Final 12 months, my spouse and I visited (in an expert capability) mates who at the moment lived in a high-rise residence constructing in Marrakesh. They confirmed us fairly a little bit of town, and I in fact was looking out for birds. However there isn’t that a lot to see in city Marrakesh, and my complete record for that a part of our journey was 10 species, together with 4 lifers.
This 12 months, once we went again to go to them once more, they’d moved to Tameslouht, a way more conventional and smaller village a couple of half hour exterior Marrakesh. The city has about 1/150th of the inhabitants of that metropolis, so one isn’t distant from the sting of city. And whereas, as soon as once more, birding was not the aim of this journey, I made positive to stroll the fields across the city. I used to be not disillusioned, as this time I noticed double the species, with three extra lifers for good measure.
Many of the land round Tameslouht is rocky and naked, with scattered goat-proof small shrubs. However there are additionally olive groves, and a few native timber. The birdiest spot was the city trash dump. However there was some avian exercise wherever crops have been to be discovered. (Having stated that, the positioning jogged my memory within the desert, trash is everlasting. On this city, “trash dump” is just a matter of diploma.)
Within the Marrakesh space, you might be by no means very removed from feral Rock Pigeons, Cattle Egrets, and the considerably extra unique Spotless Starlings and Frequent Bulbuls. Morocco’s iconic (and charming) Home Buntings are in fact additionally current. When you find yourself on a metropolis avenue, you’re more likely to see a Home Sparrow. However as quickly as you stroll onto a subject or take a dust highway, the Sparrows flip Spanish.
Spotless Starlings, and a Eurasian Collared Dove
Spanish, not Home, Sparrows. Belief me. (You may see a male Spanish Sparrow within the picture above this put up. The streaky breast proves that identification.)
This time in Morocco, I noticed a number of different species I already knew from Spain: Thekla’s Lark, Sardinian Warbler, European Stonechat, and White Stork. The Nice Grey Shrike I knew beforehand from Turkey, and the Frequent Chiffchaff, Laughing Dove, White Wagtail, and European Blackbird from a number of nations.
Thekla’s Lark — until it’s an almost-identical Crested Lark
Nice Grey Shrike
However then I bought to satisfy some real African specialties. The Moussier’s Redstarts have been simply the showiest birds I noticed. African Chaffinches should not so totally different from Eurasian Chaffinches, however get additional factors for having the phrase “African” of their identify.
Moussier’s Redstart
African Chaffinch
Maybe probably the most intriguing fowl I noticed was a falcon that flew overhead in a straight line, with sturdy, regular wingbeats. The one picture I managed (with my Olympus journey digital camera, which I’ve but to grasp) confirmed very pointed wings, and the looks of darkish below wings and breast, contrasting with a a lot lighter stomach. I believe this will have been a Lanner Falcon. Would any specialists on the market wish to touch upon this under?
Not having had the mobility to journey to, say, a physique of water or a highland forest, my species complete for Morocco (26, after two journeys) continues to be not that huge. However I did improve my record from 10 to 26 species, with only a few hours of birding. And there are positively some fascinating birds to be seen, with only a temporary foray exterior of town of Marrakesh. And whereas I wouldn’t say nature seems well-cared-for right here, one may come across surprising magnificence, like this glorious wall portray on a crumbling adobe wall in a random subject:
