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The amazing geology that is Morocco. We studied this strange formation in the Dades Gorge near Boumalne Dades. Bonelli's Eagles breed here. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

We spent the first part of our Moroccan adventure along the north coast just south of Rabat at our oasis by the ocean, Kasbah Skhirat. This was an ideal location for visiting close-by birding sites like the Zaer Hunting Grounds and further afield to the Loukus River near Larache. It was also an excellent spot for scoping Old Word shorebirds and enjoying the sunset (but, did we ever really have time for that?). There were some definite highlights from this part of the trip: Barbary Partridges at Zaer, Marsh Owl at Moulay Bousselham (such lovely creatures as they glided above the cattails), and White-headed Ducks and Marbled Teals at Bourhaba Lake.

We then headed east towards Fes, but cut a diagonal line south towards the Jabaa Oak Forest and the Swiss-like village of Ifrane. It was here we found Levaillant’s Woodpecker, a very special NW African endemic. The next day was equally successful with nice looks at the pleasant Moussier’s Redstart (gotta love all these French bird names!) and singing Wood Lark. A Eurasian Wryneck seemed a bit out of place in this habitat. On our way to Midelt we passed through old-growth cedar trees (Cedrus atlantica) and had photo opps with the only primate north of the Sahara, Barbary Macaca. We finished up the day on the high desert valley with good views of Dupont Lark and a dramatic lightning and rain storm over the High Atlas.

We also had a bit of dramatic weather as we entered Merzouga and got our first hazy views of the Sahara. The next morning we watched a thunder and lightning show over the Sahara dunes. What is going on with this weather? Our 4X4 excursion through the orange dunes and flat, rocky desert was a first for many. Some of the landscapes here look a lot like Mars. It was hard to believe that anything lives out here, until we found the lovely Desert Sparrow, a trio of Spotted Sandgrouse, and, of course, will anyone ever forget trying to find the Egyptian Nightjar even when it was full-framed in the scope? We did very well overall in the desert and wrapped up all the specialties nicely including Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, a bird we missed last year. Our race back to the hotel to beat a very large sand/thunder cell was equally exciting as some of the birds. Man, the weather still wouldn't give us a break.

We spent two nights on the high desert plain at the pleasant hilltop hotel in Boumalne Dades. A unique experience of birding the local trash dump was appreciated by all. The wadis had water this year, and Eurasian Dotterel and Trumpeter Finches were coming in to drink. We also managed to find a soaring Bonelli’s Eagle in the impressive Dades (dude, man) Gorge while sipping mint tea. We then booked it to the hot and muggy coastal city of Agadir. We made good time and decided to make a run for Northern Bald Ibis in the late evening. It paid off big time, with wonderful looks of soaring and standing birds along the coastal cliffs as the sun set below the Atlantic Ocean. By the way, the ibis were by far the group's favorite bird of the trip followed closely by Egyptian Nightjar and Cream-colored Courser. The next day we sifted through thick fog for pelagic seabirds aboard the Golden Trip. Despite the birding being a bit difficult and slow, we enjoyed the fresh rass for lunch, and being on the water was a nice change of pace from our desert birding. And then the International Space Station zipped by...

We finished the tour in bustling Marrakesh. We sampled the highlands and seasonal ski resort area of Oukaimeden, near 9000'. No skiers right now, just trekkers, and good birds like choughs, Rock Bunting, and Iberian Chiffchaff. In the afternoon, there was a trip to the intense, but very culturally interesting, Jemaa el-Fnaa, which feels a lot like the cantina scene in the first Star Wars.

Thanks to our local guides and, of course, our driver, Oussama, for all their hard work. It was a pleasure showing you Morocco, and I look forward to more adventures in the future. All the best for birding in 2018 and 2019.

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

Our group on the flat, stony desert near Erg Chebbi. At-man, our local guide, helped us see many special desert birds.

Northern Bald Ibis are one of the highlights of the tour. One of the rarest Palearctic birds, most of the world's popluation clings (literally) to coastal cliffs near Agadir. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Mediterranean (or Med) Gull was seen for the first time on our tour. It is rare to uncommon as a wintering bird in NW Africa. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

It is hard to go wrong with a courser. Any courser. This Cream-colored Courser was photographed by guide Jesse Fagan near Boumalne Dades.

Seeing Marsh Owl like this was a pretty awesome experience. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Most of us may have been a little taigined-out by the end of the tour. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

These are the cliffs near Rissani where we saw our Pharaoh Eagle-Owl. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

We did very well seeing so many quality larks. This Thick-billed Lark was keeping cool under the bushes and we nearly stepped on him! Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

We found this male Tristram's Warbler near Midelt and enjoyed very nice looks. This is a very local breeder in the high mountains of NW Africa. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

This male Maghreb (Mourning) Wheatear was found near Boumalne Dades. This is by far the most difficult of the wheatears to find on our trip. We swept all of them, however! Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Totals for the tour: 190 bird taxa and 2 mammal taxa