randombirder

Almost exactly a year since the last trip to Morocco but there was unfinished business to attend to. The geographic diversity of the country provides a range of regional specialities and this time, we were hitting the desert. A long nine hour drive across an arid landscape skillfully avoiding incident while driving out of Marrakech arriving at the Kasbah Erg Chebbi by early evening. The accommodation and food here was incredible as were the views across the desert. The following morning provided the main focus of the trip - a guided half day tour out into the wilds of the desert for plenty of target species. On-board a 4x4, the guides Otman and Mohammad threw the jeep into the wilderness.  It wasn't long before these targets came into view. A group of sandgrouse were seen in the distance heading toward a watering hole. In no time at all, we were observing a decent group of crowned sandgrouse around a modestly sized watering hole. These birds were thought to have originated their j...

A packed three-day trip (not including travel days) recording 88 species, six of which were new and sought after. Flights were booked with easyjet from Luton (operated by Smartlynx on the outbound leg) staying at the incredible la palmeraie de massa auberge/restaurant an hour south of Agadir, an independent guesthouse settled in amongst the Berber community where nature abounds. Birding was concentrated around the Oued Massa area avoiding long drives focussing efforts around waterbodies and areas of steppe and coastal locations in the search for waterbirds and the enigmatic northern bald ibis. The full list sightings is as follows (PdM indicates sightings from the auberge); Ruddy Shelduck Group of 20 at Oued Mass NP. Mallard Group of four on Oued Massa. Shoveler 11 at Oued Massa NP. Barbary partridge Around a dozen on scree in the Barrage Youssef Ben Tachfine area. Little Grebe 6 on Oued Massa at champs d'Aghorimze. Moroccan Cormorant 8 at Oued Massa NP (PdM). Grey Heron Seen reg...