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A North African endemic, the Moussier's Redstart was definitely one of the visual highlights of the tour. Guide Jesse Fagan captured this image while scouting in 2012.
This was our first run in Morocco in several years. It's surprising to me since Morocco offers the best of both worlds: excellent birding in amazing habitats with the added benefit of having an extremely interesting culture. This newly revised Field Guides tour gave us a good feel for the country. Indeed, we observed 186 bird taxa along an itinerary that included among other things a pelagic trip out of Agadir, a 4X4 trek through the western Sahara, and walks through an ancient cedar forest and above treeline in the High Atlas (to me, the high desert between the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas is one of the most beautiful places on Earth). In addition, we visited the second-largest mosque in the world (Hassan II) in Casablanca, had lunch in the medina at Fez, ate way too much tagine, and visited the (in)famous Yamaa el Fna Plaza in Marrakesh.
But back to the birds. We saw 11 species of Alaudidae (larks) and 8 taxa of wheatears; the alaudids included Dupont's Lark, one of the most difficult lark species to observe. It was also an excellent trip for migrating shorebirds, 23 species in total. If you don't know your Old World shorebirds, then this is a great trip on which to learn more. Other highlights included Levaillant's Woodpecker (endemic to North Africa), Crowned Sandgrouse (at least 12 birds at a wadi near Boumalne Dades), Bonelli's Eagle at an eyrie, the lovely Moussier's Redstart (also a North African endemic), Double-spurred Francolin (what a great experience that was!), and a cooperative Lanner Falcon near the Tagdilt Track.
Last but certainly not least I would like to thank Ossauma, our fantastic driver, who never let us down and always knew the way! It was a pleasure working with him again.
I hope to see all of you again soon. What a fun group! Thanks again for such an enjoyable trip.
Jesse a.k.a. Motmot (from Lima, Peru)
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
RUDDY SHELDUCK (Tadorna ferruginea)
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Anas crecca crecca)
MARBLED TEAL (Marmaronetta angustirostris)
COMMON POCHARD (Aythya ferina)
FERRUGINOUS DUCK (Aythya nyroca)
WHITE-HEADED DUCK (Oxyura leucocephala)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)

We chartered a boat out of Agadir for a pelagic day trip. The birds, boat, food, and weather added up to a fantastic outing. Yep, we were roughin' it! (Photo by guide Jesse Fagan)
BARBARY PARTRIDGE (Alectoris barbara) DOUBLE-SPURRED FRANCOLIN (Francolinus bicalcaratus)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis)
Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)
GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)
CORY'S SHEARWATER (Calonectris diomedea)
CORY'S SHEARWATER (SCOPOLI'S) (Calonectris diomedea diomedea)
GREAT SHEARWATER (Puffinus gravis)
SOOTY SHEARWATER (Puffinus griseus)
MANX SHEARWATER (Puffinus puffinus)
BALEARIC SHEARWATER (Puffinus mauretanicus)
Ciconiidae (Storks)
WHITE STORK (Ciconia ciconia)
Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
NORTHERN GANNET (Morus bassanus)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
GREAT CORMORANT (MOROCCAN) (Phalacrocorax carbo maroccanus)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GRAY HERON (Ardea cinerea)
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

The majestic White Stork was a common species for much of the trip. (Photo by guide Jesse Fagan)
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) EURASIAN SPOONBILL (Platalea leucorodia)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus)
SHORT-TOED EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)
BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus)
TAWNY EAGLE (Aquila rapax)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos)
BONELLI'S EAGLE (Aquila fasciata)
EURASIAN MARSH-HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus)
MONTAGU'S HARRIER (Circus pygargus)
EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus)
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans)
LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD (Buteo rufinus)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WATER RAIL (Rallus aquaticus)
PURPLE SWAMPHEN (Porphyrio porphyrio)
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)
RED-KNOBBED COOT (Fulica cristata)
EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)

Guide Jesse Fagan caught this Long-legged Buzzard in flight during some scouting -- and we had similarly excellent studies in the high desert.
EURASIAN THICK-KNEE (Burhinus oedicnemus) Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
KENTISH PLOVER (KENTISH) (Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus)
COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus ostralegus)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)
PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus)
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia)
COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)
WHIMBREL (EUROPEAN) (Numenius phaeopus phaeopus)
EURASIAN CURLEW (Numenius arquata)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica)

A pair of Peregrine Falcons seemed to be in residence on the Hassan II tower in Casablanca. It is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. (Photo by guide Jesse Fagan)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) RED KNOT (Calidris canutus)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
CURLEW SANDPIPER (Calidris ferruginea)
COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago)
Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers)
COLLARED PRATINCOLE (Glareola pratincola)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
SLENDER-BILLED GULL (Chroicocephalus genei)
BLACK-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
AUDOUIN'S GULL (Ichthyaetus audouinii)
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis)
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus)
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)
SANDWICH TERN (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers)
PARASITIC JAEGER (Stercorarius parasiticus)
Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse)
CROWNED SANDGROUSE (Pterocles coronatus)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)
COMMON WOOD-PIGEON (Columba palumbus)
EUROPEAN TURTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia turtur)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)

Thekla Lark (Photo by guide Jesse Fagan)
LAUGHING DOVE (Streptopelia senegalensis) Strigidae (Owls)
LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua)
Apodidae (Swifts)
COMMON SWIFT (Apus apus)
PALLID SWIFT (Apus pallidus)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER (Merops persicus)
EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (Merops apiaster)
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
EURASIAN WRYNECK (Jynx torquilla)
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos major)
LEVAILLANT'S WOODPECKER (Picus vaillantii)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
EURASIAN HOBBY (Falco subbuteo)
LANNER FALCON (Falco biarmicus)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Malaconotidae (Bushshrikes and Allies)
BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA (Tchagra senegalus)
Laniidae (Shrikes)

Here is a panoramic shot overlooking the medina in Fez, also by Jesse.
SOUTHERN GRAY SHRIKE (SOUTHERN) (Lanius meridionalis algeriensis) SOUTHERN GRAY SHRIKE (SOUTHERN) (Lanius meridionalis elegans)
WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Lanius senator)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
EURASIAN JAY (Garrulus glandarius)
EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica mauretanica)
RED-BILLED CHOUGH (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
EURASIAN JACKDAW (Corvus monedula)
BROWN-NECKED RAVEN (Corvus ruficollis)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Alaudidae (Larks)
GREATER HOOPOE-LARK (Alaemon alaudipes)

Greater Hoopoe-Lark was a favorite for many on the tour. (Photo by guide Jesse Fagan)
DUPONT'S LARK (Chersophilus duponti) BAR-TAILED LARK (Ammomanes cinctura)
DESERT LARK (Ammomanes deserti)
THICK-BILLED LARK (Ramphocoris clotbey)
GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK (Calandrella brachydactyla)
LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK (Calandrella rufescens)
CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)
THEKLA LARK (Galerida theklae)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
TEMMINCK'S LARK (Eremophila bilopha)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
EURASIAN CRAG-MARTIN (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
BARN SWALLOW (WHITE-BELLIED) (Hirundo rustica rustica)
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica)
COMMON HOUSE-MARTIN (Delichon urbicum)
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)

The lovely Desert Wheatear (Photo by guide Jesse Fagan)
COAL TIT (Periparus ater) GREAT TIT (Parus major)
AFRICAN BLUE TIT (Cyanistes teneriffae)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
EURASIAN NUTHATCH (Sitta europaea)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER (Certhia brachydactyla)
Cinclidae (Dippers)
WHITE-THROATED DIPPER (Cinclus cinclus)
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
COMMON BULBUL (Pycnonotus barbatus)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
FIRECREST (Regulus ignicapilla)
Cettiidae (Bush-Warblers and Allies)
CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
WILLOW WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochilus)
IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus ibericus)
Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
WESTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER (Iduna opaca)
MELODIOUS WARBLER (Hippolais polyglotta)
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)

Harsh desert terrain outside of Erg Chebbi (Photo by guide Jesse Fagan)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis) Sylviidae (Sylviids, Parrotbills and Allies)
WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER (Sylvia hortensis)
SPECTACLED WARBLER (Sylvia conspicillata)
SUBALPINE WARBLER (Sylvia cantillans)
SARDINIAN WARBLER (Sylvia melanocephala)
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)
RUFOUS-TAILED SCRUB-ROBIN (Cercotrichas galactotes)
EUROPEAN PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hypoleuca)
MOUSSIER'S REDSTART (Phoenicurus moussieri)
COMMON REDSTART (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros)
RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola saxatilis)
BLUE ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola solitarius)
WHINCHAT (Saxicola rubetra)
EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola rubicola)
WHITE-TAILED WHEATEAR (Oenanthe leucopyga)
BLACK WHEATEAR (Oenanthe leucura)
NORTHERN WHEATEAR (Oenanthe oenanthe)
NORTHERN WHEATEAR (BLACK-THROATED) (Oenanthe oenanthe seebohmi)
RED-RUMPED WHEATEAR (Oenanthe moesta)
BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR (Oenanthe hispanica)
DESERT WHEATEAR (Oenanthe deserti)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)

The Hassan tower in Rabat, photographed by guide Jesse Fagan
EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) MISTLE THRUSH (Turdus viscivorus)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
SPOTLESS STARLING (Sturnus unicolor)
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (ASHY-HEADED) (Motacilla flava iberiae)
GRAY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)
WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)
WHITE WAGTAIL (MOROCCAN) (Motacilla alba subpersonata)
TAWNY PIPIT (Anthus campestris)
TREE PIPIT (Anthus trivialis)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)
ROCK BUNTING (Emberiza cia)
STRIOLATED BUNTING (Emberiza striolata)
CORN BUNTING (Emberiza calandra)
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
COMMON CHAFFINCH (AFRICAN) (Fringilla coelebs africana)
TRUMPETER FINCH (Bucanetes githagineus)
EUROPEAN GREENFINCH (Chloris chloris)
EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)
EURASIAN LINNET (Carduelis cannabina)
EUROPEAN SERIN (Serinus serinus)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)
DESERT SPARROW (Passer simplex)
ROCK PETRONIA (Petronia petronia)
BARBARY APE (Macaca sylvanus)
OLD WORLD RABBIT (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
BARBARY GROUND SQUIRREL (Atlantoxerus getulus)
FAT SAND RAT (Psammomys obesus)
ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN (Lagenorhynchus acutus)

Green Sandpiper was one of 23 shorebird species we tallied on the tour. (Photo by guide Jesse Fagan)
WILD BOAR (Sus scrofa)
We had a couple of other interesting critters including:
1) Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx acanthinura) -- This was the lovely lizard seen on the Tagdilt Track. We saw two of them, what we believed to be a male and a female. The male was the larger individual with the incredible dorsal color and pattern.
2) Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca soussensis) -- Jim found this exceptional creature on our high-desert walk outside of Zaer (near Medelt). We joked that it was probably 200 years old!
Totals for the tour: 186 bird taxa and 6 mammal taxa