2004 – Go-South
Very cold weather in the Middle Atlas, with temperatures falling down to -17°C (J. Franchimont).
A pair of Lanners and a pair of Bonelli’s Eagles in the cliffs of Oued Zireg near Sidi-Abdallah des Rhiata on 13 December (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
A 1st-year Golden Eagle and a female Merlin were at Dayet Aoua, Western Middle Atlas, on 12 December (J. Franchimont & GOMAC).
Recent records near Nador (Plains of Eastern Morocco) included a Grey Phalarope and 3 Marsh Sandpipers at Sebkha Fida Ameziane on 24 November; another Marsh Sandpiper at Sebkha bou Areg on 28 November; and a female White-headed Duck (first record for the region) at Barrage Arabet on 28 November. Also near Nador, first record of a Dupont’s Lark (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
The « Groupe Fadesa Maroc » is building a large touristic complex on the Mediterranean coastal dunes at Saidia near Oujda. The impact on the close-by Moulouya estuary – one of the most famous natural areas in Eastern Morocco – has not been evaluated (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar; www.hee.ouvaton.org).
The colour-ringed adult Great White Egret recorded at the Moulouya estuary on 31 October had been ringed at Lac de Grand-Lieu (near Nantes, Loire Atlantique, France) on 7 May 2004 (L. Marion fide D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
Shaun’s trip report to South-Atlantic Morocco has been posted on the trip reports webpage.
Next Friday, Nov 19th, Jordi Muntaner organizes a census of Puffinus mauretanicus in the Balearic Islands and would like to extend it to other parts of the Mediteranean and to the Atlantic. If you are interested, get in touch with him (info D. Jerez Abad).
Olivier’s trip report to the Jbel M’Goun has been posted on the trip reports webpage.
Le dynamique Club Warchane de l’Alliance Franco-Marocaine d’Essaouira (AFME) organise une visite de l’ancienne sucrerie de Souira Kdima le 27 Novembre 2004. N’hésitez pas à contacter l’AFME afme@menara.ma pour y participer… (O. Deseez).
An large swarm of locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) has reached Missour, Eastern High Plateaux, in the last few days (O. Fontaine).
Interesting records at the Lower loukos marshes (near Larache) have included a few Squacco Herons,Spoonbills and Red-crested Pochards, 2 Great White Egrets, 6 Greylag Geese, an Osprey, an adult Peregrine, some Purple Galinules, and a Caspian Tern. Also, 9 Ferruginous Ducks and a few Purple Galinules and Red-crested Pochards were at Sidi-bou-Rhaba (O. Fontaine & N. Orhant, Moroccobirding).
Birders from Gibraltar have reported a Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix – Corneille mantelée) at Mdiq, Tangier Peninsula, late October. A detailed description is awaited. This would be the first Moroccan record (fide A. Qninba).
A colour-ringed adult Great White Egret was at the Moulouya estuary on 31 October (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
The Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis– Tourterelle maillée) continues to spread: first record at Melilla on 24 October (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
An adult Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus – Goéland marin) was at the mouth of Oued Kert near Nador on 17 October (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
Max, une Cigogne blanche baguée en Suisse, est au Maroc! Depuis le 23 septembre, au plus tard, il se trouva à Fès où il avait déjà passé l’hiver 2003/04. Début octobre, il est allé visiter Meknès. Il s’est ensuite dirigé vers le nord-ouest et se trouve depuis deux semaines dans la petite ville Sidi Quacem. Depuis, Max est localisé tous les jours !
Nous souhaitons à tous nos amis marocains une excellente période de Ramadan.
M. Radi, A. Qninba, H. Rguibi Idrissi et M. Dakki viennent de publier une excellente étude sur la reproduction de la Sterne hansel Sterna nilotica à la Sebkha Zima, parue dans Alauda (72 : 201-209).
Recent sightings near Missour, Eastern High Plateaux, included intensive migration of Northern Wheatears and Barn Swallows, 2 Short-toed Snake-Eagles at Bouarfa on 8 Oct, a Black Tern at Missour on 9 Oct, and 3 Ospreys at Missour on 13 Oct (O. Fontaine, Moroccobirding).
Ce printemps, Abdeslam a noté 2 cas de nichées de remplacement et 2 cas de deuxième nichée chez les Chouettes Effraies d’El Aounate, région des Doukkala. Un nid contenait un grand nombre de restes de Cailles des blés (A. Rihane).
The House Buning continues its spread northwards: a flock of 16 a Tangier medina late September (J. Garzón).
Encore peu de passages dans l’Est marocain (région de Missour), avec seulement quelques traquets et quelques hirondelles (O. Fontaine).
Le calendrier des sorties du GOMAC pour la fin 2004 et pour 2005 est disponible.
First record for Morocco if accepted by MRBC: a Sooty Falcon, adult pale form (Faucon concolore – Falco concolor) at Barrage Mohamed V (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
Our friend Philippe Geniez has co-authored 2 excellent new books for those involved with amphibians and reptiles:
One on « The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Western Sahara » (Chimaira Eds.)
The other one is written in Spanish and deals with the amphibians and reptiles found on both sides of the Straits: « Los Amphibios, los Reptiles y el Estrecho de Gibraltar. Un ensayo sobre la herpetofauna de Ceuta y su entorno » (published by the Instituto de Estudios Ceutíes. Paseo del Revellín, 30. Apartado de Correos 593. 51080 Ceuta – Spain)
Both include a wide range of photos and distribution maps.
The Flamingo ‘O/NJR’ sighted at the Souss estuary by Patrick on 17 May was already there on 11 January 2004, and had been ringed on 17 July 1999 at Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, Malaga, Spain (C. Germain, Tour du Valat info).
Intensive migration of Swallows (especially Barn Swallows but also Sand and House Martins) at Missour (Olivier Fontaine, moroccobirding)
The Flamingos ‘FBHA’ and ‘FDHP’ sighted at the Souss estuary by Patrick on 17 May were already there on 11 January 2004, and had been ringed on 29 July 2003 in Camargue (C. Germain, Tour du Valat info).
At last! The report of our trip to Southern Morocco in May is available.
Il y a un an, des pluies exceptionnelles au Sahel avaient permis aux Criquets pèlerins de se reproduire en masse ; ils avaient ensuite suivi la saison des pluies, remontant vers le Maghreb pour en dévaster les cultures. La capitale mauritanienne est de nouveau assaillie par les insectes et on anticipe qu’ils remonteront de nouveau vers le nord cet hiver.
Quelques données de notre voyage de Mai dans le sud marocain incluent 2 Aigles royaux (Un dans la partie occidentale du Jbel Grouz au sud-ouest de Bouarfa le 6 Mai, et un immature à Akka Iguern dans le Bani le 13 Mai), de beaux passages d’Engoulevent d’Europe et d’ Engoulevents à collier roux dans la région de Bouarfa – Figuig, plusieurs Engoulevents d’Egypte(espèce commune dans la région de Bouarfa – Figuig), des Sirlis de Dupont, probablement bien répandus sur les vastes plateaux steppiques près du Tizi-n-Taghatine, Anti-Atlas central (3 chanteurs au niveau de la limite des provinces Taroudant – Ouarzazate le 16 Mai avant l’aube). Excellente année pour l’Alouette calandrelle qui a été trouvée commune et localement abondante dans de nombreuses régions du sud du pays. Deux mentions d’Hirondelles isabellines2 adultes dans les jardins de l’hôtel ‘Climat du Maroc’ à Bouarfa le 5 Mai, et un couple nourissant ses 3 jeunes volants au Jbel Ari Aira, entre Bouarfa et Figuig le 9 Mai. Le nid avait été construit sous le tablier d’un pont de la route. Il s’agit à notre connaissance du troisième cas concret de reproduction connu au Maroc, et le premier dans le sud-est du pays. Une Hypolaïs pâle longuement observé à Mengoub station le 6 Mai ; également notée dans la palmeraie de Figuig le 9 Mai. La Mésange (bleue) maghrébine est présente dans la palmeraie de Souk Tleta de Tagmoute sur le flanc sud de l’Anti-Atlas le 14 Mai. Enfin, Localisations intéressantes pour la Linotte mélodieusequelques-unes dans les jardins de l’hôtel ‘Climat du Maroc’ à Bouarfa le 5 Mai, et plusieurs à Aïn Tanzara dans le Jbel Grouz (près Figuig) le 8 Mai. Le rapport complet sera bientôt disponible.
A pair of Ring-necked Parakeets have been recorded in a public garden at Melilla on 14 May and 16 July 2004 (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
Migration of Griffon Vultures at Melilla included 2 birds on 16 April, 11 on 29 April, 2 on 6 May, 11 on 8 May, 12 on 23 May, and 9 on 5 June. Also, 15 Black Storks were moving NW on 7 May (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
A first set of records submitted to the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee has been posted.
The Audouin’s Gull [578] that I had recorded on 29 Oct 2002 at Oued Chebeika had been ringed at Delta del Ebro, Spain, on 19 June 1999 (C. Canas).
Three Northern Bald Ibis of the Souss-Massa National Park have been fitted with satellite tracking devices (Birdlife Int.)
Observations marquantes effectuées par V. Schollaert en avril : Fuligule à tête noire (Aythya affinis): une femelle adulte le 05/04 à Afenourir (Première marocaine, et première pour l’Afrique continentale, sous réserve d’acceptation par le Comité d’Homologation Marocain), avec un mâle adulte de Fuligule à bec cerclé (Aythya collaris)! Mouette mélanocéphale (Larus melanocephalus): 1 oiseau apparemment hybridé à une Mouette rieuse est vu le 13/04 à l’embouchure de l’oued Souss. Sterne royale (Sterna maxima albidorsalis) : un oiseau en mer au sud du Cap Rhir le 13/04. Bergeronnette d’Italie (Motacilla [flava] cinereocapilla): un mâle le 12/04 à Massa. Pipit à gorge rousse (Anthus cervinus): un oiseau entendu à Merzouga le 08/04.
An International Symposium on Ecology and Conservation of Steppe-Land Birds will be held at Lleida, Spain, from 3 to 7 December 2004. Details at www.ctfc.es/symposium (info D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
The Moroccan Rare Birds Committee Report Nb 9 is now available.
The next Workshop on Vultures (‘Jornadas sibre Buitres’) will be held at Barbastro (Huesca, Spain) from 5 to 9 July 2004, under the co-ordination of Dr. Fidel José Fernadez y Fernandez-Arroyo. Informations and inscriptions at www.barbastro.unedaragon.org.
The Lesser Black-backed Gull that I watched at Tantan Plage on 31 Oct 2003 had been ringed as a nestling at Bath, Avon, England, on 4 July 2003 – Time since ringing: 119 days, distance: 2651 km (BTO).
Semaine placée sous le signe du froid et du vent dans le Moyen Atlas. Massif du Jbel Ayachi enneigé jusqu’à mi- pente , puis le temps s’étant éclairci la neige a fondu un peu et demeurait nettement sur les crêtes et les ravins. Avons passé le col du Zad 2178 m, la neige venait cesser de tomber. Le Fuligule à bec cerclé est toujours sur Afenourir le 12 avril, mais le Fuligule à tête noire a disparu (J.P. Reitz).
March-April records have included an early Nightingale, 6 Ferruginous Ducks, a female White-headed Duck and 3 Great White Egrets flying to roost at Sidi bou Rhaba on 21 March, a Saharan Olivaceous Warbler at Kasbah Derkaoua on 26 March, a Northern Wheatear leucorhoa west of Jorf on 27 March, a Plain Martin between Boumalne Dadès and Skoura and a Western Reef Heron (juvenile schistacea) at Barrage Mansour Eddahbi on 28 March, an early Melodious Warbler at Ait Bennhadou on 29 March, a Golden Eagle and a Water Pipit at Oukaïmeden on 30 March, a Moustached, a Sedge and a Reed Warbler at Aoulouz gorge on 31 March, a Woodchat Shrike badius in the Souss plain on 1 April, and a Shag, a Bluethroat and a Spotted Crake at Massa on 3 April (Jaegertours).
Early April records included a Western Reef Heron and a Barbary Falcon at Sidi Bou Rhaba on 2nd, many Blue-cheeked Bee Eaters at Errachidia and Erfoud, a Seebohm’s Wheatear and a squashed Crowned sandgrouse at Tagdilt on 8th, two Lesser Crested terns at Oued Souss on 9th and a Bulwer’s Petrel at Essaouira on 11th (G. Beckers).
Olivier couldn’t find the Lesser Scaup nor the Ring-necked Duck at Lake Afenourir but there were hundreds of Black-necked Grebes, 3 Black Storks, Ruddy Shelducks, Gadwalls, Teals, Mallards, Pintails, Shovelers, Pochards, hundreds of Crested and Common Coots, a few Black-winged Stilts, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 8 Black Terns, one hundred plus Stock Doves, a Woodlark, a few Seebohm’s Wheatear, a Redwing and a Rock Thrush (O. Fontaine, Moroccobirding).
A Lesser Scaup (Fuligule à tête noire, Aythya affinis – first record for Morocco) was with a Ring-necked Duck (Fuligule à bec cerclé, Aythya collaris) and a few Pochards (Fuligule miloin,Aythya ferina) at Lake Afenourir, Middle Atlas. (V. Schollaert, Moroccobirding).
The final results of the 9th session of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee are available on the MRBC webpage.
The Amphibias and Reptiles list has been updated to take into account the most recent findings (Ph. Geniez).
Migration is in full swing on the Eastern High Plateaux. In Bouarfa – Missour area, Olivier has recorded 35 Great Cormorants, 50 White Storks, an Osprey, 2 Montagu’s Harriers, a Bonelli’s Eagle, some 40 Kestrels, Common Quails, a dead Egyptian Nightjar, European Bee-eaters, Hoopoes everywhere, Yellow Wagtails (including a feldegg and a flavissima), Black-eared and Northern Wheatears, a Great Reed Warbler, Redstarts, Woodchat Shrikes and a Rock Sparrow this week. Also, locusts have reached Talsint to the north, and seem to continue to spread; Agricolair have been spraying regularly for 3 weeks now (O. Fontaine, Moroccobirding).
The desert areas between the Draa and the Ziz valleys were green at mid-March 2004. There was much water at the Ouarzazate Barrage and in the Draa valley as well. Records have included 3 early Blue-cheeked Bee-Eaters near Agdz on 12 March, some Cetti’s Warblers and a Bonelli’s Eagle in gorges du Todra, a familly of White-crowned Black Wheatears at Merzouga and a familly of Ruddy Shelducks at Ouarzazate (H. Michel).
Records in the Plains of Eastern Morocco on 7 March 2004 included a pair of Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) showing a breeding behaviour at Kariat Arkmane near Nador, and 5 Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia), 5 Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) with breeding behaviour (copulation, transport of materials), 6 Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), 4 Savi’s Warblers (Locustella luscinioides), 5 Cirl Buntings (Emberiza cirlus), and 3 late Reed Buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus) (winter visitors) at the Moulouya estuary (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
The highlights from Chris and James visit to Morocco included a pair of Western Mourning Wheatears west of Ouarzazate at ‘Ouarzazate 55 / Errachidia 244’ km post on 13th March, a Houbara Bustard c10km east of Erg Chebbi, a Pharaoh Eagle Owl near Rissani, an Isabelline Wheatear and 13 Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters at Auberge Kasbah Derkaoua (near Erfoud) on 12th March, 3 Egyptian Nightjars over Auberge Kasbah Derkaoua, a singing African Desert Warbler in wadi just south of Auberge Kasbah Said, and 60 Marbled Ducks and 200+ Ruddy Shelducks at Merzouga lake on 11th March, 3+ singing Double-spurred Francolins at Sidi Bettache including 1 showing well on tree just north of car park on 10th March, 14+ Bald Ibis at Oued Massa and 3 Marsh Owls at Moulay Bousselham campsite on 9th March, and an adult and a juvenile Thick-billed Lark at 22 km southwest of Goulimine on 8th March. Also noted from the logbook at Auberge Soleil Bleu a Grey Phalarope was by Tagdilt new track from 25th February to 4th March (C. Batty & J. Lidster).
A Cape Shoveler (Canard du Cap) together with two female Shoveler at Oued Massa on 29 February, which has apparently been there for at least a couple of weeks (on the Oued soon after the tarmac ends, and the track reaches the river, heading towards Sidi Benzare) and a second bird has also been reported there (said to be near the Sidi Benzare Forestry post) (C. Bowden, Moroccobirding).
The Desert Wheatears arrived two weeks ago in the region of the Bouarfa & Missour area (Eastern High Plateaux). Also, a lot of Hoopoes have been observed; a Stone Curlew was heard the 19th Feb near Missour and another one has been seen in the Tamlelt plain (the steppe close to Bouarfa) on 25th Feb. In the same area, there was a few Tristam’s Warblers, a Golden Eagle, 52 White Storks, a Barbary Falcon, a few migrating Black Kites, good number of Short-toed larks and a group of 110 Dotterels. On a barrage close to Matarka, some 70 Ruddy Shelducks, Pintails, Shovelers, Teals, 40 Pochards, 4 Stilts, 2 Green Sandpipers and many Kentish Plovers (O. Fontaine, Moroccobirding).
Au moins 187 Erismatures à tête blanche sur le lac principal de Douyièt, ainsi qu’un mâle d’Erismature rousse apparemment apparié à une femelle d’Erismature à tête blanche. Sur ce site, une liste-record de 73 espèces a pu être dressée dont, parmi les classiques : environ 400 Cigognes blanches de passage, 1 Tadorne de Belon, environ 500 Canards colverts, une centaine de Canards chipeaux, une trentaine de Canards siffleurs, environ 300 Sarcelles d’hiver, une dizaine de Canards pilets, environ 1500 Canards souchets, 41 Sarcelles marbrées, une dizaine de Nettes rousses, au moins 7 Fuligules nyrocas, au moins 25 Busards des roseaux, une trentaine de Foulques à crête, 80 Echasses blanches, une trentaine d’Avocettes, une dizaine de Petits Gravelots, une trentaine de Gravelots à collier interrompu, 1 Bécasseau variable, environ 400 Bécasseaux minutes, 1 Chevalier gambette, 12 Chevaliers arlequins, 7 Chevaliers culblancs, une 15ne de Combattants variés, 1 Barge à queue noire, une dizaine de Bécassines des marais, environ 300 Mouettes rieuses, au moins 50 Pigeons colombins, 1 Hibou du Cap, 2 Huppes fasciées, 1 Rousserolle effarvatte, 2 Phragmites des joncs, une centaine de Pouillots véloces minimum, au moins 2 Gorgebleues à miroir, 2 Bruant des roseaux et au moins 20.000 Etourneaux sansonnets (J. Franchimont & B. Maire).
An earthquake devastated the region of Al Hoceima and the Rif. More than 500 people have been killed and many others injured.
Today records near Nador in the Plains of Eastern Morocco included 207 Cranes Grus grus at Sebkha Fida Ameziane, and 22 Dotterels Charadrius morinellus in 2 groups, 1 PeregrineFalco peregrinus, 5 Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe and 2 Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava flava at Barrage Tleta Boubker (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
January records included a first-winter Great Northern Diver 2 km south of Cap Rhir on 11th, two Great White Egrets and a Booted Eagle at Ouarzazate Lake on 6th, 195 Bald Ibises counted at Tamri on 11th, c. 500 Audouin’s Gulls between Taghazoute and Tamri on 11th, a third-winter Iceland Gull and a Lesser Crested Tern on Arghoud Beach (between Agadir and Tamri) on 11th, several Pin-tailed, Spotted, Black-bellied and Crowned Sandgrouse near Boumalne du Dadès on 7th-9th, and at least 2 Wrynecks, 4 Richard’s Pipits and a Rufous Bush Robin at Massa on 12th (H. Dufourny in Birding World 17: 11).
Justin’s trip report has been posted on the ‘Trip reports‘ webpage.
Records at the Sebkha bou Areg on 8 February included 402 Shovelers Anas clypeata, 1 male Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, 488 Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria, 3 Spotted Redshanks Tringa erythropus, 17 Greenshanks Tringa nebularia and 6 Ruffs Philomachus pugnax. The 1st winter Red-necked Phalarope, already noted on 25 January, was still there (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar).
A visit at Merzouga on 28 January produced many alba White Wagtails, 200+ Ruddy Shelducks, 300+ Greater Flamingos, 11 Marbled Ducks, 8 Little Grebes, 40 Northern Shovelers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Kentish Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Black-winged Stilts, 1 Short-toed Lark, 2 Crested Larks and a female Mourning Wheatear (J. Jansen).
5 Red-breasted Mergansers Mergus serrator (1 male, 4 females) were at Kariat Arkmane on the Sabkha bou-Areg on 30 January ; the same day, 5 Laughing Doves Streptopelia senegalensis have been recorded near the lagoon. (J. Franchimont & F. Touati-Malih)
The tarmac road has been completed down to Merzouga (J. Jansen).
The colour-ringed Norvegian Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus intermedius) that we have spotted in Agadir harbour on 2 November 2003 was ringed as a pullus (nestling) at Rauna, Farsund, Vest-Agder, NORWAY by Nils Helge Lorentzen on 12.07.1997. Subsequent sightings were on 24.08.1998 (Sines, Setúbal, Estremadura, PORTUGAL, 37.55 N – 08.50 W, by Peter Rock – 408 days), 09.10.1999 (Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, NETHERLANDS, 51.59 N – 04.01 E, by Gerrit Goedhart – 819 days), 28.09.2001 (Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, NETHERLANDS, 51.59 N – 04.01 E, by Norman van Swelm, Theo Muuse and Bert-Jan Luijendijk – 1539 days), 02.11.2003 (Agadir, MOROCCO, 30.24 N – 09.36 W, by Patrick Bergier – 2304 days) and 19.01.2004 (Layoune, Western Sahara, MOROCCO, 27.09 N – 13.12 W, by Marc van Leeuwen – 2382 days) (Nils H. Lorentzen).
There have been 117 records of colour-ringed Norvegian Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus intermedius) and one of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) in Morocco so far (Nils H. Lorentzen).
The ‘Gorges du Todra’ road is now asphalted up to Tamtatouchte and worths well the visit (D. Chabaud).
361 Black-necked Grebes, with one albino, 2 Great White Egrets and one Bonelli’s Eagle adult were at Barrage Mohamed V on 1 February (Diego Jerez Abad y Rosa Ramirez Espinar).
Today records in the Plaine de Tamlelt near Bouarfa (South Eastern Sahara) include 3 White Storks (migrating), some 50 Ruddy Shelducks, 4 Wigeons, 8 Pintails, 10 Shovelers, at least 30 Houbaras displaying, a Little Ringed Plover, 4 Spotted Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, a Laughing Dove, 2 Thick-billed Larks, a few Welcome Swallows, 2 House Martins, and a few Desert Wheatears, Scrub Warblers and Brown-necked Ravens. Two snakes (a Moghrabin Diadem and a Schokar Sand) were sqashed on the road (O. Fontaine).
During the last week, Justin noted several dispersion of Ruddy Shelduck atvarious places in Morocco, e.g. 250 at Merzouga and several scattered along the coast, and a steady migration of Barn Swallows to the north. Rarities included a first year female Black-eared Wheathear on 28 January at Merzouga, 2 Dupont’s Larks at a spot 148 km before Taroudant coming from Ouarzazate (southside of the road) on 29, and 2 Red-throated Divers swimming around at Cap Rhir on 30 (J. Jansen, WestPalBirds).
A 1st winter Red-necked Phalarope and a male Red-breasted Merganser were at the Sebkha Bou Areg on 25 Jan (D. Jerez Abad & R. Ramirez Espinar) .
The report of our October trip to South Morocco is now available on the ‘Trip reports‘ webpage.
The volume 13 (2001-2002) of Porphyrio is now available. It includes the reports of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee for 2001 and 2002, the Moroccan ornithological records for 1999, a description of the bird communities at Bouchtat (Eastern Morocco), a description of the impact of a windfarm on the migrant birds in Tangier Peninsula, and a note on the first record of a House Crow in Morocco. It can be ordered at the GOMAC.
The list of the Birds of Morocco has been updated (Version 1.1, February 2004). It is available on the ‘Birds List‘ webpage.
December records included at least seven Marsh Owls at Moulay Bousselham on 1st, a dark-morph Western Reef Heron, a first-winter Grey-headed Gull, 30 Royal Terns and a Little Swift at Dakhla on 7th, a Golden Eagle and a Bonelli’s Eagle 3 km south of Goulimine on 9th, and five Ferruginous Ducks, a Bonelli’s Eagle and a late Orphean Warbler at Oued Massa on 10th (Birding World 16: 495).
First migrants at Missour included 4 White Storks and a Barn Swallow. (O. Fontaine)
A Lesser Crested Tern and an adult Common Gull at a beach ca. 25 km north of Agadir, and 83 Bald Ibises 4 km north of Tamri. (W. Velmala, EuroBirdnet)
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