Birding in Morocco, Tailor-made Grand Tour in May

River ziz, a scenic highlight during our Birding Morocco trip - by Javi Elorriaga
River ziz, a scenic highlight during our Birding Morocco trip

We guided a 9-day Birding Morocco trip as an extension to a Western Andalusia birding trip last May. The fairly demanding list of targets required “the grand tour”, from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Sahara, including the steppes, the Atlantic coast and the High Atlas; in other words, the best Moroccan birding experience.

Day 1 – From Tarifa to Merja Zerga

This way, on the 23rd of May we took the 09:00 a.m. ferry in Tarifa, arriving to Tangier one hour later and with our 4×4 waiting for us. We first visited the medina of Tangier and met our first target, the local population of House Bunting. Next we moved to the charming coastal village of Asilah where we had an excellent meal before reaching the Lower Loukos river. The marshes where dry and we struggled to find a single Brown-throated Martin beautifully perched in the reeds with Barn Swallows. This is a very early breeding species and the hundreds of birds we usually find here in our visits in March and April had already left the area.

Next we embarked on a boat to explore the Merja Zerga Lagoon. Here, among Audouin’s and Slender-billed Gulls, Little, Sandwich and Caspian Terns we came through a striking Lesser Crested Tern. May is the most reliable period to find this scarce species, as they move to their breeding colony in Libya. Back in firm land we patiently waited until dusk to approach a farmland where the endangered Marsh Owl hunts at dusk. As we stepped out of the car, and despite the poor light, a perched owl showed memorably well. We need to stress that approaching the edges of the marshes where this endangered species nests must be avoided during the breeding period.

Lesser Crested Tern in summer plumage at Merja Zerga. 23rd May 2017. - by Javi Elorriaga
Lesser Crested Tern in summer plumage at Merja Zerga. 23rd May 2017.

Day 2 – Sidi Boughaba and Ifrane

We started the second day visiting the always rewarding Sidi Boughaba Lagoon in Kenitra. The Maghreb Magpie was the first speciality we found. Large family groups of Marbled Duck, White-headed Duck and Red-knobbed Coot filled the edges of the reedbed. We spent the afternoon in the forest of Ifrane National Park in the Middle Atlas observing Atlas Flycatchers  but we struggled to get good views of the Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker. While looking for the later we came upon a nest of the so-called Maghreb Wood Owl, the NW African subspecies of the Tawny Owl, which some authors suggest as a separate species. The famous Dayet Aoua Lagoon had very little water, where numerous Black-necked Grebes attended their nests. Not far, we found the first Seebohm’s Wheatear of the trip and an eye-catching European Roller.

Atlas Flycatcher showing the characteristic extensive white patch in the forehead. Ifrane National Park, 24th May 2017 by Javi Elorriaga
Atlas Flycatcher showing the characteristic extensive white patch in the forehead. Ifrane National Park, 24th May 2017.
Maghreb Wood Owl (Strix aluco mauritanica), the NW African counterpart of the Eurasian Tawny Owl, showing the characteristic barred body. Ifrane National Park, 24th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Maghreb Wood Owl (Strix aluco mauritanica), the NW African counterpart of the Eurasian Tawny Owl, showing the characteristic barred body. Ifrane National Park, 24th May 2017.

Day 3 – From Azrou to the Zaida Plains

We started the third day with a walk in the broadleaf forest in search of more Atlas Flycatchers, which additionally produced Western Olivaceous Warbler, Hawfinch, African Chaffinch, African Blue Tit, Short-toed Treecreper and Long-legged Buzzard. After the mandatory stop to observe the Barbary Macaques in Azrou, we drove our 4×4 off the beaten track into the ancient Cedar forest and got great views of a female Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker.

We had a tasty tajin for lunch and resumed our way South with strategic stops to observe Seebohm’s Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Chough, Lesser Kestrel, Ruddy Shelduck, Moussier’s Redstart and riggenbachi and ruficolor type Crested and Thekla Larks, respectively. We reached our hotel in Midelt by mid afternoon and had some rest before visiting the Zaida steppes. Despite the amplitude of the landscape a single Lesser Short-toed Lark and a distant falcon chasing a group of Cream-coloured Coursers were the only birds we found. Far from giving up, we kept our search and our effort was rewarded with lengthy views of two Dupont’s Larks!

Baby Barbary Macaque nursing in the Cedar forest of Ifrane National Park. 25th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Baby Barbary Macaque nursing in the Cedar forest of Ifrane National Park. 25th May 2017
Record shot of an adult Dupont´s Lark carrying food to feed its fledgling. No doubt one of the most elusive species in Morocco. Zaida Plains, 25th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Record shot of an adult Dupont’s Lark carrying food to feed its fledgling. No doubt one of the most elusive species in Morocco. Zaida Plains, 25th May 2017.

Day 4 – The Ziz River

Next morning we visited the same spot and we connected with these elusive larks again. Indeed, we realized it was an adult feeding its fledging! Fully satisfied we hit the road towards the desert. A Spiny-tailed Lizard was an additional highlight.

Moroccan White Wagtail, Blue Rock Thrush, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Desert Lark, Black Wheatear and White-crowned Wheatear were some of the species we enjoyed before going for a walk into the impressive palm grove at Ziz River, south of Errachidia. Both the quantity and diversity of birds sheltered in this oasis were astonishing, and included European Turtle and Laughing Dove, African Reed Warbler, Saharan Olivaceous Warbler, Nightingale, Moussier’s Redstart and Rufous Bush Robin.

Once in Rissani we got excellent views of a pair of Lanners and a Red Fox, but missed the Pharaoh Eagle Owl… Soon after we reached the spectacular sand dunes of the Sahara in Merzouga. Here we had a warm welcome to our Hotel, a nice dinner and a well deserved night sleep.

Our charming hotel in Merzouga during our Birding Morocco Trip; you can see the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in the background - by Yeray Seminario
Our charming hotel in Merzouga during our Birding Morocco Trip; you can see the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in the background

Day 5 – Merzouga

Next morning, 27th of May, we admired the very first beams of light in the desert. Thanks to a well studied route we chained excellent views of an array of desert specialities, namely Desert Sparrow, Bar-tailed Lark, Desert Warbler, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Fulvous Bablers and a superb Fennec! However, the biggest spectacle was yet to come as we approached a tiny water hole where hundreds of Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouses gathered for drinking. Next, we visited the isolated farm of Moubarak, a man of the desert who had kindly located an Egyptian Nightjar for us!

Fully satisfied we returned to the hotel to avoid the high temperatures of the central part of the day. Late in the afternoon we returned to the Rissani area and, yes! this time we got excellent views of a Pharaoh Eagle Owl. What a stunner!

Fennec, the soul of the desert. Erg Chebbi, 27th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Fennec, the soul of the desert. Erg Chebbi, 27th May 2017.
A group of Crowned Sandgrouses at a waterhole close to Merzouga, Erg Chebbi. Over 400 individuals visited this site for drinking and bathing after sunrise providing an unforgettable sight. 27th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
A group of Crowned Sandgrouses at a waterhole close to Merzouga, Erg Chebbi. Over 400 individuals visited this site for drinking and bathing after sunrise providing an unforgettable sight. 27th May 2017.
Adult female Spotted Sandgrouse offering unbeatable views. Er Chebbi, 27th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Adult female Spotted Sandgrouse offering unbeatable views. Er Chebbi, 27th May 2017.
Egyptian Nightjar in Merzouga. 27th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Egyptian Nightjar in Merzouga. 27th May 2017.

Day 6 – Boumalne du Dades

Next morning of our Birding Morocco trip, we headed west and rather easily located two highly sought after species: Streaked Scrub Warbler and Maghreb Weathear! We then had a relaxed visit to an ancient Kasbah in the exotic Ouarzazate and the impressive Todra Gorges before reaching Boumalne Dades by mid afternoon. Here we found another Pharaoh Eagle Owl and a waterhole with numerous Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Temminck’s Lark, Desert Wheatear, Red-rumped Wheatear, Trumpeter Finch and Thick-billed Lark.

Streaked Scrub Warbler. West of Rissani. This is a restless species that rarely leaves its shelter in the low vegetation. 28th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Streaked Scrub Warbler. West of Rissani. This is a restless species that rarely leaves its shelter in the low vegetation. 28th May 2017.
Pharaoh Eagle Owl at Boumalne Dades, the second individual we found during the trip. 28th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Pharaoh Eagle Owl at Boumalne Dades, the second individual we found during the trip. 28th May 2017.

Day 7 – The Tagdilt Track

Early next morning we revisited the water hole and the Tagdilt Track. We found over 20 Black-bellied Sandgrouses, our last species to get the poker of sandgrouses! We then continued towards the Atlantic coast with two successful detours to observe Barbary Falcon and a family group of Maghreb Wheatears.

Day 8 – Tamri National Park

Next morning we visited Tamri National Park. Here we photographed several Southern Grey Shrikes of the algeriensis subspecies. These are notably paler than the elegans type we had seen in the desert. A group of over 20 Cream-colored Coursers in a sandy slope were a nice surprise. Then, we had a fascinating encounter with the global threatened Northern Bald Ibis, the most iconic species in the region. Finally, we crossed the extensive Argan forest and visited a local cooperative of women including argan oil, honey and hamlou tasting.

A recently fledged Maghreb Wheatear, a rarely photographed age class and often a tricky species to be found in Morocco. Ouarzazate 28th May 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
A recently fledged Maghreb Wheatear, a rarely photographed age class and often a tricky species to be found in Morocco. Ouarzazate 28th May 2017.

Once in Essaouira we stopped at the river mouth where Eleonora’s Falcons of different color morphs were numerous. Despite the gale, we got close-up views of two falcons having a bath and enjoyed photographing them. We then checked in to a charming riad and had an excellent dinner in the tranquil medina of Essaouira.

"Eleonora´s

Day 9 – Oukaimeden

On the 31st of May, our last day of the birding Morocco trip, we visited Oukaimeden in the High Atlas. Here we searched for mountain species. Ascending the mountain road we came through Barbary Falcon, Rock Bunting, Seebohm’s Wheatear, Chough, Alpine Chough. Also, we heard several Quails. We passed Oukaimeden and kept driving and hiking on the breathtaking Tizi-n’Ouadi (2950 m). As soon as we reached the mountain pass we got excellent views of several Shore Larks, Mousier’s Redstart, Black Redstart and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush.

Equally noticeable were the views of the snow-capped Jebel Toubkal (4167m), the summit of North Africa. Suddenly, two African Crimson-winged Finches showed up. We still wanted to get better views of this moroccan highlight but a menacing storm pushed us back to the car. On our way to Marrakech we made a last stop and got close views of an obliging Tristram’s Warbler, the last target of the trip!

Seebohm´s Wheatear in the High Atlas. 31st March 2017 - by Javi Elorriaga
Seebohm’s Wheatear in the High Atlas. 31st March 2017.

End of the Birding Morocco trip

We celebrated the end of a very successful tour with a visit to the mythic Jemaa El-Fna Square. We had an excellent dinner in Marrakech, including a toast for the nemesis of the trip, the Barbary Partridge!!

Contact us if you want to enjoy fantastic birding in Morocco!


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