Former & current Status of Marsh Owl in Andalucia

[john]

I'm aware that Marsh Owl probably visited SW Andalucia more frequently in the past - particularly  La Janda (as it was).  I think that there were a string of records in the 1890s.  Its also suggested in some books that it may have once nested there.  Is there hard evidence or is it no more than speculation?  Also when was the lasy Iberian record?  I guess with its decline in North Africa it's unlikely to appear again, but it would be a great bird to find!

John
 

[Peter]

Hi John,

I am uncertain as to exactly when Marsh Owl was last recorded here in Andalusia. As you know it appears in our new, if yet unfinished, Andalusia Systematic List. I frequently get across to the Atlantic coast of Morocco and you may be interested to know I never have a problem to find these birds. The last visit I made in October I found a road casualty near to Asilah marshes and if you look at your maps then you will see that is not very far away at all.

Peter

[john]

"The Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain & Europe" states 'there are a number of autumn-winter records from the Spanish Marisma, e.g. 9 birds seen or collected at Casa Vieja in Oct-Nov 1868, Nov 1870 and Dec 1873"   Presumably this is a reference to Casas Viejas (Benalup) and thus refers to birds found on the nearby marshes (as they were then) of La Janda.  However, the 'Owls of Europe' (Mikkola) states that " according to Purro there are no breeding records of this owl from southern Spain during the last twenty years, and he leaves open the question of whether it has recently bred in Europe".   All of which clearly implies it once bred in Spain!  Yet I can't find a shred of evidence.  Anyone got access to Spanish sources?

John