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Monday 19 March 2018

18-9-2017 ADOR, VALENCIA - SHORT HORNED GRASSHOPPER (Subfamily Oedipodinae)


20-9-2017 TANCAT DE PIPA, VALENCIA - BLUE PLUMBAGO (Plumbago auriculata)


18-9-2017 ADOR, VALENCIA - LARGE PSAMMODROMUS LIZARD (Psammodromus algirus)




18-9-2017 ADOR, VALENCIA - COMMON DARTER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Sympetrum striolatum)





18-9-2017 ADOR, VALENCIA - BRIGHTFIG TRIBE (Tribe Ruschieae)


18-9-2017 ADOR, VALENCIA - COMMON GERANIUM BRONZE BUTTERFLY (Cacyreus marshalli)



17-9-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)


Saturday 17 March 2018

6-8-2017 RIVER DANUBE, PASSAU - MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor)


6-8-2017 RIVER DANUBE, PASSAU - COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)


The common raven (Corvus corax) is a large all-black passerine bird. It is the most widely distributed of all corvids, found across the Northern Hemisphere. It is a raven known by many names at the subspecies level; there are at least eight subspecies with little variation in appearance, although recent research has demonstrated significant genetic differences among populations from various regions. It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the thick-billed raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird; at maturity, the common raven averages 63 centimetres (25 inches) in length and 1.47 kilograms (3.2 pounds) in mass. Although their typical lifespan is considerably shorter, common ravens can live more than 23 years in the wild. Young birds may travel in flocks but later mate for life, with each mated pair defending a territory.

Common ravens have coexisted with humans for thousands of years and in some areas have been so numerous that people have regarded them as pests. Part of their success as a species is due to their omnivorous diet; they are extremely versatile and opportunistic in finding sources of nutrition, feeding on carrion, insects, cereal grains, berries, fruit, small animals, nesting birds, and food waste. Some notable feats of problem-solving provide evidence that the common raven is unusually intelligent.

Over the centuries, the raven has been the subject of mythology, folklore, art, and literature. In many cultures, including the indigenous cultures of Scandinavia, ancient Ireland and Wales, Bhutan, the northwest coast of North America, and Siberia and northeast Asia, the common raven has been revered as a spiritual figure or godlike creature.

23-4-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COAL TIT (Periparus ater)



20-12-2015 JURONG, SINGAPORE - RED AND GREEN MACAW (Ara chloropterus)


The red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), also known as the green-winged macaw, is a large, mostly-red macaw of the genus Ara.

This is the largest of the genus Ara, widespread in the forests and woodlands of northern and central South America. However, in common with other macaws, in recent years there has been a marked decline in its numbers due to habitat loss and illegal capture for the parrot trade.


This magnificent and easily distinguished parrot is one of the largest species of Macaw. The Green-winged macaw has yellow eyes, surrounded by bright red bars, made up of rows of small feathers, covering the white patch on the bare skin. The bird's chest, upper wings, upper back, and head are red. The legs of the bird are colored grey. The feathers of the middle wing are green with blue tips. The tail consists of motley plumage, surrounded by red feathers. The horn-colored upper beak is black on the sides while the lower beak is colored in black or dark grey.

The area of the Green-winged macaw distribution is partly Central and South America, stretching from eastern Panama to Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas, across the western part of South America from eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru to northern and eastern Bolivia. Throughout eastern South America, including Parana and Mato Grosso in Brazil, reaching Paraguay and Formosa in northern Argentina. The natural habitat of these birds is tropical rainforest, lowlands, and foothills. They are mainly found in interior regions, rarely occurring in coastal areas.


Green-winged macaws are social birds, living in pairs as well as gathering into family groups or small flocks, consisting of 6-12 individuals. In feeding trees and at clay licks, however, these birds can occasionally be seen in even larger flocks, mixing with other macaws and making a lot of noise, each bird demonstrating its full vocal range. Green-winged macaws are diurnal, spending most of the time under the dense cover of rainforest, where they find shelter as well as socialize and feed. They also spend a lot of time, playing and cleaning each other's plumage, removing lice and ticks from the feathers. If you see 3 or 4 macaws together, it will probably be a pair, and their young. These birds are extremely shy, and rarely seen in the foliage. Feeling danger, the bird immediately flies off, emitting loud screeches.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - OLIVE BACKED WOODPECKER (MALE) Dinopium rafflesii)


Gecinulus rafflesii is threatened by illegal deforestation due to the development of palm oil plantations and the deliberate targeting of primary forest wood. These practices of deforestation even continue in protected areas. The total population of this bird is unknown but it is thought to be uncommon. It is currently classified as Near threatened by the IUCN.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - CHESTNUT MUNIA (Lonchura atricapilla)


14-5-2016 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR - GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)




Friday 16 March 2018

16-3-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TYPICAL CRANE FLY (Superfamily Tipuloidea)




19-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER, COSTA RICA - RINGED KINGFISHER (MALE) (Megaceryle torquata)


The ringed kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) is a large, conspicuous, and noisy kingfisher bird commonly found along the lower Rio Grande Valley in southeasternmost Texas in the United States through Central America to Tierra del Fuego in South America.

Ringed kingfishers can be identified by sex due to differences in coloration. The males possess rusty-brown underparts with white undertail coverts and a white throat. Females have a bluish-gray band seen on upper breast and a whitish band.