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Migration over Morocco 18 to 24 September, 2012

8 Places Available Price: US$1850 Species of Interest
 
Tour Gallery
 

 

Species of Interest

  • Double-spurred Francolin
  • Barbary Partridge
  • Marbled Duck
  • Ferruginous Duck
  • Balearic Shearwater
  • Bald Ibis
  • European Honey Buzzard
  • Egyptian Vulture
  • Black-shouldered Kite
  • Long-legged Buzzard
  • Eleonora’s Falcon
  • Lanner Falcon
  • Lesser Kestrel
  • Great Bustard
  • Purple Swamphen
  • European Curlew
  • Lesser Crested Tern
  • Marsh Owl
  • Black-crowned Tchagra
  • Brown-throated Martin
  • Moustached Warbler
  • House Bunting
 

This journey bring us face to the face with the unique fauna of North Africa. From the “other shore” we will get a different point of view on the spectacle of migration. Observing from the Moroccan coast assures us great views and great opportunities to photograph the thousands of raptors that cross the Strait during this time of year.

We will also take the opportunity to visit the great wetlands of northern Morocco where we can view thousands of waterfowl as well as some steppe birds, including the last African population of Great Bustards.

Another exciting feature of the trip is our visit to a breeding colony of Eleonora’s Falcons. This will be a wonderful opportunity to get close-up views of and to photograph these swift raptors in a unique setting.

As if that weren’t enough, we will also have the opportunity to see some really interesting birds and some of the last populations of the Western Palearctic species found in this area of   Morocco including the Marsh Owl, the Double-spurred Francolin or the Brown-throated Martin.

Trip Basics

Guide: Fernando Enrique

Single room supplement: $400US

Duration: 7 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

Notes and Recommendations for the trip

Entering Morocco

For United States citizens and Europeans, only a valid passport is required. A visa is not required for anyone staying in-country for less than 90 days. If you have stamps from Israel in your passport, you may be denied entry.

Health

We recommend visiting your doctor before the trip to make sure you are in good health. No vaccinations are required to enter the country. Insects are not a problem, except in Souss-Massa National Park, insect repellent is recommended. 

Lodging

Hotels will range from modern to traditional styles, but they will all be comfortable and with a private bath.

Clothing

Casual, comfortable clothing throughout the journey. However, the nights in the desert can be cold, as can the days at the higher elevations. A jacket is recommended.

Pace of the trip

Most of the time we will be driving to the best birding areas, where we will then take short walks or spend some time waiting in pre-determined areas.  None of the routes are difficult. There will be some days when we make longer journeys in the vehicle (around 2 hours). 

Transportation

Minibus or van

Weather

The weather in Morocco during this time of year is very mild, with night-time temperatures ranging from 10-15ºC and daytime temperatures between 15-30ºC. However, during our visit to the mountains, temperatures may only reach about 10ºC. We recommend you bring a jacket, or dress in layers. On the coast and in the mountains, there may be some windy days as well.

Food

Breakfast will usually be between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m., though some days we will venture out early in the morning, then return to the hotel for breakfast.  Depending on the day, we will either have lunch in the hotel, or enjoy a packed lunch in the field. Dinner will be served between19:00 and 20:00. We will normally arrive at the hotel early enough to allow time for freshening up before dinner.

 

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Rabat. If time allows, we will visit the only colony of Eleanor’s Falcon in the Atlantic, where we will have the best opportunities to see and photograph this beautiful, swift raptor. We may also visit Sidi Bourghaba, one of the best conserved wetlands in Morocco. This is a popular feeding spot for the Eleanor’s Falcon and a breeding area for the Marsh Owl. Other important species found here include: Ferruginous Duck, Marbled Duck, Magpie (mauretanica subspecies), White-headed Duck, as well as a high density of raptors. Overnight in Rabat.

Day 2

At sunrise, we will visit what was once the most extensive cork forest in the world, home to the last population of Double-spurred Francolin in the western Palearctic. We will enjoy breakfast in the field, so as to take advantage of the best time of the day to be in the field. Here, we will be afforded with good opportunities to see subspecies of forest passerines typical to northern Morocco, such as the African Blue Tit. It is also a good place to see Barbary Partridge and the Black-crowned Tchagra!!! We will then journey to Chefchaouen, making several stops along the way to observe some raptors such as Black-winged Kite, Lanner and Lesser Kestrel. We will explore the area around the village and/or visit its famous plaza and shops. Overnight in Chefchaouen.

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Day 3

Sunrise in this beautiful area of the Moroccon Rif is a good time for us to discover many forest and montane species. Some highlights of the area include Peregrine Falcon, Bonelli’s Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Barbary Partridge, White-throated Dipper and many other forest passerines. We will travel across the Rif, enjoying the beautiful scenery in which we will encounter such species as the Red-billed and Yellow-billed Chough, as well as the precious Moussier’s Redstart.

When we arrive at the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar, we will be able to enjoy the spectacle of migration. At this time of year we will hopefully see large numbers of honey buzzards, short-toed snake eagles, booted eagles and perhaps even a flock of black storks. We will have lunch in a small coastal town before heading out to the steppe area of Asilah, where key species include Long-legged Buzzard and Great Bustard, among others. Overnight in Asilah.

Day 4

We will begin the day by once again enjoying the migration of thousands of soaring birds as they cross the mere 15km of water that separates Europe from Africa. These birds travel at a height that will provide us with wonderful opportunities to photograph them as they cross above the Moroccan coast. The strait is also an important flyway zone for some marine birds, and from our vantage point we will be able to see Cory’s Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Great Skua,  as well as a diverse species of gulls and terns. The rest of the afternoon we will make several stops along the way to Asilah. Overnight in Asilah.

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Day 5

We will spend the morning visiting Oued Loukkos, home to such species as Moustached Warbler, Brown-throated Martin, Red-knobbed Coot, Marbled Duck, Purple Swamphen, Ferruginous Duck, Glossy Ibis, as well as shorebirds and migrating passerines. We will enjoy our lunch in Larache and in the afternoon we will visit Merja Zerga where we will go in search of the Marsh Owl. Depending on our time, we will walk along the beach in the hopes of spotting the Lesser-crested Tern. Overnight in Asilah.

Day 6

In the morning, we will explore the Merja Zerga by boat, which is the best way to observe birds and to get to the most inaccessible spots of this wetland. Warning! The number of birds found here can be overwhelming! After a hearty lunch of typical Moroccon cuisine, we will head south, visiting Sidi Bourghaba before arriving in Rabat. Overnight in Rabat.

Day 7
We will visit the souk of the Moroccon capital to do some last minute shopping. We will also take advantage of the last few hours in Morocco to visit some bird-rich zones close to the city.