeks with moderate currents, containing aquatic vegetation, as well as snags or floating logs. They are also comfortable in deep and swift water. They occur in oxbow lakes and sloughs but are absent from lakes, ponds, or small streams.

False map turtles are diurnal reptiles. They are avid baskers, spending many hours during the day in the sun. Basking is important to these turtles, and they may even be found on steep, slippery snags. When with other turtles, they also are very communal, sharing space and using each other for predator-watching, increasing the odds of surviving an attack. False map turtles are active from late March/April to mid-October.

24-8-2016 ATOCHA ESTACION, MADRID - RED EARED SLIDER TERRAPIN (Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans)

The red-eared slider or red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a subspecies of the pond slider (Trachemys scripta), a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States, is also popular as a pet across the rest of the world, and is the most invasive turtle. It is the most commonly traded turtle in the world.

The red-eared slider is native from the Midwestern United States to northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases, and has become invasive in many areas where it outcompetes native species. The red-eared slider is included in the list of the world's 100 most invasive species.

Invasive red-eared sliders cause negative impacts in the ecosystems they are introduced to because they have certain advantages over the native populations, such as a lower age at maturity, higher fecundity rates, and larger body size, which gives them a competitive advantage at basking and nesting sites, as well as when exploiting food resources. They also transmit diseases and displace the other turtle species with which they compete for food and breeding space.

Owing to their popularity as pets, red-eared sliders have been released or escaped into the wild in many parts of the world. This turtle is considered one of the world's worst invasive species. Feral populations are now found in Bermuda, Canada, Australia, Europe, Great Britain, South Africa, the Caribbean Islands, Israel, Bahrain, the Mariana Islands, Guam, Russia, and south- and far-east Asia. Within Great Britain, red-eared sliders have a wide distribution throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.

In Australia, it is illegal for members of the public to import, keep, trade, or release red-eared sliders, as they are regarded as an invasive species – see below. Their import has also been banned by the European Union as well as specific EU member countries. In 2015, Japan announced it was planning to ban the import of red-eared sliders, but it would probably not take effect until 2020.

Red-eared sliders do not hibernate, but actually brumate; while they become less active, they do occasionally rise to the surface for food or air. Brumation can occur to varying degrees. In the wild, red-eared sliders brumate over the winter at the bottoms of ponds or shallow lakes. They generally become inactive in October, when temperatures fall below 10 °C (50 °F). During this time, the turtles enter a state of sopor, during which they do not eat or defecate, they remain nearly motionless, and the frequency of their breathing falls. Individuals usually brumate under water, but they have also been found under banks and rocks, and in hollow stumps. In warmer winter climates, they can become active and come to the surface for basking. When the temperature begins to drop again, however, they quickly return to a brumation state. Sliders generally come up for food in early March to as late as the end of April.

23-3-2015 PENANG, MALAYSIA - ORANGE SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum testaceum)

23-8-2016 ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, MADRID - WALL BROWN BUTTERFLY (Lasiommata megera)

Lasiommata megera, the wall or wall brown, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae (subfamily Satyrinae). It is widespread in the Palearctic realm with a large variety of habitats and number of generations a year.

The species lives in North Africa, Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, the Middle East, western Siberia, northern Tian Shan, Dzungarian Alatau, Kazakhstan and Dzungaria.

Habitats include forest edges and clearings, shrubby areas in ravines and river valleys and sparse woodlands. It is also found in mountain habitats up to 0–3,000 metres (0–9,843 ft) above sea level.

Size: 36–50 millimetres (1.4–2.0 in)

23-8-2016 EL RITIRO PARK, MADRID - MONK PARAKEET (Myiopsitta monachus)

The Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is a small species of true parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is native to the temperate to subtropical areas of Argentina and the surrounding countries in South America. Self-sustaining feral populations occur in many places, mainly in North America and Europe; there they live in urban areas and pose a risk to crops and even native bird species.

The Monk parakeet has bright-green upperparts. The forehead and breast are pale gray with darker scalloping and the rest of the underparts are very light-green to yellow. The remiges are dark blue, and the tail is long and tapering. The bill is orange in color.

Monk parakeets are found in Argentina and the surrounding countries in South America. Self-sustaining feral populations have been recorded in several U.S. states and various regions of Europe. They live in semi-arid savannas, and woodlands and are well-adapted to urban areas.

Monk parakeets are highly gregarious birds that live and nest in colonies. They are diurnal and spend most of the day foraging and preening each other. To get their food these energetic birds climb among branches using their beaks or may drop to the ground to pick seeds or fallen berries. At dusk, they come back to their communal roost site to sleep. Monk parakeets are very noisy. Their call is a loud and throaty 'chape(-yee)' or 'quak quaki quak-wi quarr' and they also use 'skveet' screeches.

Monk parakeets are monogamous and form strong long-lasting pair bonds. They breed between October and February. These birds build a stick nest, in a tree or on a man-made structure, rather than using a hole in a tree. They often breed colonially, building a single large nest with separate entrances for each pair. Females lay 5 to 12 white eggs which usually hatch in about 24 days. The chicks are altricial; they hatch blind and are covered in yellowish down. Both parents feed their young until they are ready to leave the nest which usually occurs at 40-50 days after hatching. Reproductive maturity is reached when young birds are 2 years old.

Monk parakeets are widespread and abundant throughout their range. They are not considered threatened, however, in some areas, these birds are often persecuted as an agricultural pest.

According to the All About Birds resource, the total breeding population size of the Monk parakeet is 20 million birds. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and their numbers today are increasing.

23-8-2016 EL RITIRO PARK, MADRID - MALLARD (FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

The mallard (/ˈmælɑːrd, ˈmælərd/) or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae. Males have green heads, while the females (hens or ducks) have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes have an area of white-bordered black or iridescent purple or blue feathers called a speculum on their wings; males especially tend to have blue speculum feathers.

The mallard is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long, of which the body makes up around two-thirds the length. The wingspan is 81–98 cm (32–39 in) and the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm (1.7 to 2.4 in) long. It is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks, weighing 0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb). Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes.

The female lays 8 to 13 creamy white to greenish-buff spotless eggs, on alternate days. Incubation takes 27 to 28 days and fledging takes 50 to 60 days. The ducklings are precocial and fully capable of swimming as soon as they hatch.

23-8-2016 EL RETIRO PARK, MADRID - IBERIAN GREEN WOODPECKER (Picus sharpei)

Fairly large woodpecker with a green back, red crown, and broad whisker stripe (red in males, black in females). Yellowish rump shows mainly in slightly undulating flight. Unmistakable in most of range; note Eurasian Green Woodpecker’s black face patch in thin band of overlap. Inhabits open woodland, heathland, gardens, parks, and farmland with hedges and scattered larger trees. Unlike most woodpeckers, feeds mainly on the ground, including garden lawns, probing into anthills and moving with an odd, shuffling gait. Calls are loud, high-pitched, and somewhat raptor-like. Drums infrequently.

The Iberian Green Woodpecker is split from European Green Woodpecker P. viridis (Pons et al. 2011; Perktas et al. 2011).

Status is near threatened

This recently-split species is undergoing moderately rapid declines in Spain, which holds the vast majority of the population. It has therefore been uplisted to Near Threatened as it almost meets the requirements for listing as threatened under criteria A2abc+3bc+4abc.

This species is found in relatively dry open woodland, both deciduous and mixed, as well as plantations, orchards, farmland and pastures, parks and gardens and locally in grassy dunes. It requires some mature trees and clearings with adjacent grassland and is found in the lowlands and hills to mountains up to ca. 3,000 m. It lays from the end of March to June. Both parents incubate the clutch which is usually five to eight eggs. The nest is excavated at up to 10 m in a tree (del Hoyo et al. 2015). It feeds on ground-dwelling ants. Other insects are taken on the ground or in trees and occasionally fruit is taken too (Gorman 2014). The species is resident, with some local movements outside the breeding season (del Hoyo et al. 2015).

Until relatively recently the Iberian Green Woodpecker, Picus sharpie, was considered conspecific with Picus viridis and Picus vaillantii, but differs in many aspects of plumage detail and is significantly different in vocal patterns. The distribution is limited to Iberia, the Pyrenees and the extremities of southern France, occurring irregularly from Pyrénées-Atlantiques to Hérault.

In Spain, the birds inhabit dry open woodland and occur in both deciduous and mixed woodlands, plantations, orchards and farmland, parks and gardens.

They require some mature trees with nearby grassland and can be found in both lowlands, hills and mountains up to an altitude of circa 3,000 metres. Mostly these birds are resident, but there are local movements outside of the breeding season with both juvenile and altitudinal dispersal largely accounting for these observations.

The local birds will be nesting from the end of March until June and both the male and female share incubation, feeding the young and, when the young leave the nest, the brood is divided between parents until they are all independent.

Mostly they are ground feeders, and their diet will be mostly terrestrial ants along with some small invertebrates. 

Although common locally, its conservation status is listed as Near Threatened. Although no threats have been identified for this species, the population has been estimated to have decreased by 30%. At a regional level it is considered vulnerable and certainly further monitoring and research are needed.

23-8-2016 EL RITIRO PARK, MADRID - EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica)

The Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) is one of several birds in the crow family (corvids) designated magpies, and belongs to the Holarctic radiation of "monochrome" magpies. In Europe, "magpie" is used by English speakers as a synonym for the Eurasian magpie: the only other magpie in Europe is the Iberian magpie. The Eurasian magpie is one of the most intelligent birds, and it is believed to be one of the most intelligent of all non-human animals.

Population size

46-228 Mlnlnn

Life Span

3-21.8 years

Weight

182-272

goz

g oz 

Length

44-46

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

52-62

cminch

cm inch 

The Eurasian magpie is glossy black in color with a metallic green and violet sheen; the belly and scapulars (shoulder feathers) are pure white. The graduated tail is black, glossed with green and reddish-purple. The plumage of the sexes is similar but females are slightly smaller. The young resemble the adults but are at first without much of the gloss on the sooty plumage. The young have the malar region pink and somewhat clear eyes. Their tail is much shorter than the adults.

cm inch 

23-8-2016 EL RITIRO PARK, MADRID - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Turdus merula)

Common blackbirds breed in Europe, North Africa, India, and southern China. Populations in the north and east migrate to winter in Egypt and the west and southeast of Asia. Depending on latitude, Common blackbirds may be resident, partially migratory, or fully migratory. These birds live in very varied habitats, including mountainous regions and big city centers, where they inhabit open forests and forest edges, woodlands, cultivated areas, gardens, and parks if the cover is dense enough for hiding.

Common blackbirds are diurnal and eat mainly on the ground, turning the leaf litter to find the invertebrates hidden below. The bird runs for a short distance and stops suddenly to turn its head sideways to detect its prey and hops while it digs the ground with its bill to attract worms. It will feed in trees and bushes on the fruits and berries that it prefers. These birds will often take sunbaths, while flattened on grass or warm ground, with their beak open and their head inclined, and wings and tails spread. Common blackbirds are territorial, strongly defending their territory, mostly in urban areas where each pair does not have much space. Females may also fight, in defense of a good nest site. While winter food is available, Common blackbirds will stay within their territory for the year, although they will occupy different areas. Migrating birds are more gregarious, flying in small flocks and eating in loose groups at the wintering grounds.

The Common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a species of true thrush. It is also called the Eurasian blackbird (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated New World blackbirds), or simply the blackbird where this does not lead to confusion with a similar-looking local species. This common and conspicuous species has given rise to a number of literary and cultural references, frequently related to its song.

The adult male has glossy black plumage, blackish-brown legs, a yellow eye ring, and an orange-yellow bill. The bill darkens somewhat in winter. The adult female is sooty-brown with a dull yellowish-brownish bill, a brownish-white throat, and some weak mottling on the breast. The juvenile is similar to the female but has pale spots on the upperparts, and the very young juvenile also has a speckled breast. Young birds vary in the shade of brown, with darker birds presumably males. The first-year male resembles the adult male but has a dark bill and weaker eye ring, and its folded wing is brown, rather than black like the body plumage.

23-8-2016 EL RETIRO PARK, MADRID - EPAULET SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (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.

23-8-2016 ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, MADRID - SCARCE SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY (Iphiclides podalirius)

Iphiclides feisthamelii, the southern scarce swallowtail, southern swallowtail or Iberian scarce swallowtail, is a butterfly found in Italy, Slovenia, southern France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of I. podalirius.

The larva feeds on Prunus amygdalus (almond), P. persica (peach), P. insititia (a kind of plum), P. longipes, Pyrus communis (common pear), Malus domesticus (apple) and Crataegus oxyacantha.

This species is often considered merely a subspecies of the scarce swallowtail, though recent authors are increasingly counting it a separate species. Its distribution is restricted to the Iberian peninsula south of the Pyrenees. It is very similar to the scarce swallowtail but usually a more papery white, with noticeably more kite-shaped wings and a more distinct yellow line along the costa of the forewing. Another useful but not 100% diagnostic feature is the third bar from the wing base on the forewing, which is typically blunt on the vein, not tapered to a point.

Iberian scarce swallowtails may be seen very early in the year. The first pictures on this page were taken in February in Málaga, where the species was hilltopping along with many other butterflies. They fly throughout the year in two or three broods, hibernating as pupae.

After many years being considered a subspecies of the scarce swallowtail I. podalirius this taxon can now be accepted as a full species.

Identification & Similar species: Compared to the scarce swallowtail I. podalirius, this species has a white/ grey-white rather than yellowish ground colour, but sometimes with faint yellow in the female. Markings are also darker, at least in the spring brood. The differences are subtle...

Genetalia are reportedly slightly different and there is some differentiation in mitochondrial DNA.

Distribution & Flight: North Africa, Spain and southwest France. There may be overlap with the scarce swallowtail I. podalirius in some areas particularly as these are mobile butterflies. Flies from March or April to the end of summer in multiple broods.

Habitat & Behaviour: Diverse habitats: scrub, meadows, parks, gardens, coasts to mountains.

23-8-2016 ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, MADRID - EUROPEAN PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hypoleuca)

The little pied flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni ) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

The Pied Flycatcher is a small, flycatching bird, slightly smaller than a House Sparrow. The male is mostly black on the upperparts and white underneath, with a bold white patch on the folded wing. Females are browner. It's a summer visitor and breeds mainly in western areas, spending the winter in West Africa.

Breeding male is boldly pied, with a big white wing patch and white forehead spot. Female and immature are brown above, with an obvious white wing patch. In areas of overlap, compare with very similar Collared and Semicollared Flycatchers. Breeds in shady, mixed and deciduous woodland, especially with oaks. Uses a range of habitats on migration and on wintering grounds, including forest edge, open woodland, and plantation. Feeds at all levels, sallying after insects in the leafy foliage; at times, perches out on open fences. Song is a cheerful whistled series with an up-and-down quality. Calls include a sharp, bright, somewhat metallic “wit!” and a short “tsee.”

22-8-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

The House sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a small passerine bird found in most parts of the world. The extent of its range makes it the most widely distributed wild bird on the planet. Because of its numbers, ubiquity, and association with human settlements, the House sparrow is culturally prominent. It is extensively, and usually unsuccessfully, persecuted as an agricultural pest. It has also often been kept as a pet and was a food item. Though it is widespread and abundant, its numbers have declined in some areas.

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.

23-8-2016 ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, MADRID - SCARCE COPPER BUTTERFLY (Lycaena virgaureae)

The scarce copper (Lycaena virgaureae) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae (copper or gossamer-winged butterflies).

The lower surfaces of the back wings are yellowish and have only a few black dots; there are characteristic white marks in the immediate vicinity of these. The species exhibits one kind of sexual dimorphism: male butterflies are colored bright gold-red on the upper side of wing, while the females have broader orange wings with a dark design.