Our circuit will lead us in the mountains of the High Atlas, through high plateaus to the Anti-Atlas, and to the south, the northern edge of the desert of the Sahara. The High Atlas offers many unusual species like the African Northern race of the Blue tit, Roselin with pink wings and the Peak of Levaillant, while the valleys, lower in altitude, accomodate Rougequeue de Moussier. The stony desert plates shelter the Trap with white head, the Lark of Close-Bey, Ammomane isabelline and Roselin githagine. The Saharan area which we will visit, conceals among good of other species, Ammomane elegant, the dwarf Warbler and the Warbler of the Atlas, as well as the white Sparrow and up to four species of Gangas. We will travel to the west, along the plain of Souss, observing the Eagle of Bonelli and, if the chance is with us, we will be able to see the Eagle kidnapper. The coast close to Agadir is rich in superb observations and we will visit the area where the last colony savages resides at the world of Ibis bald people. The visits in the National park of souss Massa will give the opportunity to us to observe among other many species, Courvite Isabelle and yelling Oedicnème. Marmaronettes marbled are present in great number. The Seagull of Audouin and the Ibis falcinelle are very current species in this area. Tchagra with black head will be also present.
PROGRAM
1st day:
Arrival at Marrakech in the afternoon - we will recover our cars and direction the mountains of the High Atlas. By leaving Marrakech, we will see Bulbul of the gardens, the Trip hammer of the houses and the pale Trip hammer, the Swallow rousseline and, further in the plain, russet-red Agrobate. During two nights, we will stay in a small hotel close to Oukaimeden.
2nd day:
We will explore the mountainous forests and zones around Oukaimeden. Here we hope to see the African Northern race of the Blue tit and the Peak of Levaillant. We will also find the race Northern African of the Wagtail gray, Mr. a. subpersonata. The mountainous buttresses lodge the Warbler passerinette and the Warbler of the Atlas, as well as the Warbler with glasses. Roselin with pink wings is usual and we will also notice Sittelle torchepot and the Creeper of the gardens. Zones of high altitude can shelter alpine Accenteur, Chocard with yellow nozzle, Crave with red nozzle, the merry Trap, Monticole blackbird-blue, and the Moroccan race of the Wheatear, o.o. seebohm. Usually here, one sees also the Lark rise-pass. We will easily locate in the villages the Sparrow soulcie and on the highest tops, should be likely to us to locate bearded Gypaète and the Golden eagle. We will spend all the day to explore this area.
3rd day:
Today, we leave Oukaimeden in direction of South-west. We will cross the High Atlas where we envisage to locate Rougequeue de Moussier, Tarier shepherd, Crave with red nozzle, alpine Accenteur and the Lark rise-collar before beginning our descent towards Ouarzazate. In the east of the city, we will visit a vast water reserve where the Large Cormorant of race PC. maroccanus, the Pink flamingo, the white Spatula and the white Stork are sometimes present at the side of the Osprey, ashy Busard and Hen harrier. The white Stilts are generally in the area and it is precisely the only site of reproduction in Morocco for ashy Héron. Tadorne casarca is often visible in edge of the lake and crested Grèbe directly on the lake. Later, we envisage an additional pause in order to locate the Trap with white head, the merry Trap and, with chance, the Trap mourning. It will be also possible to observe in road the Sparrowhawk of Europe and Circaète Jean-le-Blanc. We will move towards Boumalne where we will stay two nights.
4th day:
Morning departure to direct us towards the plate of Anved where we will spend the morning. Our first observation will be for Roselin githagine and the area is the place of predilection of the larks and the traps. We will have the hope to locate the calandrelle Lark and the Lark pispolette, Ammomane isabelline, Sirli of the desert, the Lark of Close-Bey, crested Cochevis, Cochevis de Thékla and Eremophila bilopha. We will be able to possibly see the Lark calendered and the Skylark. The traps in this area include/understand the Trap of the desert, the Trap with gray head, the Wheatear and the Trap with white head. The African Northern race of the wild Tube is also present, as well as the predator Faucon lanier. On the road, the rustic Swallow and the House martin are present in small number, and in the villages the pale Trip hammer is not rare. In the gorges, the birds present are the Swallow of the rocks, the Golden eagle, the Eagle of Bonelli, and occasionally, bearded Gypaète. Dans les parages, se trouvent le Bruant fou et le Bruant striolé, ainsi que la Perdrix gambra. On the river, one can find the Dipper and in the adjacent bushes, Bouscarle de Cetti. In the afternoon, we will turn over on the plate in order to continue to prospect the place. We will seek Ganga unibande, Ganga cata and crowned Ganga, while being vigilant for the observation of the species of the élusives larks. The southernmost Shrike is relatively common in this habitat and it already sometimes happened to us to see Courvite Isabelle. This area is well-known for its Bustard will houbara, although unfortunately today, we will need enormously for chance to see it. With fallen the night, we will try our chance near the Large-duke ascalaphe who saw locally.
5th day:
We leave Boumalne this morning and continue towards the east. On the way, we will be able to make some halts in the wadis and we will also stop in the gorges of Todra. We will continue in direction of Erfoud where we will change car for 4X4 in order to continue our tour towards the south, in the area of the dunes of Erg Chebbi. We will spend two nights in a small inn to the south of Erfoud. The gardens of our inn shelter the Chiff-chaff, the Warbler passerinette, the dwarf Warbler, the Warbler with glasses, the Warbler of Bonelli, and sometimes the Warbler of the Atlas. In the twilight and dawn, one sees the Goat-sucker of the desert driving out around the buildings.
6th day:
We move more to the south this morning towards the dunes of Erg Chebbi and we will take time to observe Roselin githagine, Dromoïque quicksilver, the Warbler of the Atlas and the dwarf Warbler. The white Sparrow is very frequent here and Ammomane elegant is most common of the larks. We will go then in the desert to the research of mottled Ganga, crowned Ganga, Ganga unibande and Ganga cata, like Sirli of the desert. If our “timing” is correct, it will be possible to attend passages of raptors, by knowing that the wild Tube, the Falcon kestrel and the Falcon lanier reproduce all close to here. It is one of the best zones to see the brown Corbel, another élusif specimen.
7th day:
We leave the dunes in direction of the west and change vehicles with Erfoud. We continue towards Ouarzazate by the road more in the south, while passing by Tazzarine. We will inspect a palm plantation with the research of Verdier d' Europe, Partridge will gambra, of fawn-coloured Cratérope and the Canary cini. A stop in a wadi will give us the advisability of observing gangas coming to be refreshed. We will see many species, namely, the merry Trap, the Sparrow soulcie, the Trap with white head, Ammomane isabelline, Monticole blackbird-blue, Circaète Jean-le-Blanc and others… The Turkish Turtle-dove is very common through Morocco but today, should have the advisability to us of observing for the first time the Turtle-dove with a grid. On the road, we will watch for the birds, and will be able at Ouarzazate in order to spend the night there. The Trap mourning elected residence close to Ouarzazate and we will be able to seek it as soon as we approach the city. If we have time, we will be able to revisit the lake like the third day.
8th day:
We leave Ouarzazate and go towards the west in direction of Taroudant in the valley of souss. We will pass by Aoulouz and Tizi-N-Test which we will explore. In this zone, us should find there our first group of Starlings unicoloured. It is an excellent area for the observation of the birds to knowing the Eagle of Bonelli and much of other species. The Eagle boot was already seen, and the previous years, the area was known to shelter the Eagle kidnapper and Around sinks, very rare species. The valley is a zone of predilection for the sparrows and has many species of warblers to knowing the Warbler mélanocéphale and the Warbler with glasses. The Bunting zizi and the Bunting proyer are regional and the Warbler with black head and the Warbler grisette resident in the hedges and the meadows neighbourhood. Flights of Milans migrating blacks are possible and more we will approach the coastal areas and more the Turtle-dove of wood as well as the Crested one fasciée will be common. We will spend the night to Taroudant.
9th day:
We will spend the morning in the valley of Under before directing us towards the west to Agadir. The birds will be identical to the previous days. We will remain three nights in Agadir.
10th day:
A local expert will accompany to us during our stay in Agadir. This morning, we will move to the north of Agadir in Tamri, area famous for its Ibis bald person. Thanks to a clear-sighted policy of safeguarding, we will observe rare species, increasingly many. We will be attentive with the possible manifestations of the paludicole Swallow which reproduces in this zone. From the Cape Rhir, near, we will observe the sea and we will see the Seagull of Audouin and the Gannet migrants and Labbes pomarins. Among the visible most common terns in this area, we will find the Tern caugek. The brown Seagulls amount per thousands and we will have the possibility of seeking other species of gulls and seagull like the leucophée Gull mélanocéphale, the Seagull and the herring Gull. The afternoon, we will go towards the wadi of Under in the national park of Under Massa where the white Storks are numerous and where the Brush garzette easily is observed, Héron buff-backed heron and ashy Héron. In the surrounding bushes, niche the Partridge will be gambra and we will recognize Tarin of the alders easily. To observe the local race of the talkative Magpie is as banal as to see perching the Shrike with russet-red head.
11th day:
This morning, we leave for the Wadi Massa. Yelling Oedicnème and Courvite Isabelle adore these stripped extents and these grounds. Regularly, one sees the Peregrine falcon, as well as many Larks pispolettes and Cochevis de Thékla. We will observe first limicolous our voyage. In edge of the fields, we will see Tchagra with black head and probably the Trip hammer with white belly. The waders regularly observed here are: Russet-red barge, ashed Curlew, Curlew corlieu, Redshank and Greenshank, Sandpiper corcoli, Knight wheatear, Sandpiper sanderling, Sandpiper minute and variable Sandpiper as well as many species of plovers. At the edge of water, we will find Oyster the magpie, the white Stilt and the elegant Avocet. The Tern caugek and occasionally the royal Tern nest in the sheltered places of the wadi. We will be able to perhaps see being refreshed Ganga unibande. On the edges of the wadi, we will see common species, namely, Rouge-queue of Moussier, Fauvette mélanocéphale, spring Bergeronnette, Grey wagtail, mélodieuse Linotte, elegant Chardonneret, Bulbul of the gardens and Cisticole of the snap rings. Then, return to Marrakech for the last night and dinner .
12th day:
Flight return from Marrakech.
