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Burkina Faso Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus in flight

Photo: Yvan Perré (IRD)

The following largely unconfirmed records have been published for interest only in ABC Bulletins.

In February 2005, two Pharaoh's Eagle Owls Bubo ascalaphus, probably a pair, were photographed in the Markoye area, in the extreme north-east; the first record for the country.

A Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus was seen at Gonse on 8 November 2003; this is more to the north than previously published records. Four-banded Sandgrouse Pterocles quadricinctus with chicks were seen at Gonse on 24 January 2004; there are few breeding records from Burkina Faso .

Records from December 2002 to October 2003 that represent extensions of the species' known range (cf. the maps in Borrow & Demey 2001, Birds of Western Africa) include the following. A White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus was flushed from its tree roost along a dry river bed at Boromo, about half way between Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso, on 22 December. Yellow-billed Oxpeckers Buphagus africanus were noted in Gonse Forest Reserve, just north of Ouagadougou, on 5 January and 1 October, and at Gandefabou, north-west of Dori, on 11 February. Black-necked Weavers Ploceus nigricollis were seen along a stream in Ouagadougou forest, from May to July.

Records from November 2001 to April 2002 include the following. Several species were added to the Nazinga list including Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis (an adult on 22 December), European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus (one on 25 April, five on 28 April and three on 29 April, all migrating north), Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (a male on 23 April), Little Stint Calidris minuta (five on 20 April), Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius (one on 20 April), Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus (three on 20 November), Bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula (one on 20 November) and Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus (one on 9 November). A Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius seen during this period may constitute the first sighting in Nazinga since 1983. A Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris was found at Gonsé, near Ouagadougou, on 13 April.

During field training in bird identification organised by BirdLife Partner NATURAMA in October and November 2000, two species were identified that appear not to have been documented for the country: Siffling Cisticola Cisticola brachypterus and Yellow-bellied Hyliota Hyliota flavigaster. Both were seen at Nazinga Game Ranch, south of Po National Park. The cisticola, a widespread and generally common species in West Africa, was also recorded recently at other localities in the country by other observers. White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus, another addition to the Burkina list, was also recently discovered at Nazinga, and since this discovery, more than 30 sightings have been obtained, totalling 63 individuals, with a maximum of 11 adults together on 14 May 2001.

An African Swallow-tailed Kite Chelictinia riocourii was observed at Banfora on 25 February and again on 12 March. Two adult Lappet-faced Vultures Torgos tracheliotus, seen on 19 February, were the first for Nazinga. Five Lesser Jacanas Microparra capensis, found at Tengrela on 25 February, were still there on 12 March. The first Egyptian Plover Pluvianus aegyptius for Nazinga was recorded from 4 to 16 April, and the first European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur on 7 March. Twelve White-rumped Swifts Apus caffer on 6 June was a remarkable high number for Nazinga; usually only one or two are seen. Two Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida were observed near Bobo-Dioulasso on 24 February.

Two new species for the country were recorded in the extreme north-east in June 1999. Kordofan Lark Mirafra cordofanica was discovered 10 km south of Forage Christine on 16th; recordings made of its song appear to be the first for this species. Two pairs of Desert Larks Ammomanes deserti with a probable juvenile were found near Markoye on 18th; the birds were much darker than the nearest known subspecies and apparently constitute a hitherto undescribed form.