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Introduction

From 22 until 29 December 2004 we made a birding trip to Southern Morocco. Our aim was to see as many new species for us as possible. To prepare our trip we searched the internet for information and trip reports. The following trip reports were very useful:

We also used the essential ‘Finding Birds In Southern Morocco’ by Dave Gosney.

The roadmap we used was by Michelin, nr. 742, Morocco (scale 1:1.000.000).

We flew Royal Air Maroc, costs: € 543 pp including taxes.

We booked a rental car in advance at Avis. The price was € 357 for a week. We booked a category A car (Fiat Palio), but got a category B car (Peugeot 206) instead, for the same price.

The rest of the trip cost us about € 200 pp (including hotels, food, gasoline, tips, etc.)

Driving around in Morocco yourself is quite easy. Road conditions are good in general.

We didn’t have any problems with the local people. In fact, most people were very friendly. On most places people come to you when you stop the car to do some birding. Especially children are sometimes begging for food, money or pencils. We thought that the best way to avoid them is to ignore them.

Itinerary

Wednesday 22nd December 2004

Check-in at Amsterdam (Schiphol) at 11:45. Our 13:00 flight to Casablanca had a delay of about one hour, so we left at about 14:00. Left Casablanca at ca. 18:00 and arrived in Agadir ca. 19:00. In Agadir, we were told that our luggage was still in Casablanca and it would arrive later that day, with another flight. We first picked up our rental car at Avis. Then we decided to wait at the airport for our luggage and finally it arrived at 00:40 (23^rd December). Now we could leave and drive as far east as we could during the night.

Thursday 23rd December 2004

Weather: During our night drive it was snowing and raining and it was very windy. It was also very cold. In the morning it was drizzling and cold.

At dawn we  were near Ouarzazate. Some short stops didn’t produce any interesting birds. We saw our first White-tailed Wheatear in the village of Skoura (ca. 45 km east of Ouarzazate). A stop at the crossing with Oued Imassine produced our first Moroccan Wagtail and a Green Sandpiper. Another short stop in a village (ca. 10-15 km west of El-Kelaâ M’Gouna) produced a.o. House Bunting, Grey Heron, White Stork,  Blue Rock Thrush (1 male) and Lanner (pair).

We arrived in Boumalne Dadès at ca. 12:00. We first took the old Tagdilt Track (the track at the Tinghir 48 km sign, see Gosney) and drove some 300 m. Here we stopped the car and we scanned for birds. It was still cold and very windy. We saw Temminck’s Lark (ca. 4), Red-rumped Wheatear (>2), Thick-billed Lark (3), Bar-tailed Lark (1), Trumpeter Finch (2), Hoopoe Lark (1) and Moroccan Wagtail (1). Later, we also tried the new Tagdilt Track (at Errachidia 178 km) were we saw Black-bellied Sandgrouse (7) and Temminck’s Lark (2).

Our aim was to reach Auberge Kasbah Said today, so we moved on. White-tailed Wheatear and Red-rumped Wheatear were numerous along the road.  A short stop 8 km west of Touroug produced 8 Fulvous Chatterers and a Hoopoe Lark on the south side of the road. In the village of Touroug we saw our first Common Bulbuls.

Some 5 km west of Erfoud we saw a male Desert Wheatear and at the refuse tip, just east of Erfoud we found 2 Desert Larks.

We arrived Hotel Auberge Kasbah Said just after dusk. Costs: 300 dhs pp per night, including dinner, breakfast and hot water/shower.

Friday 24th December 2004

Weather: Very windy and cold. Until 11:00 it was dry, the rest of the day it rained.

After breakfast we saw a male Tristram’s Warbler in the garden of the hotel. After this, we went to the wadi ca. 500 m south of the hotel (the African Desert Warbler-spot as mentioned in ‘Morocco 25 January tot 1 February 2004’ by Justin Jansen). Despite a long walk, we failed to see the warbler (perhaps because of the wind), and only saw White-tailed Wheatear, Hoopoe Lark and Desert Wheatear. When we were back in the Hotel, it started to rain. We packed our bags and drove to Café Yasmina next to the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. The owner of the hotel helped us to find the way to Yasmina. Because of the rain, birding was not pleasant and the only birds we found around Yasmina were Tristram’s Warbler (1), Sardinian Warbler (1), Trumpeter Finch (1), Bar-tailed Lark (ca. 4), Hoopoe Lark and lots of House Sparrow (>50).

That night we stayed in Yasmina. Costs: 250 dhs pp per night, including dinner, breakfast and hot water/shower.

Saturday 25th December 2004

Weather: Clear sky, in the morning hardly any wind, in the afternoon windy.

We started the day with birding around café Yasmina. After a while we found a pair of Desert Sparrow in the sand dunes, ca. 1 km east/north-east of the café. In and around the bushes just north of Yasmina we saw Tristram’s Warbler (ca. 5), Desert Wheatear (1 female), White-tailed Wheatear (common), Bar-tailed Lark. Also a Brown-necked Raven was seen, ca. 1 km west of Yasmina.

While we had breakfast, after our morning walk we saw 3 more Desert Sparrow (2 male, 1 female) within the walls of the café.

After breakfast we drove again to the African Desert Warbler-site (see 24th December), but again we failed to see it. We did however see a Spectacled Warbler.

From here we went to Rissani and from Rissani to the Pharaoh Eagle Owl-spot (see ‘Morocco 8^th-15^th March 2004’ by Chris Batty). About two km west of Rissani we crossed a river where we found two Ruddy Shelducks. On the Eagle Owl-spot, the only birds of interest were a pair of Lanners. We couldn’t find the Eagle Owl. Probably, we didn’t walk far enough along the cliff. When we were back at the car it was dark already. We decided to drive to Boumalne Dadès, where we stayed in Hotel Le Soleil Bleu. Costs: 200 dhs pp per night, including dinner, breakfast and hot water/shower.

Sunday 26th December 2004

Weather: The whole day it was very windy. In the morning we had a clear sky and the temperature was comfortable (with a coat), but in the High Atlas there were clouds and it was cold.

After our breakfast we packed our luggage and started birding at the new Tagdilt Track. We had several stops along this track, up to ca. 6 km from the main road. Birds we noted were: Black-bellied Sandgrouse (ca. 15 in total, in various groups), Temminck’s Lark (ca. 10), Red-rumped Wheatear (ca. 10), Thick-billed Lark (ca. 14), Long-legged Buzzard (1), Spectacled Warbler (1), Hoopoe Lark (4). We skipped the old Tagdilt Track and started to drive. Just west of Boumalne Dadès we saw three White Storks circling in the air. Our next stop was just west of El-Kelaâ M’Gouna. From a vantage point, whith great views on the river, we saw a lot of birds, e.g. Crag Martin (ca. 10), Barn Swallow (1), Little Egret (2), Dartford Warbler (1 male), Common Chaffinch (F.c.africana) (2), Blue Tit (1), European Serin (1), Common Bulbul (ca. 6), Blackcap (ca. 2).

The roadside between El-Kelaâ M’Gouna produced some Red-rumped Wheatears, White-tailed Wheatears, Hoopoe Larks, Crested / Thekla Larks and at km 27 west of El-Kelaâ M’Gouna a female (Western) Mourning Wheatear.

The drive to Oukaïmeden through the High Atlas over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass was a long drive. Because of the snowfall of the week before traffic went very slow. On some parts with some snow still on the road, the buses and trucks only drove about 5-10 km/h.

Just after the pass we saw a large group of about 350 (!) Red-billed Choughs and ca. 3 Yellow-billed Choughs. We also saw some Black Wheatears in the (foothills of the) High Atlas. We eventually arrived Oukaïmeden at 20:30 and stayed for the night in Club Alpin Français. Costs: 72 dhs pp per night, including hot water/shower, excluding dinner and breakfast.

Monday 27th December 2004

Weather: At Oukaïmeden it was very cold, but fortunately it was very sunny and there was no wind. At Tamri we had a sandstorm.

In the early morning we made a walk through Oukaïmeden. A lot of Yellow-billed Chough (ca. 80) and also some Red-billed Chough (ca. 10) were present around car park P1 (see Gosney). Our walk continued to car park P2 where we saw Crimson-winged Finch (9), Rock Sparrow (6),  Horned Lark (2) and Common Raven (1). Back at Club Alpin Français we saw two Common Chaffich (F.c.coelebs). At the lake on the east-side of Oukaïmeden we had a White-throated Dipper.

After we left Oukaïmeden, we had a short stop in the patch of forest, about 4-5 km from Oukaïmeden. This stop produced Levaillant’s Woodpecker (1 female), Blue Tit (ca. 5), Common Chaffinch (F.c.africana ca. 10), Golden Eagle (2), Barbary Partridge (3, on the rocky slopes), Coal Tit (ca. 5), Rock Bunting (2), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Mistle Thrush (4) and Blackbird (2).

On our way to Marrakech we saw our first Moussier’s Redstarts along the road. From Marrakech we drove to Tamri, via Ounara (ca. 17 km east of Essaouira). When we reached Tamri we met a sort of sandstorm, which made birding very hard. In the lagoon we saw Great Cormorants, Common Pochards, Ruddy Shelducks (4). We missed the Ibis today.

In the evening we drove to Agadir where we enjoyed a Big Tasty Menu at the Mc Donald’s and stayed for the night at Hotel Sud Bahia (432 dhs in total, including breakfast and hot water)

Tuesday 28th December 2004

Weather: Unclouded, little wind, finally a day with nice weather.

After our breakfast we drove to Tamri. On our way to Tamri we made some short stops near the beach where we saw Audouin’s Gulls (>200), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher (4), Great Cormorant (2 P.c.maroccanus, flying by), Common Bulbul.

Our first stop near Tamri was at the Lagoon. Birds we saw were a.o. Corn Bunting (1), Zitting Cisticola (1), Kentish Plover (ca. 12), Southern Grey Shrike (2), Ruddy Shelduck (3) and Common Greenshank (1).

In the hillsides just south of Tamri we found Moussier’s Redstart (3), Spectacled Warbler (ca. 3), Dartford Warbler (1), Southern Grey Shrike (3), Common Raven (1), but still no signs of the ibis. Finally at a cliff ca. 6(?) km north of Tamri we saw Bald Ibis (50), Barbary Falcon (1) and European Shag (1). The cliff can be reached by taking a track off the main road. After a few hundred meters one reaches the cliff.

We were back in Agadir at about 15:00 and stayed the night in the same hotel as last night.

Wednesday 29th December 2004

Weather: no clouds, no wind, nice temperature: very nice weather.

Our last day in Morocco we did some relaxed birdwatching at Oued Massa and Oued Sous. After our breakfast we first drove to Oued Massa. On our way to Oued Massa we saw several Black-billed Magpies (ca. 13).

At Oued Massa we saw Eurasian Crag Martin (> 50), Plain Martin (5-10), Little Swift (3), Pallid Swift (2), Common Kingfisher (1), Water Rail (1), Marbled Tea l (ca. 8), Northern Pintail (ca. 5), Northern Shoveler (3), Squacco Heron (2), Flamingo (2) , Eurasian Spoonbill (1), Western Marsh Harrier (1), Booted Eagle (1), Black-crowned Tchagra (3), Moussier’s Redstart (ca. 5), Dunlin (5), Little Stint (1), Eurasian Golden Plover (5), Black-Bellied Plover (1), European Serin (>15), Black-billed Magpie (ca. 5), Little Owl (1, in the village of Massa), Audouin’s Gull (ca. 30).

Over sea we saw Cory’s Shearwater (1), Great Skua (1) and Northern Gannet (3).

At Oued Sous we found White Stork (1), Common Redshank (ca. 5), Black-tailed Godwit (ca. 10), Bar-tailed Godwit (ca. 5), Red Knot (ca. 5), Black-winged Stilt (ca. 15), Common Greenshank (1), Greater Flamingo (ca. 140), Common Shelduck (1), Gull-billed Tern (3), Black-billed Magpie (ca. 8).

Systematic list

Systematic list following James F. Clements, Birds of the World: a checklist, Fifth edition, 2000.

1.      Litte Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis ruficollis
29-12 3 exx Oued Massa.

2.      Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea ssp
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.
Most probably C.d.borealis based on geographical occurrence.

3.      Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
28-12 ca. 5 exx over sea at Tamri.
29-12 ca. 3 exx over sea at Oued Massa.

4.      Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo maroccanus / lucidus (?)
Seen at Tamri, Oued Massa and Oued Sous. Both P.c.maroccanus and a dark-bellied race (P.c.lucidus?).

5.      European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis riggenbachi
28-12 1 ex Tamri.

6.      Grey Heron Ardea cinerea cinerea
23-12 3 exx near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna.
Common along coast.

7.      Little Egret Ergretta garzetta garzetta
Quite common throughout, especially near coast. Also seen near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna.

8.      Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
29-12 2 exx Oued Massa.

9.      Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ibis
Quite common throughout, especially near coast. Also seen near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna.

10.  White Stork Ciconia ciconia ciconia
Seen near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna on 23-12 (1 ex), near Gorge du Dades on 26-12 (3 exx), Marrakech on 26-12 (4 exx) and Oued Sous on 29-12 (1 ex).

11.  Waldrapp Geronticus eremita
28-12 ca. 50 exx Tamri.

12.  Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia leucorodia
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.

13.  Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus rubber roseus
29-12 2 exx (juv) Oued Massa and ca. 140 exx Oued Sous.

14.  Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
25-12 2 exx ca. 2 km west of Rissani.
27 + 28-12 4 exx Tamri.

15.  Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
29-12 1 ex Oued Sous.

16.  Green-winged Teal Anas crecca crecca
29-12 ca. 10 exx Oued Massa.

17.  Mallard Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos
29-12 ca. 8 exx Oued Massa.

18.  Northern Pintail Anas acuta
29-12 ca. 5 exx Oued Massa.

19.  Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
29-12 3 exx Oued Massa.

20.  Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris
29-12 ca. 8 exx Oued Massa.

21.  Common Pochard Aythya ferina
27 + 28-12 2 exx Tamri.
29-12 ca. 100 exx Oued Massa.

22.  Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus harterti (?)
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.
Probably this subspecies, but nominate possible as well?

23.  Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus punicus
27-12 1 ex ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden + 1 ex between Oukaïmeden and Marrakesh.

24.  Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis
26-12 1 ex Tagdilt Track (new track).

25.  Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri
27-12 2 exx ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden.

26.  Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.

27.  Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus
Quite common throughout, especially near coast.

28.  Lanner Falco biarmicus erlangeri
23-12 2 exx (ad) near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna.
25-12 2 exx (ad) ca. 5 km west of Rissani.

29.  Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides
28-12 1 ex (ad) Tamri.

30.  Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara spatzi
27-12 2 exx ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden.
Most probably this subspecies, bases on geographical occurrence.

31.  Common Quail Coturnix coturnix coturnix
28-12 1 ex Tamri.

32.  Water Rail Rallus aquaticus aquaticus
29-12 1 ex (heard) Oued Massa.

33.  Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus chloropus
29-12 2 exx Oued Massa.

34.  Eurasian Coot Fulica atra atra
Seen at Tamri and Oued Massa.

35.  Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus ostralegus
28-12 4 exx ca. 10 km north of Agadir.

36.  Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
28-12 1 ex Tamri.
29-12 ca. 15 exx Oued Sous.

37.  Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
29-12 ca. 8 exx Oued Massa.

38.  Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
29-12 8 exx Oued Massa.

39.  Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa and 1 ex Oued Sous.

40.  Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus
28-12 ca. 12 exx Tamri.

41.  Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago gallinago
29-12 1 ex Oued Sous.

42.  Black-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica lapponica
29-12 ca. 10 exx Oued Sous.

43.  Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa limosa
29-12 ca. 5 exx Oued Sous.

44.  Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata arquata
29-12 1 ex Oued Sous.

45.  Common Redshank Tringa totanus totanus
29-12 ca. 5 exx Oued Sous.

46.  Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia nebularia
28-12 1 ex Tamri.
29-12 1 ex Oued Sous.

47.  Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
23-12 1 ex Oued Imassine.
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.

48.  Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
28-12 1 ex Tamri.

49.  Red Knot Calidris canutus canutus
29-12 2 exx Oued Sous.

50.  Little Stint Calidris minuta
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.

51.  Dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii
29-12 5 exx Oued Massa.

52.  Great Skua Catharactus skua
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa (sea).

53.  Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii
Common between Tamri and Oued Massa.

54.  Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans michahellis
Small numbers between Tamri and Oued Massa.

55.  Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus intermedius / graellsii
Common between Tamri and Oued Massa.
Based on occurrence most likely L.f.intermedius and/or L.f.graellsii.

56.  Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa, ca. 5 exx Oued Sous.

57.  Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
29-12 3 exx Oued Sous.

58.  Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis
Small numbers over sea at Tamri and Oued Massa.

59.  Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis orientalis
23-12 7 exx Tagdilt Track (new track).
26-12 ca. 15 exx Tagdilt Track (new track).

60.  Rock Dove Columba livia livia
Seen along coast (near Tamri) and at Oukaïmeden.

61.  Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus excelsa
27-12 1 ex High Atlas ca. 10 km from Oukaïmeden.
29-12 2 exx Oued Sous.

62.  Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto decaocto
Common in villages.

63.  Little Owl Athene noctua saharae
29-12 1 ex near Massa village.

64.  Pallid Swift Apus pallidus brehmorum
29-12 2 exx Oued Massa.

65.  Little Swift Apus affinis galilejensis
29-12 3 exx Oued Massa.

66.  Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis atthis
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.

67.  Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii
27-12 1 ex (female) ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden.

68.  Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cincturus arenicolor
Common around Tagdilt Track and Café Yasmina.

69.  Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti payni
23-12 2 exx Erfoud, refuse tip.

70.  Greater Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes alaudipes
Common in semi-desert areas (Tagdilt Track and several places between Boumalne and Erfoud).

71.  Thick-billed Lark Ramphocoris clotbey
23-12 3 exx Tagdilt Track (old track).
26-12 >14 exx Tagdilt Track (new track).

72.  Thekla Lark Galerida theklae aguirrei
Many Crested / Thekla Larks left unidentified, because we all saw these species in Spain last year. Only Thekla Lark positively identiefied. Crested / Thekla Larks are common birds on most places.

73.  Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris atlas
27-12 2 exx Oukaïmeden.

74.  Temminck’s Lark Eremophila bilopha
23-12 ca. 4 exx Tagdilt Track (old track).
26-12 ca. 10 exx Tagdilt Track (new track).

75.  Plain Martin Riparia paludicola mauretanica
29-12 ca. 5 exx Oued Massa.

76.  Eurasian Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris theresae / rupestris (?)
Seen just east of Erfoud (ca. 10), in the Atlas mountains (common) and at Oued Massa (ca. 100). Also small numbers on several places along our route. Most probably H.r.theresae but H.r.rupestris possible as well?

77.  Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica rustica
Seen near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna and Oued Massa (small numbers).

78.  House Martin Delichon urbica urbica / meridionalis
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.
Concerning one of the two subspecies mentioned above.

79.  White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba / subpersonata
Common bird. We saw M.a.alba daily in large numbers in various places. Our first M.a.subpersonata was seen on 23-12 at Oued Imassine (ca. 30 km west of El-Kelaâ M’Gouna). Later several seen and heard (they sound more like Grey Wagtail) on several places e.g. Tagdilt Track and around Café Yasmina.

80.  Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea cinerea
28-12 1 ex Tamri.

81.  Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis pratensis
Single birds seen at Tagdilt Track and Oued Massa.

82.  Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus barbatus
Common in villages, especially near the coast. Also seen in Touroug (ca. 60 km west of Erfoud).

83.  Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus balearicus
27-12 1 ex ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden.

84.  White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus minor
27-12 1 ex Oukaïmeden.

85.  Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes kabylorum
26-12 1 ex High Atlas.

86.  Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitaius solitarius
23-12 1 ex (male) El-Kelaâ M’Gouna.
29-12 1 ex Oued Massa.

87.  Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula mauritanicus
Quite common throughout.

88.  Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus deichleri
27-12 4 exx ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden.

89.  Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis cisticola
28-12 2 exx Tamri.

90.  Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti cetti
29-12 ca. 5 exx heard Oued Massa.

91.  Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita collybita / brehmii ( ?)
Common throughout. Most probably birds were P.c.collybita, but P.c.brehmii not excluded.

92.  Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla atricapilla
Few birds seen near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna (26-12) and Oued Sous (29-12).

93.  Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala
Small numbers seen on most places.

94.  Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata conspicillata
25-12 1 ex between Auberge Kasbah Said and Auberge  Kasbah Derkaoua.
26-12 1 ex Tagdilt Track (new track).
28-12 ca. 5 exx Tamri.

95.  Tristram’s Warbler Sylvia deserticola maroccana
24-12 1 ex in the garden of Auberge Kasbah Said + 1 near Café Yasmina.
25-12 ca. 5 exx around Café Yasmina.

96.  Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata toni
26-12 1 ex (male) near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna.
28-12 1 ex Tamri.

97.  European Robin Erithacus rubecula rubecula
29-12 2 exx Oued Massa.

98.  Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis
Small numbers on most places.

99.  Moussier’s Redstart Phoenicurus moussieri
Our first seen on 27-12 between Oukaïmeden and Marrakech. More birds seen along the coast between Tamri and Oued Massa.

100.  Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata rubicola
Common throughout.

101.  White-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga aegra
Quite common in (semi-)desert areas, east of Ouarzazate.

102.  Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura syenitica
Seen in the High Atlas and along the coast.

103.  Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp
29-12 1 ex (female) Oued Massa. It had a complete unmarked chin / throat.

104.  Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens halophila
26-12 1 ex (female) at 27 km west of El-Kelaa M’Gouna.

105.  Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta moesta
23-12 2 exx Tagdilt Track (old track).
26-12 ca. 10 exx Tagdilt Track (new track).
Also seen along the road between Boumalne and Erfoud.

106.  Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti homochroa
23-12 1 ex (male) ca. 5 km west of Erfoud.
24-12 1 ex (female) just south of Hotel Auberge Kasbah Said.
25-12 1 ex (female) near Café Yasmina.

107.  Fulvous Chatterer Turdoides fulvus maroccanus
23-12 8 exx ca. 8 km west of Touroug.

108.  Coal Tit Periparus ater atlas
27-12 ca. 5 exx ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden.

109.  Great Tit Parus major excelsus
28-12 1 ex between Agadir and Tamri.

110.  Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus ultramarines
26-12 1 ex near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna.
27-12 ca. 5 exx ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden.

111.  Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis algeriensis / elegans
Seen almost daily, in the desert, in the High Atlas and along the coast. Most probably concerning both subspecies.

112.  Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala cucullata
29-12     3 exx Oued Massa.

113.  Black-billed Magpie Pica pica mauretanica
Only seen on 29-12, totally ca. 25 exx between Oued Massa and Agadir.

114.  Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax barbarus
26-12 ca. 350 exx in the High Atlas.
27-12 ca. 10 ex Oukaïmeden.

115.  Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus graculus
26-12 ca. 5 exx in the High Atlas.
27-12 ca. 80 ex Oukaïmeden.
116.  Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis ruficollis
25-12 1 ex near Café Yasmina.

117.  Common Raven Corvus corax tingitanus
27-12 1 ex Oukaïmeden.
28-12 1 ex Tamri.

118.  Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
Only seen in villages near the coast.

119.  House Sparrow Passer domesticus tingitanus
Common throughout.

120.  Desert Sparrow Passer simplex saharae
25-12 3-6 exx around Café Yasmina.

121.  Rock Petronia Petronia petronia barbara
27-12 6 exx Oukaïmeden.

122.  Chaffinch Fringila coelebs coelebs / africana
We saw them around El-Kelaâ M’Gouna, in the High Atlas and near the coast. Most were F.c.africana, but in Oukaïmeden we also saw two males F.c.coelebs.

123.  European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris aurantiiventris
Only small numbers seen at Oued Massa.

124.  European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis parva
Seen at various inland locations and along the coast.

125.  Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina cannabina
Only seen at Oued Massa.

126.  European Serin Serinus serinus
26-12 1 ex near El-Kelaâ M’Gouna
29-12 numerous at Oued Massa.
127.  Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguinea aliena
27-12 9 exx Oukaïmeden.

128.  Trumpeter Finch Rhodopechys githaginea zedlitzi
23-12 2 exx Tagdilt Track (old track).
24-12 1 ex near Café Yasmina.

129.  Rock Bunting Emberiza cia africana
27-12 2 ex ca. 5 km from Oukaïmeden.

130.  House Bunting Emberiza striolata sahari
Our first was on 23-12 near El-Kelaa M’Gouna. More common in Agadir.

131.  Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra
Seen on 28-12 at Tamri and on 29-12 at Oued Sous.

Bart Bos