I must share this as much as possible!!
Thanks!
 
Mirta

Mantis religiosa, the european mantis, can be ID by a black spot in the inner side on the first segment of the first pair of legs. Sometimes black has white in the center, but not always. I´ve found this link with a picture where you can see the black in the base of the first coxa:

http://estaticos02.cache.el-mundo.net/elmundo/imagenes/2007/06/27/1182922631_0.jpg

Males have a thinner abdomen than females, that looks like with wide hips... 
Mirta

I´d believe your mantis is an european one, Mantis religiosa. Do you know if I´m correct?
Mirta

It also looks like popcorn :-)
Carol

Agree! I thought "pochoclo"!! when I saw the picture. Pochoclo and pororó are the words we use to say "popcorn"

Mirta

Beautiful!

Mirta

Those are pictures I´ve taken from my house roof.
Thay are only just a part of the hundreds that fill our sky these days
 
Mirta

[Mirta, do the Parrots make the holes or are the holes already there? I remember Ei sent a pic of a bird nest in a wall..(hang on, let me find it) Ok, I uploaded the pic, which I think is but I that pic, (thanks Ei). Also, in your last pic, is that 2 adults or adult and baby? Hope you send more pics Mirta.]

Mirta, do the Parrots make the holes or are the holes already there? I remember Ei sent a pic of a bird nest in a wall..(hang on, let me find it)  Ok, I uploaded the pic, which I think is  but I  that pic, (thanks Ei). Also, in your last pic, is that 2 adults or adult and baby? Hope you send more pics Mirta.. 
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Nop, In that wall, they are trying to make bigger the preexistent holes, but they can´t. On natural cliffs they can, that is why the common name is burrowing parrots. Their nests are very deep and big, more than 1 meter deep.

Here we live at 180 km from the biggest parrot breeding colony on the world. There are more than 30,000 nest of burrowing parrots in about 12 km of cliffs. Youo can visit this link in english to know more aboout them : <http://www.orn.mpg.de/masello/PAGES/home-english2.html>
Most of the parrots here were born there, in El Condor Colony. It is an amazing sight when early in the morning or at sunset thousands of parrot are close of the nests!

Mirta 

Take a look here, there are thrips in different colors:
http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=thrips
They are tiny, most of the aphids are  bigger and plumpier than thrips
Mirta

Hi! Almost 40 burrowing parrots are visiting my neighborhood every morning, trying to burrow their nest in a brick wall. Those are pictures I have taken to show you how beautiful they are, and how spring fill with love their days 
They are very noisy, but I love them anyway.
Only I´m feeling a little  Sunday´s morning at 0500 AM, when they start to shout...
Hope you enjoy them
Mirta

Those are aphids, don´t have any doubt. But I´ve never heard or felt aphid bites! 
HAve you got blood or sap inside you??? 
Hugs
Mirta

Hi Donna. The lesser kestrel is like a small common kestrel, but in fact they aren´t very close related (at least that is what molecular analysis says. And yes, it is declining in Europa.
The scientific name is Falco naumanii
Mirta

Hi Dale
It is hard to ID without pictures. Do they fly? I´m thinking first in some kind of thrips. Could it be possible?
Thrips can be wingless or winged, they are very tiny, and can bite. Some times there are lot of them on plants.

Mirta   

Nice album, Paul!
 I was looking for a Wallace picture.... 
And I enjoyed the storm pictures!
Mirta

beautiful indeed! Thanks for sharing!
Mirta

Mirta - Since it is now Autumn  in the Northern Hemisphere, when we all start wimpering about the cold  in a very few short months would you share some "warm" pictures and sightings with us?  I would appreciate warm flowers  and birds in January 

                             

      I will. Mirta