Index of articles about “Moroccan birds”: ornithological studies and reports, rare birds sightings, general birding news,…etc. In short, everything about birds and birding in Morocco is filed under this category.
A Pharaoh Eagle-Owl (Bubo ascalaphus) exhibited for tourists at Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakech reported by Brahim Bakass on 17 April 2016 (photos 1 & 2). Brahim who was displeased by the show sarcastically commented “this is how we apply the laws protecting wildlife”. On 13 May, Halima Bousadik noted that the owl still exhibited at the […]
Pharaoh Eagle-Owl exhibited for tourists at Marrakech Read More »
At least four Golden Nightjars were located near the Aousserd road by the BIOME team (Dan Brown, Richard Moores and Martyn Owen) on 16 March 2016. Two birds were heard singing and one male had responded to song playback. This represents the first possible breeding of the species in the Western Palearctic. In early March,
Golden Nightjar song at Aousserd, southern Morocco Read More »
Single Lesser Spotted Eagles (Clanga pomarina) migrating through the Strait of Gibraltar in northern Morocco in 2016 and 2017. The first observation is of a 2nd calendar-year bird photographed at Jbel Moussa on 21 May 2016. This is the fourth record of the species in Morocco. The first Moroccan record was observed at Merzouga in April 1996 by
Lesser Spotted Eagles at Jbel Moussa, Morocco Read More »
One year after the observation of two female Namaqua Doves at Safia reserve, the first breeding of the species in Morocco was confirmed this season near Dakhla. Un an après l’observation de deux femelles de Tourtelette masquée dans la réserve de Safia, la première reproduction de l’espèce au Maroc a été confirmée cette saison près
Namaqua Dove breeds in Morocco for the first time Read More »
Each spring, especially in May, hundreds of vultures gather at Jbel Moussa for days waiting to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to Europe. Based on our experiences from last few years, we wanted this year to set up a ‘vulture restaurant’ at the site. The idea is to collect the carcasses wild boar left by
Vulture restaurant experiment at Jbel Moussa, Morocco Read More »
Excellent observations in the Western Sahara, southern Morocco. Peter Stronach and Bob Swann have just returned back from a birding trip to the region. They recorded Golden Nightjars and provided valuable details indicating the (highly probable) breeding of the species in the region. They also recorded a Sudan Golden Sparrow at Oued Jenna (first observation
4 Golden Nightjars at Oued Jenna, Aousserd: detailed report Read More »
Even in the Mediterranean region, some European Stonechats can look very similar to Siberian Stonechats. A much whiter Stonechat was briefly seen in northern Morocco while walking through dense shrubs on 4 April 2016. We both spotted the bird because of its whitish appearance, and all the following characteristics were seen in the field: Much
Siberian Stonechat? No, it’s a European with some Siberian’s features Read More »
Breeding range expansion of the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) continues in Morocco. After the reproduction of the species at Smir marshes in 2011 and two years later at Merja Fouarat, a new breeding colony is established at Casablanca. The latter colony is found at Parc Sindibad (amusement park located inside the city) by Pierre Beaugé. In
Breeding of Glossy Ibis in an urban park at Casablanca Read More »
“La migración intercontinental de la espátula (Platalea leucorodia)” is the title of the first monograph on the Eurasian Spoonbill published in Spanish. It was edited by the ‘Limes Platalea project’ of the ‘Sociedad Gaditana de Historia Natural’ and published last autumn in Cadiz, Andalusia. Despite the title, the book included articles about different aspects (migration, wintering
The Eurasian Spoonbill at Smir: past, present and future (book article) Read More »
The first proven breeding of Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in Africa was found at an islet of Barrage Al-Massira in 2002 (Radi et al. 2004; Thévenot et al. 2004). Soon after, the species started to colonise other wetlands in Morocco and some sites in Algeria and Tunisia as well. The following sites are where the
Breeding expansion of Black-headed Gull in Morocco Read More »