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| A Report from birdtours.co.uk |
Southern Morocco from 11 to 18 February 2005,
From 11 February until 18 February 2005, Willem-Jan Fontijn, Martijn Bot, Huub Lanters and Marnix Jonker made a birdwatching trip through Southern Morocco. We booked our flight, hotel in Agadir and car-hire at Agadir airport via TUI/Holland International travel agency for the whole period. We had our flight with Transavia.com and stayed in Hotel le Tivoli in Agadir, which was a basic, good hotel for birding purpose.
We hired a Peugeot 206 via Sunnycars (Alamo desk) and had no problems. We drove nearly 2000 km. The roads in Morocco were quite good, but became bad just before Erfoud and even worse south of Erfoud, were the road to Merzouga was blocked due to maintenance and we had to drive on a very bad track next to the road. The road to Kasbah Said was better, but follow the small white sticks besides the road.
The weather was good. Most of the times it was sunny and around 23°C, but we had also some cold and windy days. It can be cold at night in Boumalne (1500 metres high) and in the desert.
Itinerary
11 February: Groningen - Amsterdam (Schiphol) - Agadir (Airport) - Hotel le Tivoli
12 February: Agadir Hotel le Tivoli - Tamri - Oued Sous - Agadir Hotel le Tivoli
13 February: Agadir Hotel le Tivoli - Had Belfa - Massa - Sidi R´bat - Massa - Had Belfa - Agadir Hotel le Tivoli.
14 February: Agadir Hotel le Tivoli - Taroudannt - Aoulouz - Taliouine - Ouarzazate - Skoura - Boumalne du Dades - old Tagdilt track - Boumalne du Dades Auberge Soleil Blue.
15 February: Boumalne du Dades - Old & New Tagdilt tracks - Tinerhir - Tinejdad - El Gfifate - Erfoud - Kasbah Said.
16 February: Kasbah Said - Kasbah Derkaoua - Erfoud - El Gfifate - Tinejdad - Tinerhir - New Tagdilt track - Boumalne du Dades Auberge le Soleil Blue
17 February: Auberge le Soleil Blue - Old & New Tagdilt tracks - Boumalne du Dades - Skoura - Ouzazate - Taliouine - small piece of Tizi n'Test road - Taroudannt - Agadir Hotel le Tivoli.
18 February: Agadir Hotel le Tivoli - Agadir Beach - Oued Sous - Agadir Airport - Amsterdam - Groningen.
Literature
Day to day report
11 February
We departed at 14.35u from Schiphol airport, Amsterdam and had a good flight. We made a stop over in Marrakech around 18.00u, and saw trough the airplane windows some all black wheatears at the airport, presumably Black Wheaters. Also some all black starlings were flying around that presumably were Spotless Starlings. We departed half an hour later and landed at Agadir airport around 19.00u in the very last daylight. It took almost an hour to get trough the customs and to pick up our car, so it was completely dark when we drove to our hotel. After a long search we found it at Boulevard du 20 Aout. Numbering on buildings seems not to exist in Morocco. We checked in and went to the pub next to the hotel to have a beer and went to bed.
12 February
When we woke up at 06.30u it was still dark outside. The first new bird for us was a loudy calling Common Bulbul. Those flying alarmclocks woke us up for the rest of the mornings in Agadir. From our hotel balcony we observed a Wryneck, 2 Little Swifts, some Sardinian Warblers, some Serins and Yellow-legged Gulls. After breakfast we drove to Tamri. During the drive we stopped every now and then and observed about 100 Audouin's Gulls, a pair of House Buntings, Thekla Lark, Crested Larks, Black Wheatears, several Moussier´s Redstarts, more Sardinian Warblers (everywhere), some Spotless Starlings, lots of Southern Grey Shrikes, some Spanish Sparrows and 2 Western Orphean Warblers. Just before Tamri, the road leads parallel to the river. Here we observed a pair of Cirl Buntings and a male Moroccan Wagtail. We were did not find any Bald Ibis between Cap Rhir and Tamri so we decided to try north of Tamri. We located about 100 Bald Ibises 5-7 km north of Tamri. Local people told us that most birds seem to be at this place now. We also had a Woodchat Shrike, some Ravens, Long-legged Buzzards and a pair of Lanners here.
From Tamri we drove back to Agadir and spend the last hours of daylight at Oued Sous. We had some Magpies (maroccanus with that nice blue eye-patches) and also lots of waders like Ruffs, Common Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, Little Egrets and a large group of Flamingo´s. We were not allowed to enter the reserve at the entrance, since that is too close to the Royal Palace, but we were allowed to walk beside the channel in the direction of the Sous and took the track parallel to the river in western direction. We flushed about 8 Barbary Partridges here. Two Zitting Cisticola´s were singing and again lots of Sardinian Warblers. By the time it was almost completely dark, 2 or 3 Red-necked Nightjars started singing at the sandy track between the reservoir entrance and the Royal Palace. One bird landed on the track and we could observe it for a while in the headlights of our car.
After this wonderful end of the day we returned to our hotel, had diner and some beers and went to sleep.
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Moussier's Redstart |
Moroccan Wagtail |
Bald Ibis |
13 February
We left our hotel after breakfast around 07.45u and drove to the south to Massa. We noted a flying Great Spotted Cuckoo when we just left for about 500 metres. The bird landed in a tree near a construction area. When we stopped the car the bird seemed to be gone. Around this area we saw a male Moussier's Redstart, Spotless Starlings, some African Chaffinches and we flushed a pair of Barbary Partridges and 2 Stone Curlews. We continued our drive to Massa and during the drive we had some Laughing Doves, Southern Grey Shrikes and the usual Crested/Thekla Larks and Black Wheatears. When we arrived in Massa we turned to the left at the T-junction and drove trough the village. At the end of the village we took a track to the right (just after Café de la Poste). Here is an area with marshy pools and this area is described as an excellent site for Plain Martin. When we stopped the car a big colourful bird flew up: our first Black-crowned Tchagra. The bird had caught a small lizard and started to eat it just a few metres from us. When he was finished he climbed in a tree, looked around a bit and started to sing! We were soon joined by some local kids who were very interested in those people with binoculars, telescopes and digital camera's. We decided to go because of this. We drove back through Massa and turned to the left just before the T-junction. We continued this track trough the village and drove back to the river. The brown coloured martins flying above the agricultural fields soon turned out to be Plain Martins. About ten birds were flying here above the river and the fields, joined by some Barn Swallows and Eurasian Crag Martins. We also observed here Black-winged Kite, Iberian Wagtails, a flock of 7 Glossy Ibises, 9 Ferruginous Ducks and a Sedge Warbler. We drove back trough the village and took a track north of Massa to the right that leads uphill towards a "desert area". We observed some Thekla Larks, Lesser short-toed Larks, a flock of Corn Buntings, 7 Stone Curluws and a Spectacled Warbler here. After 45 minutes we turned and continued the road to Sidi R'bat and the reserve entrance. At a certain point the road rises over rocky terrain and overlooks the river. Here we found a colony of Plain Martins that had build there nests on the right side just besides the road. Also two Great Spotted Cuckoos were present here. We parked our car at the parking place in Sidi R'bat and entered the Oued Massa reserve. In the reserve we heard another singing Black-crowned Tchagra and observed Moussiers's Redstarts, Thekla Larks, an Osprey, 2 Quails, Glossy Ibises, a Spoonbill, lots of Audouin's Gulls and approximately 25 Marbled Ducks. We returned to Agadir around 16.00u and had another Black-winged Kite on our return.
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Black-winged Kite |
Black-crowned Tchagra |
Great Spotted Cuckoo |
14 February
The first day of our "trip to the east". We had breakfast at 06.00u and were packed and ready to go around 06.45u. Our plan was to drive to Boumalne du Dades. Just after Taroudannt a flock of approximately 100 White Storks were circling. We followed the signs and came out on a small road named P7027 more or less by mistake. This road leads more directly to Aoulouz, but is very small and time consuming. But the area is very nice. We had a Peregrine Falcon from a smaller race (spp. brookei), 2-3 Barbary Falcons and a Lanner (spp. erlangeri) that was approachable until nearly 10 metres. We also observed during our drive a Woodchat Shrike, 3-4 Long-legged Buzzards and another Lanner. We continued and tried a place for Dupont's Larks as described in the travel report Morocco 25 January- 01 February 2004 by Justin Jansen. This place is 48 kilometre west of Tazeknah or 148 kilometre west of Taroudannt. We stopped the car at the white sign that says that you are 48 kilometre east of Tazeknah. After a walk for nearly an hour we observed Thekla Larks, Temminck's Horned Larks, Skylarks and some Lesser short-toed Larks. No Dupont's Lark unfortunately, but we had to go on to get in Boumalne before dark. We reached Boumalne around 17.30u and went to the old Tagdilt track to do some birding in the last daylight. Here we had several pairs of Red-rumped Wheatears, 8 Trumpeter Finches, a Temminck's Horned Larks and a Desert Lark. We drove to Auberge le Soleil Blue when it was almost complete dark, were we ate couscous and enjoyed the birders log-books with the observations from (mostly) abroad birders back to 1990 (and yes, even Slender Billed Curlew observations were mentioned).
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Lanner |
Barbary Falcon |
Red-rumped Wheatear |
15 February
After breakfast at 07.00u, we went to the new and old Tagdilt tracks were we observed 3-4 Hoopoe Larks, 15 Black-bellied Sandgrouses, 3 Cream Coloured Crousers, and 4 Desert Larks, lots of Lesser Short-toeds, Temmincks Horned Larks, Red-rumped Wheaters, Trumpeter Finches and 2-3 Thick-billed Larks.
When we continued our drive to Erfoud, we found a pair of Western Mourning Wheatears about 3 km east of Imiter. The road was good until Jorf, a small village just before Erfoud. Here we saw a Little Owl (spp. saharae). Just south of Erfoud the road became worse and at a certain point we had to drive on a track next to the road due to road maintenance. A local kid guided us to the track that leads to Kasbah Hotel Said. That track was a bit better. Just before Kasbah Said we observed a pair of Brown-necked Ravens. We arrived at Kasbah Said and while we were checking in we found a pair of Desert Sparrows (rocking the Kasbah!) on a small building next to the hotel. Unfortunately, they flew off after 5 minutes and never returned. After we brought our luggage to the rooms we started our search for African Desert Warbler. Most people see this species approximately 400 metres south of Kasbah Said in the wadi covered with sand dunes. A Berber family is living here in their tent. We observed the pair of Hoopoe Larks here as well as two Desert Wheatears, but no Desert Warbler. We returned to Kasbah Hotel Said and enjoyed some beers and a tagnine here.
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Hoopoe Lark |
Western Mourning Wheatear |
Temminck's Horned Lark |
16 February
After breakfast at 06.30u, we continued our search for African Desert Warbler at the same spot. After a search for one and a half hour we had a Tristram's Warbler and the pair of Hoopoe Larks. We decided to go to Auberge Yasmina to see Desert Sparrows. At Auberge Kasbah Dakaoua we followed the road and a sign to Yasmina. After a drive for 20 minutes a small village appeared, but no Café Yasmina could be found here. It looked like we took the wrong road and turned and drove back to Kasbah Dakaoua. We took the main track to Merzouga and after a drive for almost 30 minutes we saw a sign Café Yasmina 20 km. Because we had planned to leave the Erfoud area early in the afternoon and drive back to Boumalne, we decided not to go to Yasmina, but turn and look for Fulvous Babbler at Kasbah Dakaoua. Here we had 2 Trimstram's Warblers, 2 Fulvous Babblers (sight) and some more Babblers (heard). Also some Bar-tailed Desert Larks and Desert Larks were observed.
We drove back via Kasbah Hotel Said to Erfoud. About 1 km north of Kasbah Said a small, very pale bird flew from the top of a little bush and landed under a grass poll in search for food. It turned out to be an African Desert Warbler (at last!). The bird flew together with a Desert Wheatear and was following the wheatear wherever it went.
When we continued our drive to Erfoud we had an Isabelline Wheatear just before we reached the main road Erfoud Merzouga. Here we also observed some more Desert Wheatears and a Northern Wheatear. During the drive a Lanner, another Northern, lots of Black and White-crowned and some Western Mourning and Red-rumped Wheatears were seen. Also a Blue Rock Trush, 2 Long-legged Buzzard and a Short-toed Eagle were observed. At the new Tagdilt track we had 7 Black-bellied Sandgrouses, some Red-rumped Wheatears and 3 Common Swifts. We had a very pleasant welcome back at Auberge le Soleil Blue, were the same rooms were available as the day before yesterday.
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Tristram's Warbler |
Desert Wheatear |
17 February
We had breakfast at 07.00u and went to the Tagdilt tracks, were we had 7 Cream coloured Crousers, 1 Thick-billed Lark and the usual Trumpeter Finches, Red-rumped Wheaters and Temminck´s Horned Larks. It was very cold and windy, so after an hour we decided to go and drive back to Agadir.
We stopped near a river in the mountains between Ouarzazate and Tazenakht. There was a lot of water in this river and the riverbanks were very green of grass and vegetation. A Bluethroat, a Moroccan Wagtail and a male Subalpine Warbler were the best birds here. We also had Tree Pipet, Black and Moussier´s Redstart and lots of Common Chiffchaffs.
We continued and took the road to Tizi n´ Test for a few kilometres. There was a forest (or better the remainings of a forest) here, were we had lots of (African) Chaffinches, a pair of Cirl Buntings, some Great (spp. excelsus) and Blue Tits (spp. ultramarinus).
When we continued our drive to Agadir, more and more martins and swifts were seen. When we observed 6 large, white bellied swifts, we stopped the car in Taroudannt. The swifts turned out to be (indeed) Alpine Swifts. Lots of birds were coming down from great height and we enjoyed a fall of Alpine, Pallid, Little and Common Swift, Barn and Red-rumped Swallow and House and Sand Martins, as well as hundreds of White Storks and 30 Black Kites. All birds were following the river Sous and the Storks and Kites landed in threes to go to sleep here. After this spectacle we drove from Taroudannt back to Agadir in the dark. We arrived at our hotel around 20.00u.
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African Chaffinch |
Trumpeter Finch |
18 February
The last day of our trip. After breakfast we did some shopping in the supermarket to have some food at the airport (we had to check in around 17.00u). We went to Oued Sous to do some bird photographing here. We had a 2cy Bonelli´s Eagle here, as well as an adult male Spectacled and Subalpine Warbler, lots of Sardinian Warblers, 5-8 Slender-billed Gulls, 3 Mediteranian Gulls, 3 Gull-billed Terns, a Kingfisher, a Spotted Crake and again lots of wader species.
Around 16.00u we drove to the airport, returned the car and checked in for the flight. We departed at 19.30u and had a good flight. We landed at 00.30u and were back in Groningen around 03.30u.
List of species observed during the trip from 11-18 February 2005.
The sequence of birds in this trip report basically follows a classic "Wetmore sequence". Within this framework, the following lists are used for taxonomy and nomenclature: Rare Birds in the Netherlands by A. B. van den Berg & C. A. W. Bosman and The Howard and Moore complete checklist of the world by E. C. Dickinson. For deviations from and additions to these lists we followed the Dutch committee for avian systematics (CSNA), who report their annual deviations in the first issue of Dutch Birding every year.
1. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis. Some birds recorded at Oued Massa
2. Northern Gannet Morus bassanus. Common off shore at Agadir and Tamri
3. Great Cormorant Phalocrocorax carbo moroccanus/lucidus. Some morroccanus birds at Oued Sous, Oued Massa and Tamri. Also some all black birds were seen at Tamri and Oued Massa which are probably lucidus.
4. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ibis. Fairly common, mainly West of Ouarzazate.
5. Little Egret Egretta garzetta garzetta. Common along the coast. Some inland observations.
6. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea cinerea. Regularly observed, mainly West of Ouarzazate.
7. White Stork Ciconia ciconia ciconia. Common. A big fall of 300+ birds at Taroudannt on 17 February during the drive from Boulmalne Du Dades back to Agadir. Also many hundreds of birds above Agadir on 18 February.
8. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus. Groups of three and four birds at Massa and a flock of seven at Oued Massa.
9. Bald Ibis Geronticus eremite. About 100 birds 5-7 km. north of Tamri on 12th.
10. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia leucorodia. Small flocks at Oued Sous and 1 at Oued Massa.
11. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus. About 200 birds at Oued Sous on 18th.
12. Shelduck Tadorna tadorna. Some birds at Oued Sous.
13. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos. Common at Oued Sous and Oued Massa.
14. Gadwall Anas strepera. Some birds at Oued Massa.
15. Northern Pintail Anas acuta. Some flocks at Oued Massa & Oued Sous.
16. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope. 4+ birds at Oued Massa.
17. Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris. At least 27 birds at Oued Massa.
18. Common Teal Anas crecca. Common at Oued Sous and Oued Massa.
19. Garganey Anas querquedula. About 100 birds at Oued Massa.
20. Common Pochard Aythya farina. Large flock at Oued Masa.
21. Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca. 9 birds at Massa.
22. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula. Flock of 5 at Oued Massa
23. Osprey Pandion haliaetus. One at Oued Massa and one at Oued Sous (18th)
24. Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus. One 2cy bird 15 km east of Boumalne
25. Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus. One 2cy bird hunting at Oued Sous (18th)
26. Black Kite Milvus migrans. About 30 birds at Taroudannt during the drive from Boumalne to Agadir on the 17th. Also 2 birds at Oued Sous on the 12th.
27. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus. One (or two, probably the same) at Massa.
28. Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus harterti. One bird at Massa and one at Oued Sous.
29. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis. Daily observations.
30. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipter nisus punicus. Two birds seen during the trip.
31. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Common.
32. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus brookei. One 2cy male seen during the drive from Agadir to Boumalne on the 14th.
33. Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides. Three birds during the drive Agadir to Boulmane on the 14th.
34. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus erlangeri. Almost daily observations of one or two birds.
35. Barbary Partridge Alectoris graeca. Some flocks at Oued Sous and 2 at Agadir.
36. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix. Two birds near Tamri.
37. Spotted Crake Porzana porzana. One bird at Oued Sous on the 18th in the channel.
38. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus. Some birds seen.
39. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra atra. Flocks at Tamri and Oued Massa.
40. Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus. Common along the coast.
41. Pied Avocet Recurviostra avosetta. At least 6 birds at Oued Sous.
42. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus. Common near water in the west,
43. Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus saharae. Two birds at Agadir, 7 at Massa.
44. Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursorius. Maximum of 6 around Boumalne.
45. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius. A handful observations
46. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula. Common at Oued Sous.
47. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus. Some birds at Oued Sous.
48. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola. Common at Oued Sous.
49. European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria. One bird at Oued Sous
50. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. 2 birds between Agadir and Tamri.
51. Red Knot Calidris canutus. 10-15 birds at Oued Sous on the 18th.
52. Sanderling Calidris alba. Some birds at Oued Sous
53. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres. One bird at Oued Sous.
54. Dunlin Calidris alpine. Common at Oued Sous, 8 at Oued Massa.
55. Little Stint Calidris minuta. Two at Oued Sous and one at Oued Massa.
56. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola. One at Oued Sous on the 18th .
57. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus. Two or three birds at Oued Sous on 18th.
58. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos. Several birds.
59. Common Redshank Tringa totanus totanus. Common at Oued Massa & Oued Sous.
60. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia nebularia. Some birds at Oued Sous.
61. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa limosa. Common at Oued Sous.
62. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica. About ten birds at Oued Sous on the 18th.
63. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata. Some birds at Oued Sous.
64. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago gallinago. Some birds at Oued Sous.
65. Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus. One bird flushed at Oued Sous on the 12th.
66. Ruff Philomachus pugnax. Three birds on the 12th and one bird on the 18th at Oued Sous.
67. Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus. Two birds off shore between Agadir and Tamri and 4 birds observed from the beach at Agadir on the 18th.
68. Parasitic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus. Four birds off shore from the beach at Agadir on the 18th.
69. Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus. Common at Oued Sous & Oued Massa.
70. Slender-Billed Gull Larus genei. Five-eight birds at Oued Sous on the 18th.
71. Common (Mew) Gull Larus canus. One at Oued Massa and one at Oued Sous
72. Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus. Three birds at Oued Sous on the 18th.
73. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis michahellis. Common near the coast.
74. Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii. Common near the coast.
75. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsii. Common near the coast.
76. Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis. Some birds seen between Agadir and Tamri and a few birds present at Oued Sous on the 18th,
77. Gull-Billed Tern Sterna nilotica. Three birds present at Oued Sous on the 18th.
78. Black-Bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis. At the new Tagdilt track near Boumalne, with 15 birds on 15th and 7 birds at the 16th.
79. Rock Dove Columba livia livia. Common.
80. Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus excelsa**. Common at Oued Sous.
81. Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto. Daily records near civilisation,
82. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis phoenicophila**. A few observations, mainly south of Agadir and around Massa.
83. Common Cuckoo Curculus canorus. One flying bird at Oued Sous on the 12th.
84. Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius. One bird at Agadir on the 13th and 2-3 birds at Oued Massa.
85. Little Owl Athene noctua saharae**. Three birds seen during the drive from Agadir to Erfoud and back.
86. Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis. Two or three birds were heard and one or two were seen at Oued Sous on the 12th.
87. Common Swift Apus apus. Several birds seen. More birds later in the week.
88. Pallid Swift Apus pallidus brehmorum. Daily observations.
89. Alpine Swift Apus melba melba. Seven birds were seen during the 'fall' at Taroudannt on the 17th.
90. Little Swift Apus affinis galilejensis. Daily observations in Agadir, two birds at Oued Massa and 2-3 birds during the fall near Taroudannt on the 17th.
91. Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops epops. Regularly observed.
92. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. One bird at Oued Sous on the 18th.
93. Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla. One bird in the garden of hotel le Tivoli on the 12th.
94. Skylark Alauda arvensis. Some migrating birds calling overhead during the trip.
95. Crested Lark Galeride cristata randonii & riggenbachi**. Common. Most birds looked liked randonii, but also some riggenbachi type birds were observed.
96. Thekla Lark Galerida theklae aguirrei. Common in the higher, more rocky areas.
97. Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla rubiginosa**. One bird at the old Tagdilt track (Boumalne) at the 15th.
98. Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens minor**. Common.
99. Desert Lark Ammonanes deserti payni. Common in desert areas.
100. Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cincturus arenicolor. Some birds seen, mainly around Kasbah Said.
101. Thick-billed Lark Ramphocoris clothey. Two or three birds at the old Tagdilt track on the 15th and 1 bird at the 17th between the old and new Tagdilt track.
102. Temminck's Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha. Common in desert areas.
103. Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes alaudipes**. Some birds seen at the new Tagdilt track and two just southeast of Kasbah Said.
104. Woodlark Lullula arborea. Two birds flying past at Taroudannt
105. Sand Martin Riparia riparia riparia. Some birds observed at Taroudannt.
106. Plain Martin Riparia paludicola mauretanica. About 30 birds near Massa. A colony was found at Oued Massa on the track between Massa and Sidi R'Bat.
107. Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris. Several birds near Massa and in the Anti-Atlas mountains during the drive Agadir-Erfoud.
108. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica rustica. Common.
109. Red-Rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica rufula. Some birds observed.
110. House Martin Delichon urbica urbica/merionalis. Huge flock at Taroudannt, only a few observations elsewhere.
111. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta. One near Tamri and 1 at Oued Sous.
112. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis pratensis. Some birds observed
113. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis. Two to three birds observed along a river in the mountains between Ouarzazate and Tazenakht.
114. White Wagtail Motacilla alba. Common
115. Pied Wagtail Motocilla yarrellii. A handful of observations, mainly near the old Tagdilt track.
116. Moroccan White Wagtail Motocilla subpersonata. At least three birds well observed; two birds near Tamri and one along a river in the mountains between Ouarzazate and Tazenakht.
117. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea. One bird at the beach in Agadir and one at Oued Sous on the 18th.
118. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flava. Several birds observed.
119. Iberian Yellow Wagtail Motacilla iberiae. Two or three birds seen at Massa.
120. Common Bulbul Pycnotus barbatus barbatus. Common west of Ouazazate. Wake you up at Agadir.
121. European Robin Erithacus rubecula. One bird at Oued Sous on the 12th and 18th.
122. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica svecica & cyanecula. One svecica along a river in the mountains between Ouarzazate and Tazenakht and one cyanecula at Oued Sous on the 18th.
123. Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus. Some birds around Agadir.
124. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis. Regular observed.
125. Moussier's Redstart Phoenicurus moussieri. Common. More common West of Ouazazate.
126. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe. Some birds observed.
127. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina. One bird at the 16th about 3 km north of Kasbah Said.
128. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti homochroa. Several observations near Kasbah Said.
129. Western Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe halophila. A pair near the road 3 km east of Imiter, with several more birds observed along the P32 road, mainly west and east of Ouarzazate.
130. White-crowned Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga aegra. Common east of Ouazazate,
131. Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura syenitica. Common.
132. Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta moesta. 30+ birds seen near the old and new Tagdilt tracks (Boumalne).
133. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra. Some birds observed.
134. Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata rubicola. daily observations.
135. Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius solitarus. About ten birds during the drive Agadir Erfoud and back.
136. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos philomelos. Some birds observed.
137. Blackbird Turdus merula mauritanicus**. Common, specially near Agadir
138. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla atricapilla. Regular observed.
139. Western Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis. Two birds observed between Agadir and Tamri and one at Massa.
140. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala. Common.
141. Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata. One 2cy male at Massa and an adult male at Oued Sous on the 18th.
142. Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans cantillans. One bird along a river in the mountains between Ouarzazate and Tazenakht and one adult male at Oued Sous on the 18th.
143. African Desert Warbler Sylvia deserti. One bird after a intense search, about 1 km north of Kasbha Said on the 16th.
144. Tristram's Warbler Sylvia deserticola maroccana. One near Kasbha Said and at least two at Kasbah Derkaoua on the 16th.
145. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. One bird at Massa and one at Oued Sous on the 18th.
146. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis cisticola. Common at Oued Massa and Oued Sous.
147. Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti cetti. One at Massa and one at Oued Sous.
148. Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus scirpaceus. One bird at Massa.
149. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita collybita. Common. Most birds observed where collybita type birds, some birds actually resembled ibericus,but none of these birds were calling, so no certain identification.
150. Great Tit Parus major excelsus. Some birds along the Tizi-n-test road.
151. African Blue Tit Parus teneriffae ultramarinus **. Several birds around the Royal Palace at Oued Sous and on the Tizi n'Test road.
152. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator senator. Three birds observed. One at Tamri, One just east of Agadir and one more during the drive Erfoud Agadir.
153. Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis algeriensis**. Common. Most birds in the west were algeriensis, but some birds in the east looked like elegans.
154. Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus cucullata. One bird gave good views at Massa. Another was heard singing at Oued Massa.
155. Fulvous Chatterer Turdoides fulva maroccanus. At least two seen in the garden at Kasbah Derkaoua, with several more calling.
156. Mahgreb Magpie Pica pica mauritanica**. Common, mainly west of Ouazazate.
157. Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis. Two birds observed near Kasbha Said on the 15th.
158. Common Raven Corvus corax tingitanus**. Common west of Ouazazate.
159. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris. Some birds observed.
160. Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor. Common, mainly west of Ouazazate.
161. House Sparrow Passer domesticus tingitanus**. Common
162. Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis. Flocks observed between Agadir and Tamri, at Oued Massa and around Agadir airport.
163. Desert Sparrow Passer simplex saharea. A pair was seen at our arrival at Kasbha Said on the 15th.
164. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs africana & coelebs. Common, mainly west of Ouazazate. Most birds were africana, but also one or two coelebs were observed at Oued Sous.
165. Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina cannabina. Some birds observed.
166. Common Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis parva**. Common, mainly west of Ouazazate.
167. European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris aurantiiventris. Common, mainly west of Ouazazate.
168. European Serin Serinus serinus. Common.
169. Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus. Common in the desert areas.
170. Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus cirlus. A pair at Tamri and another pair along the Tizi-n-test road on the 17th.
171. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra. Some birds observed along the P7027 between Taroudannt and Aoulouz.
172. House Bunting Emberiza sahari. Common.
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