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Participant Romney Bathurst captured this lovely scene at the westernmost edge of the Sahara Desert.
The first Field Guide's Spring Morocco tour was a big success in many ways. The birding was excellent (as expected), but with some differences from our fall tour. Shorebirds were less conspicuous and some migrants were not around, but otherwise the birds were in full breeding mode. Lots of song and activity, and many species that we nearly miss (or miss entirely!) in the fall were around in good numbers, including Common Nightingale, European Turtle-Dove, and several species of Old World warblers. We did very well with the northwest African endemics and other specialties, with fantastic looks at Atlas Flycatcher, Tristram's Warbler, Barbary Partridge, African Desert Warbler, and Scrub Warbler, along with isolated populations of Double-spurred Francolin, Marsh Owl, and Black-crowned Tchagra. However, the group's highlights included everything from White-faced Storm-Petrel and Crimson-winged Finch to Houbara Bustard. Top honors went to the Northern Bald Ibis, with everyone agreeing that our cliffside experience was something we will not soon forget.
I want to thank the group for a super trip. Also, many thanks to Oussama, our excellent driver and local guide. Best birding in 2016, and I look forward to seeing you again on the birding trail.
-- Jesse (aka 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)
GARGANEY (Anas querquedula)
MARBLED TEAL (Marmaronetta angustirostris)

A Double-spurred Francolin, photographed by guide Jesse Fagan; check out those spurs!
COMMON POCHARD (Aythya ferina) FERRUGINOUS DUCK (Aythya nyroca)
WHITE-HEADED DUCK (Oxyura leucocephala)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
COMMON QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix) [*]
BARBARY PARTRIDGE (Alectoris barbara)
DOUBLE-SPURRED FRANCOLIN (Pternistis bicalcaratus ayesha)
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 (BOREALIS) (Calonectris diomedea borealis)
MANX SHEARWATER (Puffinus puffinus)
BALEARIC SHEARWATER (Puffinus mauretanicus)
Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels)
WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL (Pelagodroma marina)
Ciconiidae (Storks)

Balearic Shearwater is a rare species that breeds on just a few islands in the Mediterranean. Non-breeders and immature birds wander far and wide, but their exact movements are unclear. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
WHITE STORK (Ciconia ciconia) Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
NORTHERN GANNET (Morus bassanus)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
GREAT CORMORANT (NORTH ATLANTIC) (Phalacrocorax carbo carbo)
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)
SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)
NORTHERN BALD IBIS (Geronticus eremita)
EURASIAN SPOONBILL (Platalea leucorodia)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
EGYPTIAN VULTURE (Neophron percnopterus)
EUROPEAN HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis apivorus)

Guide Jesse Fagan got this atmospheric shot of a handful of Critically Endangered Northern Bald Ibises on one of their cliffside roosts.
EURASIAN GRIFFON (Gyps fulvus) SHORT-TOED SNAKE-EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)
BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus)
EURASIAN MARSH-HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus)
EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus)
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans)
LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD (Buteo rufinus)
Otididae (Bustards)
HOUBARA BUSTARD (NORTH AFRICAN) (Chlamydotis undulata undulata)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WATER RAIL (Rallus aquaticus)
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)
RED-KNOBBED COOT (Fulica cristata)
EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)
EURASIAN THICK-KNEE (Burhinus oedicnemus)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)
PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus ostralegus)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

A Cream-colored Courser blends into its surroundings near Midelt. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
KENTISH PLOVER (KENTISH) (Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus) COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)
WHIMBREL (EUROPEAN) (Numenius phaeopus phaeopus)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa limosa)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)
Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers)
CREAM-COLORED COURSER (Cursorius cursor)
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 (GRAELLSII) (Larus fuscus graellsii)
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo)

European Scops-Owl was seen well this year. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
SANDWICH TERN (Thalasseus sandvicensis) LESSER CRESTED TERN (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse)
BLACK-BELLIED SANDGROUSE (Pterocles orientalis)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)
COMMON WOOD-PIGEON (Columba palumbus)
EUROPEAN TURTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia turtur)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
LAUGHING DOVE (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
COMMON CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus)
Strigidae (Owls)
EUROPEAN SCOPS-OWL (Otus scops)
PHARAOH EAGLE-OWL (Bubo ascalaphus)
LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua)
TAWNY OWL (Strix aluco)
MARSH OWL (Asio capensis)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus ruficollis) [*]
EURASIAN NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus europaeus)

Tawny Owl was a nice surprise at Oued Souss. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus aegyptius) Apodidae (Swifts)
COMMON SWIFT (Apus apus)
PALLID SWIFT (Apus pallidus)
LITTLE SWIFT (Apus affinis)
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER (Merops persicus)
EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (Merops apiaster)
Coraciidae (Rollers)
EUROPEAN ROLLER (Coracias garrulus)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (ATLAS) (Dendrocopos major numidus)
LEVAILLANT'S WOODPECKER (Picus vaillantii)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni)
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
ELEONORA'S FALCON (Falco eleonorae)

The stony hillsides around Oukaimeden in the Atlas Mountains are home to some special birds -- like Wood Lark, Red-billed Chough, and Lesser Kestrel. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
LANNER FALCON (Falco biarmicus) PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Malaconotidae (Bushshrikes and Allies)
BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA (HOODED) (Tchagra senegalus cucullatus)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
SOUTHERN GRAY SHRIKE (SOUTHERN) (Lanius meridionalis elegans)
WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Lanius senator)
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE (Oriolus oriolus)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
EURASIAN JAY (Garrulus glandarius)
EURASIAN MAGPIE (AFRICAN) (Pica pica mauritanica)
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)
DUPONT'S LARK (Chersophilus duponti)

Dupont's Lark is a difficult and local species, but we had close, intimate views of it. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
BAR-TAILED LARK (Ammomanes cinctura) DESERT LARK (Ammomanes deserti)
THICK-BILLED LARK (Ramphocoris clotbey)
CALANDRA LARK (Melanocorypha calandra)
GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK (Calandrella brachydactyla)
LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK (Calandrella rufescens)
CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)
CRESTED LARK (MAGHREB) (Galerida cristata randoni)
THEKLA LARK (Galerida theklae)
WOOD LARK (Lullula arborea)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
TEMMINCK'S LARK (Eremophila bilopha)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
EURASIAN CRAG-MARTIN (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
BARN SWALLOW (WHITE-BELLIED) (Hirundo rustica rustica)
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica)
COMMON HOUSE-MARTIN (Delichon urbicum)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
COAL TIT (Periparus ater)
AFRICAN BLUE TIT (Cyanistes teneriffae)
GREAT TIT (Parus major)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)

The fortified city of Ait-Benhaddou is the largest kasbah in Morocco. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
EURASIAN NUTHATCH (Sitta europaea) Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER (Certhia brachydactyla)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
EURASIAN WREN (Troglodytes troglodytes) [*]
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
COMMON BULBUL (Pycnonotus barbatus)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
FIRECREST (Regulus ignicapilla)
Cettiidae (Bush-Warblers and Allies)
SCRUB WARBLER (Scotocerca inquieta)
CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)
Phylloscopidae (Leaf Warblers)
WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus bonelli)
Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER (Iduna pallida)
WESTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER (Iduna opaca)
MELODIOUS WARBLER (Hippolais polyglotta)
EURASIAN REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis)
Sylviidae (Sylviid Warblers)

Tristram's Warbler is a northwest African endemic. We saw this male at the pass above Midelt. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
EURASIAN BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) AFRICAN DESERT WARBLER (Sylvia deserti)
WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER (Sylvia hortensis)
TRISTRAM'S WARBLER (Sylvia deserticola)
SUBALPINE WARBLER (Sylvia cantillans)
SARDINIAN WARBLER (Sylvia melanocephala)
SPECTACLED WARBLER (Sylvia conspicillata)
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
FULVOUS CHATTERER (Turdoides fulva)
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)
RUFOUS-TAILED SCRUB-ROBIN (Cercotrichas galactotes)
COMMON NIGHTINGALE (Luscinia megarhynchos)
ATLAS FLYCATCHER (Ficedula speculigera)
MOUSSIER'S REDSTART (Phoenicurus moussieri)
COMMON REDSTART (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros)
RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola saxatilis)
BLUE ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola solitarius)

Atlas Flycatcher is a local northwestern African breeding endemic. It winters in sub-Saharan Africa and returns each spring to breed in the Atlas Mountains. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.
EUROPEAN STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola rubicola) WHITE-TAILED WHEATEAR (Oenanthe leucopyga)
BLACK WHEATEAR (Oenanthe leucura)
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)
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 (MOROCCAN) (Motacilla alba subpersonata)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)
ROCK BUNTING (Emberiza cia)
HOUSE BUNTING (Emberiza sahari)
CORN BUNTING (Emberiza calandra)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
COMMON CHAFFINCH (AFRICAN) (Fringilla coelebs africana)

A parting photo of your guide and our loyal driver, Oussama. Thanks for a great trip!
CRIMSON-WINGED FINCH (Rhodopechys sanguineus) TRUMPETER FINCH (Bucanetes githagineus zedlitzi)
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)
BARBARY GROUND SQUIRREL (Atlantoxerus getulus)
FAT SAND RAT (Psammomys obesus)
SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN (Delphinus delphis)
RED FOX (Vulpes vulpes)
SAND FOX (Vulpes rueppelli)
EGYPTIAN MONGOOSE (Herpestes ichneumon)
WILD BOAR (Sus scrofa)
There was a desert tortoise seen in the desert outside of Midelt. I believe this was Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca) with several named subspecies.
Totals for the tour: 192 bird taxa and 8 mammal taxa