Wednesday 20 April 2016
19-4-2015 JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - LAUGHING DOVE (Spilopelia senegalensis)
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The laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) is a small pigeon that is a resident breeder in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Western Australia where it has established itself in the wild after being released from Perth Zoo in 1898. This small long-tailed dove is found in dry scrub and semi-desert habitats where pairs can often be seen feeding on the ground. It is closely related to the spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) which is distinguished by a white and black chequered necklace. Other names include laughing turtle dove, palm dove and Senegal dove while in Asia the name little brown dove is often used.
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19-4-2015 DEAD SEA, ISRAEL - WHITE SPECTACLED BULBUL (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
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The white-spectacled bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) is a member of the bulbul family. It is 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) in length with a wingspan of 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in). These birds live in fruit plantations, gardens, and cities. It is the most common member of the bulbul family in Israel and Lebanon. In Turkey, it is mainly found in the coastal Mediterranean region, but its range extends from Patara/Gelemiş near Kaş in the west to Türkoğlu in the east. Breeding populations are found from Central and Southern Turkey to Western Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Western Jordan, Palestine, Sinai and western, central and southern Arabia.
Both sexes are similar; juveniles have a browner hood and less obvious eye-rings than the adults. The nest – a small cup of thin twigs, grass stems, leaves and moss – is generally located in bushes and lined with hair, shredded bark and small roots.
Tuesday 19 April 2016
Monday 18 April 2016
Sunday 17 April 2016
17-4-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)
Cirl buntings first breed when they are one year of age. The nest is at low level, within dense cover such as that provided by thick hedgerows and scrub. The ideal scrub is said to be blackthorn, hawthorn, bramble and gorse. The breeding season runs from April until mid-September, usually having two broods but occasionally three. Two to five eggs are laid, which show the hair-like markings characteristic of buntings. They are incubated only by the female and hatch 12–13 days after the last egg is laid. The young are cared for and fed by both parents. They nestlings fledge after 11–13 days but continue to be fed by their parents for a further two or three weeks.
Food and feeding
In the summer their natural food consists of invertebrates for example grasshoppers and crickets to feed their chicks. In the winter they feed on small seeds from over-wintered stubbles, fallow land, set-aside, and the over-winter feeding of stock with grain or hay. They tend to feed in flocks during the winter.
Friday 15 April 2016
25-12-2015 SINOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA - COMMON EARL BUTTERFLY (Tanaecia julii)
Tanaecia julii, the common earl, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South and South-East Asia.
Tanaecia julii is a butterfly from the subfamily Limenitidinae of the family Nymphalidae. The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1837 by Bougainville.
Thursday 14 April 2016
25-12-2015 SINOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA - GREY PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia atlites)
Junonia atlites, the grey pansy, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia.
J. atlites is found in Bangladesh, India, southern China, Cambodia, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, western and central Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Upperside of both sexes pale lavender brown, apical half of wings paler. Forewing: cell with, three transverse, short, sinuous black bands, the outermost defining the discocellulars; a similar short, somewhat broader band beyond the apex of the cell; two transverse discal dusky black fasciae, the inner highly sinuous and outward, angulate above vein 4, the outer straighter, somewhat lunular, bordered by a series of whitish ovals with dusky or black centers. The black-centered spots in the ovals in interspaces 2, 5, and 6 margined posteriorly with rich ocherous yellow. Beyond this series of ovals is a lunular, narrow, transverse dark band, followed by sinuous subterminal and terminal broad dark lines.
Apex of wing slightly fuliginous. Hindwing: a short slender black loop from veins 6 to 4 at apex of cell-area; two discal sinuous transverse dark, fasciae in continuation of those on the forewing: followed by a series of dark-centered ovals in interspaces 2–6, the ovals in interspaces 2, 5, and 6 with the dark centers inwardly broadly bordered with ochreous yellow; postdiscal, subterminal and terminal dark lunular lines as on the forewing.
Underside lilacine white markings as on the upperside but very delicate, slender and somewhat obsolescent. In the dry-season forms of the males the rows of oval ocelli are only indicated by the yellow-centered ovals. The most prominent marking is the inner discal fascia crossing the wings; this is much less sinuous than on the upperside and not angulated on the forewing. In the females the markings are all heavier and more distinct, the space between the various transverse fasciae tinged with ocherous.
The Grey Pansy butterfly thrives in a variety of habitats, from forests and grasslands to urban gardens throughout Nepal. These adaptable creatures prefer areas with plenty of sunlight, as they are known for basking in sunny spots, soaking up warmth to fuel their flights.
Grey Pansies engage in intriguing behavior known as hill-topping, wherein they gather at high elevation points to find mates. Seeing these elegant butterflies congregating at high altitudes can be an unforgettable sight for nature enthusiasts.
Due to their pollinating activities, Grey Pansy butterflies play a significant role in maintaining the health of their natural habitat. They aid in pollination as they feast on the nectar from various flowering plants. This contributes positively to plant reproduction while providing these graceful insects with necessary food sources.
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