Birdwatching Trip Report from

From the 12th till 25th of march 2005 we visited several parts of the Sous-Valley in Morocco by bike, and visited the Tagdilt track area by car. There are many birding reports about these areas, therefore only the highlights are described.

Oued Massa

The mouth of the Oued Massa is certainly worth visiting. We had the best views of Black-crowned Tchagra here, though once you have heard and remembered it’s song, you will find it easily elsewhere in Morocco. Furthermore we have seen a lot of Glossy ibis here, 1 Great Spotted Cuckoo, several Laughing dove, 1 Orphean warbler and some Spanish sparrows. On the more inland hills you pass when coming from the N1 main road we saw quite a few Cream-colored Coursers.

The inland between Oued massa and Taroudant

From the Oued massa we cycled to Barrage Youssef Ben and than followed several piste tracks to Es-Sebt ( the roads indicated on our Michelin map did not seem to exist) From Es-Sebt the route to Taroudant is over much better roads but a large part is trough boring plantations.

The barrage itself is not very interesting birding, we found one Great Cormorant. The ‘mountain pass’ north of the barrage offered however quite good birding, giving good views of Desert Lark, Trumpeter Finch, Moussier’s redstart and two far off individuals of an unknown Aquila (possibly Golden eagle). In the plains behind the pass we found high numbers of Tawny Pipit and unusual numbers of children trying to get a grasp on anything lose on our bikes. From Es-Sebt to Taroudant we saw Desert Wheatear, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Ortolan bunting and Black-shouldered Kite

The area bewteen Taroudant and Alououz.

To avoid having to cycle the N10 main road we tried to cycle as close to the Sous wadi as possible. Large parts of the area are filled with plantations and therefore not very interesting though they are full of songbirds (including the Ultramarinus subspecies of the Blue Tit). The interesting part came as we slept in the Sous wadi the night of the 16th. The wadi here, is a very wide plane, up to 1 km or more, filled with boulders. As we just finished cooking dinner, we heard this weird sound we soon found out to be an Egyptian Nightjar! We have seen and heard at least two but there are probably more. We entered the spot from the sad village Igoudar (the 'famous' Dark Chanting Goshawk area), but the easiest way to reach this place is by following the P1706 road south of the Sous and enter the wadi at the Ouarzazate 223 sign. Apart from the Egyptian Nightjars we found here: Barbary Falcon, Bar-tailed Lark, Hoopoe Lark and further ‘upstream’ Long-legged Buzzard and Black-shouldered Kite.

The Atlas from Aoulouz in the direction of Askaoun.

Our somewhat naive intention was to cycle over the Atlas via the Tizi-n-Melloul. It became clear to us soon that for that we should have made more preparations. After the beginning of the barrage (not on our map so perhaps it is quite new) there were no shops anymore to by food or water and also the road wasn’t that straight forward as it looked on the map.

Blue Rock Trush, the subpersonata sub-species of the White Wagtail, Black-crowned Tsjagra, Ruddy Shelduck.

The Tagdilt track 21-23 March

Tour by car from Taroudant to the Tagdilt tracks near Boumalne Dades. Many good trip reports about this area can be found on internet or see for instance the ‘Finding birds in Southern morocco’ by Dave Gosney. We slept for two consecutive days on the plains and saw Long-legged Buzzard, Lanner, Cream-colored Courser, White-bellied Sandgrouse, Temminck’s Horned Lark, Calandra lark Desert lark, Bar-tailed Lark, Hoopoe lark. We shortly visited the beautiful Gorges du Dades where Crag-martin was quite common.

The mouth of the Oued Sous 24 March Good spot if you have a couple of ours left before leaving Agadir airport. During our trip, the most interesting spot for waders, gulls and turns. We did our only sightings of Collared Prattincole, Red Knot, Little stint, Ruff, Slender Billed Gull, Common Gull and Caspian Tern here. As said, Red-necked Nightjar was present along the track down the palace-wall. This species is difficult to observe, as the palace guard kickes you out soon after sunset at 7.00 p.m. Our intention was to walk to the mouth Sous along the wadi out from Inegzane. Never try this again! We ended up with huge amounts of curious kids behind us in a -what seems to be- a dry and boring area. Hint: pick a taxi let it drop you at the Royal palace.

If you have any questions on where we have been birding, cycling in Morocco or anything else, try to reach us. Google should do it.

Bram Koese, Bram Kuijper, and Jord Prangsma

The complete list

Dodaars	Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Jan van Gent	Northern Gannet	Morus bassanus
Aalscholver (morrocanus)	Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	(morrocanus)
Koereiger	Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Kleine Zilverreiger	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Blauwe Reiger	Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
Purperreiger	Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	One passing over at Tizi-n-Bachkoum near an oasis between Tazenakht and Ouarzazate
Ooievaar	White Stork	Ciconia ciconia
Zwarte ibis	Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus
Heremietibis	Hermit Ibis	Geronticus eremita	At Tamri seen at least 30
Lepelaar	White Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia
Flamingo	Greater Flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber
Casarca	Ruddy Shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea
Wilde eend	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Pijlstaart	Northern Pintail	Anas acuta
Slobeend	Northern Shoveller	Anas clypeata
Wintertaling	Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca
Kuifeend	Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula
Visarend	Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Aquila Spec			Probably a pair of Golden Eagle at a pass just North of the Barage Youssef Ben
Slangenarend	Short-toed Eagle	Circaetus gallicus
Dwergarend	Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus
Zwarte wouw	Black Kite	Milvus migrans
Grijze wouw	Black-shouldered Kite	Elanus caeruleus
Bruine Kiekendief	Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus
Grauwe Kiekendief	Montague's Harrier	Circus pygargus
Arendbuizerd	Long-legged Buzzard	Buteo rufinus
Buizerd	Eurasian Buzzard	Buteo buteo
Sperwer	Northern Sparrow Hawk	Accipiter nisus
Torenvalk	Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
Slechtvalk	Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	(subspec. Brookei) At a reservoir East of Aoulouz
Barbarijse valk	Barbary Falcon	Falco pelegrinoides
Lannervalk	Lanner Falcon	Falco biarmicus
Barbarijse patrijs	Barbary Partridge	Alectoris barbara
Kwartel	Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix
Waterhoen	Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Meerkoet	Black Coot	Fulica atra
Scholekster	Palaearctic Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus
Kluut	Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta
Steltkluut	Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Griel	Stone-Curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus
Renvogel	Cream-coloured Courser	Cursorius cursor
Vorkstaartplevier	Pratincole	Glareola pratincola
Kleine plevier	Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius
Bontbekplevier	Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula
Strandplevier	Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	(At the Reservoir near Ouarzazate)
Zilverplevier	Grey Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Kanoet	Red Knot	Calidris canutus
Drieteenstrandloper	Sanderling	Calidris alba
Bonte strandloper	Dunlin	Calidris alpina
Krombekstrandloper	Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea
Kleine strandloper	Little Stint	Calidris minuta
Witgat	Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus
Oeverloper	Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Tureluur	Common Redshank	Tringa totanus
Groenpootruiter	Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Rosse grutto	Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica
Wulp	Western Curlew	Numenius arquata
Kemphaan	Ruff	Philomachus pugnax
Jager spec	Skua spec.		Several seen but mostly far at sea
Kokmeeuw	Black-headed Gull	Larus ridibundus
Dunbekmeeuw	Slender-billed Gull	Larus genei
Stormmeeuw	Mew Gull	Larus canus
Geelpootmeeuw	Mediterranean Yellow-legged Gull	Larus michahellis
Audouins meeuw	Audouin's Gull	Larus audouinii
Kleine mantelmeeuw	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus
Grote stern	Sandwich Tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis
Reuzenstern	Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia
Zwartbuikzandhoen	Black-bellied Sandgrouse	Pterocles orientalis
Witbuikzandhoen	Pintailed Sandgrouse	Pterocles alchata
Rotsduif	Feral Rock Pigeon	Columba livia
Houtduif	Wood Pigeon	Columba palumbus
Turkse tortel	Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto
Zomertortel	Turtle Dove	Streptopelia turtur
Palmtortel	Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis
Koekoek	Eurasian Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus
Kuifkoekoek	Great Spooted Cuckoo	Clamator glandarius
Steenuil	Little Owl	Athene noctua
Moorse nachtzwaluw	Red-necked Nightjar	Caprimulgus ruficollis
Egyptische Nachtzwaluw	Egyptian Nightjar	Caprimulgus aegyptius
Gierzwaluw	Eurasian Swift	Apus apus
Vale gierzwaluw	Pallid Swift	Apus pallidus
Huisgierzwaluw	House Swift	Apus affinis
Hop	Hoopoe	Upupa epops
IJsvogel	River Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
Bijeneter	European Bee Eater	Merops apiaster
Draaihals	Northern Wryneck	Jynx torquilla
Kuifleeuwerik	Crested Lark	Galerida cristata
Kortteenleeuwerik	Greater Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla
Woestijnleeuwerik	Desert Lark	Ammomanes deserti
Rosse woestijnleeuwerik	Bar-tailed Lark	Ammomanes cincturus
Diksnavelleeuwerik	Calandra Lark	Ramphocoris clotbey
Temmincks Strandleeuwerik	Temminck's Horned Lark	Eremophila bilopha
Witbandleeuwerik	Hoopoe Lark	Alaemon alaudipes
Oeverzwaluw	Sand Martin	Riparia riparia
Rotszwaluw	Red Sea Cliff Swallow	Hirundo rupestris
Boerenzwaluw	Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Roodstuitzwaluw	Red-rumped Swallow	Hirundo daurica
Huiszwaluw	Common House Martin	Delichon urbica
Duinpieper	Tawny Pipit	Anthus campestris
Graspieper	Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis
Boompieper	Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis
Witte kwikstaart	Pied White Wagtail	Motacilla alba
Gele kwikstaart	Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava
Grote Gele kwikstaart	Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea
Grauwe buulbuul	Garden Bulbul	Pycnonotus barbatus
Nachtegaal	Nighthingale	Luscinia megarhynchos
Gekraagde roodstaart	Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Zwarte roodstaart	Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros
Diadeemroodstaart	Moussier's Redstart	Phoenicurus moussieri
Tapuit	Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe
Woestijntapuit	Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti
Westelijke blonde tapuit	Black-eared Wheatear	Oenanthe hispanica
Witkruintapuit	White-crowned Black Wheatear	Oenanthe leucopyga
Zwarte tapuit	Black Wheatear	Oenanthe leucura
Roodstuittapuit	Red-rumped Wheatear	Oenanthe moesta
Roodborsttapuit	Common Stonechat	Saxicola torquata
Blauwe rotslijster	Blue Rock Thrush	Monticola solitarius
Merel	Blackbird	Turdus merula
Beflijster	Ring Ousel	Turdus torquatus
Zwartkop	Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla
Orpheusgrasmus	Orphean Warbler	Sylvia hortensis
Kleine zwartkop	Sardinian Warbler	Sylvia melanocephala
Brilgrasmus	Spectacled Warbler	Sylvia conspicillata
Baardgrasmus	ubalpine Warbler	Sylvia cantillans
Graszanger	Zitting Cisticola	Cisticola juncidis
Cetti's Zanger	Cetti's Warbler	Cettia cetti
Tjiftjaf	Chiff-chaff	Phylloscopus collybitus
Koolmees	Great Tit	Parus major
Pimpelmees	Blue Tit	Parus caeruleus
Roodkopklauwier	Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator
Klapekster	Great Grey Shrike	Lanius excubitor
Zwartkruintsjagra	Black-crowned Tchagra	Tchagra senegala
Ekster	Black-billed Magpie	Pica pica
Raaf	Common Raven	Corvus corax
Zwarte spreeuw	Spotless Starling	Sturnus unicolor
Huismus	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
Spaanse mus	Spanish Sparrow	Passer hispaniolensis
Vink	Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs
Kneu	Linnet	Acanthis cannabina
Putter	Eurasian Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
Groenling	Western Greenfinch	Carduelis chloris
Europese kanarie	European Serin	Serinus serinus
Woestijnvink	Trumpeter Finch	Rhodopechys githaginea
Ortolaan	Ortolan Bunting	Emberiza hortulana
Cirlgors	Cirl Bunting	Emberiza cirlus
Grauwe gors	Corn Bunting	Miliaria calandra
Huisgors	House Bunting	Emberiza striolata

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