Morocco - Bald Ibis Break

20th - 24th October 2010

Morocco is a fantastic place to visit in late Autumn with plenty of birds, both migrant and resident combined with a wonderful climate. Our base for the week will be a first class hotel in the metropolis of Agadir, one of Morocco's premier coastal cities. We shall visit many special places that are situated only a short drive from Agadir over the course of the week.

At Tamri we shall look for the globally rare Bald Ibis which has an estimated world population of 600 birds, also here we will look for Barbary Partridge, Caspian Tern and Barbary Falcon. South of the city is the superb Sous Massa National Reserve - an amazing river estuary where we hope to find local specialities such as Moussier's Redstart, Black crowned Tchagra, Plain Martin and Moroccan Magpie. One day will be spent even further south on the edge of the Sahara Desert hoping to see Cream Coloured Courser, Bar tailed, Temminck's & Hoopoe Larks, Desert Wheatear and possibly Crowned Sandgrouse.

Day 1 :- We fly into Agadir for the start of this short break, where we will be based at the impressive Hotel Argana in the heart of this coastal city. Having been met at the airport by our Berber guide Mohamed we shall drive to our accommodation probably seeing Moroccan Magpie, House Bunting, Common Bulbul and Pallid Swift enroute. Hopefully we shall get a chance to make a short excursion that afternoon to one of the local wetlands that occur near the city where we shall kick start our list.

Days 2 - 4 :- During these three full days we shall visit many varied birdwatching sites with the focus being on seeing Northern Bald Ibis amongst many other things. Tamri is a coastal village some 40Km north of Agadir and long it's coastal cliffs breeds this very rare ibis, having a significant percentage of the world's population. One day will be spent in this area and also checking an excellent tidal pool for Caspian & Sandwich Terns, Audouin's & Mediterranean Gulls, Ruddy Shelduck, Little Egret and Purple Heron. We will also stop off at Cap Rhir where we shall look at the Atlantic Ocean for any passing seabirds, which might include Balearic & Cory's Shearwaters, Gannet, Sandwich Tern or even an Arctic Skua.

The Oued Sous is a river inlet just south of Agadir and is a fantastic area, which is very good for waders, terns and gulls. Species here in the past include (Moroccan) Cormorant, White Stork, Greater Flamingos, Marsh Harriers,  Caspian, Sandwich & Whiskered Terns, Audouin's, Slender billed, Mediterranean, & Western Yellow legged Gulls. As well as these wintering wader flocks can also be impressive with usually Oystercatcher, Avocet, Grey, Ringed, Little Ringed & Kentish Plovers, Greenshank, Spotted & Common Redshank, Dunlin, Black tailed Godwits, Ruff, Knot, Curlew, Wood Green & Common Sandpipers all potentially to be found on the mudflats.

One day will be spent at one of Morocco's premier National Parks - the Sous Massa River. This vegetated river and estuary is simply awesome and a haven for locally breeding Moroccan specialities and migrants alike. Here we shall listen out for the distinctive call of Black-crowned Tchagra ring out from dense cover and hopefully find one hopping through the undergrowth. More easily observed birds along the river should include Marbled Duck, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Squacco & Purple Herons, Ruddy Shelduck, and possibly Plain Martin another rare breeding North African species. Other likely species include Moussier's Redstart, Sub-alpine, Sedge & Moustached Warblers, Zitting Cisticola, Pallid Swift, Serin, Hoopoe, Chaffinch and Stonechat. It can get hot here even at this time of year so after our walk along the river we shall enjoy a cool drink and picnic in the shade of some pine trees at the entrance to the National Park. After this we shall spend some time searching the surrounding fields for Stone Curlew, Thekla Lark and Little Owl. Mid afternoon we shall return to the hotel so you can maybe have a siesta or relax and swim in the outdoor pool before making a night excursion out to the edge of the Kings Palace, where we hope to find Red necked Nightjars hawking insects around the floodlights.

Another day will be spent on the northern edge of the Sahara Desert, which is about 80Km south of the city. Even this area can be quite productive as we search the boulder fields and sparse vegetation for Cream coloured Coursers, Hoopoe, Greater Short toed, Bar tailed & Temminck's Horned Larks, Desert Wheatear, Trumpeter Finch and possibly Black bellied & Crowned Sandgrouse. Raptors like to hunt these open plains and Barbary Falcon is a real possibility here, as is Long legged Buzzard and a wandering immature Bonelli's Eagle. At this time of year with southbound migration on-going anything could potentially be found moving out into this unforgiving desert.

Day 6 :- Depending on the flight departure time we might have a chance to visit one of the local sites to Agadir before leaving for the airport

"What's been said"

Hi Jules. Had a  great time  on the  tour  with  a  great group  of  people, and thanks  for  your  expert guidance. Vehicle  was  great  once  we  found out  how to  open the door  from inside and  open  the windows! . Accomodation  was  fine . I thought  the  first place was  an  experience  but  was  let  down  more by  the expensive drinks  than the rooms. Take care and will see you again soon. .......... N. Muddiman

It was great to see you again and be treated to the usual high quality birding guidance and finding coupled with the TLC that makes your trips so special. Roll on Bulgaria - let's hope the new Collins Guide is out by then!! C. Byrne

Hi Jules, just a quick e-mail to thankyou very much for a fantastic holiday. Morocco is truly a wonderful country, we had a great time with great birds not forgeting the great views. hope to see you in the near future all the best my friend. J. & M. Murray

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