Index of birding news that are of interest to Western Palearctic birders. These include, among others, ‘mega rarities’ found in Northwest African, potential vagrants to the WP from adjacent areas, and other interesting articles.
Other birding news and national rarities (including many “first national records”) are filed under their respective country.
First record of Pygmy Sunbird (Hedydipna platura) for Algeria. Première mention du Souimanga pygmée pour l’Algérie. During a birding trip in autumn 2023 to southern Algeria, members of Écocirta Association, in coordination with the local Tijem Association*, documented the first Pygmy Sunbird for the country. The group photographed a male and a female Pygmy Sunbirds […]
First Pygmy Sunbird for Algeria Read More »
First record of the African Green Bee-eater (Merops viridissimus) in Algeria.Première observation du Guêpier vert en Algérie. During a birding trip to the Wilaya (Province) of In-Guezzam adjacent to Mali, members of the Algerian Wildlife Watchers Association (AWWA) documented another new species for Algeria. On 4 November 2023, the birding party photographed two African Green Bee-eaters in
First African Green Bee-eater for Algeria Read More »
A singing Little Bunting observed at Oued Massa, southern Morocco. This is the fourth national record.Un Bruant nain chanteur observé à Oued Massa en avril. Il s’agit de la quatrième mention de l’espèce pour le Maroc. The Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) was found by Sönke Tautz at Oued Massa, near the edge of the town
Singing Little Bunting at Oued Massa, Morocco Read More »
First breeding record of the Cricket Warbler (Spiloptila clamans) in Algeria.Premier cas de reproduction de la Prinia à front écailleux en Algérie. A birding trip by members of the Algerian Wildlife Watchers Association (AWWA) to the Wilaya (Province) of Bordj Badji Mokhtar in the south of Algeria produced the first record of Cricket Warbler for
Cricket Warbler breeds in southern Algeria Read More »
First breeding record of the House Bunting (Emberiza sahari) in Spain and Europe. By: Antonio Jesús Sepúlveda & Julio Ortega (Tumbabuey). The appearance of the House Bunting as an African vagrant in the Iberian Peninsula dates back to a decade and a half ago, with a first record in 2009 in the town of Tarifa.
House Bunting breeds in Europe for the first time Read More »
The return of Golden Nightjar, Sudan Golden Sparrow, and other Aousserd interesting birds after they had been missing for the last few years. Understandably, their absence during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic was due to travel restrictions. Some birders who visited the Aousserd region last year did miss some of the Western Palearctic rarities
Golden Nightjar, Sudan Golden Sparrow at Aousserd Read More »
Sighting of a Pied Crow on the northern edge of the Sahara in Algeria.Observation d’un Corbeau pie dans la limite nord du Sahara en Algérie. In early April 2023, Nedjla Adamou and Assem Zerouala found the Pied Crow in Laghoaut, located on the northern edge of the Algerian Sahara. After its discovery was shared, Mohamed
Pied Crow at Laghouat, Algeria Read More »
Hooded Bulture at Jbel Moussa, northrn Morocco. It’s the first observation of the species in the country in more than six decades.Un Vautour charognard observé à Jbel Moussa au nord du Maroc. C’est la première observation de l’espece dans la pays depuis plus de six décennies. An immature Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) observed with a
Hooded Vulture in northern Morocco Read More »
First record of the Northern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer griseus) for Algeria, plus a number of other good rarities at the border of the Western Palearctic. During a birding trip to southern Algeria (wilaya of Bordj Baji Mokhtar) last autumn, members of the Algerian Wildlife Watchers Association (AWWA) documented the first Northern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer griseus)
First Northern Grey-headed Sparrow for Algeria plus other rarities Read More »
Last month, the AWWA team recorded the first Chestnut-bellied Starling in Algeria, and a year later they documented the breeding of the species. During a recent birding trip to southern Algeria, members of the Algerian Wildlife Watchers Association (AWWA) observed and photographed a Chestnut-bellied Starling (Lamprotornis pulcher). The bird was found in the region of
First Chestnut-bellied Starling for Algeria Read More »