Thursday, 20 April 2017
26-3-2017 CATIE CENTER, COSTA RICA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis)
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.
Cattle egrets are native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe but they have undergone a rapid expansion in their distribution and successfully colonized much of the rest of the world in the last century. Many populations of Cattle egrets are highly migratory, while others are dispersive, and distinguishing between the two can be difficult. In many areas, populations can be both sedentary and migratory. In the Northern Hemisphere, migration is from cooler climes to warmer areas, but Cattle egrets nesting in Australia migrate to cooler Tasmania and New Zealand in the winter and return in the spring. Migration in western Africa is in response to rainfall, and in South America, migrating birds travel south of their breeding range in the non-breeding season. Populations in southern India appear to show local migrations in response to the monsoons. Cattle egrets inhabit wetlands, dry grassy habitats, semi-arid steppes, floodplains, freshwater swamps, shallow marshes, and mangroves. They are often found in fields, croplands, and pastures with poor drainage. When nesting, Cattle egrets are found in woodlands near lakes or rivers, in swamps, or on small inland or coastal islands.
26-3-2017 CATIE CENTER, COSTA RICA - BOAT BILLED HERON (Cochlearius cochlearius)
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The boat-billed heron grows to about 54 cm (21 in) long. Adults are pale grey to white in color, with chestnut-colored abdomens and black flanks. The massive, broad, scoop-like bill, which gives rise to this species' name, is mainly black. This bird is also adorned with a crest which is thought to be used in mate attraction as it is larger in males. The sexes are similar in appearance, the main differences being that females are slightly smaller, grayer in appearance, and have shorter crests than males. Newly hatched nestlings have green-yellow skin, with their upperparts covered in gray down feathers. Their upper bill is black and they have green-yellow legs. Juveniles are darker in color than adults and lack a crest.
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Boat-billed herons range from Mexico to Peru, Brazil, and northeastern Argentina. They are nonmigratory birds that tend to live in seasonal lagoons and estuaries, and nest in mangroves.
Boat-billed herons feed on shrimp and small fish such as Dormitator latifrons, a species of sleeper goby. They tend to forage in vegetative streams, shallow water, and lagoons. When foraging in streams, they use low-hanging branches and mangrove roots to stand over the water. In ponds they will walk slowly through the water up to 10 cm (4 in) deep or will forage near the water's edge. In order to capture prey they will lunge at fish or scoop the surface of the water with their bills which are uniquely shaped for this method of capture. Additionally, they have been observed using two different feeding techniques; standing and slowly stalking prey, or disturbing the water and chasing prey.Boat-billed herons will forage nocturnally, and have been seen leaving the roost 30 minutes after sundown to feed. It has been observed that they do not feed when a light source is present such as daylight, moonlight, or artificial light. One study hypothesized that in order to forage for food in the dark and in shallow, muddy water, their bills are sensitive to touch which helps them feel for their prey.
18-11-2016 MINHLA, MYANMAR - SLENDER SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum sabina)
Orthetrum sabina, the slender skimmer or green marsh hawk, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread, being found from south-eastern Europe and North Africa to Japan and south to Australia and Micronesia.
It is a medium-sized dragonfly with a wingspan of 60-85mm. Adults are greyish to greenish yellow with black and pale markings and green eyes. Its abdomen is greenish-yellow, marked with black.
It is very similar to Orthetrum serapia in appearance, with both species appearing in northern Australia. Pale markings on segment four of the abdomen do not extend into the posterior section when viewed from above on Orthetrum sabina. Females are similar to males in shape, colour and size; differing only in sexual characteristics. This dragonfly perches motionless on shrubs and dry twigs for long periods. It preys voraciously on smaller butterflies and dragonflies.
26-3-2017 CATIE CENTER, COSTA RICA - BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
The Black phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a medium-sized passerine bird that belongs to the tyrant-flycatcher family. It breeds in North America south through Central and South America and lives in various habitats, always near water. The Black phoebe has six subspecies, but these can be divided into two groups which are sometimes considered to be separate species: the nigricans group (black phoebe) and the latirostris group (white-winged phoebe).
Black phoebes are mainly carnivores (insectivores) and feed on a wide range of insects. Some birds are well adapted to capturing small fish. They may sometimes eat small berries.
Black phoebes breed in the west and southwest United States, Mexico and Central America, and parts of South America. In Oregon they are found in river valleys on the Pacific coast, and in California on the western side of Coast Ranges. They breed throughout the Colorado River valley and occasionally is found to the north in southern Nevada and southwestern Utah, as well as Arizona and central New Mexico. In Central America, they breed in Baja California, except for the central part of the peninsula, and on interior mainland Mexico southwest to Panama, excluding El Salvador. In South America, they are found in the coastal mountains of Venezuela, through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, to western Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. These birds live year-round in most of their range, although northern populations may be partially migratory. They are always found near water and are often found at coastal cliffs, river or lake banks, or even park fountains. Habitats must also include a supply of mud for nest building.
Black phoebes are arboreal and are rarely seen on the ground. Outside of the breeding season these birds usually spend time singly. They feed by day but may sometimes catch insects around electric lights. Phoebes hunt by waiting on a perch before sallying out and catching their prey in the air. Their flight isis direct, with steady wing beats. Phoebes can be recognized by a characteristic "tail-wagging" motion, in which the tail is lowered and the tail's feathers fanned out. The song of these birds consists of two alternating phrases ‘tee-hee’, ‘tee-ho’, or ‘sisee, sitsew’. The song can be heard from both sexes but is more commonly sung by males.
Black phoebes are monogamous. They form pairs and with the start of the breeding season become territorial. The female selects a nest site and makes an open cup nest which is placed under a cliff or a bridge and cemented in its place with mud. The female lays 1-6 eggs and incubates them for about 15 to 18 days. The male protects her during this time and may sometime assist in brooding the eggs. The chicks hatch helpless and blind. Both parents feed their young until they fledge which usually occurs 18-21 days after hatching.
Black phoebes don’t face any major threats at present.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Black phoebe is 5,000,000 million mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are increasing.
26-3-2017 CATIE CENTER, COSTA RICA - BANDED PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Anartia fatima)
Anartia fatima, the banded peacock, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is commonly found in south Texas, Mexico, and Central America but most studied in Costa Rica. This butterfly prefers subtropical climates and moist areas, such as near rivers. It spends much of its time in second-growth woodlands.
Its larvae feed on plants in the family Acanthaceae, while adults primarily feed on flower nectar from Acanthus species. The species is diurnal. These butterflies face interspecies competition for nectar with other butterflies and must also compete with hummingbirds, who will chase them away.
The eggs are laid in low-lying host plant leaves and flower bracts. Several hundred are laid by a single female within the span of a few days, with only a small percentage of the eggs surviving to adulthood. Eggs take five days to hatch and the larvae complete six instar phases before pupation. After pupation is complete, adults emerge and fly off within 1–2 hours.
This butterfly is not toxic to predators. It is the victim of predation by many bird, lizard, frog, and arthropod species. However, this butterfly is so ubiquitous that losses from predation do not endanger the species.
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Although Anartia fatima has been recorded once as far north as Kansas, its range generally begins in southern Texas and continues south through Mexico and all of Central America and Panama. It is ubiquitous throughout its range. In South America, A. fatima is no longer found and a closely related species, Anartia amathea, becomes prevalent.
This butterfly prefers subtropical open areas and previously disturbed places, such as second-growth areas, from sea level to 1,500 meters. Its host plants of preference are herbaceous and are primarily restricted to the species in a single family, Acanthaceae. Some common examples of its host plants are Blechum, Justicia, Dicliptera, and Ruellia. The banded peacock exists in extensive tracts of forest in small populations along the banks of rivers. This suggests that individuals disperse across long distances.
From late morning until early afternoon, males perch on low vegetation and chase other male butterflies away from their territory. The males fly in a slow zig-zag pattern between 0.3 and 0.6 meters above ground to patrol the area around their territory and seek females. In this territory, the male will search for mates and receive most of his nutritional requirements from flowers.
20-4-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)
Glossy Ibises occur in flocks, both at nesting colonies and when foraging. They typically feed by lowering the bill into water, mud, or soil, to feel for prey, and they often feed among many other species of wading birds.
The plumage appears dark, almost blackish, at a distance or in poor light. At close range, much of the body is maroon, with the wing coverts showing metallic green, bronze, and violet tones.
Glossy Ibises occur in flocks, both at nesting colonies and when foraging. They typically feed by lowering the bill into water, mud, or soil, to feel for prey, and they often feed among many other species of wading birds.
Glossy Ibises frequent almost any wetland environment with shallow water or exposed mud and also readily feeds in farm fields or open areas where soils are moist.
The glossy ibis is a heron-like bird with a long, curving beak. They breed in parts of southern and southeast Europe and are occasional visitors to the UK. However, in recent decades sightings here have become more common, mirroring an increase in their breeding population in southwest Europe.
Glossy Ibises are highly gregarious throughout their lives, feeding and resting in flocks and nesting in tight colonies where nests are usually no more than 2 feet apart. Pairs defend the immediate vicinity of their nest, attacking other ibises or herons that come too close, but otherwise are rarely aggressive.
Glossy Ibis are known to live for approximately eight years (Scott 1997), though the oldest record of the species is 14 years and 3 months (Clapp et al. 1982). Like other waterbirds, the species is likely to be sexually mature by one or two years of age (Scott 1997).
Predators of the Glossy Ibis are Birds of Prey and alligators.
The call is a long croak. The Australian white ibis reaches sexual maturity in three years, and can reach twenty-eight years of age.
The average Glossy Ibis is about 1.2 lbs and 23 in. in length with a 36 inch wingspan. The Glossy Ibis is a transient, found in Northern Virginia during migration. It inhabits wooded wetlands near the coast.
Basic Description. At distance, Glossy Ibises look uniformly dark, but a close look in good light reveals stunning colors: deep maroon, emerald, bronze, and violet. This long-legged, long-billed bird forages in flocks through wetlands and wet agricultural fields, searching for insects, small fish, and seeds.
The Glossy Ibis is the most cosmopolitan ibis, occurring in most of the world's tropical and temperate zones (Hancock et al. 1992). It is nowhere abundant, and in most parts of its range it is rare or locally common. Nevertheless, the world population is considerable, probably in the 100 000s (Rose & Scott 1994).
20-4-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (Merops apiaster)
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The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. As their name suggests, these brightly-colored birds predominantly eat flying insects, especially bees and wasps, which they catch on the wing from an open perch.
The European bee-eater is a richly coloured, slender bird. It has brown and yellow upper parts, whilst the wings are green and the beak is black. Sexes are alike. Female tends to have greener rather than gold feathers on their shoulders. Non-breeding plumage is much duller and with a blue-green back and no elongated central tail feathers. The juvenile resembles a non-breeding adult but with less variation in the feather colours. Adults begin to moult in June or July and complete the process by August or September. There is a further moult into breeding plumage in winter in Africa.
19-4-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SIERRA NEVADA OCELLATED LIZARD (Timon nevadensis)
Timon nevadensis, the Sierra Nevada lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is endemic to Spain. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the ocellated lizard.
Formerly, Timon nevadensis had been regarded as subspecies of Timon lepidus but it has been put into species rank in 2013. Its distribution range is limited to the Sierra Nevada and the Spanish east coast, reaching the Alicante Province in the north.
The Sierra Nevada Ocellated Lizard is an impressive but terribly shy Lacertid. In particular, adult specimens may have flight distances of more than 20 meters. These lizards occur in high altitude mountain areas as well as in coastal dunes and agricultural land.
Adult specimens differ from Timon lepidus by the grey or brown basic coloration with no or reduced black markings.
The coloration of the Sierra Nevada Ocellated Lizard is truly captivating. Its body is predominantly green, with varying shades ranging from bright emerald to olive green. The scales on its back are usually patterned with intricate markings, which resemble a series of ocelli or “eye spots.” These ocelli are typically black or dark brown, surrounded by a lighter ring. This unique pattern serves as camouflage, helping the lizard blend into its natural environment.
Juveniles and subadults of Timon nevadensis frequently show dark edges on the labial scales which lack in juvenile Timon lepidus. However, there seem to exist populations with intermediate characteristics.
Within its distribution range, Timon nevadensis cannot be confused with other lizards, due to its big size of adults and the distinct white spot pattern of the juveniles.
The Sierra Nevada Ocellated Lizard, also known as the Iberian Ocellated Lizard or the Western Ocellated Lizard, is a reptile that belongs to the Lacertidae family. This lizard is native to the southwestern parts of Europe, specifically the Iberian Peninsula, including Portugal and Spain. It is a medium-sized lizard with a distinct physical appearance.
In terms of size, the Sierra Nevada Ocellated Lizard can grow to an average length of around 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches), with males generally being larger than females. The body of this lizard is slender and elongated, allowing it to move swiftly and gracefully. It has a relatively long tail, which makes up a significant portion of its overall length.
The head of the Sierra Nevada Ocellated Lizard is triangular in shape, with a slightly pointed snout. Its eyes are large and round, providing excellent vision for detecting prey and potential predators. The iris of the eye is often golden or brown, adding to the lizard’s overall striking appearance. This species also possesses a row of small, sharp teeth, which it uses to catch and consume its prey.
When it comes to weight, the Sierra Nevada Ocellated Lizard is relatively lightweight compared to other reptiles. Adult individuals typically weigh between 100 to 200 grams (3.5 to 7 ounces). Despite its relatively small size, this lizard is agile and capable of quick movements, allowing it to evade predators or capture prey efficiently.
Overall, the Sierra Nevada Ocellated Lizard is a visually stunning reptile. Its slender body, vibrant green coloration, and intricate ocelli patterns make it a remarkable sight in its natural habitat. With its adaptability and unique physical features, this lizard has successfully thrived in the diverse ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula.
27-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - SNOWCAP HUMMINGBIRD (Microchera albocoronata)
This is a tiny hummingbird, 6.5 cm long and 2.5 g in weight, with a short black bill and black legs. The adult male snowcap is unmistakable. It has the shining white cap which gives this species its English and scientific names, a deep purple body, and white outer tail feathers. The adult female is bronze-green above, dull white below, and has dull white outer tail feathers. She has more white below than other female hummingbirds. Juvenile snowcaps resemble the adult female, but are duller, have greyer underparts, and bronzed central tail feathers. The purple plumage of young males starts on the underparts as a striking dark central line.
It is a resident breeder in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama. Its habitat is the canopy and edges of wet forest, and it will also use adjacent more open woodland. It occurs mainly on the Caribbean mountain slopes, breeding mainly at heights of 300–800 m. After breeding, most descend to the adjacent lowlands, but some may wander up to heights of 1400 m.
The male snowcap defends his feeding territory against others of the same species, but is readily displaced by larger hummingbirds. They usually visit small flowers of vines, trees and epiphytes for nectar, and also take some insects, especially when feeding young.
The nest is a small cup of plant down and cobwebs decorated with green moss or lichen, which is attached to a small twig or vine. The two white elongated eggs are incubated for just over two weeks, and the female feeds the young on regurgitated nectar and insects.
Wednesday, 19 April 2017
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