CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Cleopatra Butterfly (Gonepteryx cleopatra) or simply called Cleopatra is a medium sized butterfly of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Gonepteryx. It occurs in Southern Europe, Northwest Africa as well as Turkey and parts of the Middle East. In Europe, this long lived species is on the wing from April to August. There are 10 subspecies recognised and the subspecies Gonepteryx cleopatra balearica is endemic to the Balearic Islands, Spain. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com The Cleopatra Butterfly is divided into the following subspecies:
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonepteryx_cleopatra
|
Saturday 17 June 2017
CLEOPATRA BUTTERFLY [Male] (Gonepteryx cleopatra subspecies G. c. balearica) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
Monday 5 June 2017
CATTLE EGRET [WESTERN] (Bubulcus ibis) Pollença, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
Saturday 20 May 2017
COMMON WALL GECKO (Tarentola mauritanica) Pollença, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
The Common Wall Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) or Moorish Gecko is a small reptile of the family Phyllodactylidae which is in the genus Tarentola. Other names include Crocodile Gecko and Mauritanian Gecko. This mainly nocturnal species occurs in countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. In Europe, it has been introduced on the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Madeira as well as in North America (USA) and South America (Argentina also Uruguay).
Friday 12 May 2017
MEDITERRANEAN KATYDID [Female] (Phaneroptera nana) S'Albufereta Nature Reserve, Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
The Mediterranean Katydid (Phaneroptera nana) is a bush-cricket of the family Tettigoniidae which is the genus Phaneroptera. It mainly occurs in southern Europe, the Near East and North Africa. It
can be encountered from July through to October in sunny and dry habitats,
especially in shrubs and low branches of trees. The males grow up to 13–15 millimeters long while females can reach 15–18 millimeters. The basic
colouration of the body is light green, with many small black spots. Head, legs
and wings are also green. The eyes are bright orange. Hind wings are longer than the
fore wings. The female's sickle shaped ovipositor is about 5 millimeters long.
|
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaneroptera_nana
Saturday 29 April 2017
WHITE BANDED GRASSHOPPER (Eyprepocnemis plorans) S'Albufereta Nature Reserve, Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The White Banded Grasshopper (Eyprepocnemis plorans) is a member of the Shorthorned Grasshopper family Acrididae which is in genus Eyprepocnemis. It occurs in Africa, the southern parts of Spain, Italy and Greece as well as parts of Western Asia. Source: http://www.pyrgus.de/Eyprepocnemis_plorans_en.html |
Monday 24 April 2017
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata) Boquer Valley, Formentor Peninsula, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
Saturday 15 April 2017
BLACK WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus) Male on left + juvenile Salinas d'Es Trenc, Salinas de Lavante, Campos, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is one of three species of stilt, the others two are Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) and Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus). It is resident in Africa and also breeds across the temperate parts of Europe and Central Asia where it is a summer resident that migrates south for the winter to sub Saharan Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. Within the warmer parts of this range, there is a sedentary population. In addition, there are also four subspecies or races recognised, which some authorities consider to be full species:
|
Monday 3 April 2017
Monday 27 March 2017
SCARLET DARTER DRAGONFLY [Male] (Crocothemis erythraea) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Scarlet Darter Dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a member of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Crocothemis. It is a common species in southern Europe and throughout Africa as well as western Asia as far as southern China. The adult male’s bright scarlet red abdomen has a striking flattened profile which distinguishes it from other "red" darters. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax. |
Friday 17 March 2017
Wednesday 8 March 2017
SARDINIAN WARBLER [Male] (Sylvia melanocephala) Boquer Valley, Formentor Peninsula, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
|
The Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) is a small mainly
insectivorous warbler of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia. It is commonly
encountered in southern and eastern Europe and around the Mediterranean
Basin as well as on the Canary Islands. Up to five subspecies are
recognised by some authorities. The female, typically of most sylvia warblers, has drabber
plumage, it is grey headed with brownish upper parts and the under parts
are washed buff. This species normally occurs in shrubby type habitat
as well as in parks and gardens.
Text: © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / RawBirds.com
Friday 3 March 2017
WESTERN [PURPLE] SWAMPHEN (Porphyrio porphyrio) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see tha former distribution map of Purple Swamphen subspecies and to hear calls |
The Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a large member of the rail family Rallidae which is in the genus Porphyrio. This chicken-sized bird, with its large feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily recognisable in its native range. It used to be considered the nominate subspecies of the Purple Swamphen which has now been split into six full species It is found in Iberia, France, Sardinia and northwest Africa to Tunisia.
The Purple Swamphen has been split into the following species:
- Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) - southwest Europe and northwest Africa
- African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) - sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar
- Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) - Middle East, through the Indian subcontinent to southern China and northern Thailand, introduced Florida, USA
- Black-backed Swamphen (Porphyrio indicus) - southeast Asia to Sulawesi
- Philippine Swamphen (Porphyrio pulverulentus) - Philippine islands
- Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) - Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_swamphen
Wednesday 22 February 2017
RED VEINED DARTER DRAGONFLY [Male] (Sympetrum fonscolombii) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information
The Red Veined Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a member of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum.
It has a wide spread distribution and is commonly found in Africa,
western, central and southern Asia as well as most of Europe. This
species is nomadic by nature and since the 1990’s has greatly expanded
its European range as far north as southern Scandinavia.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
|
Monday 20 February 2017
CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Colias croceus) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
The Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) is a migratory butterfly of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Colias.
It is one of the most-widespread species in Europe. The breeding range
extends from North Africa and southern Europe eastwards through Turkey
into the Middle East. It occurs throughout the rest of Europe as a
summer migrant, in good years individuals reaching Scandinavia. In Asia,
its range extends into central Siberia in the north and into India in
the south but it is absent from Central Asia.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colias_croceus
Friday 10 February 2017
EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear callsThe Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) is a member of the rail and crake family Rallidae which is in the genus Fulica. It occurs in Eurasia, northern Africa and Australia. It has recently expanded its range into New Zealand. In the milder parts of its range, it is sedentary but in the northern more colder region, it migrates further south and west for the winter. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_coot |
Tuesday 31 January 2017
BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear callsThe Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), more commonly known as Night Heron, is a medium sized heron in the family Ardeidae which is in the genus Nycticorax. It is the most widespread heron in the world but is absent from large parts of North Africa, Northern Eurasia and Australasia as well as the more northern and colder regions. There are four subspecies or races generally recognised. The northern populations are migratory and winter in the southern parts of the range. |
Friday 20 January 2017
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) Albufera Marsh, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small member of the heron family Ardeidae
which also includes Bitterns and Herons. It is found in the temperate
parts of Eurasia and Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Over the last 60 years or so this species has greatly expanded its range
including recolonising its former breeding areas in Northern Europe. It
first bred in the Caribbean in the mid 1990’s and is increasingly being
recorded along the North American eastern seaboard.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds.com |
Saturday 31 December 2016
CATTLE EGRET [WESTERN] (Bubulcus ibis) Pollença, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE |
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a species of heron of the family Ardeidae which is in the genius Bubulcus. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion and has successfully colonised much of the temperate zones of the world. There are two geographical races which are sometimes classified as full species, the Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis ibis) and the Eastern Cattle Egret (B. ibis coromandus). The eastern subspecies breeds in Asia and Australasia, and the western form occupies the rest of the range, including the Americas. Some authorities recognise a third subspecies, (B. i. seychellarum) which occurs on the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_egret
Saturday 24 December 2016
BALEARIC WARBLER [Male] (Sylvia balearica) Boquer Valley, Formentor Peninsula, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
|
The Balearic Warbler (Sylvia balearica) is a small passerine of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia. It is endemic to the Balearic Islands (but is absent from Menorca), Spain. It is very closely related to and is similar in appearance to Marmora's Warbler (Sylvia sarda) who together with Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) and Tristram's Warbler (Sylvia deserticola) form a super group within the genus Sylvia. This insectivorous species occurs in open rocky coastal habitat with thorny bushes, broom and heather which provide cover and nesting areas.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com
Monday 19 December 2016
SQUACCO HERON [Male] (Ardeola ralloides) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE |
The Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) is small heron of the family Ardeidae which is in the genus Ralloides. It is resident south of the Sahara
Desert in western, eastern and south eastern Africa, including
Madagascar. There is also a small population in Morocco and Algeria
on the North West African coast. In addition, this heron occurs
as a summer resident in central and southern Europe as well as in
western central Asia. In the autumn, it migrates back to Africa to spend
the winter months there. Its diet includes frogs, lizards, small fish
and a wide variety of invertebrates.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds.com
Saturday 17 December 2016
CHUKAR PARTRIDGE (Alectoris chukar subspecies A. c. cypriotes) Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
|
The Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) or more commonly called Chukar is in the pheasant family Phasianidae which is in the genus Alectoris. It has a widespread distribution which stretches in a wide band from south eastern Europe to eastern China. There are many subspecies recognised including Alectoris chukar cypriotes which occurs on the islands of Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus as well as in parts of Bulgaria and Syria.This
gamebird has been widely introduced, for hunting purposes, in many
countries including the USA and New Zealand where feral
populations have become established.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / rawbirds.com
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / rawbirds.com
Wednesday 14 December 2016
COMMON CUCKOO or EURASIAN CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus) Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls
|
The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is of the family Cuculidae which is in the genus Cuculus. It is a summer visitor to Eurasia that spends the winter in sub Saharan Africa as well as parts of southern Asia.
This species mimics the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) both in size and appearance. It doesn't build a nest of its own but instead it is a brood parasite specialising in laying single eggs in the nests of other species, typicially that of Dunnock (Prunella modularis), Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) or Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus). Its eggs, although larger, mimic the colour of the hosts eggs.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) distribution map
Breeding - summer Non breeding - winter
SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Saturday 12 November 2016
RED FOOTED FALCON [Male] (Falco vespertinusi) Katholiko Monastory, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) is a small bird of prey in the family falconidae which is in the genus falco. It's breeding range extends from Eastern Europe eastward to Central Asia. In the autumn it migrates south to spend the winter in Southern Africa and in April/May the following year returns to its breeding grounds. Its scientific species name, vespertinus, is Latin for ‘of the evening’ and probably refers to the time of the day when it can be seen hunting. Text reference: http://www.arkive.org/red-footed-falcon/falco-vespertinus/ |
Sunday 6 November 2016
VIOLET CARPENTER BEE (Xylocopa violacea) Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
The Violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea) is a member of the family Apidae which is in the genus Xylocopa. Its range extends from the temperate regions of Western Europe eastward across Asia as far as central China. In recent times, it has greatly expanded its European range northward and by 2006 had reached Britain. This very conspicuous species is the largest European bee. After mating, the gravid female bores tunnels in dead wood, hence the name "carpenter bee".
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylocopa_violacea
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylocopa_violacea
Sunday 30 October 2016
RED FOOTED FALCON [Female] (Falco vespertinusi) Katholiko Monastory, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) is a small bird of prey in the family falconidae which is in the genus falco. It breeding range extends from Eastern Europe eastward to Central Asia. In the autumn it migrates south to spend the winter in Southern Africa and in April/May the following year returns to its breeding grounds. Its scientific name, vespertinus, is Latin for ‘of the evening’ and may refer to the time of the day when it can be seen hunting. Text reference: http://www.arkive.org/red-footed-falcon/falco-vespertinus/ |
Monday 24 October 2016
ITALIAN SPARROW [Male] (Passer italiae) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) or Cisalpine Sparrow is a small perching bird in the family Passeridae which is in the genus Passer. It is very closely related to and is intermediate in appearance between House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis). Some authorities treat it as a subspecies of House Sparrow but recent DNA research strongly supports its status as a full species. The Italian Sparrow occurs in Italy and small populations are also found in the adjoining countries of Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland. It is also resident on the Greek island of Crete and other Mediterranean islands including Corsica and Malta. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com |
Friday 14 October 2016
WHINCHAT [Male] (Saxicola rubetra) Pelekaniotikos River, Koundoura, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
|
Tuesday 11 October 2016
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) Palaiochora Harbour, Palaiochora, Crete, Greece
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small member of the heron family Ardeidae
which also includes Bitterns and Herons. It is found in the temperate
parts of Eurasia and Africa as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Over the last 60 years or so this species has greatly expanded its range
including recolonising its former breeding areas in Northern Europe. It
first bred in the Caribbean in the mid 1990’s and is increasingly being
recorded along the North American eastern seaboard.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Rawbirds.com |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)