SOUTHERN MOROCCO spring in the desert and the High Atlas Mountains

Occupying the north-west corner of the African Continent, Morocco is an excellent birdwatching destination. This colourful country is famous for its stunning scenery, a mix of mountains and deserts. Spring is the best time to visit as an array of spectacular resident birds are joined by waves of northbound migrants. Once visited, one never forgets the special beauty this country possesses. Our hosts will provide us with a typically warm and welcoming Moroccan experience.

This year we present a fresh itinerary starting and finishing in Marrakech. We drive over the snow capped Atlas mountains to reach the deserts of Moussier’s Redstart stone and sand dissected by the stunning rocky passes and valleys of the old Saharan trade routes. Our journey takes us to the spectacular sand dunes at Erg Chebbi on the edge of the Sahara. Unique inhabitants of the desert here include Houbara Bustard, Egyptian Nightjar, African Desert Warbler and Desert Sparrow. On the high plain between the mountains of the Central High Atlas and the Jbel Sahro, is an area known to birdwatchers as the Tagdilt Track. This atmospheric dry steppeland is home to a host of nomadic and resident birds including Cream-coloured Courser, Thick-billed Lark, Temminck’s Horned Lark and Hoopoe Lark. Desert and Red-rumped Wheatear are common and we regularly see parties of Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Crowned Sandgrouse.

Rather than enduring the long drive to the desert in one go, we shall break both the outward and return journeys at verdant oases. At Ouarzazate we will enjoy spectacular views of mountain landscapes and deep gorges, through which run life-giving rivers. This is home to the Magreb form of Mourning Wheatear and the long-billed race of Crested Lark. Wetlands and nearby oases attract breeding Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters and at times, flocks of migrant warblers. On the return leg we will stop in the High Atlas to look for Atlas Shore Lark and African Crimson-winged Finch.

ITINERARY the route we will find Desert and White-crowned Black Wheatears. We should also find the beautiful Blue-cheeked OUARZAZATE AND THE DRAA VALLEY Bee-eater as they return to breed. On arrival in Marrakech we head south through the dramatic scenery of the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Then the route drops Moving on from Ouarzazate on day three we will check the steeply into the stony deserts west of Ouarzazate. The Mansour Barrage for Ruddy Shelduck and migrant landscape all around is simply stunning. Familiar roadside waterbirds. The long-billed race of Crested Lark, or Magreb birds include Chough, Hoopoe and the North West African Lark, can be found feeding in adjacent fields. Sometimes a forms of Magpie, Blue Tit and Chaffinch. Black-eared family party of Fulvous Babblers may be encountered. What Wheatear is one of several wheatear species that we can little vegetation there is growing at the roadside usually holds expect to see. Trumpeter Finches frequent the boulder fields breeding Southern Grey Shrike and Desert Wheatear as well and wadis, as does the bright local race of Desert Lark. as many passing Western Subalpine Warblers. Over breakfast on day two we can watch Bee-eaters and BOUMALNE DU DADES AND THE TAGDILT Red-rumped Swallows passing over the hotel. Nearby we Our base for the next two nights is the small town of know of a reliable site for Mourning Wheatear, whilst along Boumalne du Dades. Our hotel sits high above the valley offering dramatic views of the oases alongside the Oued high altitude mountain birds. Of these perhaps the most Dades which form a shaft of green through the heart of the sought-after is the African Crimson-winged Finch. It is easier terracotta mountains. to find this species here than anywhere else in the world. Seebohm’s Wheatear, recently split from Northern Wheatear, On our doorstep is one of Morocco’s most famous breeds on the grassy slopes . Levaillant's Green Woodpecker birdwatching sites, the Tagdilt Plain. This is a wonderful place nest around the resort of Oukaimeden. The beautiful Atlas for watching raptors, sandgrouse, coursers, larks and Shore Lark occurs on the edge of the retreating snowfields, wheatears. On one evening visit we counted no less than one while Alpine Accentor is more thinly spread. Other birds of hundred Cream-coloured Coursers on the plain. All this to a these high altitude areas include Black Wheatear, Rock backdrop of displaying Hoopoe Larks and the ‘whistling kettle’ Sparrow, Rock Bunting, Alpine Swift, Black Redstart, Alpine song of Red-rumped Wheatear. A multitude of small rodents, Chough and Red-billed Chough. Even the stunning in turn, attract hunting Long-legged Buzzards and Lanner Moussier’s Redstart can also be found here; perhaps the Falcons. Parties of sandgrouse, mainly Black-bellied but iconic bird of Morocco. sometimes Crowned, fly overhead, located by their liquid calls. Thekla Lark is common, as is the rather attractive CLIMATE AND PACE Temminck’s Horned Lark. In the mornings the sound of The weather will be mostly warm and sunny. However in the displaying Hoopoe Larks carries on the breeze. With some higher elevations it can be pleasantly cool, particularly in the luck we will encounter the impressive Thick-billed Lark, which morning. Rain is possible in the mountains, but unlikely in the can be numerous here in some years. desert. Breakfast will be taken at about 7am most mornings, perhaps slightly later if the previous day has been tiring. MERZOUGA AND ERG CHEBBI Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be spent in As we continue further east the stony deserts are replaced by the field and short/medium length walks on the flat will be sandy plains and dry wadi beds before we finally reach the undertaken regularly. spectacular sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. In the Ziz Valley stands of tamarisks hold migrant birds such as ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD Wrynecks, Bee-eaters and warblers refuelling on their Full-board accommodation is provided with two nights at the northbound migration. South of Erfoud we will stay for three Hotel Khenzi Azghor, Ouarzazate, two nights at the Hotel nights on the edge of the yellow sands to make the most of Xaluca Dades, Boumalne, three nights at Kasbah Erg this beautiful landscape and the amazing sunsets. Chebbi, two nights back at the Hotel Xaluca Dades, Boumalne, and two nights at Auberge Le Maquis in the Valle The endangered Houbara Bustard still clings on in this area D’Ourika. Rooms are of a very good standard and have en aided by a programme of reintroductions. Sometimes we suite facilities. Lunch will usually be taken in a hotel encounter a day roosting Egyptian Nightjar; these birds are restaurant or café. marvellously camouflaged against the desert floor. Out here the Common Raven is replaced by the Brown necked Raven. PRICE INCLUDES ….. The African Desert Warbler breeds amongst the isolated All birdwatching excursions with expert leader and local bushes scattered across the sandy wastes. driver/guide (this will be John’s eighth tour to Morocco), full- board accommodation (starting with lunch on 10th and ending Other specialist species include the very local Desert Sparrow with breakfast on 21st), soft drinks at meal-times, bottled which is virtually endemic to North Africa. Both Western and water throughout, local transport by mini-coach and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers occur together side by side. international flights. The sandy deserts also hold Spotted Sandgrouse and Bar- tailed Desert Larks. We will look for the Pharaoh Eagle Owl WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED here. The owl sometimes shares its rocky nesting site with Travel insurance. Personal items, alcoholic drinks, laundry. both Lanner and Barbary Falcons. The Atlas form of Long- legged Buzzard is also a resident here. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Return flight from both London Gatwick and Manchester to We will then retrace our steps, spending another two nights at Marrakech using the services of Thomsons and Easyjet. Boumalne. This time we will explore the stunning Gorge du Outbound flight departs early morning, return flight arrives Dades. We can expect great views of the majestic Bonelli’s back late afternoon. Eagle here, as well as seeing breeding Crag Martins and migrating European Bee-eaters. Tristram's Warbler, a smart little bird which is endemic to the Atlas Mountains, inhabits 11 nights: 10th to 21st April 2015 juniper scrub at the roadside here. Amongst the palm groves at lower elevation dozens of Nightingales are in full song, Principal leader: John McLoughlin whilst other species include House Bunting, Rufous Bushchat and Black Redstart. It all makes for wonderful birdwatching in Maximum group size: 10 clients with one leader some of the region’s most spectacular scenery. and a local driver/guide Cost with discount MARRAKECH AND THE HIGH ATLAS (if you book before £1830 per person sharing The High Atlas Mountains, within easy reach of our final base 26th December 2014): (£230 single supplement) outside Marrakech, offer a combination of breathtaking scenery and exciting birdwatching. Two days spent in this Full Cost: £1930 per person sharing area will yield a number of localised breeding birds. Deposit: £300 per person We will drive up to Oukaimeden, a ski resort situated above the tree line. This is an excellent location to search for the