Friday 5 August 2016
Thursday 4 August 2016
Wednesday 3 August 2016
Tuesday 2 August 2016
16-3-2014 PEGO MARSHES, ALICANTE - SHORT TOED SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)
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The short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. The genus name Circaetus is from the Ancient Greek kirkos, a type of hawk, and aetos, "eagle". The specific gallicus means "of Gallia"
This is an Old World species found throughout the Mediterranean basin, into Russia and the Middle East, and parts of Western Asia, and in the Indian Subcontinent and also further east in some Indonesian islands.
Those present on the northern edge of the Mediterranean and other parts of Europe migrate mainly to sub-Saharan Africa north of the equator, leaving in September/October and returning in April/May. In the Middle and Far East the populations are resident. In Europe, it is most numerous in Spain where it is fairly common but elsewhere it is rare in many parts of its range. A bird on the Isles of Scilly, Britain, in October 1999 was the first confirmed record for that country.
The short-toed snake eagle is found in open cultivated plains, arid stony deciduous scrub areas and foothills and semi-desert areas. It requires trees for nesting and open habitats, such as cultivations and grasslands for foraging
Friday 29 July 2016
4-2-2015 MARXUQUERA - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)
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The male and female differ in the color of their plumage. The male is generally gray in color, but has a black throat and chest that varies in size from one individual to another. In addition, the male has a white spot on the top of the wings. The female lacks the white spot and black throat / chest area, but the red tail is present in both sexes.
The species is often good to see because they sing from high perches at the top of a bush or on top of houses (chimneys) and on top of rocks for example. An interesting fact about this species is that in Southern Europe they are mostly bound to hilly and mountainous terrain, in central Europe, the species, however, has adapted to life in cities and towns. Here, houses and buildings are replacements for the rocks and mountains in their natural habitat. Black redstarts thrive in a dry and sunny climate and are observed from sea level to altitudes above 1.80 miles. Their diet consists mainly of insects they chase along walls, they also eat (to a lesser extent) seeds and berries. They build their nests in crevices and cavities in buildings or rocks.
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