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first records

Articles about the first records of different bird species for Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia (and occasionally for adjacent countries as well).

First record of Eastern Imperial Eagle for Tunisia and Northwest Africa

/ Birds of Tunisia
Eastern Imperial Eagle / Aigle impérial (Aquila heliaca), El Haouaria, northern Tunisia, 29 April 2017 (Mohamed El Golli).

An Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) was photographed in spring 2017 at El Haouaria, northern Tunisia (Mohamed El Golli). El Haouaria, located at the extreme north-east of the Cap Bon peninsula, is known as a major point for migratory raptors following the Central Mediterranean Flyway (continental Italy-Sicily-Tunisia). In our opinion, this is the first record […]

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First record of Blue-naped Mousebird for Algeria

/ Birding News, Birds of Algeria
Blue-naped Mousebird / Coliou huppé (Urocolius macrourus), Tamanrasset, southern Algeria, 29 July 2018 (photo via Abdelkader Beq).

Blue-naped Mousebird (Urocolius macrourus) photographed in the Tamanrasset region, southern Algeria. This is the first national record of the species. Première observation du Coliou huppé en Algérie (en français voir au dessous de la photo). The Blue-naped Mousebird was photographed and filmed at a village in the Tin-Zaouten district, located in the south of Tamanghasset

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First record of Cinereous Vulture for The Gambia

/ Bird Migration
Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Occipitalis Station, Saruja, The Gambia, 24 Feb. 2018 (Fondo de Amigos del Buitre).

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

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First record of Baird’s Sandpiper for Morocco

/ Birds of Morocco
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii), Zemamra, Morocco, 28 Oct 2016 (Benoît Maire)

Yet another productive birding trip to Zemamra – located some km inland from Oualidia – this autumn. A Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) was photographed at this site by Benoît Maire on 28 October 2016. Three weeks earlier, an American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) was photographed there by the same observer. The Baird’s Sandpiper observation would

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Cinnamon Teal and American Golden Plover, Oualidia region, Morocco

/ Birds of Morocco
Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera - Sarcelle cannelle), Oualidia, Morocco, 8 Oct 2016 (Benoît Maire)

A birding visit by GOMAC member Benoît Maire and 7 other birders to Oualidia region two days ago proved productive. The birding party managed to see a total of 70 different species including some rare birds: An American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) was seen and photographed at Zemamra some 27 Km inland from Oualidia (coordinates:

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Golden Nightjar at Aousserd: first Western Palearctic record

/ Birding News, Birds of Morocco
Golden Nightjar / Engoulevent doré (Caprimulgus eximius), Aousserd, Western Sahara, Morocco; 3 May 2015 (Jurek Dyczkowski)

A Golden Nightjar (Caprimulgus eximius) was observed crossing the road between Dakhla and Aousserd and hit by the observers’ car and died on 3 May 2015 (J. Dyczkowski & R. Smykala). This is the first confirmed record for Morocco and the Western Palearctic. This interesting record confirms once more that the Aousserd region is one of the best birding

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