The nearest breeding populations of the Western Reef Eegret (Egretta gularis) to Northwest Africa are located in coastal West Africa (nominate subspecies) and in the Red Sea (subspecies schistacea). On 17 July 2018, a dark-morph Western Reef Egret was observed in the Mekhada marches, a Ramsar site located in the wilaya of El Tarf, northeast […]
At least four Richard’s Pipits (Anthus richardi) at Dayet Dar Bouazza, and an Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni) at an urban park in Rabat. While both Asian pipit species are rare in Morocco, the former is much more regular and even winters in small numbers at some sites, the latter is much rarer. Richard’s Pipit On
Four Richard’s Pipits and Olive-backed Pipit in Morocco Read More »
A large number of wild-caught Lanner Falcons held in captivity in a desert area of Libya. A video showing a big number of falcons – mainly Lanners (Falco biarmicus) – held in captivity in a desert area was shared recently in a Libyan Facebook group dedicated to hunting. It was shared by someone using a
Over 100 wild-caught Lanner Falcons held in captivity (video) Read More »
The conservation status of the Northern Bald Ibis has been improved from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the latest IUCN Red List assessment. L’état de conservation de l’Ibis chauve a été amélioré, passant de « En danger critique d’extinction » à « En danger » dans la dernière évaluation de la Liste Rouge de l’UICN. The Northern Bald Ibis
Northern Bald Ibis’ IUCN Red List status updated Read More »
The Spanish Government officially declared the Andalusian Buttonquail as extinct in Spain. This is the first bird species to go extinct in Europe since the extinction of the Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) almost 170 years ago. There are, however, some differences between the two extinctions. The Great Auk is lost forever, whereas the Andalusian Buttonquail
Andalusian Buttonquail declared extinct in Spain Read More »
The autumn migration through the Strait of Gibraltar is over for the majority of soaring birds. The Griffon Vulture is an exception, because its southward migration starts much later – from mid-October and peaking in November. Some rare birds can also migrate late. Read this: “4 Cinereous Vultures, 2700 Griffon Vultures and a Spanish Imperial
Autumn bird migration at the Strait of Gibraltar by Migres Foundation Read More »
In spring 2018, Moulaï and Mayache discovered a new breeding site of the Algerian Nuthatch. The latest similar discovery was in the early 1990s. Karim Hadddad and his colleague Saber Dekkiche and local guide Ryad M. visited the newly discovered site on 24 September 2018. Karim shared with us the following detailed trip report. The
Visiting the new Algerian Nuthatch breeding site Read More »
A new breeding site of the Algerian Nuthatch was discovered last spring, that’s almost three decades since the last similar discovery. Until now, the Algerian Nuthatch (Sitta ledanti) was known only in four sites, namely the forests of Babor, Guerrouch, Tamentout and Djimla (see map below). All sites are close to each other but separated
New Algerian Nuthatch breeding site discovered in 2018 Read More »
The Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica) breeds from Scandinavia eastwards across Eurasia. It winters in eastern China and Japan. The species is in great trouble as its global population size has declined by a 75–87% over a period of 30 years (see: Edenius et al. 2017. The next common and widespread bunting to go? Global population
First Rustic Bunting for Algeria and Northwest Africa Read More »
North African (or Atlas Crossbill) and Balearic crossbills are the most genetically divergent among all Common (Red) Crossbill subspecies in the Western Palearctic according to a new study. This divergence is even greater than between the Common and Parrot crossbills. Parmi toutes les sous-espèces du Bec-croisé des sapins (Loxia curvirostra) dans le Paléarctique occidental, le
Atlas and Balearic crossbills genetic divergence Read More »