We convened for a morning walk at 7am, despite it still being dark at the allotted meeting time! However by the time we had walked down the road to join the path to the river light had dawned. At the river we had superb views of a vibrant Grey Wagtail, bobbing its tail in its characteristic fashion. Crossing over the bridge we strolled through ‘The Flower Garden’, a popular public space with seating areas and children’s swimming pools, then skirted round to a small orchard where we found an African Blue Tit showing well. As we retraced our steps a probable Subalpine Warbler was heard, but couldn’t be located.
After breakfast we headed for the Ouikaman ski resort, pausing en route when Bernie somehow managed to hear a Levaillant’s Woodpecker calling as we drove along a road overlooking a lush river valley. This was soon spotted moving up the trunk in a nearby tree, before flying to the top of a telegraph pole where it remained for several minutes, enabling everyone to get decent views of its distinctive moustachial colourings. A pair of House Bunting were nest building on a nearby roof and the stunning African Chaffinch was also visible in a bare bush, giving excellent views, making this a very worthwhile stop.
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| Levaillant’s Woodpecker (photo by Bernie) |
We continued our drive up through the mountains, passing steep terraces of crops beneath towering sandstone cliffs. Small huts alongside the road were just preparing to open for business, setting out their wares - predominantly tagines, coffee and walnuts etc. Close to the mountain top we arrived at a small lake with a couple of swimming Coot. By the dam we immediately found Crimson-winged Finch perched on the fence. These quickly disappeared but were active around the area. Below the dam a stunning male Black Redstart flitted between the grass and old stonework, and a White-throated Dipper was spotted on the stream. A small group of Rock Sparrows dropped in just a few feet away from us, but unfortunately were immediately disturbed by the arrival of a noisy motorbike parking alongside! On the grass beyond the lake a large mixed flock of both Red and Yellow-billed or Alpine Choughs was feeding. Tim picked out a Thekla Lark foraging on the grass near the stream adding to an impressive burst of birds.
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| Thekla Lark |
We drove a short distance up the track and were astonished to see hordes of people enjoying a day out at the mountain top sparsely covered with dirty snow and a lot of scree. The track was incredibly busy, with mules, people carrying elaborate picnics, and street traders, who pursued and harassed us persistently to purchase their jewellery or polished rocks!
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| Ouikamen |
Despite all this activity, there were big flocks of Crimson-winged Finches and Rock Sparrows, giving fantastic close views. Choughs circled and a pair of Ravens flew overhead. To escape the crowds, we moved away from the main track crossing some meandering streams and headed up the slope towards the old village. Here we found several stunning male Black Redstarts, then Heather spotted a Horned Lark in the grass, and soon we discovered several more and we all had some excellent scope views.
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| Crimson-winged Finch |
Returning to the vehicles we drove back to the main road for lunch of omelette and chips. Let’s not talk about the toilet facilities… definitely not Jenny standard! In the afternoon we drove along a different track, with fabulous views of the mountain peaks towering over a brooding, shaded valley. Almost immediately Bernie was on to a splendid Moussier’s Redstart, with superb black red and white plumage.
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| Moussier’s Redstart |
Next we found more Horned Larks, coming very close and giving fantastic views. As we wandered up the path, we encountered a Black Wheatear on the rocks, which flashed its distinctive white tail, with a black T-bar, as it flew and called to a nearby female. As we progressed along the track we saw more and more Moussier’s Redstarts, never tiring of this attractive bird. Some of the group saw a distant Blue Rock Thrush and we enjoyed the antics of a pair of cute ground squirrels. A Peregrine soared past as we neared the top of the track, and as we retraced our steps a Kestrel hovered over the slope before disappearing from view.
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| Black Wheatear |
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| Horned Lark |
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| Ground Squirrels |
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