Loading search...
European migrants, plus desert and oasis specialities were among the many birds on tour leader Richard Bashford’s list at the start of our 'Birding Southern Morocco' tour in April …
Desert Lark by Peter Dunn
Spring in Southern Morocco – what could be better for the keen birder? Not only were we going to visit a range of habitats including desert, but in April many of the European migrants we know closer to home should be passing through.
After soaking up a bit of North African culture in Marrakech, we headed up and over the high Atlas – and some of our group had already notched up a Lammergeier and both Chough species.
As we entered the desert, we managed to see six species of lark within an hour, including the fabulous Thick-billed and Hoopoe Larks. Into deep desert via the 4x4 safari, we saw the main targets of Desert Warbler and Desert Sparrow.
Oasis towns in the south are great for another special bird – the Fulvous Babbler, and we found a group of nine at our first stop! Another stop produced many migrants – Bonnelli’s and Sub-alpine Warblers plus Rufous Bush Robins, alongside Nightingales and Spotted Flycatchers.
Onward towards the coast we saw Bald Ibis feeding; and we followed this with a relaxing Tagine lunch – a perfect morning. Our final day around Massa and Souss was excellent with a range of waders including Marsh Sandpiper and Stone Curlew, nest-building Black-crowned Tchagras, and the trip was finally rounded off on our last evening by Red-necked Nightjar. A fabulous trip with great company throughout.
For more information on our 'Southern Morocco' tour, click here.