RFI Scrub Warblers in Morocco (1 Viewer)

D

davegosney

Member

• Sep 21, 2009

• #1

Hi everyone,

I'm in the process of updating my 'Finding Birds in Morocco' books based mainly on a month I spent there this year. However, I didn't make it as far as Goulimine (=Goulimime or Guelmim) so I'm wondering whether anyone has any up-to-date news on Scrub Warblers in that area. Has anyone seen them at the site 7km south of Goulimine since I last had them there in 1994? If not, has anyone had them anywhere else (for example, along the Jbel Bani route)?

Thanks

Dave Gosney

 

S

Steve Lister

Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.

• Sep 21, 2009

• #2

Hi Dave

I checked the 7k from Goulimime site in January and saw none.
In fact in two trips this year, that one and in March, I did not see the species anywhere and it is now obviously much scarcr than it was. I did not see it in 2007 either.

Steve

 

jogresh

Bimble and patch

• Sep 21, 2009

• #3

We also didn't see them here in Feb, although we didn't spend very long here to be fair. And we didn't see them anywhere else (between Agadir and Aousserd), nor did we see any at any sites during our last visit in April '07 (we didn't visit the site south of Guelmim on that occasion). Seen them in Tunisia luckily...
Cheers.

 

Richard Klim

-------------------------

• Sep 22, 2009

• #4

Dave,

My wife and I failed to find Scrub Warbler at your site south of Guelmim (Oued Seyad) in November 2000, but a group led by Lee Evans reported one there on 6 May 2009 (and another S of Tan-Tan) - see Sue Bryan's trip report:
http://www.freewebs.com/suebryan/morocco2009.htm

Richard

 

D

davegosney

Member

• Sep 23, 2009

• #5

Thanks everyone. They're obviously not as easy as they as they used to be. Sue Bryan's report also mentions a site 29km south of Tan Tan. Presumably the ones in Algeria wouldn't be of the race theresae which is of particular interest because it may be split as 'Streaked' Scrub Warbler.

 

Richard Klim

-------------------------

• Sep 23, 2009

• #6

davegosney said:

Presumably the ones in Algeria wouldn't be of the race theresae which is of particular interest because it may be split as 'Streaked' Scrub Warbler.

Click to expand...

Dave, I'd be interested to know who's suggested Scotocerca theresae as a potential split (and why).

I'm aware that Lee Evans splits S saharae (including ssp theresae) as 'African Scrub Warbler'.

['Streaked Scrub Warbler' is already widely used as the English name for for S inquieta (sensu lato) - eg, by Dickinson 2003 (H&M3), Clements, BirdLife International, HBW, ABC, OBC.]

Richard

 

Last edited: Sep 24, 2009

J

James Lidster

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2009

• #7

Hi Dave
we had them a couple of years in a row (Nov 05 and Nov 06 i think) near Guelmim. I thought it was north of the town as we headed back to Agadir, but i maybe wrong. Its a site Bryan Bland has used on his autumn Sunbird tour before. We searched the area for about half an hour and saw nothing, then we tried playback and saw 2 birds almost instantly. All i remember from the site is it being a bridge over an Oued (which had water in both times - which doesnt narrow it down i know!) within 10km of Guelmim and it was necessary to walk a short distance from the road to reach the drier scrub. I will try and find my Morocco map and find the exact location.
Best wishes
James

 

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Sep 24, 2009

• #8

I saw them there a couple of years back - nice photographs and all. Click onto my website and then Morocco trip report for full details of all sightings (17th December).

 

Last edited: Sep 24, 2009

D

davegosney

Member

• Sep 29, 2009

• #9

Hi Richard,

Oops it's an error on my part I'm afraid. Caused by adding 2 and 2 and getting about 7. But if Scrub Warbler does get split, it seems strange that the most distinctive-looking race will remain lumped with saharae.

cheers

dave

 

D

davegosney

Member

• Oct 15, 2009

• #10

Thanks to everyone for their help. The book (and DVD too) is now published and available from the web address below.

Thanks again

Dave