Morocco - Part 3

Above 2 images - White-crowned Wheatear

Day 4 and we moved towards more new species as we headed in the direction of Tata with the aim of birding at a few location en route. Shortly after seeing our first White-crowned Wheatear at the roadside (see above), we stumbled across a superb dry riverbed. We birded the riverbed for 2 hours and recorded Desert Wheatear (1, see below), Olivaceous Warbler (4), Orphean Warbler (1, see below), Spotted Flycatcher (1), Bonelli's Warbler (1), Melodious Warbler (2), Redstart (2), Rufous Bush Chat (1) and Fulvous Babbler (14, see below). Click on any of the images to see an enlarged version.

Desert Wheatear

Fulvous Babbler

Orphean Warbler

We next stopped a further 90km towards Tata at an area that looked good for Larks, our decision was a good one and we were soon finding excellent birds. In total we managed to record - Hoopoe Lark (1), Desert Lark (4, see below), Bar-tailed Lark (6, see below), Short-toed Lark (8) and the best of all was an unexpected Brown-necked Raven !(see below).

Above 2 images - Bar-tailed Lark

Above 3 images - Desert Lark

Above 2 images - Brown-necked Raven

Having found all of the target species en route to Tata we dropped the bags off and freshened up at the hotel before going back out at dusk in search of Sandgrouse. Unfortunately we didn't find any, however we did stumble across a pair of Egyptian Nightjar!!! We first were attracted to their presence when the male began singing, after a short wait we managed to get good views in the torch light!

The following morning we set off into the field before sunrise, again in search of Sandgrouse. Today our look was in and during the first 2 hours of daylight we enjoyed views of both Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse as well as a single Cream coloured Courser. Having cleaned up on our desert target species we enjoyed the scenic route back to Agadir stopping at a Little Swift colony on the way. The Little Swift were superb and we enjoyed them for at least 2 hours before heading to the hotel, see below for the pictures.

Above 3 images - Little Swift

Our final day in Morocco was spent birding at a lesuirley pace as we had managed to connect with everything we had hoped to see. Before leaving Agadir we checked the Oued Massa again, adding Marbled Duck to the trip list. We slowly worked our way to the airport birding a number of places a long the way, the most interesting sighting being an albino Black-tailed Godwit!! A superb trip was had by all and a full trip report along with details of next years tour can be found on the website - click here

Morocco - Part 2

mauritanica Magpie

Our 2nd full day in Morocco started in Agadir, arising at first light we headed down to the Oued Souss National Park, although we recorded many species the area was disappointingly quiet (compared with our expectations). Birds of note here included - mauritanica Magpie (numerous, see above), Common Bulbul (20+), Turtle Dove (8), Laughing Dove (12, see below) Greater-spotted Woodpecker (1), Whiskered Tern (16), Sandwich Tern (30+), Gull-billed Tern (18), Caspian Tern (2), Curlew Sandpiper (8) and lots of Grey Plover.

Plain Martin

Laughing Dove

Next we birded along the Oued Massa, the birding here was superb and as well as many breeding species being present, numerous Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Bonelli Warbler made it clear the birds were still moving through. We spent about 3 hours birding from various locations along the river and recorded the following of note - Western Olivacous Warbler (20+), Woodchat Shrike (8), Moussier's Redstart (numerous), Laughing Dove (20+), Kingfisher (1), Spoonbill (1), Green Sandpiper (2), Common Sandpiper (3), Plain Martin (10+, see above), Yellow Wagtail (numerous), Moroccan Cormorant (4), Little Bittern (1), Stonechat (2), Whinchat (1) and our main target Black-crowned Tchagra (2, see below).

Above 3 images - Black-crowned Tchagra

After finishing birding along the Oued Massa we headed down to Goulimime, our first stop here was at a police check point at the start of the city, but what a stop it was. After the police had realised we were harmless birders (thanks to the paperwork we had compiled prior to our visit) we noticed some larks near the car which transpired to be 3 Thick-billed and a Hoopoe Lark!!

After checking into the hotel we headed south of the city and began birding the various waddies and scrubland which can be found either side of the road. We drove no further than 30km and during 4 hours birding recorded the following noteworthy species - Willow Warbler (60+!!), Bonelli's Warbler (6), Swallow (4000 - 5000 going North), Spectecled Warbler (3), Thick-billed Lark (4, see below), Stone Curlew (2), Red-rumped Wheatear (3, see below), Temminck's Lark (2) and Scrub Warbler (4, see below).

Scrub Warbler

Above 2 images - Red-rumped Wheatear

Short-toed Eagle

Above 3 images - Thick-billed Lark

The following day we headed further south with the aim of reaching Khniffiss lagoon. En route we took a long dirt track into the desert and eventually found an oasis. Here we had a superb few hours birding recording - Black-bellied Sandgrouse (50+, see below), Short-toed Lark (20+), Common Bulbul (numerous), Red-rumped Wheatear (5 pairs), Maghreb Wheatear (2), Desert Wheatear (2), Woodchat Shrike (4, see below), Montagu's Harrier (1), Long-legged Buzzard (1), Short-toed Eagle (1, see above), Trumpeter Finch (20+, see below), Pied Flycatcher (5), Nightingale (2), Rufous Bush Chat (2), Bonelli's Warbler (1), Subalpine Warbler (1), Spectacled Warbler (2), Willow Warbler (30+), Green Sandpiper (1) and numerous Yellow Wagtail.

Khniffiss was well worth the visit - hundreds of Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo and mixed wader flocks littered the margins of small islands. Our main quarry was soon located - Kelp Gull. Although we only managed to see one of these well as it flew and fought with Greater Black-backed Gulls, we suspected that a second slightly obscured bird which remained pinned to the floor throughout the duration of our visit, was also of this species.

A mixed group of terns produced 3 Caspian Terns and 4 Lesser-creseted Terns and the visible migration here was outstanding with small flocks of Swallow and Bee-eater continually moving through. On the way back to Goulimime we stopped at a large flood pool and found 9 Ruddy Shelduck with a large group of roosting Avocet, whilst watching these a Barbary Falcon came through and stuck at a Common Sandpiper and an adult Bonelli's Eagle over head was also brilliant to watch. We stayed the night in Goulimime with the intention of heading towards Tata the following day.

Above image - Woodchat Shrike

Trumpeter Finch

Black-bellied Sandgrouse

Morocco - Part 1

Moussier's Redstart - click image to enlarge

This is part 1 of what will probably be three posts to showcase some of the photograph's and give an overview of sightings from this years Morocco tour. A full, more detailed trip report and details of next years tour dates will be available on the website in the next few days, click here.

Rock Sparrow - click image to enlarge

Having arrived at Marrakech airport at 15.00 we picked up the car and headed towards Oukaimeden situated in the high Atlas mountains; not before having a good look at the many House Bunting and a Lesser Kestrel in the airport car park! The road into the mountains is beautiful with lots of good pull in spots to take in the scenery, we stopped for a few minutes in one such spot and had great views of 5 Rock Bunting (see below), 3 Moussier's Redstart (see above) and at least 5 Black Wheatear.

We arrived at Oukaimeden with a couple of hours daylight remaining and despite a torrential downpour we eventually got great views of many species including - Rock Sparrow (30+, see above), Crimson-winged Finch (120+, see below), Seebohm's Wheatear (1 male) and lots of African Chaffinch amongst other species. What a superb start to the tour, the Crimson-winged Finch were truly amazing and to see such a large group mixed with Rock Sparrow is really something that must be seen rather than described.

Rock Bunting - click image to enlarge

Above 2 images - Crimson-winged Finch - click image to enlarge

The next morning we started early and walking through the lodge front doors we were greated to the site of 100+ Alpine Chough and 40+ Red-billed Chough feeding on the road and grass that surrounded our accomodation, what an amazing place!! We headed down to take another look at the large Finch/Sparrow flock and took advantage of the good light to get some better pictures. As well as seeing all of the species from yesterday again, we also found 3 Atlas Horned Lark (see below). Also see the bottom of the post for a video of the Crimson-winged Finch.

Next stop was Tamri with the aim of staying the night in Agadir. Birding along the road back down the Atlas mountains en-route was really productive and we recorded more of the species we had seen on the way up with additions in the form of - Blue Rock Thrush (3), Tristram's Warbler (1), Common Bulbul (20+), Levaillant's Green Woodpecker (2) and a superb Lanner Falcon.

Alpine Chough - click image to enlarge

Above 2 images - Atlas Horned Lark - click image to enlarge

When we arrived at Tamri the search was on and it took some time but eventually we found our quarry - Northern Bald Ibis!! We recorded 22 of these prehistoric looking birds in total and I managed a few pictures, see below. It was great to see such an internationally threatend species, but also opened my eyes to the vulnerability of the habitat this species so desperatley rely upon. Other new species recorded in the area included - Laughing Dove (7), Cirl Bunting and Black-eared Wheatear. We spent the night in Agadir and looked forward to heading South the following morning.

Above 2 images - Northern Bald Ibis - Click image to enlarge.