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Sunday 25 September 2016

14-7-2015 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - EPAULET SKIMMER (MALE) (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.


Makes use of a wide range of freshwater habitats, including Rivers, streams, lakes, pans, dams and water-holes. Favours sites that are fairly open with exposed rocks, sand or gravel. Most common along rivers in the savanna regions.

Often perches on the ground, but also on rocks and exposed stems and twigs. Hunts from a perch with a rapid, darting flight. Frequently returns to the same perch. Both sexes can be found in the same area.


29-7-2015 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - EURASIAN REED WARBLER (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)


Rather plain medium-sized warbler: warm brown above with narrow pale spectacles, pale buffy below. Can be very difficult to separate from other reed warbler species. Most populations breed in reed or sedge beds, both pure and mixed with bushes, often wandering to adjacent scrub and thickets. “Mangrove” Reed Warbler is a resident in mangroves along the Red Sea. Non-breeding migratory birds may wind up in a wide range of habitats, from marshes to mangroves, to acacia scrub and cultivation. Often heard but can be hard to see: prolonged song much like Sedge Warbler but more even-paced and melodic, without rough and jerky phrases. Calls include a low “chuk” and rattled “chrrt.”

23-9-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava)


23-9-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava)










23-9-2016 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - ROBBERFLY (ASILIDAE)




23-9-2016 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - BLACK WINGED STILT (JUVENILE) (Himantopus himantopus)



23-9-2016 EL PALMAR, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)



23-9-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias niger)


23-9-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)






20-9-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BAND WINGED GRASSHOPPER (Sphingonotus)




20-9-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RED VEINED DARTER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum fonscolombii)







20-9-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum striolatum)



22-9-2016 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)


22-9-2016 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)