Morocco
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The prices are per person and include return scheduled flights London-Tangier and Agadir-London, all accommodation, meals, coach/minibus transport, all entry fees, tips and gratuities, airport taxes, map, bird checklist and services of the leader/s.
The price excludes travel insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses. Both trips will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays. Principal Leader: Arnoud van den Berg |
This wonderful autumn birdwatching trip amidst the marshes, mountains, forests and coasts of this amazing corner of Africa is just too good to miss! |
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Picture flocks of White Storks soaring gracefully overhead on migration... flights of hundreds of Glossy Ibis... the challenge of sifting through twenty or more different species of wader... and encounters with the likes of Squacco Heron, Bonelli's Eagle, Purple Swamphen, Red-knobbed Coot and Common Bulbul... All these have regularly been seen on the first full day of our autumn Morocco tour! Later it may be the turn of Barbary Partridge, Marbled Duck, Barbary Falcon, Lesser Crested and Royal Terns, House Bunting, Bluethroat and Black-crowned Tchagra to set our pulses racing.
From Tangier we travel via the bird-rich estuaries and marshlands of northwest Morocco, inland to the beautiful Cork Oak woodlands and scrub-covered hills of the Zaërs. Continuing south to the grandeur of the High Atlas mountains and out along the rugged cliff-lined coast of Morocco's sunny southwest, this October tour offers some of the most exciting, varied and incredibly scenic autumn birding anywhere in the Western Palearctic. Our extended itinerary concludes with two nights in Marrakech plus two in Agadir, so as to incorporate visits to the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas and the glorious sea-cliffs and estuaries of southern Morocco's Atlantic shore. Here we will look for the endemic Levaillant's Woodpecker before driving up to more than 2500m above sea-level to enter the realm of Alpine Chough, 'Atlas' Shore Lark and the elusive 'African' Crimson-winged Finch. To the west, the arid coastal strip is home to the dazzling Moussier's Redstart. The critically-endangered Bald Ibis, one of the world's rarest (and weirdest-looking!) birds, has its one remaining stronghold here, too. For those that wish, there may be time for a brief sight-seeing trip to the bustling main square in Marrakech before we finish our journey at Agadir, with visits to two of the region's finest wetlands: the Oued Sous and Oued Massa. Wetland birds abound and we could encounter just about anything here, from Ruddy Shelduck and Black-winged Kite to Plain Martin and Laughing Dove. Over the years, this tour has produced so many memorable highlights: from North Africa's relict population of Marsh Owls leaving their daytime roost to quarter the swampy grassland, to cliff-top gatherings of supremely elegant Eleonora's Falcons performing breathtaking aerobatics right over our heads. With migrants on the move, Arnoud's excellent local contacts and the experience of some thirty Morocco tours behind us, this amazing tour is too good to miss! Itinerary Day 1 Our tour begins with a Royal Air Maroc evening flight from London to Tangier. WeÕll be met on arrival and transfer to our first hotel, within a short drive of Tangier airport. Overnight Tangier Day 2 After breakfast at our hotel, we travel an hour or so down the coast to arrive at the wonderful Loukkos marshes, where a series of shallow floods, wet fields and reedy lagoons beside the river should ensure an exciting start to our birding. Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed and Kentish Plovers, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff and Greenshank are among the many different waders we could see. Areas of deeper water are usually busy with waterfowl, including the dappled Marbled Duck and the localised Red-knobbed Coot. And as we relish the prospect of looking for migrants such as White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron and Caspian Tern, we may be entertained by the ungainly antics of the Purple Swamphen, with its incongruous plasticine-red legs and flashing white stern. In the afternoon we continue south to Merdja Zerga, a huge coastal lagoon located midway between the northern cities of Tangier and Rabat. Over ninety square kilometres in extent, this important wetland was catapulted to birdwatching fame in the late 1980s when Slender-billed Curlews were discovered wintering at the site. Though none have been seen since 1993, the wetland is still of major importance for its birds. A search of the shallower marshy margins could reveal Little and Cattle Egrets, Montagu's Harrier, Green Sandpiper and the Iberian race of Yellow Wagtail. Nearby, belts of eucalyptus woodland often hold migrants such as Pied Flycatcher and Western Bonelli's Warbler as well as the distinctive Moroccan race of Chaffinch, with its moss-green back. Oystercatcher, Whimbrel and a Slender-billed Gull or two may be present on the sandbar, where the lagoon exits into the sea. Although the throng of waterbirds can be difficult to get close to, not so the lake's famous Marsh Owls! This is now one of only two spots in all of North Africa where this rare species can be found. We'll stay until dusk, watching and waiting for these attractive, dark-eyed owls to emerge from their communal roost and quarter the swamp in the gathering gloom - sometimes passing by at incredibly close range and uttering their curiously duck-like calls. Dinner may be a little later than usual tonight, but it should be worth it! Overnight Moulay Bousselham Day 3 After pausing to check the beach for gulls and terns, we continue south along the coast today. With its narrow, ribbon-like form, Lac de Sidi Bourhaba is one of the best spots in Morocco to see wintering duck. Scarce species such as Red-crested Pochard, and Marbled and Ferruginous Ducks are regularly present in early October, while the shallower margins attract Water Rail, Kingfisher and mixed flocks of passage waders. Marsh Harrier and Hobby frequently patrol the wooded rim of the lake. This reserve has become the focus of an innovative educational project with help from BirdLife International and the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad. In the late afternoon, we visit one of only two present-day sites in Morocco where the elegant Eleonora's Falcon still clings to its traditional breeding haunts. Despite mounting pressure from urban development and the misguided close attentions of some of the locals, we will hope to enjoy good views of both adults and their recently-fledged young as they sweep gracefully - and noisily - about our heads. The light may be fading by the time we manage to tear ourselves away and arrive at our next hotel, which lies on the coast to the south of Morocco's capital city, Rabat. Overnight Skhirat Day 4 Taking a picnic breakfast, a very early start is essential this morning if we are to stand any chance at all of finding what is now one of Morocco's rarest birds, the Double-spurred Francolin. In the Western Palearctic, this ultra-secretive species is now confined to an area of rolling, scrubby hill-forest known as the Zaërs, which lies about an hour or so's drive from Rabat. It can be difficult to continue birding whilst keeping our fingers so firmly crossed but, as we watch and hope for a francolin to call and put in an appearance for us, we may be lucky to come across several other speciality birds such as Black-winged Kite, 'Atlas' Long-legged Buzzard, Barbary Partridge and the skulking Black-crowned Tchagra. Heading back towards town, we'll spend some time exploring the region's picturesque Cork Oak woods. Home to an excellent variety of forest birds, here we have a first chance to find Levaillant's Woodpecker, a North African endemic. Although they can be elusive, our patience has often been rewarded in the past. By contrast, Great Spotted Woodpeckers are common in the woods (indeed, we've never seen so many!), and other species we'll be searching for include Woodlark, Redstart and Sardinian Warbler. We shall take a good look at our first African Blue Tits, while the local race of Magpie, with its attractive blue eye-wattle, is a quite distinctive North African form that, one day, might also be elevated to full species status. Returning for a second night at our beachside hotel in Skhirat, we can check the small flocks of waders, gulls and terns that frequent the strand, and hope to find the scarce Audouin's Gull in amongst the more numerous Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Offshore, Cory's Shearwater, Arctic Skua and even Lesser Crested Terns may be passing, the latter now making their way south from their sole Western Palearctic breeding grounds off the Libyan coast, some 1500 miles to the east. Overnight Skhirat Day 5 Early risers may be tempted by the prospect of some further seawatching first thing this morning. Gannets are likely at this time of year, with Common Scoter amongst various less frequent possibilities. Waders could include Whimbrel and Kentish Plover. After breakfast we resume our journey along the Atlantic coast, first heading south to Casablanca, then swinging inland towards Marrakech and the High Atlas Mountains. The completion of a new highway between Casablanca and Marrakech has dramatically cut the journey time along this route. Having checked into our comfortable hotel in Marrakech, we'll be free to explore the gardens where the prospect of Little Swift, Common Bulbul, Spotless Starling and House Bunting may help pass a little time! After dinner this evening, there will be an opportunity (optional) for those that wish to visit to the city's bustling main square, Djemaa el F'na, with its colourful array of jugglers, fire-eaters, snake charmers, water-sellers and fortune-tellers. Participants that are up for a spot of bartering may wish to enter the bewildering maze of the nearby souk, while others may prefer to sip a mint tea at a square-side cafe and watch the busy Moroccan world go by. Overnight Marrakech Day 6 Our birding reaches a real high today as we drive from Marrakech on the plain, up to around 3000m in the beautiful High Atlas mountains. In poplars along the way, we have further opportunities to try for the tricky-to-find Levaillant's Woodpecker. Ringed by snow-capped peaks, the ski-resort of Oukaimeden offers access to the realm of Red-billed and Alpine Choughs, Black Wheatear, Dipper, Rock Bunting and Rock Sparrow. We should be able to find the distinctive Atlas race of Shore Lark at higher levels and, if we are lucky, the uncommon and poorly known 'African' Crimson-winged Finch on the rocky 'lower' slopes of Morocco's highest peak, Jebel Toubkal (4165m). Even at altitude, the weather in early October is generally good and, if the visibility is clear, views from up here can be quite stupendous. Overnight Marrakech Day 7 Leaving the dramatic scenery of the High Atlas Mountains behind, we take the road west from Marrakech this morning, passing through an ever-changing tapestry of landscapes and habitats to reach the Atlantic coast once more. Eleonora's Falcons breed on an island offshore and we'll be keeping a keen eye out for them as they regularly visit the mainland in autumn to chase down passing passerine migrants on which to feed their young families. Turning south, we pick up the coast road towards Agadir. Following lunch at a nearby restaurant, we'll search for the critically endangered Bald Ibis, a species whose total world population hovers precariously at around just over 200 wild birds. Sparsely topped with grass and scrub, the arid sea-cliffs along this stretch are also the haunt of Barbary Partridge, Blue Rock Thrush and that stunning regional endemic, Moussier's Redstart. Cory's Shearwater, Audouin's Gull and Lesser Crested Tern are possible over the sea and, if luck is with us, we may encounter a Barbary Falcon hunting the coastal hills. Exiting to the sea at Agadir, the Oued Sous forms a compact and easily worked estuary that can be outstanding for birds in autumn. If time permits, we'll make a first visit here late this afternoon, seeking the likes of Greater Flamingo, Spoonbill, Caspian Tern and the distinctive Moroccan race of White Wagtail. Waders can be numerous (and sometimes include the odd surprise!) as we sift carefully through the gathering throng of roosting gulls looking for scarcities such as Mediterranean and Slender-billed. At dusk, Stone-curlews emerge from the shade of brushy riverside scrub to feed with eerie cries and, with luck, we may hear or even get to see a wintering Red-necked Nightjar. Overnight Agadir Day 8 Our final day's birding in Morocco will be spent at one of its finest wetland reserves, Oued Massa. Lying about an hour's drive to the south of Agadir, this shallow, reed-fringed river is arguably Morocco's top birdwatching spot - a mosaic of freshwater habitats protected from the ingress of tidal saltwater by a sandbar thrown up by the Atlantic Ocean. Delicate Plain Martins hawk insects over the baked-mud houses, date palms and fig trees that are so characteristic of the villages in this part of Morocco. The patchwork of intensive cultivations that line the fertile river banks provide a refuge for a mix of migrants and resident birds alike, including Bonelli's Eagle, Black-winged Kite, Little Owl, Zitting Cisitcola, Kingfisher, Spotless Starling, Cirl Bunting and the green-backed 'African' Chaffinch. Stands of shady eucalypts may conceal a roosting Black-crowned Night Heron or two, as we busy ourselves with a terrific range of birds, from White Stork and handsome Squacco and Purple Herons to Osprey, Ruddy Shelduck and Morocco's characteristic white-necked form of Cormorant. With migration under way, we could find almost anything here today, while the magical calls of Black-crowned Tchagra, Laughing Dove and Common Bulbul impart a distinctly 'tropical' feel. After picnicking nearby, we will conclude our birding with either a further exploration of the shores of Oued Massa or return to Agadir to spend a final couple of hours beside the equally rewarding mouth of the river Sous. Overnight Agadir Day 9 Our flight home departs Agadir today. Afternoon arrival in London, where our tour concludes. Accommodation: Hotels in Morocco do vary but, with the exception of the hotel at Moulay Bousselham (see following), the overall standard on this tour is good. All rooms are en suite. Because the only flights to Tangier arrive there in the late evening, we spend the first night at a hotel that lies within an easy drive of the airport, to give a more relaxed start to the tour. Note that Moulay Bousselham lies off the beaten track and our hotel for our one-night stay in the area has been chosen for its location - presently, it is the only accommodation convenient to the Marsh Owls; rooms are basic but the food is good. Meals: All included in the price. Dinner and breakfast at the hotels. Most lunches (and the occasional breakfast on this trip) will be picnics, but some meals taken at convenient restaurants along the way. Walking: Easy. Short walks over easy-moderate terrain. Maximum elevation: 2600-3000 metres in the High Atlas (for a few hours only). Sturdy waterproof walking shoes or lightweight boots with rugged, corrugated soles advised. Ground Transport: Coach/minibus with local driver. Insects: Mosquitoes may be present in low numbers at some wetland spots, chiefly at dusk. Principal Leader: Arnoud van den Berg Numbers: Max. 14 clients UK Tel: 01305 267994, UK Fax: 01305 265506, International Tel: +44-1305-267994, International Fax: +44-1305-265506 email: info@naturalist.co.uk | |