MOROCCO FEBRUARY 2005 TOUR NEWS Leader: Peter Lansdown

A busman's holiday; a chance to do some photography without the responsibilities of leadership. That was the plan. So, I joined nine other birders on the Birdfinders tour of Morocco led by Peter Lansdown, a friend and colleague. Three of the participants had been on other tours with me and it was nice to see familiar faces. A bad smash, closing the M4, meant that I arrived at the departure gate with three minutes to spare!

Heading back east again, Bonelli's Eagle and Black-bellied Sandgrouse were seen en-route to our next overnight stop, en-route to the High Atlas. Next day we explored the famous Tagdilt track where we were not disappointed with Moussier's Redstarts, Horned Larks and the very much prized Thick-billed Larks. Our first day north of Agadir, on the coast, gave us wonderful views of one of the most-wanted birds of the tour, a flock of 87 Northern Bald Ibis. Additional species seen included Audouin's Gull and Spectacled Warbler before we headed south to the Oued Sous for Red-necked Nightjar. Our second full day at the coast was spent at the Oued Massa watching thousands of birds including our first Black-crowned Tchagra. Our next stop was up at the ski resort of Oukaimeden but not before we had enjoyed the sights and smells of Marrakech. Arrival at the ski resort coincided with flurries of snow but we still managed to see Rock Sparrows, Rock Buntings, two superb Crimson-winged Finches and large numbers of Yellow-billed Choughs. The following morning was cloudless and we enjoyed Alpine Accentors as well as some of the previously-seen species before dropping down out of the mountains and back to Casablanca at the end of the tour.