3 nights in the North of Agadir provided some opportunities for birdwatching in this very friendly country. Here are some of the highlights from the almost 3 full days we had in the area.
Friday 24th Jan. Around the Oasis hotel were many Common Bulbul and a calling Tawny(Mahgreb) Owl.
A walk along the beach to the marina gave Morocco Pied Wagtail and Mahgreb Magpie, 2 stunning subspecies. 100's of the former roosted in the seafront palm trees
A trip up the cable car to the castle was excellent. We saw 5+ Moussier's Redstart, 3 House Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Isabelline Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spectacled Warbler and many Maghreb Ground Squirrel.
Saturday 25th January. We booked a tour with Agadir Journey to go birdwatching around Souss-Massa National Park, mainly aimed at viewing the Bald Ibis, of which we saw 100+, some very close. Other birds seen included Black Crowned Tchagra, Red Necked Nightjar, Stone Curlew and North African Buzzard
Sunday 26th January. A wander around the village adjacent to the airport gave us Barbary Partridge and possible Tristram's Warbler. Wild Boar and young were at the Souss River.
Other birds of note during the stay were many Chiffchaff, Spotless Starling, Sandwich Tern, Blackcap, Barn Swallow, Black Redstart, Crested Lark, Cormorant, Gargany, White Stork with some displaying, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Black Winged Stilt, Little Owl, Kentish Plover, Audouin's Gull, Laughing Dove, Hoopoe, Zitting Cisticola, singing Willow Warbler, Great Grey Shrike, African Chaffinch, African Blue Tit and Serin.
In total we saw 80 species in the 3 days. I've attached some of Vicky's photos of the key species. If anyone is heading off to the area and wants a more detailed list or ideas please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Trip to morocco, Mon 8th Aug- Mon 22nd Aug. We(my wife and I) stayed in Agadir at the all inclusive Riu Tikada Dunas right on the beach at the South end of the resort. I had planned on hiring a car for 2 days birding during the stay but the journey from the airport to the hotel covinced me that this was potentially suicidal. The only rule they seem to have is there are no rules. The hotl runs a free bus to a golf course to the South called Golf de Soliol, this produced good birds and from here it is possible to walk(30 mins) to the Soussa River estuary which is also a good site. I spent 2 hours each(early) morning looking aroun the hotel area whic also turned up some good birds.Below is what I saw only mentioning new birds each day unless something interesting. 9 Aug around hotel; Spotless Starling(life tick), Common Bulbul(life tick), Barn Swallow, House Sparrow, Turtle Dove, Feral Pigeon, Purple Heron(in flight), Sanderling, Yellow-legged Gull, Magpie(mauritanica), White Wagtail(subpersonata), Cormorant, Kestrel and Swift( 100's of these daily all flying South. 10 Aug around hotel; Bee-eater(small flock), Woodchat Shrike, Hoopoe. 11 Aug around hotel; Stone Curlew(life tick), Crested Lark. 12 Aug Agadir beach; Gull-billed Tern(life tick), flock of 100+ Bee-eater very high above the King's Palace(guards here stop you going past a certain point) 13 Aug around hotel; watching 2 Stone Curlew when looked up to see flock of large birds heading South, black with down curved beaks and no obvious trailing legs, my mind went blank and then I saw bald heads through the scope, 17 Bald Ibis(life tick) and totally unexpected. Sardinian Warbler and Blackbird also added. 14 Aug, got the 8.15 a.m. shuttle to the gof course; 26 White Stork, Little Grebe, Coote, Squacco Heron(life tick), Barbary Partridge(life tick), Barbary Falcon(life tick), Common Sandpiper, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Tit(ultramarinus), Spotted Flycatcher, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, brief view of House Bunting(life tick) also huge numbers of Turtle Doves and lots of Stone Curlew, plus a Tortoise. 16 Aug around hotel; Zitting Cisticola. 17 Aug Soussa River; Shag, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo(100s), Spoonbill, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Serin(40+ flock), Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Oystercatcher. Also more Common Sandpiper, Stone Curlews, Zitt Cist and Sardinian Warbler. 18 Aug around hotel; Southern Grey Shrike(algeriensis-life tick), also excellent views of 4 House Bunting. The Shrike was then seen daily in this place. 20 Aug On coach going to Marakesh; Well viewed Booted Eagle and a pair of different Eagles I couldn't identify, in Marakesh(this place is insane by the way but a definite must visit location) nesting White Storks and House Buntings. Best birds for me were the Stone Curlews I saw almost daily as they have been one of the birds I've wanted to see since a child looking through my first bird book. Cheers Ian
. The hotl runs a free bus to a golf course to the South called Golf de Soliol, this produced good birds and from here it is possible to walk(30 mins) to the Soussa River estuary which is also a good site.
), Crested Lark.
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and then I saw bald heads through the scope, 17 Bald Ibis(life tick) and totally unexpected
. Sardinian Warbler and Blackbird also added.