Monday 5 June 2017
Saturday 20 May 2017
COMMON WALL GECKO (Tarentola mauritanica) Pollença, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
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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
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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.
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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
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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:
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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
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Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
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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
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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
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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
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