Morocco - A Bald Ibis Break!

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1 Naturetrek 7-11 March 2007 Greater Flamingo Silene sp. Bald Ibis Ksar Massa Images and report compiled by Toby Abrehart Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0) F: +44 (0) E: W:

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3 Morocco - A Bald Ibis Break! Tour leader: Toby Abrehart Tour participants: Keith Brett June Brett Shelia Kelly Peggy Davies Di Emery Richard Hughes Jackie Hughes Neil Sanders Viv Sanders Colin Kauntze-Cockburn Ang Kauntze-Cockburn Robert Black Gordon Woodward Anne Woodward Wendy Hooson Day 1 Wednesday 7th March Agadir Airport to Ksar Massa We arrived 40 minutes early into Agadir met our driver (Mohamed), loaded up and set off to the hotel. It was nice to have the unexpected daylight so we could get to enjoy looking out of the windows, seeing over 200 White Storks as we went. Along the dirt track to the hotel we passed a Red-necked Nightjar and three Stone Curlew - a promising start to the trip. Once at the hotel and settled in we started to appreciate the fabulous setting of the hotel. With a drink in our hand and food on its way we looked forward the days ahead and the comfort of our beds. Day 2 Thursday 8th March An early morning bird watch to the Oued Massa National Park, leaving at 6.30am - it was only just getting light, giving us time to get close to the reserve entrance before the birds were moving too much. Our first of many Audouins Gulls in the large gull roost near the sea was a nice start with the vast expanse of the coast to enjoy and start to find more birds. After some mixed Swift flocks we watched closely a few Sardinian and Sub-alpine Warblers in fine spring plumage and singing so we could try to learn the differences. On the walk back to the hotel for breakfast we encountered our first Black-crowned Tchagra, with its lovely song. Then we headed for our first breakfast at 8am and met with the rest of the group. Breakfast, as we were to learn, is a leisurely affair with an outside table looking along the stunning coastline in the sunshine and warmth so we didn t really care. At about 9 ish we set off as a group to explore the mouth of the Massa - here we watched a large flock of Glossy Ibis and had a flock of Flamingoes flying in front of us with much more to enjoy around us - a great start to the weekend. Not much further along a glorious Moussier s Redstart appeared in front of us, only a few feet away, a truly gorgeous bird and one we were to see every day in the area, quite special. Naturetrek April 07 1

4 Lunch at hotel was very much as we expected, very good The afternoon walk for those that wanted to go was along the cliffs to the north. The walk took us past the cliff caves of the local fisherman used in the summer months as the tourists arrive; out to sea we watched a distant Great Skua and several Gannets. On the land we saw very little except the Thekla Larks, but they certainly showed well giving us plenty of opportunities to look at the differences and characters of this bird. Back for evening we watched along the coast for Bald Ibis which didn t show but the glass of wine whilst looking down the coast was certainly worth while. Check list completed and then supper Day 3 Friday 9th March Hot, sunny and lovely Our early morning walk to the National Park produced a few more interesting birds including a few Maroc Cormorants and the Glossy Ibis again, with many Temminck s Stints and some Black-winged Stilts. Along the path on the way back we managed to see both sub-species of Southern Grey Shrike, Little Owls on the buildings and some close views of the Tchagra in the scrub. After a very nice breakfast we all set off for a drive into Sid R bat. Along the track we stopped to watch three obliging Stone Curlew - a real treat a little further on was a small flock of Cream-coloured coursers which after some watching turned out to number at least 100 birds. This was quite a sight just watching them all around us feeding and occasionally flying around with their colours looking fabulous and all of them in beautiful condition. Overhead was a Lesser short-toed Lark singing - a great little stop for our morning. After this interlude we headed to a bridge at Massa and the track heading through the Lucerne fields to the other side of the valley. Shortly after arriving we saw two Black-winged kites a few Plain Martin and a large number of very smart Iberian Yellow Wagtails. In the first hour it was hard to know where to look with so much around but we gave it a good go and feel that we watched everything very well, each of us having a good opportunity to see them all. Whilst waiting for the bus driver to collect our lunch we took advantage of the shade. Nearby were a few Cynomorum coccineum (used in the past to staunch wounds) parasitizing on the Halopeplis amplexicaulis. In the culverts running around the area were several damselflies including Ishnura saharensis at the north western edge of its range. Once Mohamed arrived we all set off into the woods at the park entrance to eat lunch, the breeze was very much needed in the heat of the day. As we ate we were able to have a very good close view of a pair of North African Chaffinch, looking very different to ours. Some drove back to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon while the rest of us walked back along the track towards the sea. Many of our usual species were present but it was a lovely time to walk and watch all around us. We did manage to see a brief Orphean Warbler in the scrub at the side of the path. Along the side of the path was a bank of Dipcadi serotinum usually a difficult plant to see but very abundant at this site. Once back at the hotel a drink looking over sea seemed a very good idea, later we did our check list and had an excellent supper. 2 Naturetrek April 07

5 Day 4 Saturday 10th March An early morning walk to the lagoon gave us a good chance to watch some lovely Garganey next to a couple of European Teal for comparison. Along the shore edge was a selection of waders including a Marsh Sandpiper with a chance to compare it with other waders nearby. Breakfast was great as always Some stayed to explore the surrounding area by themselves I m sure enjoying the opportunity to do what they wanted when they wanted and taking full advantage of the hotel. Some of us went looking for Bald Ibis. On the way we stopped off quickly to watch the Cream-coloured Coursers of course and a large flock of Lesser and Short-toed Larks, it was very interesting to see all the variations of each. We managed see the Ibis with some effort - thoroughly worthwhile though. We did get to see about a hundred over an area near the sea. On the way back we had a brief Spectacled Warbler and then off to the hotel were we briefly saw a Barbary Falcon perched and then fly off fast, unfortunately not long enough to really enjoy it, but a fabulous bird all the same. A couple of Woodchat Shrikes and Hoopoes were sighted on our way back for lunch. Lunch was lovely as always. The afternoon walk for some of us took us back into the reserve where we had a lovely flock of Avocets and a large flock of 80+ Spoonbills moving north along the coast. We had some cracking views of Sub-alpine Warblers only a few feet away in the tamarix. Along the shore as the afternoon got on the Audouin s Gulls built to over a hundred in with the Lesser black-backed. Some Green-striped White butterflies where feeding in the spring flowers. Arrived back late for drinks and supper. Day 5 Sunday 11th March Early morning walk to lagoon where we saw 7 Marbled Teal fly along the water and off up towards the hide. Next we saw a few Purple Herons and then caught up with the Marbled Teal at very close range, all looking immaculate in the gorgeous morning light. We located the Moustached Warblers in the reeds, eventually showing really well below us, feeding and calling and sounding quite different from Sedge Warblers heard earlier. Back for a late breakfast and relaxed packing before we set off for the days exploring. Paying the beer tab took a while as they had to rub the imprint of the cards on by hand, entertaining but somewhat slow. Once loaded up off we set off for our last look at the Coursers and for our little walk to our lunch spot at the reserve entrance. Off for a walk through Sidi R bat looking along the river at the unusual boats that the locals use to access their land for farming. Overhead were a few Alpine Swifts and on the roof top of one house was a Blue Rock Thrush showing very well to the entire group. Feeding at the edge of a water trough was a House Bunting with the odd House Sparrow. Lunch was in the park under the trees. Then off to Agadir for our last stop before the airport, this was to northern part of the National Park close to Agadir. Once out of the bus we were straight into the birding as there were several new things to look at. First were a few Shelduck and then we found the Greater Yellowlegs I d Naturetrek April 07 3

6 heard about at this site, a good find in such a large site. It showed well - not far from Redshank and a Greenshank for the best comparison you could get. In the maquis were two Maroc Magpies showing us their very different look with the blue behind the eye a very distinctive feature. This was a great way to end the trip with a few Flamingos thrown in for luck. Got to the airport early and then off home. Day 6 Monday 12th March Arrived safely and everyone went home after a successful and enjoyable trip. 4 Naturetrek April 07

7 Species lists Birds March 2007 Common Name Little Grebe Gannet Cormorant 15 Maroc Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron 3 Cattle Egret 100+ Squacco Heron Little Egret 20 Grey Heron Purple Heron 4 Eurasian Spoonbill Glossy Ibis Bald Ibis 100+ White Stork 200+ Greater Flamingo 40+ 2juvs 200+ Shelduck 11 Mallard 6 6 Wigeon Teal Garganey Pintail Shoveler 6 Marbled Teal 7 Pochard Common Scoter 20 Black Kite 1 Black-shouldered Kite 3 Montagues Harrier 1 Marsh Harrier ü Osprey Common Kestrel 6 Barbary Falcon 1 Common Moorhen Coot Water Rail 1 Common Quail 1 1 Common Crane 6 Barbary Partridge 2 2 Cream-coloured Courser Oystercatcher Avocet 9 30 Black-winged Stilt Stone Curlew Ringed Plover 2 10 Little-ringed Plover Kentish Plover Naturetrek April 07 5

8 March 2007 Common Name Grey Plover 8 Dunlin 1 Sanderling Little Stint 1 Temmincks Stint Ruff Common Snipe Bar-tailed Godwit Curlew 4 Whimbrel Spotted Redshank 2 Redshank 6 Marsh Sandpiper 1 1 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Greenshank Wood Sandpiper 3 Green Sandpiper 2 Common Sandpiper 3 2 Great Skua 1 Arctic Skua 3 Audouins Gull Black-headed Gull 2 6 Yellow-legged Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Sandwich Tern Rock Dove 4 Collared Dove Laughing Dove 4 ü Woodpigeon 2 1 Little Owl Red-necked Nightjar 1 Alpine Swift 1 5 Common Swift 1 Pallid Swift 5 Bee-eater Heard Hoopoe 2 3 Crested Lark 1 Tekla Lark Short-toed Lark Several Lesser Short-toed Lark Plain Martin 10 House Martin 2 Barn Swallow Tree Pipit White Wagtail 2 Maroc Wagtail 2 Spanish Wagtail iberiae Common Bulbul 5 Robin 1 1 Stonechat Naturetrek April 07

9 March 2007 Common Name Redstart 1 Moussiers Redstart Wheatear 3 Blue Rock Thrush 5 Blackbird Cettis Wrbler 1 1 Sedge Wrbler ü Moustached Warbler 3 Reed Warbler 2 Fan-tailed Warbler Blackcap Western Orphean Warbler 1 1 Sardinian Warbler Willow Warbler 1 1 Iberian Chiffchaff Spectacled Warbler 2 Sub-alpine Warbler Black-crowned Tchagra Southern Grey Shrike elegans 1 1 Southern Grey Shrike algenensis Woodchat Shrike 4 Maroc Magpie Spotless Starling 1 2 Spanish Sparrow House Sparrow "North African" Chaffinch Serin Linnet Goldfinch Greenfinch Corn Bunting 4 House Bunting 1 3 Naturetrek April 07 7

10 Other species seen Spur-thighed Tortoise Moorish Geko Large White Small White Greenish Black-tip Green-striped White Clouded Yellow Lang's Short-tailed Blue Desert Babul Blue Small Copper Painted Lady Speckled Wood Ishnura saharensis Coenagrion caerulescens Anax parthenope Anax imperator 8 Naturetrek April 07