News
These records are largely unsubstantiated reports published in the Bulletins of the African Bird Club.
A Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius was seen near Tilia, north of Tahoua, in September 2006; this is the first record from Niger in decades. A single Banded Martin Riparia cincta was seen on 7 June 2004 just north of Magaria, south of Zinder. A Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris in the same area, on 8 June 2004, constitutes the first record from Niger; the species is considered common around Kano, Nigeria, 150 km to the south. The Wheatear Expedition to Niger, Mali and Mauritania in February-March 2007, from the Vogelwarte in Wilhelmshaven, reported a female Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala near Agadez and three Sennar Penduline Tits Anthoscopus punctifrons near Abalak; the paucity of records for these species in Niger is doubtless a reflection on the lack of observers.
The most exciting news is that satellite studies have shown a juvenile Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae passed through north-eastern Niger during its southbound migration and an adult female crossed the south-west northbound; in mainland West Africa, this species is a very rare vagrant, known only from northern Mauritania, in November, and, more recently, Côte d’Ivoire, in March (Bull. ABC 8: 147). In the Agadez region, visits to a number of wetlands in early December 2006 turned up a Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides at Chinziganen, and a Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala and two Rüppell’s Warblers S. rueppelli at Chinwalmban. The second Montagu’s Harrier expedition to Niger in January - February 2007 reported a Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola from a wetland near Birni N'Konni; if accepted, this would be a first for Niger and apparently only the second for West Africa, the first being from Senegal, in January 1999 (cf. Bull. ABC 8: 139–140). Also reported were a mixed group of 43 African Spoonbills Platalea alba, including many immatures, and 23 Eurasian Spoonbills P. leucorodia at Tabalak; breeding Desert Eagle Owls Bubo ascalaphus desertorum near Abalak; a Common Quail Coturnix coturnix west of Birni N’Konni and also midway between Niamey and Dosso; a number of Greater Hoopoe Larks Alaemon alaudipes in the Agadez region (surprisingly few recent observations); at least six Mourning Wheatears Oenanthe lugens near Diffa, far south of their known wintering grounds in the Aïr; a group of six Sennar Penduline Tits Anthoscopus punctifrons near Abalak; a pair of Desert Sparrows Passer simplex near Agadez; and six Red-winged Pytilias Pytilia phoenicoptera at a waterhole in the south of Parc Régional du W.
Details of the three Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota reportedly shot near Zinder during sampling of wild birds as part of H5N1 avian influenza monitoring in early 2006 have been received: they were collected at Chemagaji (13°30’N 09°50’E) on 28 February 2006 and were the only Hottentot Teal at the site, which consists of several pools in the desert.
The following records are from the period May–October 2006. Twelve occupied nests of Intermediate Egrets Egretta intermedia on 5 August, at Les Rôniers in Niamey, constitute the first confirmed breeding record of this species in Niger. It is unclear whether an immature Purple Heron Ardea purpurea at Saga the next day was also due to local breeding (unconfirmed for Niger) or involved a second calendar-year bird that did not return to Europe. An adult European Hobby Falco subbuteo reported from Les Rôniers on 17 September would be only the third record for Niger. Three male Ruffs Philomachus pugnax at Saga on 16 July are a very early observation. A Mottled Swift Tachymarptis aequatorialis on 4 June, at the Tapoa Hotel in ‘W’ National Park, would be the third record for Niger, all since August 2004. A pair of Blackstarts Cercomela melanura feeding young in the Dallol Bosso on 3 August and two adult Yellow-billed Oxpeckers Buphagus africanus feeding two juveniles, at Dougel Kaina opposite Kolo, surprisingly constitute the first confirmed breeding records for Niger. A Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus at Les Rôniers on 2 September would be the second record for Niger.
The following records are from the period October 2005-May 2006. At the Mare de Guidan Kara wetland, 30 km north-west of Birni N’Konni, the following species unusual for Niger were seen on 16 January: two Black-necked Grebes Podiceps nigricolllis, six Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope, four Common Teal A. crecca, three Common Pochards Aythya ferina, 262 Ferruginous Ducks A. nyroca and three Tufted Ducks A. fuligula; the water in the wetland is too saline for livestock and for agriculture. On a photograph taken in November 2005 at a wetland near Damana, between Baleyara and Filingué, a White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus (third record for Niger) and a Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota (c.10 previous records) can be seen. It is said that three Hottentot Teal were shot near Zinder during sampling of wild birds for the H5N1 avian influenza monitoring in February-March.
A Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus was seen attacking fruitbats in Niamey on 2 October, and two individuals were observed at dusk near the Grand Hotel on 25 May. The Montagu Harrier Circus pygargus expedition in January-February 2006 quadrupled the number of observations of the species in Niger to more than 100. Fifty Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni were counted in the Dallol Bosso at Birni N’Gaoré on 15 January.
A Little Crake Porzana parva was photographed at Goudel ricefields (13°53'N 02°05'E) on 5 March. Two Temminck's Stints Calidris temminckii were seen at Daïkana-Daïberi (14°18'N 01°47'E) on 18 February). Four Great Snipe Gallinago media and a Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus were at Saga, near Niamey, on 7 January. A single White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis was seen near Birni N’Konni on 18 January, and many were heard near Guidan Roumji, north-west of Maradi, on 19 January. On 18 February, during a fall of migrants due to very dusty conditions, a Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens was reported near Tillabéri; the only previous report of this species from Niger is in a publication from 1950 on Tamasheq names of animals, without any other details. An Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis was found at Daïberi on 18 February. On 19 January, a Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris was observed near Guidan Roumji, and a Red-backed Shrike L. collurio east of Birni N’Konn.
The following species, for which there are few published records in Niger, were observed in the south-east in September-October 2005. A Black Stork Ciconia nigra was c.20 km north of Diffa on 4 October. A Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina flew east of Maine-Soroa on 7 October. An African Hobby Falco cuvierii was chasing grasshoppers near Maine-Soroa on 24 September. A White-rumped Swift Apus caffer was noted north of Diffa on 27 September and another, with Little Swifts A. affinis, at Diffa on 6 October; these are the first records from eastern Niger, all previous records being from the south-west. A pair of River Prinias Prinia fluviatilis was nest building at the Komadougou Yobé River, Diffa, on 23 and 29 September, and another was by the River Niger at Tillabéry on 11 October; these would constitute the first definite records for the country, if accepted. A Yellow-spotted Petronia Petronia pyrgita was found west of Diffa on 26 September.
Following the first observations of Mottled Swift Tachymarptis aequatorialis and Alpine Swift T. melba in 2004, Mottled and possibly also Alpine Swifts were seen on 25 October 2005 just east of Arlit, in a mixed flock with Common Swifts Apus apus, Pallid Swifts A. pallidus and a Little Swift A. affinis. A photograph of a possible African Black Swift Apus barbatus in the same flock is still being examined. The latter species has not yet been confirmed for Niger, although there are more than ten probable observations during the rainy season, including possible breeding in caves in the Dallol Bosso, 100 km east of Niamey.
Three species new to Niger were reported in 2003: Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius, heard 43 km west of Diffa on 25 September, Grassland Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus, seen 44 km north-east of Tahoua on 25 July and Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella, found 39 km west of Diffa on 25 September. Noteworthy sightings from the Diffa area in September 2003 include a Clapperton's Francolin Francolinus clappertoni on 23rd, a Kurrichane Buttonquail Turnix sylvaticus on 24th with another on 26th and a Little Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos elachus on 23rd.
A pair of African Pied Wagtails Motacilla aguimp (on the bank of the Niger River) and two Black-eared Wheatears Oenanthe hispanica were observed at Niamey on 24 January 2004; although these species are not uncommon in the area, documented sightings are scarce. Two Isabelline Shrikes Lanius isabellinus, seen on 19 September 2003 near Tanout, appear to represent the second record for Niger.
Last page update 10th July 2008
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