(updated 17 April 2019, record of Javi Elorriaga Bts 30 March, John L. Muddeman 14 April)

The Dunn’s Lark is now well known from the Aousserd road (Inner Oued Ad Deheb, Atlantic Sahara). Outside of this area, it has been recorded six times in the region of Merzouga (Tafilalt) from 2010 to 2012:

• 8 at Auberge La Caravane on 3 May 2010 (B. Mairte et al.)
• 2 at Merzouga on 14 April 2010 (E. Albegger et al.)
• 1 at Auberge Derkaoua on 9 April 2011 (A. Watson)
• 1 at Merzouga on 2 May 2012 (M. Schurmans & E. Collaerts)
• 1 or 2 at Auberge Yasmina on 2 May 2012 (J. Thalund)
• 1 at Merzouga on 7 June 2012 (P. French)
• [Anoter record at Merzouga on 31 December 2001 (J. Tiago Tavares) has not been accepted by the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee]

Several other sightings have been reported this year at Merzouga:

• A group of 3 birds near Merzouga on 26 March. Two of the individuals had very faded plumage and the last one was more marked in the back and seemed to get a fresher plumage – a juvenile? (Cristian Jensen / Audouin Birding Tours, https://go-south.grepom.org/?p=6419)
• another individual at Dayet Srij = Merzouga lake on 30 March (Marc Illa, https://go-south.grepom.org/?p=6433)
• a bird photographed on 30 March, 2-3 km away from the site where there were 3 birds on 26 March (Javi Elorriaga Bts)
• a bird found by Lahcen south-west of the lake on 2 April (Arnoud B van den Berg, https://go-south.grepom.org/?p=6446)
• photographed at Merzouga on 17 April by John L. Muddeman

 

Elsewhere, a record between Foum Zguid and Mhamid in Middle Draa on 29 April 2012 has not been accepted by the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee.

Eremalauda dunni. Distribution map in Morocco (in Bergier & Thévenot 2019)

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References

• Bergier, P. and Thévenot, M. 2019. Les espèces afrotropicales dans le sud-ouest du Paléarctique : acquisitions récentes au Sahara Atlantique Marocain. Alauda 87 (1): 25–39.
• Bergier, P., Franchimont, J., Thévenot, M. and CHM. 2011. Les oiseaux rares au Maroc. Rapport de la Commission d’Homologation Marocaine numéro 16. Go-South Bulletin 8: 1–20.
• Bergier, P., Franchimont, J., Thévenot, M. and CHM. 2012. Les oiseaux rares au Maroc. Rapport de la Commission d’Homologation Marocaine numéro 17. Go-South Bulletin 9: 13–32.
• Bergier, P., Franchimont, J. and CHM. 2013. Les oiseaux rares au Maroc. Rapport de la Commission d’Homologation Marocaine numéro 18. Go-South Bulletin 10: 1–16.
• Bergier, P., Franchimont, J. and CHM. 2014. Les oiseaux rares au Maroc. Rapport de la Commission d’Homologation Marocaine numéro 19. Go-South Bulletin 11: 1–13.
• Bergier, P., Franchimont, J. and CHM. 2015. Les oiseaux rares au Maroc. Rapport de la Commission d’Homologation Marocaine numéro 20. Go-South Bulletin 12: 1–23.