The Algerian Nuthatch (Sitta ledanti) is a dream species for every Western Palearctic birder, especially so since the 1990s with the start of what they call in Algeria the “Black Decade”. However, although the security situation in the whole country has improved greatly since many years now, many WP birders still hesitating to visit Algeria […]
The Algerian Nuthatch twitch: easier than you think Read More »
Here is a summary of three birding trips to Morocco led by Mark Beevers with Rockjumper Birding Tours this spring. It includes only interesting and sought-after species (e.g. some North African endemic species and subspecies, and localised, rare or uncommon species,…). Mark will send all national rarities to the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee (MRBC) in due
Birding trips to Morocco, spring 2018 Read More »
The nominate subspecies of the Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia leucorodia) is a rare breeder in Africa. Until the installation of a new colony at Oued el-Maleh Dam near Casablanca in 2017, the Smir colony located in the north of Morocco used to be the only breeding colony in Africa. (Though other subspecies breed in the
First colour-ringing of Spoonbills in Morocco Read More »
Kordofan Lark (Mirafra cordofanica). The name sounds familiar to Western Palearctic birders because until recently the species was included in the WP list. However, Crochet & Haas (2013) suggested that the species should be deleted. Here is a (slightly edited) quote from this article: The distribution of Kordofan Lark as shown in Snow & Perrins
ID of Kordofan Lark: a potential Western Palearctic vagrant Read More »
A Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) photographed by resident birder Pedro Fernandes on 8 April at a small marshy area located between Salé and Oued Bou Regreg (map at eBird). Here is Pedro’s email: This Sunday I found a female Wood Duck not far from Salé. The bird was not ringed and as far as I
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) at Oued Bou-Regreg, Morocco Read More »
Until recently, the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) was considered as an accidental visitor to Morocco (and Northwest Africa in general). But now it’s actually a regular migrant and wintering species in small numbers. Movements of the species across the Sahara to West Africa are even rarer, nevertheless a few birds have reached sub-Saharan Africa since
First record of Cinereous Vulture for The Gambia Read More »
Here are some rare birds and other interesting observations from the last weeks. Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) One bird present at the port of Essaouira since the end of March (M. A. Ait Baamrane). This is the 12th record for Morocco. A bird photographed at Khnifiss Lagoon on 7 February 2018 and later seen also
Rare birds and other interesting sightings in Morocco Read More »
A geolocator study revealed that Plain Swifts breeding in the Canary Islands winter in equatorial West Africa. Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) breeds in the Canary Islands and Madeira in the north-east Atlantic. The populations of these two archipelagos are believed to be partly migratory, with an unknown proportion of the breeding population departing the islands
Plain Swift wintering areas revealed by geolocators Read More »
The natural distribution area of the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is located in South America, but it has been introduced in several regions around the world. Now, established feral populations (sometimes very big ones) can be found in North America, Macaronesian islands, and in several European countries…etc (see map below). In North Africa, the first
Monk Parakeet breeds at Casablanca, Morocco Read More »
Four previous records of Cinereous Vulture are known in Senegal (between 2005 and 2013). Two new observations were added in 2018. – One bird photographed near Fatick by Julio Rabadán González on 30 January (photo at observation.org). – One bird photographed at Sagata on 26 February during a birding trip organized by Banc d’Arguin Reizen
New records of Cinereous Vulture for Senegal Read More »