Wednesday 21st May 2025: Morocco

We set off at 05.40 for the Zaida plain again in search of the elusive DuPont’s Lark. We had been promised that finding the bird would be far easier this morning as the birds would be singing, but we arrived to silence, save for some burbling contact calls of Greater Short-toed Larks. We spread out to scan the land, and I confess for me this was without hope or expectation of success. However, after around 20 minutes, our guide received a recording from the driver of a bird he had heard singing, so we hot-footed it back to the bus, and drove a short distance to where it had been found. Positioning ourselves in front of the rising sun, it did not take long for our guide to relocate the target bird, and we enjoyed a number of appearances, with some musical display flights and excellent scope views as it perched up on the low lying thyme bushes.  A great result making our early start worthwhile. Several Greater short toed larks were also seen scurrying amongst the vegetation and as we returned to the bus a lovely Desert Wheatear posed nearby. As we drove off a pair  of stunning Cream tailed Coursers came into view, very plover like in their movements, with short, rapid runs, followed by long pauses, before scuttling forward again.

Cream-coloured Courser

After breakfast, we took a walk around the hotel grounds, noting a stunning golden Serin on our bedroom roof, and a whistling Spotless Starling by the main gate. A scan of the skies from here produced two distant raptors, which gradually flew closer till we could identify them as Rough-legged Buzzards, the only bird of this family found in this area. A pair of Storks and Cattle Egret drifted over. Joining the rest of the group we wandered past the olive groves and fruit orchard, hearing a Corn bunting singing, and enjoying the antics of a Turkey puffing his tail feathers and strutting about, rather like a Great Bustard. Several Peacocks rested on a roof but sadly no display of tail feathers from these birds! Arriving at a small lake, we noted Coot, Moorhen and Little Grebe. A Western Olivaceous Warbler darted about the tamarisk around the lake edges, posing well as it poured out its cheery song. Several Terrapins heads popped up then disappeared over the water. Four Coots suddenly got into a fight, with feet raised and kicking, lots of noise and tail feathers aggressively raised, before as one bird retreated it all calmed down. A Turtle Dove purred from a tall tree , and as we returned towards the hotel, a Cirl Bunting perched nicely on a bush, a Spotted Flycatcher flew in, and noisy Rock Sparrows chattered at the top of a tree before spiralling away. In the orchard an African Blue Tit and an African Chaffinch both foraged in a small dead tree just feet away from us, showing the plumage differences from our own European birds incredibly well.

After loading our bags, we took a short drive to another area of desert plain at a higher elevation, more vegetated, with rocky outcrops and boulders and many clumps of pampas grass. Although now approaching midday, a gentle breeze made it a comfortable gentle stroll. The birds were not prolific, but we had good views of both Thekla and Greater Short-toed Larks, and Desert Wheatear, whilst a pair of juvenile Trumpeter Finches were new for the trip, as was a Black Wheatear,  flashing a brown that white rump whenever it flew to a new boulder. As we returned towards the bus, our guide pointed out a Red-rumped Wheatear perched on a rock, another new trip tick looking resplendent in its breeding plumage. Several lizards were also seen basking in the sun. 

Desert Wheatear

Red-rumped Wheatear

Lizard

From here, we drove to our hotel for lunch and some downtime for the afternoon.