Morocco

Desert Sparrow © Santi Villa/Spainbirds Nature Tours

Birding the Atlas Mountains, coastal wetlands, and inland all the way to the dunes of the Sahara. Spectacular scenery, ancient cities, excellent food, kasbahs, souks, and friendly Moroccan hosts at palm-lined oases.

This expedition to the Kingdom of Morocco promises the finest birding and natural history experience available in North Africa. March is the best time for birding in Morocco, as Palearctic species that wintered in sub-Saharan Africa have started migrating north to their breeding grounds in Europe. Morocco is ideally located on this route and is very important as a stopover point for many species. Also, the many endemic resident species are in prime plumage and ready for breeding. This tour is designed to cover all the important habitat zones of the country. Combine the wildlife with the friendly laid-back atmosphere of the locals and you have the ingredients for an excellent travel destination. Traveling in Morocco is very safe and a real pleasure!

Our first night of the tour is spent in the fortified ancient imperial city of Marrakech, famous for its colorful and bustling medina (bazaar), which is typically walled with many narrow maze-like streets.

From Marrakech, we’ll travel to the small city of Agadir on the Atlantic coast to begin our explorations. Nearby, the Souss Massa National Park still hosts the critically endangered Northern Bald Ibis, or Waldrapp. The protection of nesting colonies and foraging sites has proven effective, as the national park encompasses three of the four remaining nesting sites. The wetlands of Oued Souss will be scoured for Marbled Teal; Audouin’s, Slender-billed, and Mediterranean gulls; and Squacco and Purple herons, as well as dozens of other marsh dwellers.

After exploring the coastal region, we’ll head for the Tagdilt Track for some desert birding. Here we will search for Greater Hoopoe-Lark and Thick-billed Lark, while Cream-colored Courser, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied sandgrouse, and Red-rumped Wheatear are other major highlights. Gorges Du Dades is the realm of the powerful Bonelli’s Eagle and taxonomically interesting “Atlas” Long-legged Buzzards. We will look for them on our way to the edge of the Sahara. A full day exploring the Erg Chebbi Dunes by 4x4 will be the highlight of the trip for those wanting to see the famous dunes of the Sahara. In this desolate landscape are myriad birds including Barbary and Lanner falcons, two more species of sandgrouse (Crowned and Spotted), the cute African Desert Warbler, the gorgeous Desert Sparrow, the outlandish Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, the common Brown-necked Raven, and perhaps Egyptian Nightjar.

Outside of Marrakech we will venture into the High Atlas Mountains at Oukaimeden, a ski resort that hosts a wonderful array of birds. Here we will search for Crimson-winged Finch, Atlas Wheatear—recently split from Northern Wheatear, Levaillant’s Woodpecker, and the appealing Moussier’s Redstart.

European birders have been enjoying this safe and stable country and its fantastic birds and history since the early nineteen-eighties. The best birding sites are well-established, and there is an excellent network of local guides. We are sure that you will be delighted with this extraordinary North African experience.

Good accommodations and food; travel by small bus or van (4x4s in the desert 2 days); walking along roads and trails; some rough terrain in the mountains and stony desert; warm to hot in lowlands, cool to cold (in Atlas Mountains one day), no precipitation expected.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater © Santi Villa/Spainbirds Nature Tours