20 December 2011

Joyeuses fêtes de Noël, à bientôt en 2012 / Merry Christmas and see you soon in 2012.

20 December 2011

Mid December at Essaouira: all the active nests of Plain Martin found so far this season were solitary (surprising for a supposedly colonial species). During the week I was there, there were groups of spoonbills present regularly on the river and the Water treatment ponds. Otherwise, the most interesting record was a Great-Spotted Cuckoo, present over a three-day period (P Greig-Smith)

20 December2011

A new trip report is available on the Trip reports webpage (J.J. Ramos & Birding Canarias)

17 December 2011

A male Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis in eclipse plumage photographed at ‘Ferme du maraichage 1’ on 15 December (F. Chevalier). This farm is close to Mijk, Dakhla, where a male stayed from April until mid-May. Is it the same bird returning to its winter grounds?

17 December 2011

The 2nd International Conference “Algerian ornithology at the dawn of the third millennium” (CIOA2–2012) is planned to be held on 5-7 May 2012. More info at https://sites.google.com/site/cioa2algeria/

10 December 2011

A new trip report is available on the Trip reports webpage (E. Roualet & NOF Travel)

2 December 2011

La Faculté des Sciences de Ben M’sik de Casablanca et le GREPOM (Groupe de REcherche pour la Protection des Oiseaux – Morocco programme de Birdlife international) organisent en partenariat avec le Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et Lutte Contre la Désertification et l’institut scientifique, la VIème édition des Journées Oiseaux d’Eau et Zones Humides qui se tiendra à la Faculté des Sciences de Ben M’sik du 23 au 25 février 2012, sous le thème : La recherche scientifique au service de la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes. Contact : Rhimou EL HAMOUMI, Laboratoire d’Ecologie et d’Environnement, Unité Biodiversité et Développement durable, Faculté des Sciences Ben M’sik (joezh6@yahoo.fr)

2 December 2011

A Douyiet le 28 novembre : Tadorne de Belon : 11 ; Canard colvert : 450 min ; Canard chipeau : 180 min ; Sarcelle d’hiver : 160 min ; Canard pilet : 1 femelle ; Canard souchet : 2465 min ! ; Sarcelle marbrée : 212 min ! ; Fuligule milouin : 2355 min ! ; Nette rousse : 300 min ; Fuligule nyroca : 40 min ! ; Fuligule morillon : 2 min ; Erismature à tête blanche : 200 min ! ; Grèbe à cou noir : 7 min ; Grèbe castagneux : 160 min ; Grèbe huppé : 15 min ; Héron gardeboeuf : 62 min ; Aigrete garzette : 9 min ; Héron cendré : 2 min ; Flamant rose : 40 , dont seulement 3 adultes. ; Busard des roseaux : 6 min ; Elanion blanc : 1 couple. ; Faucon crérecerellette : 8 ; Gallinule Poule-d’eau : 60 min ; Foulque macroule : 200 min ; Foulque caronculée : 150 min ; Talève sultane : 1 adulte (2nde observation de l’espèce sur le site depuis les années 1970 !). ; Echasse blanche : 3 ; Petit Gravelot : 1 ; Gravelot à collier interrompu : 40ne min ; Bécasseau minute : 15ne min ; Bécasseau variable : 2 min ; Chevalier culblanc : 3 min ; Chevalier arlequin : 7 min ; Chevalier aboyeur : 1 min ; Combattant varié : 3 mâles et 1 femelle. ; Mouette rieuse : 207 min ; Pigeon colombin : 50ne min ;; Martin-pêcheur d’Europe : 1 ; Rousserolle effarvatte : 6 min (hivernage possible, déjà constaté à de nombreuses reprises sur le site antérieurement) (J. Franchimont)

26 November 2011

Le lac oriental de Douyièt, accessible au public, est bien en eau aujourd’hui. Parmi les données les plus remarquables, 10 Tadornes de Belon, 800 Canards souchets, 40 Flamants roses, 1 Aigle de Bonelli immature, 8 Busards des roseaux, 1 Faucon pèlerin, 23 Vanneaux huppés, 12 Bécassines des marais, 2 Bécassines sourdes, 40 Bécasseaux minutes, 9 Tourterelles maillées, 25 Bruants des roseaux, 230 Moineaux espagols (J. Franchimont).

23 November 2011

Selection of a November trip include:

• — Aguelmane du Sidi Ali 11 Nov: Several Ruddy Shelduck, Mallard, Shoveler, Common Pochard, Grey Heron, Crested Coot. Single Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe. Many Moroccan Rock Lizard Scelarcis perspicillata
• — Tagdilt Track 13 Nov: a Long-legged Buzzard, a Hoopoe Lark, 2 Skylark, a pair of Thick-billed Lark, several Temminck’s Lark and Red-rumped Wheatear, many Lesser Short-toed Lark. A small group of Trumpeter Finch. Several Fat Sand Rat.
• — Dayet Srij and Auberge Yasmina 12 Nov: Several Ruddy Shelduck Brown-necked Raven. Single Egret and Little Ringed Plover. A Jaculus orientalis. Two African Green ToadBufo boulengeri at night in the gardens of auberge Yasmina
• — Rissani 12 Nov: a pair of Barbary Partridge, a Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler
• — Errachidia 11 Nov: a Goshawk in a palm grove
• — Fez city 10 Nov: an Eurasian Sparrowhawk, several Jackdaw
• — Aoulouz 14 Nov: a Black-shouldered Kite, several Common Stonechat in the Souss valley. A single Great White Egret in the Oued Souss at Aoulouz
• — Cedar forest 11 Nov: a Tawny Owl at night, 2-3 Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper. A Shrew Crocidura russula, two familiar groups of Barbary Ape, a Cape Hare at night
• — Imlil 14 Nov: Coal Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Red-billed Chough, Alpine Chough. Many Mauritanian Toad
• — Four Red Fox seen at night between Tazenathk and Taliouine, 13 Nov, and two other ones also at night between Imlil and Oukaimeden, 14 Nov (Javier Alvarez Remirez et al.)

19 November 2011

Sélection d’observations de novembre :10 novembre :

• — Meknès : un Choucas des tours à Bab Belkari et un Elanion blanc au péage autoroute Meknès-Est.
• — Entre El Hajeb et Ifrane : un groupe de 50 Tourterelles turques, 4 Faucons crécerellettes.
• — Lac près d’Enjil, haute Moulouya : 473 Tadorne casarca, 75 Canard colvert, 196 Canard souchet, 5 Sarcelle d’hiver, 300 Fuligule milouin, 2 Fuligule morillon, 4 Fuligule nyroca, un Grèbe huppé, 17 Grèbe à cou noir, 40 Grèbe castagneux, 4Héron cendré, 47 Foulque macroule, 46 Foulque caronculée, 2000 Foulques spp, un Petit Gravelot, 3 Cochevis de Thékla, 3 Pipit farlouse, un Traquet motteux, un Traquet rieur, 6 Moineau soulcie, 30 Linotte mélodieuse, 2 Grand Corbeau

11 novembre :

• — Missour : un Epervier d’Europe, 50 Tourterelle turque, un Bruant du Sahara.
• — Environs de Missour, route de Talsint : 2 Chevalier culblanc, 2 Chevêche d’Athéna, Ammomane isabelline (couple), une Bergeronnette des ruisseaux , Fauvette mélanocéphale (couple), 2 Pie-grièche méridionale, 2 Grive musicienne, 50 Chardonneret élégant, 2 Roselin githagine, 2 Bruant zizi (mâles chanteurs)
• — Trajet Missour – Talsint : Ammomane isabelline (6, dont un couple à 100 Kms de Talsint), 200 Alouette pispolette (à 100 Kms de Talsint), 10 Pie-grièche méridionale, 2 Traquet à tête grise (à 100 Kms de Talsint), Traquet halophile (1 couple dans falaise, à 100 Kms de Talsint), un Roselin githagine (à 100 Kms de Talsint).
• — Trajet Talsint – Bouanane : 3 Tadorne casarca (Oued Bouanane),un Héron cendré, un Chevalier aboyeur, 2 Chevalier culblanc, un Petit Gravelot, 2 Hirondelle rousseline, 2 Hirondelle de rochers, 4 Traquet à tête blanche (dont 3 sur l’Oued Bouanane), un Sirli du désert (16 Kms O. de Bouarfa)

12 novembre :

• — Environs de Bouarfa, près du croisement de la route de Iche : 300 Tadorne casarca, un Canard souchet, un Buse féroce, un Faucon lanier, un Faucon crécerelle, 3 Echasse blanche, un Chevalier aboyeur, un Chevalier culblanc, un Chevêche d’Athéna, 50 Pigeon biset, 20 Tourterelle turque, 5 Ganga unibande, 4 Sirli du désert, 4 Cochevis de Thékla, 4 Cochevis à long bec, 300 Alouette bilophe, 100 Alouette calandre, 300 Alouette pispolette, une Hirondelle rustique, 5 Bergeronnette grise, 3 Pouillot véloce, un Traquet à tête grise, un Traquet à tête blanche, 5 Pie-grièche méridionale, 4 Moineau espagnol, 5 Moineau domestique,15 Corbeau brun, 4 Verdier d’Europe.
• — Trajet Bouarfa – Tendrara : 2 Bécassines des marais dans un petit cours d’eau en zone désertique
• — Environs de la Guelta El beida (Hauts Plateaux) : 9 Tadorne casarca, une Buse féroce, un Faucon émerillon mâle, 300 Ganga cata, 10 Alouette des champs.
• — Un Balbuzard pêcheur à Aïn Beni Mathar (route de Mérija, peu après l’Oued Charef).
• — Taourirt : une Effraie des clochers en soirée, à la sortie de la ville sur la route d’Oujda.

13 novembre :

• — Taourirt : 5 Martinet des maisons dans leurs nids, de bon matin, au centre-ville
• — Barrage Mohamed V : 2 Tadorne casarca, 2 Tadorne de Belon, 10 Canard colvert, 6 Canard souchet, 3 Sarcelle d’hiver, 250 Fuligule milouin, un Fuligule morillon, 4 Fuligule nyroca, 15 Grèbe huppé, un Grèbe à cou noir, 2000 Grand Cormoran, 50 Héron cendré, une Aigrette garzette, 7 Flamant rose, 8 Balbuzard pêcheur, une Buse féroce, un Busard des roseaux, 70 Foulque macroule, 17 Avocette élégante, 18 Chevalier arlequin, un Chevalier culblanc, 2 Chevalier guignette, 3 Goéland brun, 220 Mouette rieuse, 3 Chevêche d’Athéna, 50 Hirondelle de rochers, 7 Hirondelle rustique, 2 Grive musicienne, un Rougequeue de Moussier.
• — Barrage Idriss I : une Oie cendrée, 2 Tadorne casarca, 1400 Canard colvert, 165 Sarcelle d’hiver, 16 Perdrix gambra, 6 Grèbe huppé, un Grèbe à cou noir, 12 Grand Cormoran, 60 Héron cendré, 5 Aigrette garzette, 12 Cigogne blanche, un Flamant rose, 67 Spatule blanche, 3 Busard des roseaux, un Faucon crécerelle, 20 Grue cendrée, 5 Foulque macroule, 22 Avocette élégante, 3 Petit Gravelot, 25 Gravelot à collier interrompu, 2 Bécasseau variable, 100 Bécasseau minute, 20 Bécassine des marais, 11 Barge à queue noire, 20 Chevalier aboyeur, 5 Chevalier arlequin, un Chevalier guignette, 6 Combattant varié, un Goéland brun, 23 Mouette rieuse, un Pouillot véloce, 5 Pie-grièche méridionale, 4 Tarier pâtre, 30 Chardonneret élégant, une Linotte mélodieuse, 10 Bruant proyer (Jacques Franchimont et Mostafa Fareh)

11 November 2011

Deux Faucons pélerins dans le centre-ville de Rabat les 20 et 21 octobre, observés depuis l’Hotel « Splendid », rue Ghazza près du Parc de Triangle de Vue (Clément Héroguel)

9 November 2011

Les deux Faucons d’Eléonore « Hamid & Jackie » sont arrivés le 7 novembre à Madagascar (H. Rguibi)

9 November 2011

Dans le Sahara Atlantique marocain, très peu d’alouettes notées sur les sites visités (trop tôt pour les hivernages?), nombreux Roselins githagines et beaux passages de labbes, puffins et autres oiseaux marins.30 octobre. Pont de l’Oued Massa sur la route de Tzinit : 4 Hirondelles paludicoles, 1 Grand cormoran, 1 Martin pêcheur. Bou Izakan : les premiers Traquets à tête blanche (6 – l’espèce ne sera pas recontactée durant le séjour!). Oued Assaka (très beau site) : 20 Hirondelles rousselines, 15 Roselins githagines, 1 Cigogne noire, un couple de Canards souchets, 6 Sarcelles d’hiver, 2 Phragmite des joncs, 2 Rousserolles effarvattes, 50 Pouillots véloces, 4-5 Rougequeues de Moussier, +100 Moineau espagnols, 1 Bécassine des marais

31 octobre. Oued Assaka : 10 Hirondelles rousselines, 2 Sarcelles marbrées, 1 Faucon lanier adulte, 1 Gorgebleue. Piste de Fort Bou Jerif et hotel : 3 Chouettes chevêches, 2 Dromoïques du désert, 10 Perdrix gambra, 2 Grives musiciennes. Sandy plains : 60 Gangas unibandes. Pont sur l’Oued Draa : 3 Cigognes noires. Tan-Tan, station radar en bord de route: 1 Milan royal, 2 Faucons lanier, 12 Buses féroces, 3 Faucons crécerelles. Tantan Plage : 1 Labbe a longue queue, 1 Labbe pomarin

1 novembre. Tantan Plage : 50 Macreuses noires, 10 Fous de bassan, 10 Sternes pieregarin,1 Labbe parasite, 1 Grand labbe, 2 Labbes pomarins + de nombreux labbes non identifiés.Mare temporaire en face de la station radar route de Tan-Tan : 1 Rougegorge, 10 Petits gravelots, 6 Gravelots a collier interrompu, 1 Grive musicienne, 30 Bergeronnettes grises, 1 Bergeronnette printanière. Route de Tilemsoun : km 9 : 2 sirli du désert, 2 alouette bilophe, 1 Traquet du desert, 1 Rougequeue de moussier, 4 traquets à tête grise, 1 Alouette de Clotbey, 4 pouillots véloce. km 11 : 1 traquet motteux, 4 cochevis de thekla. km 20 : 2 ammomanes isabelline, 1 traquet rieur, 1 dromoïque du desert, 1 traquet du desert, 4 cochevis de thekla. km 23 (radier) : 1 buse féroce, 6 cochevis de thekla, 2 pie-grieche grise, 4 traquets à tête grise, 2 Traquets du désert, 2 ammomanes isabelline. km 25 : 2 alouettes de Clotbey. Tilemsoun km 31 : 15 roselins githagine. km 32 : 2 pie-grieches grise, 2 traquets à tête grise, 1 fauvette à lunette, 2 rougequeues de Moussier, 1 traquet rieur. km 46,5 : 4 sirlis du desert, 2 ammomanes élégantes. Oued El Ouaar : 10 Tadornes casarcas. Route de l’oued Ez Zehar : km 9 : 2 fauvettes mélonocéphale , 3 traquets à tête grise, 1 traquet du desert, 1 chardonneret élégant, 1 Rougequeue à front blanc, 1 Sirli du desert, 5 Cochevis de Thekla, 1 Pouillot véloce. Aux deux puits : + 100 Cochevis de Thekla, 8 Moineaux espagnols, 16 Alouettes calandrelles, 5 Alouettes pispolettes, 4 Rougequeues de Moussier, 3 Traquets motteux, 1 Traquet rieur, 4 Traquets à tête grise, 2 Traquets du désert, 1 roselin githagine, 5 Bergeronnette grises. Akhfenir : 3 Tourterelles turques, au moins 10 Moineaux domestiques.

2 novembre. Sandy Plains : 1 Faucon lanier adulte, 5 Alouettes de Clotbey, 1 Ammomane élégante, 1 Sirli du désert. Mare temporaire en face de la station radar route de Tan-Tan : 100 Bergeronnettes grises et 5 Rougequeues noir. Seawatching à Akhfenir de 06.30 à 08.30 : + 100 Puffins cendrés, 15 Puffins des Baléares, 1 Puffin fuligineux, 40 Fous de bassan, 50 Sternes caugek, 7 Labbes pomarins, 1 Labbe a longue queue adulte, 6 Grands labbes, 2 Labbes parasites, plus divers limicoles et une Grive musicienne épuisée sur la plage. Lagune de Knifhiss. Parmi les nombreux limicoles, nous retenons une Barge à queue noire, 1 Bécasseau cocorli, 6 Sternes hansel, 15 Sternes caspiennes, 20 Spatules blanches, un Busard des roseaux, 5 Goélands marins, un Goéland dominicain, 50 Roselins githagines, 4 Sirlis du désert.

3 novembre. Pont sur Oued Draa : 5 Grèbes castagneux. Massa : Alouette des champs et Pipit farlouse avant le village de Massa. L’oued de donnera aucun canard, mais une Grande Aigrette, un Torcol chanteur, une Fauvette babillarde, 10 Hirondelles paludicoles.

4 Novembre. Cap Rhir : 65 Ibis chauves, 1 Labbe pomarin. Vallée du Paradis : Fauvette de l’Atlas trouvée à 700 m, Chouette hulotte chanteuse (com. pers), un Martin pêcheur, un Martinet des maisons en compagnie de 10 Hirondelles des rochers, un Epervier femelle adulte, un Pic de Levaillant! passant devant nous.

5 Novembre. Oued Souss : Un Bécasseau de Temminck, de nombreuses Cisticoles des joncs. Taroudant. Au pont avant la ville : une Hirondelle paludicole. (E. Roualet / NOF Travel)

9 November 2011

Notes from a recent trip: We had a great week, as always, seeing all our targets except Thick-billed Lark, Ruddy Shelduck and Red-necked Nightjar. The Purple Swamphens and Black Stork at Tamri were autumn ‘firsts’ for me, whilst the Great White Egret was unexpected.19th October. Tamri lagoon – 5 Northern Bald Ibis, 1 Black Stork, 2 Purple Swamphens. Also 1 Lesser Crested Tern offshore. Tamri village – 1 Black-winged Kite, 2 Laughing Doves. Aghroud beach – 3 Lesser Crested Terns.

20th October. Massa (section nearest the sea). No ducks at all, no Coots and very few shorebirds! The area is still heavily saline. Nevertheless, 110 Glossy Ibises and three Eurasian Spoonbills roosting on the lagoon. 1 Eurasian Wryneck in bushes near the reserve entrance. Massa (1 km section of river between track behind Café de la Poste and road a little further south, reached via ‘football pitch’) – 1 Great White Egret, 1 Purple Heron, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Brown-throated Martin. 4 Ferruginous Ducks at Oued Massa, along the section of river south of Tassila by the ‘old’ road to Sidi Ifni

21st October (Desert south-east of Guelmim). Hillside by turn off to Asrir – 1 Desert Lark. Fields just before Asrir village – 60 Black-bellied Sandgrouse, 1 Bar-tailed Lark, 3 Trumpeter Finches. Asrir village – 2 White-crowned Wheatears. Fields and bushes between Asrir and Oasis Tighmert – 2 Long-legged Buzzards, 4 Fulvous Babblers. Also several Desert and Red-rumped Wheatears in general area.

22nd October (Desert south-west of Guelmim along main road). Oued Boukila – 1 Scrub Warbler west of road (but habitat being disturbed due to water pipes being laid). Km 14 – 1 Lanner Falcon. Km 22 – 1 Spectacled Warbler beyond oasis. Km 30 – 1 Bar-tailed Lark. Km 32.5 – 5 Greater Hoopoe Larks, 2 Temminck’s Larks, 3 Bar-tailed Larks. Km 33 – 5 Greater Short-toed Larks. Km 34.5 – 13 Cream-coloured Coursers, 1 Greater Hoopoe Lark. Also a few Desert and numerous Red-rumped Wheatears in general area.

23rd October. Road to Immouzzer – pair of Tristram’s Warblers, several ‘Atlas’ Common Crossbills, a Rock Bunting and a Eurasian Jay in and around the pines at the highest point on the road; small passage of Red-rumped Swallows and other hirundines noted from a vantage point west of Paradise Valley. Souss estuary (first section, from road) – 2 Marbled Duck, 1 Glossy Ibis, 14 White Storks.

24th October. Massa (river section south of road reached from ‘football pitch’) – 1 Little Bittern, 1 Squacco Heron, 1 Garganey. Also presumed juvenile Barbary Falcon overhead. Massa (river section reached from track behind Café de la Poste) – 1 Great White Egret, 1 Squacco Heron. Also Juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle, 1 Alpine Swift and probable Tawny Eagle overhead.

25th October. Souss estuary (first section from road) – 1 Squacco Heron, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 14 Ruff, etc. Also 2 Black Terns over the golf course pond on the right (The new causeway down the minor road to the left has been washed away by a high tide) (D. Walsh – Ornitholidays)

9 November 2011

Records of an October trip:At Sidi Bou Rhaba, on 3 October, we found an estimated 20 White-headed Ducks although they were not swimming together and therefore difficult to count. There was one male Ferruginous Duck and up to 100 Great Crested Grebe, mostly fledglings.

At Oued Loukkos, we had an amazing 3000 Glossy Ibises on 2 October.
One of the Eurasian Spoonbills at Embouchure Oued Souss on 8 October appeared to be colour-ringed as nestling on Terschelling, Netherlands, on 12 July 2008.

In total, we encountered only four White-breasted Cormorants: two off Skhirat on 5 October, one at Oued Souss on 8 October and one at Oued Massa on 8 October.

On 7 October, we found a Lanner two-thirds south along the highway between Marrakech and Agadir, and another one was perched on a pilon 5 km north of Tamri.

Lesser Crested Terns appeared quite common in the first October week with a maximum flock of six at the Skhirat beach on 3 October.

A Short-toed Treecreeper (mauritanica) in a pine wood above Ourika valley on the road to Oukaimeden on 6 October was the first I found in this area.

A single bird and a flock of 15 Plain Martins (Riparia paludicola mauritanica) were present at Oued Loukkos, east of the highway, on 2 October.

Moroccan Reed Warblers (the ‘undescribed taxon’) were singing at Oued Loukkos on 2 October; one was well photographed at Tassila, Oued Massa, on 8 October.

Out of c 15 chiffchaffs at Oukaimeden on 6 October included at least a few Iberian Chiffchaffs. An obvious Iberian Chiffchaff was foraging along the Tassila bridge of Oued Massa on 8 October.

An Ashy-headed Wagtail was photographed at Oued Loukkos on 2 October, amidst many 100s of Spanish Wagtails (A. van den Berg)

9 November 2011

A week and a half in Essaouira (9-20 October) produced a total of 99 species (more than usual in my experience for a 10-day period), of which 16 are migrants new to my own Essaouira list (see Greig-Smith 2011; Go-South Bulletin 8, 104-112). Of these, 13 species are also new additions to the full list of birds seen in Essaouira since 2007.There were 5 Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) on the Town Ponds, up to 3 Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) in several locations, and a single Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) seen on two days among a group of 10-15 Redshank (Tringa totanus).

A Squacco Heron (Ardeolalareola ralloides) was first seen on the Town Ponds on 13 October, and then spent several days on the estuary. Other notable records on the river included a Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) on 15 October, two Pintail (Anas acuta)on 17 & 18 Oct and a male Wigeon (Anas penelope) on 19 & 20 Oct.

A Black-Winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) was present on the Golf Course on 14 October. The remaining new records are of migratory passerines : Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) were seen singly or in pairs in many places, Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) similarly occurred singly or in pairs, mainly on the Golf Course, where Tree Pipits (Anthus trivialis) were seen regularly on each day I visited, and Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) occurred on several occasions. There were single records of Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis) and Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos). I also saw a Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) in coastal scrub on 16 October – only recorded once before in Essaouira.

I was able to spend a considerable amount of time on the Golf Course to the south of the town, at Diabat. Thanks to kind permission from the management of Golf du Mogador, I started on a programme of bird surveys on the Course and its surroundings (previously not accessible). I will continue this at different seasons during the next year or so, the aim being to assess the implications of the major changes brought about through the construction of the Golf Course, hotels and villas, and the substantial habitat change accompanying it. On one hand, this investment has created large areas of denser vegetation than naturally occurs in the forest and scrub that surrounds the area, and much of it is regularly irrigated. On the other hand, there is disturbance due to the building work, and much higher activity by people and vehicles, both for the management of the Course and visits by golfers. It is not self-evident what this means for birds. My results so far, based on standard counts on the Golf Course, and an equivalent effort in the surrounding forest, suggests that in October there was a substantially greater diversity of species on the Course, and many types of birds were encountered with greater frequency there. Most of the migrant landbirds mentioned above were seen exclusively, or most frequently, on the Golf Course.

Finally, the weather leading up to October had been very dry, and consequently many of the shallow ponds to the east and north of the town – normally good places for waders and other waterbirds – were dried out. Even the ‘North Lake’, which I have previously regarded as a permanent area of open water, was completely dry. This meant that the large numbers of ducks usually seen there were concentrated on the ponds of the nearby water treatment plant, as well as appearing in small numbers on the river and the largest of the Town Ponds. The amount of rain that falls in the forthcoming winter will determine when, and how much the North Lake regains its previous status as a good site for waterbirds.

In an effort to avoid the catastrophic flooding that affected the river and estuary at the end of November last winter, major engineering work is now underway beside the bridge to Diabat, creating high protective banks and a managed river channel. This work is close to the habitual location of Essaouira’s famous Western Reef Heron beside the bridge, but fortunately the bird remained there every day, and seemed quite unconcerned !

Other records of interest include 4 White-Headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) on 18 Oct, Brown-Throated Sand Martin (Riparia paludicola) seen daily, up to 10 birds foraging over open water; active nests discovered in river sandbanks, and a single Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) on 12 Oct and 20 Oct.

The complete report is available on the Trip reports webpage (Peter Greig-Smith)

21 October 2011

Records in Eastern Morocco:

• — A Melilla : 39 Milvus migrans, 40 Pernis apivorus, 2 Neophron pecnocterus et 9 Gyps fulvus, tous en vol NW le 31 mai. 22 Puffinus mauretanicus, 2234 Calonectris diomedea, 14 Morus bassanus, 111 Larus audouinii, un Falco tinnunculus, 5 Falco naumanni et 43 Apus pallidus le 4 juin de 7h30 à 10h30 (journée RAM). 23 Pernis apivorus, 13 Circaetus gallicus et un Falco eleonorae en vol NW le 7 juin. 16 Puffinus mauretanicus, 125 Calonectris diomedea, 6 Egretta garzetta, 44 Larus audouinii, 7 Sterna sandvicensis, 3 Falco tinnunculus, 6 Falco naumanni, une Athene noctua et 87 Apus pallidus le 2 juillet de 7h30 à 10h30 (journée RAM). Premier Actitis hypoleucos postnuptial le 20 juillet. 2 Erithacus rubecula le 20 juillet. 25 Himantopus himantopus en halte migratoire et 4 Larus melanocephalus le 27 juillet. 14 Puffinus mauretanicus, 768 Calonectris diomedea, 3 Haematopus ostralegus, 10 Himantopus himantopus, 7 Arenaria interpres, 2 Actitis hypoleucos, 40 Larus audouinii, 5 Chroicocephalus ridibundus, 3 Larus melanocephalus, 6 Sterna sandvicensis et 109 Delfinus delphis le 6 août de 7h30 à 10h30 (journée RAM). 29 Actitis hypoleucos le 9 août. 14 Himantopus himantopus le 17 août. 169 Merops apiaster, premiers migrateurs post-nuptiaux, le 24 août. Un Accipiter nisus en vol Sud et 2 Sterna bengalensis en vol NW le 31 août. 7 Streptopelia senegalensis, 3 Actitis hypoleucos, 3 Cettia cetti, 5 Acrocephalus scirpaceus et 4 Phylloscopus sibilatrix le 1 septembre. 56 Puffinus mauretanicus, 1278 Calonectris diomedea, 2 Morus bassanus, 2 Egretta garzetta, un Falco tinnunculus, 5 Haematopus ostralegus, un Actitis hypoleucos, 115 Larus audouinii, 2 Larus melanocephalus, 220 Sterna bengalensis, 47 Sterna sandvicensis, 248 Sterna hirundo et 5 Tursiops truncatus le 3 septembre de 7h30 à 10h30 (journée RAM). 12 Ardea cinerea en vol Sud le 5 septembre. Un Pandion haliaetus et un Accipiter nisus en vol Sud le 8 septembre. 9 Circus aeruginosus le 18 septembre.
• — Au Jbel Moussa, Tanger (sortie GOMAC) : 116 Ciconia nigra, 1459 Ciconia ciconia, 35 Accipiter nisus, 427 Pernis apivorus, 179 Milvus migrans, 9 Neophron pecnopterus, un Gyps fulvus, 329 Circaetus gallicus, 280 Aquila pennata, 4 Circus aeruginosus, un Circus pygargus, 115 Crecopsis daurica le 24 septembre. 15 Ardea cinerea, un Pandion haliaetus, 7 Accipiter nisus, 4 Pernis apivorus, 8 Circaetus gallicus, 22 Aquila pennata, et un Circus aeruginosus le 25 septembre.
• — A la lagune de Smir : un Morus bassanus de 3° année mort, 36 Egretta garzetta, 124 Bubulcus ibis, 7 Ardeola ralloides, 10 Nycticorax nycticorax, 5 Platalea leucorodia, 19 Plegadis falcinellus, 4 Ciconia ciconia, 276 Phoenicopterus roseus, 73 Anas platyrhynchos, 18 Anas clypeata, 2 Circus aeruginosus, 511 Fulica atra, 39 Larus audouinii, 81 Chroicocephalus ridibundus, 6 Sterna bengalensis, 115 Sterna sandvicensis et 45 Sterna albifrons le 26 septembre.
• — Données de reproduction à Melilla : Hypolais opaca : 4 ad + 3 jeunes de taille moyenne le 20 juillet. Muscicapa striata : 6 adultes + 3 jeunes de taille moyenne + 2 jeunes de petite taille le 20 juillet. Charadrius dubius : couple, nid avec un œuf le 25 juillet. Motacilla alba subpersonata : 2 ad et 4 jeunes le 25 juillet. Aquila pennata : un couple avec un jeune de l’année le 24 août.
• — 200+ Delphinus delphis à Melilla le 6 juin. Un Aquila fasciata adulte et 7 Circus aeruginosus à Zerket (Rif) le 23 septembre (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar)

15 October 2011

A Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) was at Oualidia lagoon on 2 October (Alain Mathurin)

12 October 2011

A new paper is available in Go-South Bulletin:

• Chevalier, F. & Bergier, P.2011. Notes sur quelques oiseaux observés près de Dakhla, Oued Ad-Deheb. Go-South Bull. 8 : 114-124.

12 October 2011

Quelques observations classiques d’oiseaux en migration au large de la côte à Salé le 12 octobre (tous en vol Nord-Sud) : Puffin cendré : 2400, Puffin sp : 140, Fou de Bassan : 2000, Goéland brun : 3000, Grand Cormoran : 160, Macreuse noire : 105 environ, Spatule blanche: env. 900, Flamant rose: env. 600, Ibis falcinelle : 38. Passereaux migrateurs suivant le littoral : Traquet motteux, Rouge-queue noir, Rossignol (I. Cherkaoui)

8 October 2011

Nombre élevé d’oiseaux d’eau à Douyiet le 4 octobre : 1575 Canards colverts, 1030 Sarcelles marbrées, 1260 Fuligules milouin, 161 Nettes rousses, 50 Fuligules nyrocas, 300 Erismatures à tête blanche, 38 Grèbes à cou noir, 210 Grèbes castagneux, 50 Grèbes huppés, un Crabier chevelu, 9 Hérons cendrés, 35 Aigrettes garzettes, 20 Flamants roses, 50 Gallinules Poule-d’eau, 3750 Foulques macroules, 600 Foulques caronculées, un Chevalier guignette, 8 Mouettes rieuses, 6 Guifettes noires et un Martin-pêcheur d’Europe (J. Franchimont)

1 October 2011

Moroccan Rare Birds Committee, session 17 (2011): the results of the first round are available on the MRBC webpage.

25 September 2011

A new paper is available in Go-South Bulletin:

• Castell, P. ; Castell, R. ; Jackson, A. & Pleasance, B. 2011. The nest of Cricket Longtail Spiloptila clamans at Oued Jenaa, Awserd. Go-South Bull. 8 : 113.

24 September 2011

Une première au Maroc : deux Faucons d’Eléonore adultes, capturés à l’aide des filets japonais le 20 septembre 2011 sur l’Ile de Mogador, ont été équippés d’émetteurs satellitaires pour suivre leurs migrations. Le premier Faucon est nommé « Hamid », le second « Jackie ». Les premières cartes d’ici quelques jours…. (H. Rguibi Idrissi)

24 September 2011

A Long-billed Dowitcher (Bécassin à long bec – Limnodromus scolopaceus) was at Lower Loukkos marshes on 18 September (A. Mathurin & B. Maire)

3 September 2011

A new paper is available in Go-South Bulletin:

• Bergier, P. 2011. Où voir les oiseaux dans le Sahara Atlantique marocain – Mise à jour septembre 2011 (rév. 1.0). Go-South Bull. 8 : numéro spécial. 98 pages.

27 August 2011

Info passed by Imad Cherkaoui, Birdlife International:

Dear all
BirdLife International is seeking input for the 2012 IUCN Red List update via the Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
BirdLife International invites you to participate in an online consultation process to discuss proposed revisions to the global threat status (i.e. IUCN Red List category of extinction risk) for selected species in each region or relevant to each taxonomic specialist group.

Globally Threatened Bird (GTB) Forums website

Last year we moved the forums to a new platform, which may be found at www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums. We hope that this relatively new site, which is now better integrated with the rest of the BirdLife website, will prove more user-friendly than the old one. Please read the welcome and instruction pages for more details.

How your information and opinion can influence the global conservation status of the world’s birds

– To read and contribute to discussions on the species under review, visit the new forums at www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums
– Click each link to view a short topic on each species, giving the rationale for the status review or a request for information.
– Make your contribution through the forum by typing it in the box below the topic, and then clicking « Post a comment ». Posts are then added subsequently by forum moderators (therefore there may be a delay before your posting appears on the site). For contributions that are used, your name and affiliation will be explicitly acknowledged in the species accounts that will appear on the BirdLife and IUCN websites, and in future publications.
-The initial deadline for contributions is 5 December 2011, when we will assess the contributions made and post up a draft list of preliminary decisions. You will then have two more weeks to comment further. Final decisions will be made and posted up on 19 December 2011. The revised species assessments and updated factsheets will be released on the BirdLife website in May 2012, and incorporated into the IUCN Red List later in the year..
-To maximise feedback, please distribute this message as quickly and widely as possible to relevant people within your networks.
– Note that the selected species under discussion are those for which newly published information is available (or new unpublished information has been sent to BirdLife) that implies a revision may be appropriate given the IUCN Red List criteria and quantitative thresholds. If you would like to propose additional species to be reviewed, please post a comment on the relevant ‘Suggestions for new topics’ discussion, or email andy.symes@birdlife.org, in either case giving details of population/range estimates that may require revision.
– For more general information about the GTB Update, visit http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/gtb_forums.html.

The 2012 comprehensive Red List update

2012 will see the release of the new comprehensive four-yearly Red List update, so in addition to the annual forum discussions we are also currently updating the factsheets and Red List assessments for over 2,000 Globally Threatened, Near Threatened (NT) and Data Deficient (DD) species. The comprehensive update involves extensive consultation with local, national, regional and species experts, who review and update our existing data and factsheet information. We may contact some of you separately in the coming weeks and months to request your help in this process, so please accept our apologies if you receive several emails from us. In addition, if you have particular knowledge of one or more threatened, NT or DD species or of key sites where these species occur, and would be willing to help in this process, then please do get in touch with Andy Symes andy.symes@birdlife.org or Joe Taylor joe.taylor@birdlife.org. And if you are aware of any inaccuracies in the information on our species factsheets, or of relevant new data on distribution, population, trends or threats, now’s the time to let us know!

Thank you very much in advance for your cooperation. We look forward to receiving your contributions via the web forum before 5 December 2011. For further information, contact Andy Symes, Global Species Programme Officer, BirdLife International (andy.symes@birdlife.org).

26 August 2011

A new paper is available in Go-South Bulletin:

• Greig-Smith, P. 2011. Birds observed in Essaouira, 2007-2011. Go-South Bull. 8 : 104-112.

26 August 2011

A new trip report is available on the Trip reports webpage (Pierre Yésou et al.)

10 August 2011

A new trip report is available on the Trip reports webpage (Dan Chaney, Milda Sniaukstiene & Mark Andrews)

10 August 2011

During the last weeks (at least from 25 July), we have continuous observations of Wilsons storm-petrels in the Strait of Gibraltar. The birds have been discovered thanks to whale watching trips. The birds are usually associated to the orcas, apparently feeding on the tuna fish remains that orcas produce. It is difficult to give a precise number, but the general impresion by many different obserbers is that there are several hundreds. The Migres Fundation is collecting the data and it would be of interest to know whether there are observations in the Moroccan waters. Most of the birds we are observing in the Strait are closer to Morocco than to Spain (Javier Elorriaga, Fundación Migres)

Hola,
ayer varios compañeros de la fundación Migres salimos con turmares en busca de las orcas y paiños. Las primeras no aparecian por lo que hicimos más de 50 km de navegación en su busca. Aproximadamente a partir de la primera milla y media se empezaron a ver paiños de wilson constantemente. Sin ninguna duda hay varios cientos en el estrecho. En poco tiempo llegamos a contar más de 70 en un transecto lineal. De todos los que vimos y fotografiamos solo uno fue común. Este fue además el único que pasó cerca de la costa de Tarifa, los Wilson volaban principalmente por la zona central del estrecho y más próximos a la costa Marroquí. Parecían además más abundantes hacia Cabo Espartel (Tanger) según nos aproximábamos al oceáno abierto. Como dice Álvaro, cuando las orcas aparecen, los wilson se asocian a ellas para alimentarse de los restos de atún. Los compañeros de Circe me comentaron que han estado viendo grupos de más de 100 paiños posados juntos y aunque no aseguran que todos fuesen wilson, las fotos que sacaron si que son de esta especie. Muchos de los paiños muestran muda activa en las primarias. Viendo la cantidad de aves que hay y las citas anuales en el sur de Portugal, etc. parece bastante evidente que esta especie ha pasado desapercibida en el estrecho durante los últimos años. Lo interesante sería saber si en otras zonas de la costa europea se están viendo este año más wilson de los habitual. Hoy ha entrado el levante fuerte y posiblemente no habrá salidas en barco durante algunos días. Estaremos al tanto para ver si siguen cuando cambie el viento. He hablado con turmares y circe para que nos mantengan informados y nos pasen las fotos que consigan durante los próximos días (Javi Elorriaga, fide Bert Saveyn)

Records are available at www.reservoirbirds.com (Alberto Savijn)

10 August 2011

Records at Sidi bou Rhaba on 7 August: 54 White-headed Ducks, 2 females Red-crested Pochards with 3 week-old ducklings, 15 Marbled Teal, 3 Ferruginous Duck inluding one immature, an Osprey, Black Kites, Marsh Harrier, and a Water Rale (I. Cherkaoui)

10 August 2011

A young Great-spotted Cuckoo at Agadir on 21 July (I. Cherkaoui)

10 August 2011

Une Hirondelle de rivage précoce photographiée près de l’oued Oumili le 20 juillet (I. Cherkaoui)

10 August 2011

Records near Agadir:

• – Imin-n-tanout 18 July: a pair of Eleonora’s Falcon hunting, Booted Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Black Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin
• – Oumlil River Mouth 20 July: Audouin’s Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stone-curlew, Little ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Little Swift, Pallied Swift, Thekla Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Moroccan White Wagtail, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Spectacled Warbler
• – Souss river 21 July: Flamingo, Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Black-tailed Godwit, Stone-curlew (very abudant), Gull-billed Tern,8 Common Terns (including 3 fledged youngs!), Sandwich Tern, Caspian Tern, Audouin’s Gull, Red-necked Nightjar, Wood Pigeon, Laughing Dove, Turtle Dove, Little Owl, Bee-eater, Moroccan White Wagtail, Maghreb Blue Magpie (I. Cherkaoui, SEO/BirdLife)

10 August 2011

Dark morph Western Reef Heron still present just south of town and Eleonora’s Falcons moth catching under the streetlamps at Essouira on 12th July (Dan Chaney)

10 August 2011

Seawatching over a 24 hour period off Cap Rhir, Morocco 12/13th July

• – 12th July 14:00 – 21:00 hrs approx, strengthening strong northerly breeze, light mist further out: Cory’s Shearwater (subsp undetermined) ave 500/hr N, Balearic Shearwater 1N, Little (Macaronesian) Shearwater 1N, Great Skua 3N, Arctic Skua 2N, Gannet c. 50/hr N, Wilson’s Storm Petrel 1N (and feeding close inshore amongst the fishing boats), ‘Storm Petrel’ sp. 100+ N (further out, some undoubtably of both sp, but decided toleave as sp.), Audouin’s Gull 35N, Yellow-legged Gull c.20, Sandwich Tern 7N 7S, Gull-billed Tern 10N (4,6), Common Scoter 8N, Mallard c.100S in one flock, Bald Ibis 3N, Whimbrel 4, Oystercatcher 1 on the point
• – 13th July 07:30 – 14:00 hrs very light to light northerly breeze, becoming misty at distance: Cory’s Shearwater (sp., again) – ave 700/hr N, Great Shearwater 1N, Balearic Shearwater 5N, Sooty Shearwater 3N, Manx Shearwater 1N, Wilson’s Storm Petrel 1N, European Storm Petrel 5N, ‘Storm Petrel’ sp 50+ N (again a mix of above 2 species),White-faced Storm Petrel 5N (feeding offshore over c.2hrs period, and seemingly at least 3 different birds), Gannet max of 400/hr N (ave >50N/hr, only 1 full ad plum noted over the 2 days), Great Skua 5N, Arctic Skua 2N, Audouin’s Gull 12N, Lesser Black-backed Gull 5+S, Yellow-legged Gull passing in low numbers, Risso’s Dolphin 6+ close but brief views, possible Blue Shark breaching once (Is this possible? Do they do that? Can’t think what else could have been …)
• – Not quite so exciting, the early morning high speed sea crossing from Tangier to Tarifa (Spain) on 17 July produced Cory’s Shearwater (sp.) 18, Balearic Shearwater 1, (presumed European) Storm Petrel 3, Audouin’s Gull 1 (The spanish half of the crossing producing 6 of the Cory’s and all Storm Petrels) (Dan Chaney)

10 July 2011

A new trip report is available on the Trip reports webpage (B. Maire & A. Mathurin)

10 July 2011

Quelques observations marquantes de ce printemps et ce début d’été :

• – Le 26 mars à Larache : Une Grande Aigrette + 3 Luscinioles à moustache + 3 Locustelles luscinoïdes. Le lendemain, une Marouette Porzana sp trop brièvement vue pour être identifiée formellement ainsi qu’une « resident Moroccan Reed Warbler » (ressemblant à une effarvate mais avec une projection primaire très courte par rapport aux autres effarvates vues à proximité : Acrocephalus baeticatus ?)
• – le 29 avril, 100 Ibis chauves vers Tamri, 2 Aigles de Bonelli à Taghazout
• – le 30 avril à l’occasion d’une sortie en mer à 22 miles au large l’Agadir, 4 ex. d’Océanite frégate
• – à noter que pendant ces 3 jours dans la région d’Agadir (29 avril – 1 mai), nous avons recherché activement le Martinet unicolore. Nous étions au bon moment aux bons endroits (plusieurs falaises au N et au S de Tamri, cap Rhir, falaises de Taghazout : les sites précis où des M. unicolores auraient été vus au printemps par le passé), nous avons observé longuement des centaines de martinets différents et pris des centaines de photos. Nous avons nous-même douté à plusieurs reprises en fonction des éclairages et des types de vol très variables mais objectivement, tous les oiseaux observés sans exception se sont révélés être des Martinets pâles. Je doute de plus en plus que le Martinet unicolore soit réellement nicheur dans les falaises au nord d’Agadir…
• – le 11 juin à Kenitra dans la zone humide au sud de la ville : 5 ex. de Blongios nain : 3 mâles et 2 femelles survolant les roselières (Il est probablement nicheur à cet endroit) + 50 Fuligules nyroca. Le même jour, 8 Erismatures à tête blanche et 2 Sarcelles marbrées à Sidi Bou Ghaba.
• – le 18 juin à Essaouira, l’Aigrette des récifs de l’oued Ksob est toujours là + 30 Faucons d’éléonore + un petit Gravelot albinos
• – les 25 et 26 juin dans la région de Taza, 1+1 Martinet cafre, 1 Percnoptère d’Egypte (probablement nicheur), Fauvettes de l’Atlas et pitchou dans les landes au pied de la cédraie du Tazekka, 6 ex. de Gobemouche de l’Atlas.
• – le 2 juillet en mer au large de Bouznika, une cinquantaine de Puffins cendrés (Calonectris borealis), 1 Puffin de Scopoli (Calonectris diomedea), 12 Océanites tempête, et surtout 2 Océanites de Wilson (B. Maire)

7 July 2011

A new paper is available in Go-South Bulletin:

• Bergier, P. ; Qninba, A. & Thévenot, M. 2011. Notes naturalistes au Sahara Atlantique marocain – 3. Go-South Bull. 8 : 67-103.

3 July 2011

A new trip report is available on the Trip reports webpage (H. Dufourny et al.)

2 July 2011

A new trip report is available on the Trip reports webpage (Olivier Matgen, Quentin Smits, Philippe Thonon, Rudi Dujardin and Sophie Farinelle)

2 July 2011

Two new papers are available in Go-South Bulletin:

• Qninba, A. ; El Hamoumi, R. ; Himmi, O. ; Ibn Tattou, M. & El Agbani, M.A. 2011. Expansion du Choucas des tours Corvus monedula le long du littoral atlantique marocain. Go-South Bull. 8 : 61-62.
• Qninba, A. ; Radi, M. ; Benhoussa, A. ; Ibn Tattou, M. & El Agbani, M.A. 2011. Nidification du Chocard à bec jaune Pyrrhocorax graculus dans le massif du Haouz (Péninsule tingitane – Maroc septentrional). Go-South Bull. 8 : 63-66.

26 June 2011

Records in June: a Bulwer’s Petrel and a White-faced Storm-Petrel off Cap Rhir on 16. Western Reef Heron: the dark morph resident adult is still at Oued Ksob estuary near Essaouira on 19 and 25, but another dark morph bird is located 21.6 km. South of Sidi Abed (Doukkala region) on 21. A flock of 106 Bald Ibis just north of Tamri on 16. Up to 400 Eleonora’s Falcon together at Oued Ksob estuary on 19. An adult Great Black-backed Gull and an adult Franklin’s Gull at Aghroud-plage (N of Agadir) on 16 June. Breeding of Great Spotted Cuckoo: 2 juvs. fed by Moroccan Magpie 79 km. south of Safi on 19 June (H. Dufourny)

26 June 2011

June: Breeding colony of 300 pairs of Gull-billed Tern and installation of two pairs of Black-headed Gull at Sebkha Zima (M. Radi)

18 June 2011

A new paper is available in Go-South Bulletin:

• Bergier, P. & Thévenot, M. 2011. Bibliographie ornithologique du Sahara Atlantique marocain – 2. Go-South Bull. 8 : 53-60.

18 June 2011

Birdlife Morocco has designed a blog to help protect the Bald Ibis. It is available in English, French and Spanish and includes many good information. Seehttp://northernbaldibis.blogspot.com/p/help-us-to-preserve-nbi.html (I. Cherkaoui)

12 June 2011

Seawatching at Cape Rhir on the morning of 10 June has produced 3 adult Sabine’s Gulls heading north, 1 white faced storm petrel, 3 european storm petrels, 1 lesser crested tern, 1 1st summer pomarine skua, 3 manx shearwaters and 3 balearic shearwaters (D. Lopez Velasco)

11 June 2011

Following Lee Evans record of Cormorants at Sidi Bou Rhaba (see 5 June hereunder), it appears that this species does not nest in the eucaluptus trees – although these trees act as a roosting place since a long time (I. Cherkaoui)

11 June 2011

Early June: a very late Water Pipit in summer plumage at Dayet Ifrah (I. Cherkaoui)

11 June 2011

February records from South Morocco have included: a Black Stork Ciconia nigra with Black Kites between Oued Chbeika and Oued Ouma Fatma on 10.2, a juvenile Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus hunting the fields by the track at Oued Massa on 9.2, a Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides at 48km from Aousserd on 12.2, two Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludicola mauritanica at Oued Massa (29.9697 -9.6544) on 9.2, several Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta saharae at Lemsid (south of road 26.5319 -13.8532 : a pair on 11.2, north of road 26.5319 -13.8532 : at least eight on 13.2), a Reed warbler sp at Oued Massa, which appeared fairly short winged, and was very worn (didn’t respond to tapes of any species, and didn’t sing or call) (Will Soar)

5 June 2011

A male Ring-necked Duck at Kénitra, photo, possibly mating with a Ferruginous Duck (A. Elbanalk & R. El Khamlichi in http://moroccanbirds.blogspot.com)

5 June 2011

Lee’s trip report is available on the Trip reports webpage. Among many great records, the following has been noted:
— Reed Warblers at Massa (27 Feb) and Layoune (4 March) have been assigned to North-African RW (these birds are the same in appearance and sound to the resident birds in Northern Morocco and were clearly on territory)
— Little Tern at Dakhla (3 March) as been assigned to ssp. guinea (based on an all-grey rump)
— Most unexpected was the tree-nesting colony on the west shore – seemingly containing nests of at least 12 pairs of North Atlantic carbo Cormorants as well as those of Moroccan Great Cormorant
— 67 Carrion Crows at Timahdite (7 March), loosely associating with much fewer numbers of Atlas Ravens

29 May 2011

A Red-footed Falcon on an electric wire in the desert between Boumalne and Ouarzazate, shortly after Kelaa Mgouna, on 11 May.
Description: ‘The falcon was on an electric wire in the desert between Boumalne and Warzazat, shortly after Mgouna, near the 75 km milestone for Warzazat, and the date was 11 May 2011. On our way, we habitually stopped for interesting stationary birds or birds of prey, so we did with this falcon, too. It was close to the road and we observed it from the car, although in a difficult ankle, for some ten seconds, agreeing on that what we saw seemed to be a male Red-footed Falcon. Red undertail coverts were visible, but the plumage was not as clean dark bluish as an adult. One of us tried to roll down the window in order to take a photo but the bird flew. The short observation was finished by the time we grabbed the book (Collins Bird Guide) and noticed Red-footed Falcon seemed to be a potential rarity. Both of us were quite familiar with the species since we have mostly traveled in Finland, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The falcon was obviously small and everything seemed to fit in Red-footed Falcon. Even in the counterlight experienced, a Hobby would have shown white on chest and throat. This bird was dark, although not purely (1st or 2nd year maybe). Sooty or Eleonora’s dark form would have been bigger and without any red in vent’

A Red-backed Shrike on high altitude between Tamagourte and Outerbat on 10 May (the habitat was a pasture with cultivation, near the brook, sitting atop a bush).
Description: ‘The shrike wasn’t photographed. It was a female, looked like as pictured in the Collins Bird Guide page 355, with mostly brown upper parts and whitish, slightly scaly underparts. It was more warmly brown on upper parts than juvenile Woodchat Shrike, which was also considered by us highly unlikely at the time. Red-backed Shrike is the most common shrike in Finland and in most of the areas I mostly travel in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. I paid attention on the distribution map only later. Had I known it is a rarity in Morocco, we would have stopped to photograph it’

Besides, lots of Common Sandpiper were present in brooks of the High Atlas. We could confirm many breeding observations for Rufous Scrub-robin (Draa Valley), Linnet (both mountain ranges), Great Crested and Black-necked Grebes, both Coots, etc. (Anssi Kullberg per Keith Betton)

29 May 2011

Un Faucon d’Eléonore en chasse à Sidi Bou Rhaba le 23 mai, des Bondrés apivores à Salé le 27 mai , une femelle Tadorne de Belon (très tardive), 2 couples de Faucons hobereaux s’accouplant dans les Eucalyptus bordant le lac et plus de 67 Erismatures à tête blanches dont au moins uns femelle suivie de 4 juvéniles d’un semaine à Sidi Bou Rhaba le 28 mai (I. Cherkaoui)

26 May 2011

Résultats des prospections menées en 2010 sur l’Archipel d’Essaouira. La liste actuelle des espèces nicheuses de l’Archipel d’Essaouira compte dix espèces :