Fabled Spring in Morocco II 14 to 23 March, 2013
8 Places Available Price: US$2150
Species of Interest
Tour Gallery
Species of Interest
- Marbled Teal
- Ruddy Shelduck
- Barbary Partridge
- Sqacco Heron
- Bald Ibis
- Bearded Vulture
- Bonelli's Eagle
- Long-legged Buzzard
- Black-winged Kite
- Barbary Falcon
- Lanner Falcon
- Houbara Bustard
- Cream-colored Courser
- Audouin's Gull
- Lesser Yellow-crested Tern
- Black-bellied Sandgrouse
- Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
- Spotted Sandgrouse
- Crowned Sandgrouse
- Laughing Dove
- Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
- Red-necked Nightjar
- Egyptian Nightjar
- Pallid Swift
- Little Swift
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- Levaillant's Woodpecker
- Lesser Short-toed Lark
- Desert Lark
- Bar-tailed Lark
- Thick-billed Lark
- Horned Lark
- Temminck's Lark
- Greater Hoopoe Lark
- Plain Martin
- Alpine Accentor
- Moussier's Redstart
- Maghreb Wheatear
- Black Wheatear
- White-tailed Wheatear
- Red-rumped Wheatear
- Desert Wheatear
- Blue Rock-Thrush
- Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
- Scrub Robin
- Western Orphean Warbler
- Spectacled Warbler
- Tristram's Warbler
- African Desert Warbler
- Moustached Warbler
- Zitting Cisticola
- Western Olivaceous Warbler
- African Blue Tit
- Southern Grey Shrike
- Black-crowned Tchagra
- Garden Bulbul
- Red-billed Chough
- Yellow-billed Chough
- Brown-necked Raven
- Spotless Starling
- Spanish Sparrow
- Rock Sparrow
- Desert Sparrow
- Crimson-winged Finch
- House Bunting
Spring is, without a doubt, the best season to visit Morocco. This is the time when the desert is teeming with life, due to the arrival of the much needed rains. Some of the most charismatic birds of the region will be breeding at this time, including Hoopoe Lark, Desert Wheatear or Houbara Bustard.
This is also the opportune moment to see some of the migratory species that cross the Sahara. And the peaks of the Atlas Mountains will still be covered in remnants of snow, creating a magical view of this landscape, whose beauty is enhanced by the sight of a Bearded Vulture flying overhead, or the call of the Crimson-winged Finch. In contrast to the rugged mountains, we will also find ourselves in the pristine landscape of the Moroccan Atlantic Coast, famous for its wetlands where we will be able to see Marbled Teal and Red-knobbed Coot, and as a refuge for the last viable population of the endangered Bald Ibis.
Just like on all of our other trips, we will delve into the fascinating culture and enjoy the wonderful gastronomic delights of the region. From the coast to the desert and from the desert to the mountains, this trip to Morocco promises to be an unforgettable experience for anyone who loves birds and nature.
Trip Basics
Guide: Fernando Enrique
Single room supplement: $400US
Duration: 10 days
Maximum participants: 8
Lodging: From modern to traditional. Comfortable with private bath.
Food: Very good, traditional Moroccan cuisine.
Weather: Moderate temperatures throughout most of the journey. A jacket is recommended for evenings and during our stay in the mountains.
Difficulty: Low.
Notes and Recommendations for the trip
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Marrakech. Here, we will visit some of the beautiful sites this city has to offer, such as the Djemaa el Fna Plaza or the largest traditional market in Morocco. We will also observe the first species typical of this part of the African continent, such as: Garden Bulbul, House Bunting or Little Swift. Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 2
After breakfast, we will head to the Atlantic Coast, and the Souss-Massa National Park. This is one of the few well conserved wetlands in Morocco and a magnificent place for bird watching. On our trip along the Massa River we will be able to find species such as Black-crowned Tchagra, Plain Martin, Squacco Heron, Marbled Teal, Moustached Warbler. In the sandy plains that surround the river, we will search for the most emblematic of all species in Morocco, the critically endangered Bald Ibis, as well as the Cream-colored Courser, Greater Short-toed Lark or Barbary Falcon. In the afternoon we will visit the other river that gives this national park its name – the Souss River. This is a good place to view gulls, shorebirds, and at night it is the best place to look for Red-necked Nightjar. Overnight in Agadir.
Day 3
In the morning we will head to Tamri, where a colony of Bald Ibis frequents, making it relatively easy to observe them as they forage for food. The mouth of Tamri River is a splendid place to observe water birds, and the surrounding banana plantations act like a magnet for birds in migration such as Western Orphean Warbler, Rufoush-tailed Scrub Robin Robin, Eurasian Wryneck, Sedge Warbler or Common Grasshopper Warbler. Close by, we can see a resident pair of Barbary Falcon. From Cape Rhir we will be able to observe many seabirds in migration. The list of birds that can be seen from here is long, and includes various species of petrels and shearwaters. In the afternoon, we will return to Marrakech. Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 4
In the morning we will visit the Atlas mountains, with peaks that reach over 4,000 meters. More specifically, we will visit the area around Oukaimeden. This time of the year is the best to see the elusive Crismon-winged Finch that frequents clearings free of snow in search of food. Other species of interest include: Barbary Partridge, Levaillant’s Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Moussier’s Redstart, Alpine Accentor, Yellow-billed Chough, Rock Sparrow and, in the past few years, there have been regular sightings of Bearded Vultures. Afterwards, we will cross the Atlas along the famous Tiz’n Tichka route, heading for Ouarzazate. Along the way we will see a gradual change from montane species to those typical of the desert zones such as the White-tailed Wheatear, Maghreb Wheatear, Desert Lark, and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, among others. Overnight in Ouarzazate.
Day 5
After a good night's sleep will visit the Ouarzazate reservoir – a true oasis for birds in the middle of an otherwise arid landscape. Here, we can find large amounts of waterfowl, including such highlights as the Marbled Teal and the Ruddy Shelduck. This place also attracts a wide variety of migrating songbirds and is home to many resident species such as Fulvous Chatterer, Laughing Dove, Lanner Falcon, Long-legged Buzzard and a large variety of wheatears and larks. Later in the day, we will head to one of the dream destinations for any birder – the famous Tagdilt Track. Some of the species that make this place so famous are: Houbara Bustard, Cream-colored Courser, four species of Sandgrouse, Thick-billed Lark, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Temminck’s Lark, Desert Lark, Bar-tailed Lark, Maghreb Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Red-rumped Wheatear, among others. It also has the most beautiful sunsets in all of Morocco. Overnight in Boulmane du Dadés.
Day 6
In the morning we will make our last visit to Tagdilt Track and then we will say goodbye to this magnificent setting and make our way towards Merzouga, situated at the gates of the Sahara Desert. During the trip we will make several strategic stops in some of the numerous wadis and palm forests to look for some emblematic species of the region such as Streaked-scrub Warbler, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Fulvous Chatterer, African Desert Warbler, Brown-necked Raves, as well as many migratory species such as Eurasian Wryneck, Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin, Subalpine Warbler, Western Orphean Warbler, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, and Woodchat Shrike. Our destination for this afternoon will be Erg Chebbi, the largest dune system in all of Morocco. The image of these dunes beneath the warm evening light will forever be etched in your memory. Overnight Erg Chebbi.
Day 7
This morning we will set out in a 4x4 vehicle to visit the wildest parts of this region. Our journey will take us close to the Algerian border in search of the two “most wanted” species of the desert, found almost exclusively here, the Houbara Bustard and the Desert Sparrow. During our adventure, we will encounter other species of interest such as Crowned Sandgrouse, Spotted Sandgrouse, Greater Hoopoe Lark or African Desert Warbler. After lunch we will visit the seasonal lagoon of Merzouga. This place is truly unforgettable. Here, we will find hundreds of water birds in the middle of the desert. Some of the highlights will be Marbled Teal and Ruddy Shelduck, as well as hundreds of passerines that make an obligatory stop on the lagoon’s shores to take a rest in an otherwise harsh, arid environment. As evening sets in, we will go in search of the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl. Overnight in Erg Chebbi.
Day 8
After breakfast we will embark on our journey to Ouarzazate. Along the way, we will make several strategic stops where we will be able to observe several interesting species such as Lanner Falcon, Maghreb Wheatear, Tristram’s Warbler, Moussier’s Redstart and a large number of migrating passerines. Once in Ouarzazate we will tour the lake in search of new species to add to our list. Overnight in Ouarzazate.
Day 9
We will make our way back to Marrakech via Atlas and its spectacular snowy peaks that would leave anyone breathless. We will return to the mountains and find species typical of this habitat such as Crimson-winged Finch, Horned Lark or Alpine Accentor. Perhaps we will even be surprised by the silhouette of a Golden Eagle or a Bearded Vulture soaring overhead. Once in Marrakech we will relax and gather our strength for the next day’s visit to a completely distinct region of the country. Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 10
On our last day, we will take time to visit this beautiful city and do some shopping. We can also pass through the city gardens, where we will observe the last species for this trip such as Little Swift, Plain Swift, House Bunting or Garden Bulbul.