Morocco - Oued Sous Estuary

I spent the last couple of days of the trip near the Royal Palace observing a different set of birds from my first visit to this area a couple of weeks earlier.

Curlew Sandpiper were moving through the area with birds sporting different plumages on both days.

A flock of Glossy Ibis were also a pleasant suprise but not a rare species to visit the area!

A Little Gull was noted in flight but it did not appear to stop continueing on down the estuary.

A Whimbrel was another addition to the trip list which was edging towards the 150 species mark.

A flock of Greater Flamingo had arrived feeding in the shallower water. 

I did not see Bald Ibis in this area but they have been reported in the past! Tamri and the Sous Massa area are the best places to catch up with this species. It may cost a few sheckles to be taken to them by a local but I found them myself at Tamri!

In what seemed like a blink of an eye I had boarded my British Airways flight back home. The luggage allowance if you are carrying birding equipment camera, telescope etc is excellent and amounts to a hold and cabin bag at 23kg and a laptop bag which also comes in at an allowance of 23kg! If you have a Heavy laptop! 

The Birding Lodge

"Babbler Time!"

I always gain a lot of satisfaction from a self planned trip that was an amazing experience in a country where the people where very friendly, helpful and hospitable! Special thanks to Brahim and his guides at Riad Dades Birds that made the trip even more memorable! Hussan and I created "Babbler Time!! which caused alot of hilarity during some tense moments for a guide!"

Morocco - Lalla Takerkoust to Agadir

The highlight of the leisurely drive back to Agadir was a Great Spotted Cuckoo that was initially spied in flight. Fortunately for me the bird settled in a nearby tree allowing the opportunity for a few pictures.

I stopped at Lalla Takerkoust dam adding Marsh Harrier, and a very obliging Little Owl to the trip list. Most of the birds seen were very distant therefore the pictures were digiscoped or dot type shots with some heat haze thrown in! A flock of Black Bellied Sandgrouse were nice to see coming in for a drink early morning. Spoonbill and a Black Kite were other species of note.

Morocco - Ouikaimeden part II

I spent my remaining time in the mountains looking for the more regular species to inhabit the high altitude. The ski slopes range from 2610 to 3262 metres with a thin layer of snow only at the highest levels.

During my search along the track which gives spectacular views of the valley another sought after species was noted Atlas Shorelark. A rather smart bird which was present from the lake and the slopes leading off the track.

A Short Toed Eagle seemed to cause some concern amongst the goat herders all jumping to their feet when this raptor appeared! But in the blink of an eye the bird had moved on and calm returned to the valley!

During my time in the mountains the Red Billed Chough was the more regular of the Chough species. I have seen reports where this trend is reversed in favour of the Alpine. 

I'm not sure if there is any particular reason for the switch in numbers.

The Parc de Ouikaimenden held a good number of the more regular species but I guess there is always the potential for future splits particularly at this altitude! It was pleasant walking through the pines in search of Atlas Coal Tit, Short Toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, African Blue Tit and Great Tit.

The race up to the ski slopes was momentarily halted by a line of Red Rumped Swallow on the wires.

The gardens of my hotel were also busy with birds a calling Cuckoo on two mornings was a nice addition to the trip list! 

Morocco - Ouikameden part I

This was to be in relative terms a tense couple of days. I arrived at the ski slopes on the first day at around 1030 and spent most of the day walking slopes and tracks looking for the prize bird the Crimson Winged Finch.  The slopes were almost devoid of snow and as a result there were no tourists skiiing this had a knock on effect of a lack of walnut sellers in the car parks.

The birds are known to come down to the walnut sellers who crack a few nuts leaving the contents for the birds to feed on. Other visiting birders were also drawing a blank which had me go into investigative mode. I spoke to a seller who told me the Lake before the ski slopes has an early morning visit from one or more birds. Brahim from Riad Dades Birds had also mentioned this to me suggesting I would be successful if I got to the lake early morning!  The seller at the Lake confimed this whilst I waited with Louis and another guide and tour that evening!

The next morning I was up and out at stupid o clock and with previous daytime knowledge of the road up to the ski slopes zoomed up to the Lake! Upon arrival there was a single Crimson Winged Finch in view which had me abandon the car in the middle of the road to get a picture.

Once I had settled myself I strategically parked up and waited for the morning to unfold. A total of three birds were seen together rumaging through the walnut cases. I kept a "live" update posted on eBird as I knew other birders (one who was staying close by) were interested in connecting with this species. Let the twitch commence! 

This species is usually easy to connect with when there is snow, skiiers and walnut sellers present! The lack of each element caused the drama on this occassion! The walnut has taken on a new significance in life with suggestion amongst attending birders that a small shine be built in its honour! 

I had lunch with the sellers as part of their customs having bought a celebratory box of walnuts!

We are all NUTS!

Morocco - Merzouga to Ouikaimenden

I like to take my birding at an easy pace and achieve alot of personal satisfaction having planned a trip myself. I have been on organised trips and find them generally very tiring but you do generally get to see most key species! 

Fully guided trips are between 9 to 14 days whereas I have spent just short of three weeks in Morocco incorporating a journey across the Atlas mountains. This has included two stays with Riad Dades Birds who have provided guides around the Tagdilt Track and the desert.

I was on a return journey to Agadir via Ouikaimenden a journey of 932km and had booked night stays at Riad Dades Birds and Riad Chay and Boutique Ouzazarte to break up the journey. This allows time to catch up on any species that may have slipped through the net the first time round. The above Thick Billed Lark was one such species near the Tagdilt Track.

A morning spent at the reservoire at Ouzazarte produced a selection of passerines in the low trees and scrub. The best habitat is below the large viewing area where you can also camp. The viewing area itself gives good views of the reservoir but a telescope is essential if you remain at the top.

This Western Bonelli's Warbler was busy feeding as it made its way through the bushes.

Hirundines are also filtering through the area at a trickle but I am certain this will gain pace in the coming weeks. Yellow Wagtails were everywhere the main race being iberiae.

Blue Cheeked Bee Eaters were in residence and apeared to be claiming territories around the lake.

Next stop Oukaimenden and the search for a key species Crimson Winged Finch which incidentely had not been reported on eBird for a few days!

Morocco - Erg Chebbi Desert Birding!

Part two of my guided adventure with Riad Dades Birds took me across to Merzouga and a days birding in the desert with Hassan. This in part was serious 4x4 birding amongst the sand dunes with the key target species the Egyptian Nightjar and Desert Warbler.

There is a Nomad who watches the Nightjar at night and stays near the spot where it roosts at dawn. A call from Hassan to the guy and we were off to the site to view an adult and juvenile bird (the grey rock in front of the adult). This effort costs a few sheckles but it helps support a living for the Nomad! I was delighted care was taken not to disturb the birds who may be staying put until the juvenile can fly at least.

The Desert Warbler is in a known spot and was reletively easy to find if you knew where to look! Another key species viewed as a result of a fantastic guide from Riad Dades Birds!

Earier on in the day I was taken to the Sandgrouse drinking area. Brahim and Hassan have known the farmer for many years and have built up a special relationship with him. A pipeline to a Camel drinking trough had an additional water stop built into the route and the Sandgrouse water hole was created.

The Sandgrouse fly in from the Algerian border to drink every morning at early o clock and then leave the area for the day. Spotted and Crowned are regular with Pin Tailed sometimes present. On this visit there seemed to be an issue with the supplt but a quick diversion to the farmers house soon rectified the problem! 

Desert Sparrow was next on the list having visited a Nomad camp in another romote area. This species used to reside around the hotels that border the desert but have likely been pushed out by the more common House Sparrow!

The larks were soon added to the growing day list with Maghreb, Crested and Bar Tailed and Greater Hoopoe Lark all relitively easy to find!

The bird that had become the guides nightmare was the Fulvous Babbler. I could sence some tension in the air having been to several spots to look for this bird and failed! I have been in a similar position when I host tours in Dorset and "Babbler Time!" was created which provided an endless source of amusement to us both! A single bird was seen in the gardens late afternoon and Hussan's relief was clear!

I thoroughly recomend Riad Dades Birds but don't forget to mention "Babbler Time" to Hussan if he is your guide!

Morocco - Tagdilt Track

I have spent the last couple of days at Riad Dades Birds near Boumalne Dades with guide Mustapha who has taken me out along the Tagdilt Track 4x4 style to see the desert area specials. It has been a very enjoyable couple of days with some life birds and my trip list reaching 104 species!

The prize bird of the two days was the family party of Pharoah Eagle Owl who posed magnificently for the camera. The young owlets even put in an appearance. Owls will always hold my interest but this was simply amazing!

The male was on the other side of the ledge keeping an eye on proceedings! 

Another favourite species of mine the Cream Coloured Courser were present in good numbers this year and you didn't have to travel too far on the open plain to bump into one. Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse were more active early morning.

Hoopoe Lark were very vocal and only gave away their splendour in flight with black outer primaries and white through the secondaries.

Temminck's Lark were found throughout the area with some newly fledged juvenile birds present. Desert and Northern Wheatear were also roaming the desert plain.

Atlas, Mourning and Mahgreb Wheatear were found in more remote areas. 

The area of the dump is where many birds hang out and despite the mess it is not too unpleasant on the nose. Meadow Pipit and Yellow Wagtails were present here in good numbers.

Red Rumped Wheatear are annual breeders around the dump juvenile birds were noted. 

Raptors have been in short supply but a dozen Black Kite were noted this morning having roosted on the plain overnight prior to crossing the Atlas Mountains.

Despite a thorough search on both days Thick Billed Lark could not be found. This is the key breeding period and this species becomes very elusive. 

I will try again when I come back later in the month!

Morocco - Mansour Eddahbi Dam Ouarzazarte

The dam is the lifeline of the region supplying water to farms and towns that have grown as a result of the wealth water brings! I spent an evening and a morning covering the key areas of this vast expanse of water. 

Collared Pratincole, Great Egret were present during the evening session but appeared to have moved on by the next morning. Blue Cheeked Bee Eaters were also noted passing overhead. Digiscoping was the order of the day for the former whilst shakey shots of the latter didn't make the cut either!

The morning saw a movement of Hirundines, Swallow, Sand Martin, Pallid Swift and a couple of Red Rumped Swallow no doubt all looking to cross the mountains as they head north.

A Desert Lark put in a couple of appearances posing nicely on top of a rock to my own delight.

A White Crowned Wheatear which allowed me to get very close behind the cover of the car as it wrestled with a centipede like insect.

A couple of Great Grey Shrike two adults and an immature bird had a bit of a squabble before all parted company below the viewing area!

Yellow Wagtails of the race iberiae were present in good numbers as they migrated through the area.

Shorebirds were represented by Little Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover which were amazing to watch as they scuttled along the shoreline picking off insects.

Migration is definately hotting up as I spend a few days with Riad Dades birds along the Tagdilt Track and later in the dunes looking for desert specials! 

Morocco - Hotel Riad Chay Ouarzazarte

I have driven over 300km in the last couple of days having negotiated my way from the coast across the Atlas Mountains. The roads are all tarmacked and the only traffic is around the big towns, and you have to have your wits about you! The best way to describe the chaotic order as to who has the right of way is a Wacky Races, Mario Cart and Paperboy combo! Its great fun but not for the feint hearted!

The Hotel Riad Chay is situated within an oasis where the river has been dry for several years but there is an irrigation channel which is supplied with water from the Mansour Eddahbi Dam east of Ouarzazarte. The fields behind the hotel are green and holds a variety of birdlife.

The passerines spend the hottest period of the day in the trees and scrub that line the flooded fields.

A couple of Nightingale were very vocal as they were attempting to out sing each other. It is the breeding season so both declared their respective territories from an acceptable distance from each other! Zitting Cisticola were displaying buzzing around but I still cannot get on to them for a picture!

A lone White Stork was noted at the back of a field keeping its distance from me!

Cattle Egret were everywhere and were not troubled if you got too close to them.

Blue Cheeked Bee-eaters were seen from my balcony later in the afternoon and a pair of House Bunting joined me for dinner in the evening. 

This was a very enjoyable day and a hotel I look forward to returning to on my route back to Agadir!

Morocco - Sous Massa down to Oued Massa Estuary

The afternoon was spent in more tranquil and beautiful surroundings with a lush green valley that led to the banks of the Oued Massa. There was plenty of bird activity down to the nature reserve and museum.

Bird of the day a Red-necked Nightjar was found after a long search in the scrub close to the entrance to the nature reserve which is near the estuary. It took a while to lock on to it but once seen it was easy to locate. This bird caused a small twitch with a group from the Netherlands!

A personal favourite of mine was the noisy Black Crowned Tchagra who played a game of cat and mouse before it gave itself up giving splendid views low down in a bush.

The road through the valley to the nature reserve was alive with birds. Zitting Cisticola were elusive but were heard along the valley. A Western Subalpine Warbler was not as shy in front of the camera!

An unused building held Thekla's Lark which seem to pop up everywhere I go. I have also seen Crested Lark but they do not seem as common.

My first Moussier's Redstart gave a spectacular display as it flitted about in the same area.

A Lesser Kestrel put in an appearance as I was down in the valley looking for passerines which included Blackcap, Cettis, Sardinian and Reed Warbler.

There were a few Swallow and Sand Martin making their way up the valley and it won't be long before these species are plenty on home soil!