(Some) Birds of S ́albufera

This last spring i have been several times to this natural park. Mostly this has been at night time for bugs, but also to see birds.  

crested coot, knoppsothøne, Fulica cristata A bird quite distinctive with its two red protrutions in the top of the head

Triel, Eurasian Stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus This is a somewhat large nocturnal bird with large eyes and a loud screaching sound. Photo was taken at dusk on the last rays of the sun for that day.

Gråfluesnapper, Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata

rødhodevarsler, woodchat Shrike,cfemale This is a female because of its small white patch right above the beak. Cool little bird that eats everything from lizzards to larger insects and even other birds.

These three great photos were taken by Cecilia and are posted here with her permission.

On the top photo we see the grey heron Ardea cinerea who just caught a huge fish. Were were watching this for a long time, while the heron was trying to figure out how to devour its slightly oversized meal. 

The next photo is of a Eurasian coot Fulica atra searching for a meal below.

The last photo is of the Sardinian warbler sylvia melanocephala (Svarthodesanger) Singing high and mighty at that time of the year to attract a mate.

OK that is it for this time. Today..or more correctly tonight i am off to S ́albufera once again. This time to look for Melolontha melolontha.

(some) Birds of Mallorca

BIRDS

Here are some of the birds i have seen this spring. After several trips arround the Island of Mallorca.  I wanted to show them before i go over to show pictures of my trip to Morroco, which will be uploaded shortly bit by bit.

Blåtrost Monticola solitariussence, Or in spanish Rockero solitario which sounds pretty cool. This one was flying near the top of the mountain Galatzo, one of the higher mountains on the island.

Bokfink Fringilla coelebs male taken near the two lakes on the island. One of the most common birds and also a beautiful one at that.

Middelhavsmåke Larus audouinii A different species of seagull than what i am used to from Norway with a red beak and black and white tail. This is taken in the village of St Elm.  

Munk female and male Sylvia atricapilla taken from the the base of mountain Tossals Verds Also a common bird, The top picture is the female and the bottom one is the male.

Stylteløper Himantopus himantopus from a secret location of mine. It is a great little place of small ponds of salty water. However it is close to tourism hotspots and i would like to keep this gem hidden/protected. This bird is great to watch as it scans the water for food. 

Chalcophora mariana

Chalcophora mariana

This is the first Buprestidae i have encountered this year. A sunny day in April i was in the countryside when i heard a loud buzzing sound. After a bit of a game i often play called "find the bug" I got this magnificent buprestidae in view, Chalophora mariana. I already have a hasty photo of this species a year ago but then it flew away after a only two snapshots. So this was my chance to improve.  

There are much more beetles to come in the comming days.