We report on the first successful breeding of the Little Egret, Egretta garzetta, in the Sahara, Algeria. We conducted a study on the nesting of this species at Kef Doukhane, an artificial wetland in Northern Sahara that has become an increasingly important nesting site for waterbirds. The number of individuals was monitored between April and October 2021 and the greatest abundance with 470 individuals was recorded in October. However, during breeding, the colony decreased to about 50 birds that built seven nests. Egg-laying started at the beginning of July and at least 34 eggs were laid. Clutches varied between 5 and 6 eggs, and 28 nestlings fledged, yielding a breeding success of 82.4%.

The breeding distribution of the Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica in Algeria is poorly known as the species is mainly associated with highly unstable habitats. We conducted a survey of the distribution of the species across all major Algerian wetlands and monitored a breeding colony at El Goléa during 2009. The species is usually described as a passage migrant in the Sahara, but its status may have to be reconsidered following our discovery of a small colony nesting on an islet in Sebkhet El Maleh, El Goléa. The colony consisted of 25 birds which built nine nests and foraged exclusively in and around the salt lake. Laying of eggs began in mid-April, in synchrony with high temperatures and strong evaporation. Clutches varied between 1 and 3 eggs but none was successful. The gradual drop in water level and subsequent drying of the Sebkha coincided with the first hatchings, exposing the first hatchlings to mammalian predation arising from the intrusion of jackals Canis aureus, which entirely destroyed the colony.

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The range mapping and phenological status of four waterbird species was studied in Ghardaïa and El‐Ménéa regions between 2017 and 2021. Seasonal waterbird censuses were conducted throughout Ghardaïa and El‐Ménéa by individual counts or visual estimation. During these counts, four species were reported for the first time in this region, three passage visitors, European golden plover Pluvialis apricaria, black stork Ciconia nigra and Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, and one winter stopover, common crane Grus grus. Observations on the species in Ghardaïa and El‐Ménéa regions are new for southern Algeria.