Is this Ring-necked Duck wanted to mate with Ferruginous Duck?

The North American Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris was seen by Abdelhak Elbanalk and Rachid El Khamlichi while birding at the wetlands adjacent to the town of Kénitra (northern Morocco) on 16 may 2011.

While watching three individuals of Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca taking off, and a Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris landing in the same spot, Abdelhak saw a drake Ring-necked Duck and immediately called Rachid to “shot” the bird with his camera. They kept watching the ducks and saw a female Ferruginous Duck coming out from the vegetation. Then they saw the Ring-necked Duck went to the Ferruginous Duck and stayed close to her and after 10 min they both disappeared in the vegetation. "So, this is what we saw. We don’t claim that there where any displaying, but the closeness of the two ducks and the constant effort of the drake Ring-necked Duck to follow and to stay with the female Ferruginous Duck makes us wonder whether it was willing to mate with her", said Abdelhak. This is probable especially that we know that both species are closely related and there are many cases of hybrids with different ducks of the genus Aythya. Have you seen a case like this, if yes we would like to hear from you?  Are there any hybrids resulted from these two species, at least in wildfowl collection? 

Ring-necked Duck , Ferruginous Duck and Marbled Duck, near Kénitra. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi) 

Marbled Duck - Marmaronetta angustirostris, near Kénitra (Photo: R. El Khamlichi) 

Moroccan Birds

Status and breeding biology of Lapwings in northern Morocco

An article has just been published about the status and breeding biology of a northern bird species in its southernmost range limit:

Cherkaoui I. & Hanane S. 2011. Status and breeding biology of Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus in the Gharb coastal wetlands of northern Morocco. Wader Study Group Bull. 118 (1): 49–54.

Abstract:
This work describes the breeding biology of Lapwings in two coastal Atlantic wetlands (Merja Zerga and Merja Bargha) in N Morocco. Nests were monitored in two habitats (wet meadows and Spartina grasslands) during five years (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2010). Breeding phenology, colony size, clutch size, egg dimensions, and hatching success were determined and compared between habitats. Egg-laying took place during the second half of March. Clutch-size was similar to that of European populations but egg-volume was different. Average hatching success over the whole study and in the two habitats was 70.1% (n = 78). Nests suffered higher losses owing to human disturbance (65.2%, n = 23) particularly grazing activity. There is a need for urgent management and conservation efforts aimed at reducing the negative impact of humans on this wader in the only African breeding area situated along the Moroccan Atlantic coast.

An adult female Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in breeding plumage photographed at Glen Quaich, Breadalbane, Scotland. This image by flickr user Rainbirder is licenced under the Creative Commons (CC by-sa).

Thanks to Imad Cherkaoui for the article.

Birding at Jbel Dersa (Tétouan)

On 20 May 2011, after having breakfast in Tétouan; we, Abdelhak Elbanak and Rachid El Khamlichi left home at 07:00 a.m and drove to the north of the Medina of Tétouan to a small mountain called Jbel Dersa (541 m.a.s.l.). A beautiful place with lots of birds. We enjoyed our birding day and took these pictures that we hope you appreciate them. All photographs by Rachid.

Moussier's Redstart - Phoenicurus moussieri

Spectacled Warbler - Sylvia conspicillata

Female Western Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe hispanica

Male Western Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe hispanica

African Blue Tit - Cyanistes teneriffae ultramarines

African Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs africana

Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus

Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra

Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris

Short-toed Eagle - Circaetus gallicus

Griffon Vulture - Gyps fulvus

Tétouan in the meddle right and Martil in the background near sealine (photograph taken from Jbel Derssa)

 List of birds observed during our visit:

Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Black Kite	Milvus migrans
Griffon Vulture	Gyps fulvus
Short-toed Eagle	Circaetus gallicus
Long-legged Buzzard	Buteo rufinus
Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
Yellow-legged Gull	Larus michahellis
Sky Lark	Alauda arvensis
Tawny Pipit	Anthus campestris
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea
Moussier's Redstart	Phoenicurus moussieri
Eurasian Stonechat	Saxicola torquatus
Western Black-eared Wheatear	Oenanthe hispanica
Blue Rock Thrush	Monticola solitarius
Common Blackbird	Turdus merula
Spectacled Warbler	Sylvia conspicillata
Dartford Warbler	Sylvia undata
Sardinian Warbler	Sylvia melanocephala
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata
African Blue Tit	Cyanistes teneriffae
Great Tit	Parus major
Red-billed Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Western Jackdaw	Corvus monedula
Northern Raven	Corvus corax
African Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs africana
European Serin	Serinus serinus
Common Linnet	Carduelis cannabina
Cirl Bunting	Emberiza cirlus

Abdelhak Elbanak & Rachid El Khamlichi

Morocco Slender-billed Curlew Survey 2011

The report of the "Morocco Slender-billed Curlew Survey" which was carried out last February along the Mediterranean coast and northern Atlantic coast is posted on the website.

Moores, R.D., Amezian, M & Elbanak, A. (2011). Morocco Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) Survey: Mediterranean Coast and northern Atlantic Coast, 06.02.2011 – 13.02.2011. Unpublished report.

Summary:

The entire Mediterranean coastline as well as the northern section of the Atlantic coastline of Morocco was surveyed between 06/02/2011 and 13/02/2011. Visual searches of sites were completed with substantial effort focused on those sites which supported numbers of Numenius spp. and those sites where Numenius tenuirostris had been reported in the recent past.

Key recommendations/observations resulting from these surveys are:

• The Ramsar sites/Important Bird Areas of Oued Moulouya and Sebkha Bou Areg are under increasing pressure from development. A number of concrete drainage channels appear to have been recently installed at Oued Moulouya and this has resulted in very little open water being present away from the main river channel. Although this site was only surveyed on a single date, it would now not appear to support high enough populations of important bird species to justify the joint status of IBA/Ramsar site. Similarly, plans for a number of tourist ‘resorts’ around Sebkha Bou Areg are likely to have adverse impacts upon the bird populations at this site. Current pollution levels and apparent high-intensity fishing activity are also likely to be having a continuing detrimental impact on the bird community. There is however an ambitious project to create an Ornithological Park of 74 ha in the southern part of the lagoon. This project aims to transform and rehabilitate the old sewage area and adjacent marshes. This will hopefully maintains the current and past importance of Sebkha Bou Areg (information via El Gojdali F.Z. / Agence pour l’aménagement de la lagune de Marchica)

• Whilst receiving no specific protection, Smir Wetland appeared to be one of the most important sites for wintering/migratory/breeding birds visited during the survey. This site is proposed to be near totally drained in the near future.

• The provision of local language materials (e.g. reporting forms, search protocol and SBC toolkit), optical equipment and instructions to local ornithologists to photo-document and report any possible N. tenuirostris as soon as possible should all be promoted.

• The proposed Casablanca-Tangier TGV railway through Lower Loukkos marshes will surely undermine the site’s quality unless its course is changed. This project if undertaken will probably affect habitat of many regionally and/or globally threatened bird species.

• Overall, the current land and resource use in all main sites visited during our survey appeared not to be sustainable. Many activities witnessed appeared to be counter to Morocco’s international obligations under treaties such as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), AEWA and the Ramsar convention. 

Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata at Sebkha Bou Areg Ramsar Site / Important Bird Area. Photo: Richard D. Moores

by Mohamed Amezian

Birding at Jbel Bouhachem Natural Park

Jbel Bouhachem lies in the Rif Mountains (north of Morocco) between the three provinces of Tétouan, Chefchaouen (Chaouen) and Larache. It is a Natural Park of exceptional beauty and outstanding trekking and birding opportunities. With an area of 8.000 ha, it was designated a Site of Biological and Ecological Interest, it is along with the nearby Talassemtane National Park one of the core areas of the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean shared between Andalusia (southern Spain) and Morocco. The forest composed mainly of Portuguese Oak (Quercus faginea), Pyrenean Oak (Quercus pyrenaica), Cork Oak (Quercus suber), Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster sbp maghrebiana) and Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica). The park is home to an important number of birds (99 species), mammals (32 species including the Barbary Macaque Macaca sylvanus) and reptiles (17 species).

  

On 10 May 2011, we (Abdelhak Elbanak and Rachid El Khamlichi) visited Jbel Bouhachem for a one-day birding and are happy to share with you what we got during the trip.  

Atlas Flycatcher (Ficedula speculigera), this bird species was recently split from Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), and becomes one of the endemic birds of the Maghreb. In summary, in comparison with nominate hypoleuca and Iberian Pied Flycatcher (F hypoleuca iberiae), the male has much white on the forehead, a prominent white primary patch and an all black tail. In Morocco, it was found mainly in the Atlas and Rif Mountains. see: Copete J.L., Armada R., López F. & Bigas D. 2010. Identification of Atlas Flycatcher in summer plumage. Dutch Birding 32: 155-162.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

Both Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and Levaillant's Woodpecker (Picus vaillantii) are heard and seen. I was very happy to have good views of this Maghreb endemic bird. Another stop and now we are near a pair of Wood Lark (Lullula arborea), one of them was collecting nesting material. We had seen on our way the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus deichleri) and Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius).

Wood Lark (Lullula arborea)

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus deichleri)

After eating we started our birding by listening to the Eurasian Tawny Owl calling. At the north side, we observed a small flock of Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) flying between trees, our first Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) and Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla).

I and my friend Rachid El Khamlichi ..eating time !!

Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

Our next stop was at small pond in the Cork Oak forest, where you can also see the Barbary macaque. We had a leisurely walk and saw Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), European Serin (Serinus serinus), Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), African Blue Tit (Cyanistes teneriffae ultramarinus) and Coal Tit (Periparus ater). 

After, we drove up the mountain to find the Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) and Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius). However, we had no luck but we saw some species, like Shoret-Toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus), Atlas Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs africana), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) and Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)...

Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Female Atlas Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs africana)

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

All photographs by Rachid El Khamlichi

Abdelhak Elbanak

Rare birds in Morocco: report of the MRBC (2007–09)

A three-year summary (2007-09) of the work of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee (MRBC) has just been published in the Bulletin of the African Bird Club.

Bergier P., Franchimont J., Thévenot M. & the MRBC 2011. Rare birds in Morocco: report of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee (2007-2009). ABC Bull. 18: 40-60. PDF

Résumé :

Les oiseaux rares au Maroc : rapport de la Commission d’Homologation Marocaine (2007–09). Après les quatre premières synthèses triennales parues dans le Bulletin de l’African Bird Club (Bergier et al. 2000b, 2002b, 2005b, 2009c), ce nouveau rapport détaille les 252 données analysées entre 2007 et 2009, dont 222 ont été acceptées soit un taux d’acceptation de 88%. Les rapports annuels correspondants ont été publiés dans Go-South Bulletin (Bergier et al. 2008, 2009b, 2010a).

Quinze espèces / sous-espèces ont été signalées pour la première fois au Maroc. Il s’agit des taxons suivants: Fou masqué Sula dactylatra, Frégate sp. cf. superbe Fregata sp. cf. magnificens, Héron pâle Ardea monicae, Milan noir d’Egypte Milvus aegyptius, Vautour de Rüppell Gyps rueppelli, Gravelot de Leschenault Charadrius leschenaultii, Goéland dominicain Larus dominicanus vetula, Alouette de Dunn Eremalauda dunni, Pipit à dos olive Anthus hodgsoni, Grive obscure Turdus obscurus, Prinia à front écailleux Spiloptila clamans, Fauvette de Moltoni Sylvia (cantillans) moltonii, Pie-grièche méridionale (sous-espèce nominale) Lanius m. meridionalis, Etourneau roselin Sturnus roseus et Moineau doré Passer luteus. A noter que, parmi ces espèces nouvelles, trois se sont avérées être reproductrices dans le sud du pays : le Goéland dominicain s’est installé depuis 2006 sur la côte atlantique, et sa nidification a été prouvée en 2009 à Khnifiss. Les deux autres ont été trouvées dans l’intérieur de la région saharienne d’Oued Ad-Deheb sur la route d’Aousserd (Awserd): l’Alouette de Dunn dont la nidification a été prouvée dès 2007 et le Prinia à front écailleux dont la reproduction très probable en 2008 a été prouvée en 2009. D’autre part, les mentions du Pipit à dos olive et de Grive obscure représentent, quant à elles, les premières données de ces espèces à l’échelle africaine. Nous enregistrons également, au cours de la période considérée, le deuxième Aigle pomarin Aquila pomarina, les quatrièmes Pélican blanc Pelecanus onocrotalus, Gravelot pâtre Charadrius pecuarius et Mouette de Franklin Larus pipixcan, les sixièmes Bernache cravant Branta bernicla (dont le premier individu de la sous-espèce hrota à ventre pâle), Océanite frégate Pelagodroma marina, Talève d’Allen Porphyrio alleni, Mouette atricille Larus atricilla et Bouvreuil pivoine Pyrrhula pyrrhula, les sixième et septième Mouettes à tête grise Larus cirrocephalus, enfin les septième et huitième Goélands à ailes blanches Larus glaucoides.

Moltoni’s Warbler Sylvia (cantillans) moltonii, Merzouga, 26 March 2008 (Photo: A.B. van den Berg)

Abdelhak

Sidi BouGhaba in the breeding season

This year, the lake of Sidi BouGhaba (SBG) is full of water which is very good for birds. This lovely place holds an important breeding population of birds. During our last visits (1 and 4 May 2011), we observed many waterbird species accompanied with chicks of different ages. The following are notable records (it should be noted that these numbers are only a part of the breeding populations as some parts of lake were not visited):

• Sixy (60) individuals and 2 ducklings of the White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala), with several males displaying and showing territorial behaviour.
• Three pairs of Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) with 3-4 chicks each.
• Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca): several adultes pairing + 3 juveniles.
• Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina): 15 females tailed by ducklings.
• Gadwall (Anas strepera): two females with ducklings.
• Common Pochard (Aythya ferina): 10 females with duckings.

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) with chicks

Female Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) with 3 chicks

Female Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) with 4 chicks

Juveniles of Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) 3 males + female

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)

In addition to these list, we saw a range of other bird species regularly breeding in SBG lake:

• Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis): several breeding pairs
• Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) : two nests and pair displaying.
• Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) with chicks
• Five females of Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) with ducklings
• Juvenile of Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
• Black Kite (Milvus migrans), seen transporting nest materials in the adjacent woodland.

A number of other species were noted, especially Great Cormornat (Phalacrocorax carbo), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), 56 Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides), Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala), Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti), Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis), Reed Warbler (Acrocephamus scirpaceus), Maghreb Magpie (Pica pica mauretanica).

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Maghreb Magpie (Pica pica mauretanica)

Reed Warbler (Acrocephamus scirpaceus)

Participants:

01 May 2011: Imad Cherkaoui and Said Lahrouz

04 May 2011: I.C., S.L., Mohamed Amezian, Abdelhak Elbanak and Adel Bouajaja

Breeding of Glossy Ibis and Spoonbill in Smir marshes

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus has finally returned to breed in northern Morocco after it has deserted this area for nearly a century. Our friend Rachid El Khamlichi recorded the breeding of Glossy Ibis in the mixed heronry installed in dune vegetation adjacent to Smir marshes (northern Morocco). Several nests with chicks were observed and photographed on 1st and 7 May 2011. The breeding of the Glossy Ibis has been suspected in Smir marshes during the last five years but has never been confirmed. Displaying individuals were also seen in Oued Massa by Imad Cherkaoui and Abdelhak Elbanak on 24 April 2011.

I think that this is another case of the benefits from the conservation done by our neighbours in the northern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, thanks for your work in Doñana (see for instance Santero S., Máñez M., Green A. & Figuerola J. 2010. Formation and growth of a heronry in a managed wetland in Doñana, southwest Spain. Bird Study 57: 515-524) and elsewhere in the Iberian Peninsula (another case was mentioned earlier about the White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala).

Rachid has also observed some nests of Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia in the main marsh; this is the first time that the species breed inside Smir marshes. Until now the species has only bred in the heronry by the main road.

Edit 1: This observation has been published in Alauda :

Amezian M., ElKhamlichi R. & Elbanak A. 2012. Breeding of Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus in the mixed heronry adjacent to Smir marshes, northern Morocco. Alauda 80: 33-38.

Edit 2: During the breeding season of 2012, most likely there wasn’t any breeding of Glossy Ibis in the colony, and there were only 4 occupied nests of Spoonbills. Very sad.

.

Glossy Ibis nest with chicks at Smir heronry, 1 May 2011. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi).

Glossy Ibis ringed as a nestling at Camargue (France) in June 2008 and photographed at Smir heronry on 7 May 2011. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi)

Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egret at Smir heronry, 7 May 2011. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi)

 Glossy Ibis chick at Smir colony, 7 May 2011. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi)

Eurasian Spoonbill chicks at Smir heronry, 1 and 7 May 2011.

Nearly full grown chicks of Eurasian Spoonbill at Smir heronry, 7 May 2011. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi)

Big chicks of Eurasian Spoonbill at Smir heronry, 7 May 2011. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi) 

Chick of Eurasian Spoonbill, Smir colony, 1 May 2011. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi)

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) at nest, Smir colony, 7 May 2011. (Photo: R. El Khamlichi)

by Mohamed Amezian