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.
An American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) found at Kenitra, northwest Morocco on 15 November 2014. This is the first record for Morocco and Northwest Africa. Thomas S. Lahlafi, who reported the news, commented: “The bird found very weak in the city of Kenitra three days ago by my uncle, and was collected to his garden. […]
First record of American Purple Gallinule for Morocco Read More »
A mega Western Palearctic rarity! Yesterday, we reported the observation of 3 Rüppell’s Vultures at a carcass near Tétouan, northern Morocco. Today, we went back to the site and to our great pleasure we found a White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) with the other birds that roosted locally the previous night. At our arrival at the
First White-backed Vulture for Morocco and North Africa Read More »
It seems like these Rüppell’s Vultures are following our footsteps. This time, we didn’t even go to see them. They literally crossed our path! Early morning today, we went to Smir wetland for our usual birding and also to survey the local heronry to see the progression of the breeding season of the Eurasian Spoonbill
Rüppell’s Vultures at Tétouan, northern Morocco Read More »
After the observation of 3 Rüppell’s Vultures (Gyps rueppellii) at Jbel Bouhachem in the afternoon of 10 May. Next day (11 May) we went to Jbel Moussa on the Strait of Gibraltar to observe bird migration with the hope of seeing the Rüppell’s again (we literally wanted to intercept them at the Strait, because we
7 Rüppell’s Vultures in northern Morocco in 2 days Read More »
Three different Rüppell’s Vultures observed at Jbel Bouhachem, northern Morocco. This is a real unexpected bonus as the site is a bit inland from the Strait of Gibraltar where the vultures normally gather. Just a few days ago, we talked about watching the spectacle of bird migration at Jbel Moussa on the Strait of Gibraltar.
3 Rüppell’s Vultures at Jbel Bouhachem, northern Morocco Read More »
A White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis) was observed at ‘Gleb Jdiane’, Oued Dahab, on 5 and 6 December 2013 by Noëlle and Hervé Jacob (see the short video). This would be the first record for Morocco if accepted by the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee (MRBC). There was no previous observation of White-throated Bee-eater in the Western
First White-throated Bee-eater for the Western Palearctic Read More »
Marsh Owl is a critically endangered species is Morocco. This piece tries to address one of the main current problems causing its decline. Your help, as a responsible ecotourist or guide, is much needed. Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) is a typical owl restricted to Africa and its biggest island, Madagascar. Three subspecies are recognised: Globally,
Why Marsh Owl in Morocco is endangered and how to save it? Read More »
The Andalusian Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus sylvaticus) became almost extinct throughout its Mediterranean range except in Morocco where there have been more or less regular observations until 1988. Since that date, however, the species went undetected until 2000. Since the beginning of the new millennium, new sightings (including the first-ever photograph of a living wild bird
Andalusian Buttonquail in Morocco and the Western Palearctic Read More »
Cape Gull – the African subspecies of the widespread Kelp Gull – does not breed at Khnifiss Lagoon, Morocco, as reported earlier by Bergier et al. (2009). A thorough analysis by Olof Jönsson of the available photographs showed that the large, dark-backed gulls breeding at Khnifiss are, in fact, Great Black-backed Gulls. This is the
Status of Kelp Gull in Morocco and the Western Palearctic Read More »
The Cricket Warbler or Cricket Longtail (Spiloptila clamans) is a small bird native to the Sahel region, where its breeding area is restricted to a narrow band stretching from southern Mauritania and northern Senegal eastwards to Sudan and Eritrea. Inside the Western Palearctic region, the species was only known to occur in exterm north of
Cricket Warbler breeds in southern Morocco Read More »