The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family.

The little egret measures between 55 and 65 cm with a wingspan of 85 to 95 cm. It weighs an average of 500g. There is no sexual dimorphism. It is entirely white with a black beak that is slightly bluish-grey at the base and its legs are black with yellow toes. During the mating season, it wears two long, fine feathers, about 20 cm long, on the back of its neck, called egrets.

The little egret has an opportunistic diet. It feeds mainly on small fish (less than 20 g), aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans, amphibians, molluscs, spiders, worms, reptiles and small birds.

Silent most of the time, it emits a hoarse cry when disturbed or on the colony.

The little egret nests in colonies, often with other ardeids. It can nest on the ground, in reedbeds, scrub or up to 20 m high in trees or rocks. The pair builds the nest together, using reeds and twigs.

The eggs, consisting of 3 to 5 greenish-blue eggs, are laid between late April and early May. The pair incubates alternately for a period of 21 to 25 days. The parents feed the young for around forty days. The young leave the nest to fledge after 5 weeks.

It is found in southern Europe, all around the Mediterranean and in sub-Saharan Africa.

Generally migratory, most of the population winters in Africa, but some is also present in France and Spain. The species has made great strides in recent years, colonising the French Atlantic coast on a massive scale (60% of the French breeding population in 2000). It bred for the first time in Ireland in 1997 (12 to 55 pairs from 1997 to 2001) and in Great Britain in 1998 (68 to 77 pairs in 2000).

It also breeds in the Middle East, notably in Turkey. It is also found throughout South-East Asia.

Sensitive to cold weather, its numbers fall sharply after cold spells in the north of its range, where some birds tend to settle. In winter, it retreats inland, sometimes several hundred kilometres. There it meets up with cormorants, which are also fleeing the cold of winter.

The little egret can be found in all wetlands with shallow waters, lagoons and oyster beds, with a preference for brackish waters. It is just as common along rivers as in marshes in certain regions. Often seen in the company of other ardeids.

Source: Wikipedia

This ginger cat, a tenant of the historic San Miguel cemetery in Málaga's Capuchinos district, must have been surprised to see me, the only living human wandering around this sacred site that day.

An article will be devoted to this curious part of the city in another section of the site, but here's a link with some descriptions:

https://visita.malaga.eu/en/what-to-see-and-do/blog/the-most-monumental-cemeteries-in-malaga-the-san-miguel-cemetery-and-the-english-cemetery-p2042

Houseflies (Musca domestica) are among the most common and familiar insects to humans. They live in almost every region of the world and are very well adapted to human environments. Although they are small, they play an important role in ecosystems - but also in the spread of disease.

Identification

• Size: 5 to 8 mm long
• Appearance: Grey-black body with four dark lines on the thorax, prominent red eyes, transparent wings.
• Lifespan: Approximately 2 to 4 weeks, but a female can lay up to 500 eggs during her lifetime.

Life cycle

1. Egg: laid in decomposing organic matter (rubbish, excrement, corpses).
2. Larva (maggot): feeds on the material in which it was born.
3. Nymph: stage of transformation.
4. Adult: ready to reproduce in a few days.

The complete cycle can take 7 to 10 days, depending on the temperature.

Role in disease transmission

Houseflies are mechanical vectors of many pathogens, as they land on rubbish, excrement or cadavers, and then on human food.

They can carry :

• Bacteria: Salmonella, E. coli, Shigella
• Intestinal parasites
• Viruses
• Worm eggs (helminths)

Associated diseases: diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera, dysentery, etc.

They contaminate mainly by :

• Contact of their legs or wings with food
• Regurgitation (they vomit digestive juices before absorbing food)
• Defecation (they defecate frequently)

Usefulness in nature

Although annoying, they also have ecological roles:

• Decomposition: They help to recycle organic matter.
• Food: They are a source of food for many animals (birds, spiders, amphibians, etc.).
• Scientific research: Their larvae (maggots) are used in forensic medicine and certain therapies (wound debridement).

Control and prevention

• Keep areas clean and dry (eggs need moisture).
• Use mosquito nets, traps, insecticides or repellent plants (basil, lavender, mint).
• Cover food and dispose of rubbish properly.
• Encourage the presence of natural predators (bats, birds).

A little anecdote

Houseflies are unable to bite, as they have no mouthparts for this purpose. They suck up food in liquid form. If they come across solid food, they ‘predigest’ it by covering it with digestive saliva.

(Source: ChatGPT)