Long-tailed Duck at Oualidia: first record for Morocco and Africa (1 Viewer)

A

Acrocephalus

Well-known member

• Jun 12, 2014

• #1

A Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) was photographed at Oualidia lagoon by a multinational birding team on 5-6 June 2014 (and still present today). Vaughan Ashby who sent me the picture commented that “this may well be the first record for Africa”, probably based on the fact that the species was listed in the Bird Checklist of Tunisia in Avibase.

Today, I checked the “Birds of Tunisia” (Isenmann et al 2005) and found that the species was not listed. Denis Lepage also commented that he “can’t find a source of the Tunisia record in Avibase, and looks like an error/unconfirmed sighting”.

So, it seems this is a true first for Africa.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Jun 13, 2014

• #2

Incredible record, particularly that it is in June - one could understand it in January or February, but June is just weird!

Did you get to see it yourself?

 

Jon Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2014

• #3

I thought with global warming, species were supposed to be moving north? A remarkable record.

 

dantheman

Bah humbug

• Jun 13, 2014

• #4

A remarkable record. Of course ... they are kept in captivity (in Europe) and escapes occur, which could them travel.

How many for eg Spain/Portugal?

 

R

rob lee

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2014

• #5

Not Africa I know but only about 250km west of Tan Tan.
Back in May 2000 or 2001 i spent a week at Costa Teguise, Lanzarote with the family, seawatching was a daily event with the kids happily playing on the beach whilst I tried to find Bulwer`s Petrels etc. Surprise of the holiday was a pair of summer plumaged L.T.Ducks migrating north one day!

 

Richard Klim

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

• Jun 13, 2014

• #6

There have been other previous records in the Canary Is and Madeira: ie, Africa, although not continental Africa.

 

A

Acrocephalus

Well-known member

• Jun 16, 2014

• #7

Yes, I mean continental Africa. Good record Rob, which point that it’s not impossible to see an arctic species at these low latitude at this time of year (May-Hune).

Nutcracker, no I haven’t seen the bird myself. I was sent the observation and the image by those who found it. I am aware that it was successfully twitched some 6 days later.

Now the question: if at Oualidia, what one would prefer, seeing an Andalusian Buttonquail or trying to see the Long-tailed Duck?

 

Jon Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 16, 2014

• #8

Acrocephalus said:

Now the question: if at Oualidia, what one would prefer, seeing an Andalusian Buttonquail or trying to see the Long-tailed Duck?

Click to expand...

That's a wicked question Mo.... Most of us from up north would give our eye teeth for Andalusian Hemipode - as it was once called much to our amusement back in the early 60's when my Dad and I looked through the Peterson Guide.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Jun 16, 2014

• #9

Have to admit I'd go for the Buttonquail too, I see plenty of Long-tailed Ducks up here in the winter :t:

 

Ian Lewis

aka Gryllo

• Jun 17, 2014

• #10

Jon Turner said:

I thought with global warming, species were supposed to be moving north? A remarkable record.

Click to expand...

These strange out of season occurrences do occur, when I was in SE Spain in June 2010 there was a female King Eider nearby.

Ian

 

A

Acrocephalus

Well-known member

• Jun 23, 2014

• #11

Jon Turner said:

That's a wicked question Mo.... Most of us from up north would give our eye teeth for Andalusian Hemipode - as it was once called much to our amusement back in the early 60's when my Dad and I looked through the Peterson Guide.

Click to expand...

I know Jon, and this was my situation as well. Although I haven’t seen the Long-tailed Duck yet, I didn’t bother searching it in the lagoons and instead was enjoying the Andalusian Hemipode in the surrounding areas.

Last week I joined the Turnix team (Carlos Gutiérrez, Ruth García, Ernesto and I) to search of traces and evidence for presence/breeding of the Small Buttonquail in the Oualidia region (this is my first visit to this coastal area in a research study).

- As a birder, I enjoyed seeing several birds (some seen well at close range) and hearing some others (I have heard them before but never seen them).

- As a biologist, I think that the bird’s future is not so secure. Most likely GREPOM/BirdLife Morocco with whom we volunteered in this study will publish more about this aspect soon.

 

A

Acrocephalus

Well-known member

• Dec 22, 2015

• #12

Long-taled Duck at Essaouia in winter

A second Long-tailed Duck for Morocco was photographed at Essaouira on 20 December 2015.