A field-survey carried out in spring 2015 in Morocco confirmed the decline of the highly endangered and the only extant population of Great Bustard (Otis tarda) in Africa. During the study Great Bustards were only seen at two of the seven leks (sites where displaying is taking place) occupied ten years ago. The total number […]
The Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) is a medium-sized raptor that breeds colonially on steep sea cliffs, islands and islets on the Mediterranean Sea and on the Atlantic Ocean in the Canary Islands and Morocco. The Eleonora’s Falcon winters in Madagascar and start to return to the breeding grounds by the end of April and early
Eleonora’s Falcon colony at Bouknadel is doing well Read More »
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
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 »
A summary of raptor migration observations during three days in May 2016 at Jbel Moussa (with emphasis on vultures): 2 May: A Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli) was photographed with a flock of 32 Griffon Vultures (G. fulvus) by Rachid El Khamlichi (photo 1). This is the second bird for spring 2016, the first one observed
Spring vulture migration at Jbel Moussa, May 2016 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 »
Some mammal notes from the Aousserd region made by Prof. Abdeljebbar Qninba of the University Mohammed V-Rabat and the Association Nature Initiative (A.N.I.). These observations were made between 18 March and 6 April 2016 in the framework of the project on the “Inventory of Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Aousserd Province” run by the
Mammal notes from the Aousserd region, southern Morocco Read More »