Irish Bird Images

Morocco January 2003

Introduction:
A week in the sun at the start of the new year was just the ticket to take a few digi-pic's. Thanks to the fantastic lighting and lots of tame birds, we did very well. Below are some favorite species encountered, we spent two days looking for Bald Ibis and only managed to see two birds in flight. We found the Ibis impossible to locate, even with help from locals.

Books used Gosney in Southern Morocco, and A Birdwatching Guide to Morocco, by Peter Combridge and Alan Snook.

We hired a punto type car from a unknown name beside the hotel for about € 300, the car was new and we ran into no difficulties. Police were present on all borders to and fro districts, one tried to do us for speeding for € 60 even though we were not, he let us go as soon as he realized we had no moneys on our persons, or so we told him

Sites we visited: The Sous Valley, apart from the usual array of waders and passerines we noted Stone curlew and Red-necked Nightjar.

Tamri: Birds of note were huge numbers of Audouins Gulls, we found a Baltic Gull only because it was colour ringed. No Ibis were seen even though we made several attempts. Also noted Tschagra, House Bunting, Wryneck.

Goulimime: Here we searched ( even hired a local ) for Courser, but failed. But we did see Tawny Eagle, Tristram's Warbler and all the Wheatears expected. Golden Eagle and several Long-legged Buzzard. In general this whole area is fantastic and no kids to pester you.

High Atlas Mountains: Quite enough here only noting Spectacled Warbler,Blue Rock Thrush,Barbary Partridge, Magpie and Blue Tit.

Oued Massa: What a place for birds! We saw Plain Martin, Crane, Glossy Ibis, Spotless Starling, Moussiers Redstart,Tschagre, Cirl Bunting, Turtle Dove, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Bonelli's Eagle and several species of duck including Marbled. In Song were Corncrake! and Quail. In general the whole area is fantastic for general birding..

Good birding was to be had every day, the only draw back's were the hoards of kids looking to mind our car or be our bird guide. At Oued Sous my mobile phone was stolen from my hip at knife point. The police did not want to know anything about the theft!

Typical birding terrain in the Atlas Mountain's.

Thekla Lark Morocco January,2003. A common lark found in almost any habitat, this pic taken with Eagle-eye.

Great Spotted Cuckoo. Morocco January,2003. The only bird seen and lucky to get this one image.

Desert Wheatear. Morocco January,2003. Several confined to desert only. Adult male.

Desert Wheatear. Morocco January,2003. Several confined to desert only. Adult male.

House Bunting Morocco January,2003. Common and breeding in hotel we stayed in.
	More images Here