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 »
Two captive-bred Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) released in southern Italy last August died shortly after they started their migration. One bird shot dead by an illegal hunter in western Sicily, while the other died two days after it arrived to Tunisia, probably poisoned. The Egyptian Vulture in Italy: Egyptian Vulture numbers have decreased by more
Two Egyptian Vultures released in Italy shot and poisoned during migration Read More »
The invasion of the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) continues in Morocco. Certainly, the invasion is not as fast as in some countries like Mexico. Also, the numbers of birds are not increasing dramatically like in Spain where the species is considered now a as a plague in some major cities. But the signs of the
Monk Parakeet invasion continues: now breeding at Rabat Read More »
A South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) was observed yesterday, 16 September, on the Moroccan waters by Bob Flood and Ashley Fisher from a ferry traveling from Lanzarote to Cádiz. The bird was observed at about 50 nautical miles off Safi, approximately where the red dot is on the map below (calculated on the basis of
South Polar Skua off Safi, Morocco: second national record Read More »
Horus Swift has been discovered in northern Senegal, some 1,600 km NW from its previously known range. The new site lies less than 500 km—as the crow, or indeed the swift, flies—south of the WP border. Another day, another potential vagrant to the Western Palearctic. Following our discussion of the Kordofan Lark, now it’s the
Horus Swift: a potential Western Palearctic vagrant Read More »
The historical breeding range of Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) in Morocco extended from Tangier to the marshes of Sidi Moussa-Oualidia – and possibly as far south as Chiadma region (Essaouira). While currently the species breed only on coastal area, in the past it bred inland as well (east to around Meknès). Currently, almost the whole
Marsh Owls in Morocco south of its core breeding area Read More »
Two Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix) photographed at Ichkeul National Park, northern Tunisia on 28 December 2013 (Mohamed El Golli). Mohamed took the photo against the light, and from a distance the birds appeared dark like Common Ravens. The photo was then ignored until discovered in his archive last month. The species is a rarity in
Montagu’s Harrier satellite-tracked from France found dead in Morocco, most likely shot by hunters/poachers. Un Busard cendré suivi par balise GPS de la France est trouvé mort au Maroc, très probablement abattu par des braconniers (En français au-dessous de la 2ème photo). A Montagu’s Harrier satellite-tracked by the Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé and partners