Monday 19th May 2025: Morocco

We had an early start this morning heading off at 05.30 for the king’s hunting lodge at Zaida Plains in search of another specialist bird, the Double-spurred Francolin. We heard several birds calling, including one at close range, but unfortunately our guide’s efforts to flush it out were not successful. There was some compensation though with distant views of  Barbary Partridge feeding on an open slope, then a further sighting of two birds on the track in front of us, flying off with a brief flash of grey back and rufous flanks as they departed, a new tick for me. In this open woodland area, we also enjoyed good views of a pirouetting Spotted Flycatcher seen at close range and a burbling Western Olivaceous Warbler which posed obligingly in a prominent position atop the bush. Both African Chaffinch and African Blue Tit were seen well, and a Nightingale endlessly poured out its beautiful song. Turtle Doves purred from the treetops, and several Common Bulbul feasted on slices of water melon lying on the ground. A Black crowned Tchagra sang tunefully and alighted in the top of a bush, slightly obscured by vegetation, but showing the bold head pattern well enough for us all to see. 

African Blue Tit

Despite the absence of our star bird, it had been a pleasant morning walk, and we headed off for a well earned breakfast, accompanied by a Kestrel, Spotless Starlings, and Jackdaws. Next we drove towards the middle Atlas Mountains, a lovely, scenic journey with gentle green hills gradually replacing the  flat agricultural plains. We paused briefly at Aground town to observe a colony of Lesser Kestrel, then continued onwards until we reached a lovely open woodland, carpeted with grasses and wild flowers, including several geraniums found in English gardens. Our target bird here was the Atlas Flycatcher, and we were barely out of the bus before watching several birds flitting about the canopy, and identifying a nest hole where the birds were entering intermittently. We had another Spotted Flycatcher here, plus a Firecrest, a Levaillant’s Woodpecker in flight, which played very hard to get and failed to settle into an open view. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and  Short-toed Treecreeper were rather more co-operative and showed well for everyone.

Levaillant’s Woodpecker

From here we drove onto our next accommodation, where we found time for a pre-dinner walk along the road. This was very enjoyable, and we found a good selection of birds, including a close African Chaffinch carrying food, a singing Corn Bunting, and a Serin and Greenfinch singing in the hedgerow. From the adjacent wheat fields several Quail were heard calling and a Raven drifted across the valley. We heard more Barbary Partridge on the rocky sandstone slope, but couldn’t see them. As we retraced our steps towards the hotel I spotted a stunning male  Moussier’s Redstart on a rock pile, then Dave spotted a less showy female. We were thrilled at this unexpected sighting. And finally, a superb male Cirl Bunting sang jauntily from a thorny bush. It had been a very worthwhile exploration of the local area,

Cirl Bunting

Our last, and probably best birding experience of the day was after dinner, when the most dedicated birders amongst us travelled a short distance in the bus to look for a Maghreb (local tawny) Owl. A male and female bird quickly responded to a tape call, and our guide shone his spotlight into the tree where they were calling. I struggled to see a bird sat there, but it suddenly flew a short distance to land on an open branch, gazing down at us, with another bird perched just above. Then with a noisy flurry of wings, we saw both birds mating, then posing for a short time, before disappearing into the darkness. It was an utterly fabulous and memorable experience, that felt a privilege to witness. A brilliant finale to a varied and satisfying day.