NORTHERN MOROCCO

Our fact finding tour to Northern Morocco from 25th - 29th February 2008 was, as ever, a triumph with all of the speciality target species seen. Three African Marsh Owls, three Double-spurred Francolins, a Moustached Warbler, a pair of Black-crowned Tchagra, hundreds of Red-knobbed Coot and Marbled Ducks and at least ten Little Swift gave amazing views as we watched them at the breeding colony. The supporting cast was also hugely impressive with good numbers of Marsh Harriers, Black-shouldered Kites, Audouin's Gulls, Slender-billed Gulls, Ruff, White Storks, Spotless Starling, Common Bulbul, Red Crested Pochard, Purple Gallinule, Long-legged Buzzard, Corn Bunting, Lesser Kestrel, Black Kite, Glossy Ibis, Hoopoe, Southern Grey Shrike and Stone Curlew seen. The wetlands held vast numbers of assorted egrets and herons, wildfowl including flocks of migrating Garganey, Barn Swallows, Yellow Wagtail and shorebirds including thousands of Black-tailed Godwits, while other noteworthy species included Whiskered Tern, Water Pipit, Greater Flamingo, Calandra and Thekla Larks, Short-toed Eagle, Barbary Partridge, Common Cuckoo and we also saw Wild Boar. The total species count was 117 seen or heard. Our inaugural tour will take place in late February or early March 2009 with details to be posted here as soon as arrangements are finalised. If you are interested in advance registration please contact us soon as numbers will be restricted to a maximum of ten and we envisage this being a popular mini break.