Morocco – High Atlas to Sahara
Saturday 21st to Tuesday 31st March 2009
AA9019
Morocco
is the top birdwatching destination in North Africa, with a superbly diverse
avifaunaand spectacular scenery, ranging from the alpine peaks of the igh Atlas, deserts on the very edge of the Sahara and the estuaries of the Oued Sous & Oued Massa. Springtime is one of the most exciting birdwatching periods, featuring the continued northward passage of European migrants alongside a truly exotic array of breeding residents, including Lanner, Cream-coloured Courser, Black-crowned Tchagra, Tristram's Warbler, Desert Sparrow and the spectacular Moussier's Redstart. Wheatear enthusiasts will be richly rewarded with a possible eight species, there is the expectation of seeing one of the world’s rarest birds, the bizarre-looking Northern Bald Ibis and a chance to find the difficult but splendid Houbara Bustard. Separated by only a few miles of sea from south-west Spain, Morocco also offers a wildly different cultural experience mixed with comfortable hotels and an enticingly warm, dry climate.
Day 1: We catch a morning direct flight from London to Marrakech.
Then if time permits we
will visit the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains.
Day 2: Today we drive into the High Atlas Mountains, to the ski
resort of Oukaïmeden. Redbilled and Alpine Choughs feed in mixed flocks in
the alpine meadows there along with Horned Larks and possibly a Seebohm’s
Wheatear, the distinctive form of Northern Wheatear that most authorities
now regard as a species in its own right. Blue Rock Thrush, Black Redstart,
Black Wheatear and Rock Sparrow inhabit rocky outcrops and ruins and we
shall search for the scarce and extremely local Crimson-winged Finch. On the
twisting climb, Barbary Partridge, Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker and the
gorgeous Moussier’s Redstart are all possibilities while the selection of
raptors includes Long-legged Buzzard.
Overnight – Marrakech
Day 3: The drive to Ouarzazate takes us over the High Atlas via the
pass of Tizi-n-Tichka. Essentially a travel day, there will be numerous
stops to admire the spectacular scenery and look for some of the higher
elevation species – more typically, Black Wheatear and Rock Bunting but even
Common Crossbill occur. In the desert areas near Ouarzazate we will look out
for Mourning Wheatear, Desert Lark and Trumpeter Finch.
Overnight – Ouarzazate
Day 4: From Ouarzazate we travel to Boumalne du Dades where, in the
afternoon, we shall visit the famous Tagdilt Track. Larks and wheatears
abound and include enviable specialities like Thick-billed, Greater Hoopoe
and Temminck’s Larks, Red-rumped and Desert Wheatears along with Trumpeter
Finches and Cream-coloured Coursers. Sandgrouse and Lanner Falcon occur but
are not always straightforward to find.
Overnight - Boumalne du Dades
Days 5 & 6: Reaching the true desert, the spectacular edge of the
Sahara with the huge sand dunes of Erg Chebbi – the largest in Morocco, ,
provide a wonderful backdrop to some superb birdwatching, which brings a new
set of species. Desert Sparrow, Fulvous Babbler, Tristram’s & Desert Warbler
and Bar-tailed Lark are all in the area while the chance of witnessing a
displaying male Houbara Bustard is a tantalizing prospect. At times our eyes
will need to focus skyward, where we may witness raptors and storks rising
on the thermals.
Overnights – Merzouga
Day 7: Morning birding around our desert hotel before returning to
Boumalne du Dades and a late afternoon visit to the Tagdilt Track, will give
us the opportunity to catch up on species previously missed or once again to
observe such wonderful birds as: Cream-coloured Courser, Thick-billed &
Temminck’s Larks, Red-rumped Wheatear and Black-bellied Sandgrouse.
Overnight - Boumalne du Dades
Day 8: A full day’s travel to Agadir, with birdwatching en route.
Overnight – Agadir
Days 9 & 10: Over the course of the next two days visits will be made
to Tamri, Oued Souss and Oued Massa – one of the most rewarding wetland
birding sites in Morocco. Initially, efforts will be devoted to tracking
down Northern Bald Ibis before switching to the river mouths where Marbled
Duck, Little Bittern, Squacco and Purple Herons, Glossy Ibis, Greater
Flamingo, Alpine Swift, Black-crowned Tchagra and migrant waders and
passerines feature largely.
Overnights – Agadir
Day 11: We drive to Agadir airport for our return flight.