29-7-2019 GIJON, ASTURIAS - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

Native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and much of Asia, the house sparrow has been introduced to various regions worldwide, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most widely distributed wild birds.

29-7-2019 SAN ANDRES RESERVOIR, ASTURIAS - EUROPEAN PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Aglais io)

29-7-2019 SAN ANDRES RESERVOIR, ASTURIAS - CLEOPATRA BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx cleopatra)

Gonepteryx cleopatra, the Cleopatra or Cleopatra butterfly, is a medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae.

Gonepteryx cleopatra is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 50–70 mm (2.0–2.8 in). It is a sexually dimorphic species; the female has pale yellow or greenish wings, whereas the male is darker yellow with an orange patch on the forewing. Both sexes have a forewing apical hook and brown dots in the center of each wing, and the underside of wings is light greenish yellow. The greenish color, the shape and the pronounced venation on the hindwings give to these butterflies a good camouflage, making them resemble just leaves.

The Cleopatra butterfly inhabits open woodland and scrub. The flight period is from May to August in most parts of its range, except Spain, where it is double brooded and may fly almost all year. The adult hibernates in evergreen trees and shrubs. The caterpillars feed on the buckthorns Rhamnus alaternus. When the green caterpillars are prepared to pass to the pupal stage, they tie themselves through a silk belt to the host plant, on the underside of a leaf. The green chrysalis became gradually yellow and red, revealing the colors on the wings of the adult close to flutter. In dry regions, the Cleopatra practices a vertical migration between the maquis and the mountain fir forests. It emerges in spring at low altitudes, then migrates to higher altitudes in the mountains and stays there in the summer months to descend in autumn at low altitudes.

This species is native to the Mediterranean region (Southern Europe, North Africa and West Asia).

29-7-2019 SAN ANDRES RESERVOIR, ASTURIAS - YELLOW BELLIED SLIDER TERRAPIN (Trachemys scripta.scripta)

29-7-2019 SAN ANDRES RESERVOIR, ASTURIAS - BUTTERFLY BUSH (Buddleja davidii)

Buddleja davidii (spelling variant Buddleia davidii), also called summer lilac, butterfly-bush, or orange eye, is a species of flowering plant in the family Scrophulariaceae, native to Sichuan and Hubei provinces in central China, and also Japan. It is widely used as an ornamental plant, and many named varieties are in cultivation. The genus was named Buddleja after Reverend Adam Buddle, an English botanist. The species name davidii honors the French missionary and explorer in China, Father Armand David, who was the first European to report the shrub. It was found near Ichang by Dr Augustine Henry about 1887 and sent to St Petersburg. Another botanist-missionary in China, Jean-André Soulié, sent seed to the French nursery Vilmorin, and B. davidii entered commerce in the 1890s.

B. davidii was accorded the RHS Award of Merit (AM) in 1898, and the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 1941.

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - RED CRESTED POCHARD (FEMALE) (Netta rufina)

26-7-2019 OSEJA DE SAJAMBRE - WHITE WAGTAIL (JUVENILE) (Motacilla alba)

1-8-2019 SEGOVIA, ESPANA - EURASIAN JACKDAW (Corvus monedula)

30-7-2019 BOTANICO ATLANTICO GIJON, ASTURIAS - EUROPEAN PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Aglais io)

30-7-2019 TACONES, ASTURIAS - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (JUVENILE) (Larus michahellis)

31-7-2019 SEGOVIA, ESPANA - BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus)

30-7-2019 BOTANICO ATLANTICO GIJON, ASTURIAS - BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (MALE) (Calopteryx virgo)

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

30-7-2019 BOTANICO ATLANTICO GIJON, ASTURIAS - EUROPEAN ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula)

30-7-2019 TAZONES, ASTURIAS - LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus)

The lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) is a large gull, distinguishable by its size and the coloration of its plumage. It is smaller than the European herring gull and exhibits a range of mantle colors across its subspecies, from dark grey to jet black.

Adult lesser black-backed gulls have yellow legs and a yellow bill with a red spot. Their wings and back are either black or dark grey, depending on the subspecies. In winter, the head becomes greyer. Juveniles display scaly black-brown upperparts and a distinctive wing pattern. They can be differentiated from juvenile herring gulls by their darker, unbarred tertial feathers.

This species is found along coasts and lakes, where it breeds and feeds. It has adapted to urban environments in some cities, nesting alongside herring gulls.

The lesser black-backed gull breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and is migratory, wintering from the British Isles to West Africa. It has expanded its range to North America, particularly along the east coast, where it is now present year-round in increasing numbers.

These gulls are social birds, breeding colonially. They exhibit a fixed action pattern during feeding, where the young peck at the red spot on the adult's bill to induce regurgitation.

30-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - CAPE BARREN GOOSE (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)

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

29-7-2019 ISABEL CATOLICA PARQUE GIJON, ASTURIAS - RED BREASTED GOOSE (branta ruficollis)

The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) is a small, vibrantly marked member of the Branta genus, easily distinguished by its contrasting plumage. This Eurasian species is the most diminutive of its genus, measuring a mere 53–56 cm in length. Its striking appearance is characterized by a dark sooty back, a rich red breast, and white facial markings, which, despite their brightness, can be surprisingly elusive against a flock of Brant Geese, especially at a distance where the red may appear darker.

Upon sighting, one should note the Red-breasted Goose's unique coloration. The bird's black head is adorned with a white patch, and the red on the breast is a key identifier. The white on the flanks and the black tail with white undertones are also distinctive. When amongst other geese, particularly the Brant Goose, look for the smaller size and the unique red, white, and black patterning to confirm identification.

The Red-breasted Goose favors Arctic tundra during its breeding season, often nesting in close proximity to birds of prey for protection against predators.

Breeding occurs in Arctic Siberia, with a preference for the Taymyr, Gyda, and Yamal peninsulas. Come winter, the geese migrate to the northwestern shores of the Black Sea, predominantly in Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine, with some extending to Azerbaijan. Vagrants have been spotted in Ireland and other parts of western Europe.

 

This species exhibits a fascinating symbiotic relationship with birds of prey, nesting near their eyries for safety from predators like the Arctic fox. The Red-breasted Goose's nesting strategy involves both open and cryptic nest sites, with the latter being more concealed than those of their raptor neighbors. The geese show a preference for nesting near birds of prey over river islands, despite the latter also offering protection. The size of colonies is influenced by the availability of food, the density of birds of prey, and the location of the nest.

The calls of the Red-breasted Goose are described as "ki-kui" or "ki-yik," which are high-pitched, shrill, and staccato in nature.

During the winter months, the Red-breasted Goose feeds on grasses, leaves, and seeds. The geese's diet is influenced by their wintering habitats, which are subject to change due to land use.

The Red-breasted Goose is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The population is subject to fluctuations, with estimates in the autumn of 1997 around 88,000 individuals, which can decrease to about 70,000 in winter. The species faces threats from habitat changes due to land use, as well as from the construction of wind turbines in critical wintering sites. Conservation efforts include habitat improvement projects and satellite tracking to better understand migration patterns. The species is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

28-7-2019 VILLAVICIOSA, ASTURIAS - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (JUVENILE) (Saxicola rubicola)

28-7-2019 MERIYON, ASTURIAS - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

28-7-2019 VILLAVICIOSA, ASTURIAS - EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola)

The European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola, is a small, charming passerine bird, once thought to be a member of the thrush family but now placed within the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. This species exhibits a striking sexual dimorphism, with males donning a black plumage with vibrant orange throats and females wearing a more subdued brown.

Males in their summer plumage are unmistakable with their black heads, orange throats, and white bellies. They also sport a distinctive white half-collar and small white patches on the wings and rump. Females, on the other hand, are predominantly brown with less pronounced white wing patches. Both sexes have notably short wings, which are shorter than those of their migratory relatives.

The European stonechat favors heathlands, coastal dunes, and open grasslands dotted with shrubs, brambles, and heather. These habitats provide the perfect backdrop for their active foraging and breeding behaviors.

This species is widely distributed across Europe, reaching as far east as Ukraine and the South Caucasus, and can also be found in parts of North Africa.

Stonechats are known for their lively presence, often perching conspicuously as they keep a vigilant eye on their surroundings. They exhibit a partial migratory pattern, with some populations moving southward to escape the colder winters.

The male stonechat's song is a delightful, high-pitched twitter, reminiscent of a dunnock's melody. Both sexes communicate with a distinctive call that evokes the sound of two stones being tapped together.

European stonechats are monogamous during the breeding season and commence their reproductive efforts at one year of age. They raise two to three broods per season, with the female constructing the nest and both parents tending to the young.

28-7-2019 VILLAVICIOSA, ASTURIAS - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (JUVENILE) (Gallinula chloropus)

28-7-2019 VILLAVICIOSA, ASTURIAS - BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)

The Black-winged Stilt has a wide range, extending across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some populations migrate to coastal regions in winter, while others in milder climates may remain resident or engage in short-range movements.

Black-winged Stilts are often seen foraging in shallow waters, gracefully picking insects and crustaceans from the surface. They are known to nest in small groups, sometimes alongside avocets, and exhibit a variety of courtship behaviors, including intricate displays and duets.

The flight call of the Black-winged Stilt is a sharp and clear kleek, typically heard during its aerial maneuvers.

Nests are simple bare spots on the ground near water. These birds are communal nesters and may breed in loose colonies. They have been known to breed as far north as Britain, with recent successful breeding events recorded in Southern and Northern England.

The Black-winged Stilt can be confused with other stilt species, such as the Black-necked Stilt (H. mexicanus) in the Americas, the White-backed Stilt (H. melanurus), and the Pied Stilt (H. leucocephalus) in Australasia and New Zealand.

Their diet consists mainly of insects and crustaceans, which they deftly pick from the water's surface or from wet sand.

28-7-2019 VILLAVICIOSA, ASTURIAS - BLACK WINGED STILT (JUVENILE) (Himantopus himantopus)

27-7-2019 COVADONGA, ASTURIAS - BLACK KNAPWEED (Centaurea nigra)

Centaurea nigra is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, and is also known as lesser knapweed, common knapweed, black knapweed and bell weed.

It is native to central Europe, and has been introduced to temperate North America and Australasia, where it is usually regarded as a noxious weed due to its fast spread, hardiness and competitive potential.

Centaurea nigra is an upright herbaceous perennial growing up to c. 1 m (3.3 ft) in height. It produces spreading rhizomes.

C. nigra initially produces a basal rosette of leaves, which are usually entire and up to 30 cm long (11.8 in). Once the rosette is fully formed, it produces upright stems before eventually dying away. These upright stems turn purple when mature. The leaves on these stems are smaller, 1-8 mm x 2-10 mm, usually entire, grey-green and roughly hairy.

The inflorescence is globe-shaped, 10-20 mm x 30-40 mm, and contains small purple to reddish flowers that are fringed by black or dark brown bracts.

The fruit (seeds) are a light brown flattened ovoid 3-4 mm long, topped with short bristles c. 1 mm. In its native range, flowering occurs in summer to autumn from June-July until September.