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Allen’s Gallinule at Oued Massa, Morocco

A juvenile Allen’s Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni) was found yesterday at Oued Massa by my colleague Ali Irizi (coordinates: 29.9998708, -9.6443939). This is the 10th record for Morocco of this Afro-tropical species.

It’s wonderful to finish a birding year with such a rarity. Importantly, the bird was found alive which is much better that the dead one I found a few years ago at Tahaddart estuary, just south of Tangier.

When I first met Ali last April in Agadir (where he invited me and Rachid El Khamlichi to a delicious dinner by the way), he told us that he likes very much to watch and photograph raptors. But since then, he has apparently found love with aquatic birds as well!

Ali returned to the site today and took these photos.

Allen's Gallinule / Talève d’Allen (Porphyrio alleni), Oued Massa, Morocco, 28 Dec. 2014 (Ali Irizi).
Allen’s Gallinule / Talève d’Allen (Porphyrio alleni), Oued Massa, Morocco, 28 Dec. 2014 (Ali Irizi).
Allen's Gallinule / Talève d’Allen (Porphyrio alleni), Oued Massa, Morocco, 28 Dec. 2014 (Ali Irizi).
Allen’s Gallinule / Talève d’Allen (Porphyrio alleni), Oued Massa, Morocco, 28 Dec. 2014 (Ali Irizi).

Update:

The Allen’s Gallinule was relocated again by Daniel Vrauwdeunt on 31 December (photo below).

Allen's Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni), Oued Massa, Morocco, 31 Dec. 2014 (Daniel Vrauwdeunt).
Allen’s Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni), Oued Massa, Morocco, 31 Dec. 2014 (Daniel Vrauwdeunt).

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