Birdwatching along the Nile in Aswan always holds the promise of surprises, and sometimes those surprises turn into milestones. During one of our recent morning trips, I was rewarded with the rare sight of Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus). Seeing them perched and active on the river was not just an exciting moment, but also a reminder of how birdlife in Aswan continues to reveal new stories.
The Bird Population expands North
The observation of this african species is not the first inside Aswan city. On 27 April 2025, our Dutch friend Dick Hoek has spotted one flying bird south of the city (near Sahary area). The observation is documented in his bird list on Observation.org. The recent observation is the most northern record (the first ever northern Aswan old dam). However, the bird was spotted several times on Lake Nasser near Abu Simbel.
Historic Breeding Record
This sighting comes at a particularly historic time. Only recently, Egypt (particularly Abu Simbel) celebrated a mega record of Reed Cormorant breeding for the first time in over 110 years. That event marked a breakthrough in our understanding of the species’ status in the country and highlighted Aswan’s critical role as a refuge for birdlife at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia.
To now encounter three individuals during a regular morning trip adds another layer of significance — it suggests that the Reed Cormorant may be more than just an occasional vagrant and could be in the early stages of establishing a stronger foothold along the Nile.
Aswan birdlife wonders
For birders and nature enthusiasts, this is a powerful reminder that Aswan is not only a gateway to the beauty of the Nile Valley but also a living stage where remarkable avian stories unfold. With every trip, the river offers something new: sometimes subtle, sometimes historic. The Reed Cormorant’s return is both.
