Morocco 18-19/04/16

At 09.30 18/04/16 Mark Hollingworth, Chris Phillpot  and myself flew into Marakech on an uneventful Easy Jet flight, where we were met by Brahim our guide and proprietor of http://www.gayuin.com/ also our driver Hamid. They quickly loaded our luggage into a Misubishi Pajero which was  our transport for our 11 day visit. As we drove out of Marakech towards Oukaimeden Common and Pallid Swifts were abundant. We mad a short leg stretch break where we saw  Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrike, Little Owl, Hoopoe, Sardinian Warbler, Red-rumped Swallows, Crested Larks and Moroccan Magpie which gave me my first photo opportunity of the trip.

Moroccan Magpie

Arriving at Oukaimeden it was cold and overcast, high above us many Alpine and Red-billed Choughs were sky dancing as we made our way to the bottom of the Ski lift. Around the lift c60 Crimson Winged Finches were feeding and being photogenic.

 Crimson-winged Finch

 Crimson-winged Finch

 Crimson-winged Finch

 Crimson-winged Finch

                                 Atlas Horned Larks were also easy to see on ski lift slope. 

 Atlas Horned Lark

 Atlas Horned Lark

                                                                  Seebohm's Wheatear

The Seebohm's Wheatears gave great scope views but refused to let me get near them to photograph them, probably because I'm to old to leap around rocky slopes these days. While we there Rock Sparrows were seen, African Chaffinches, Blue Rock Thrushes, Moussiers Redstarts, dozens of Black Redstarts, African Blue Tits and an Alpine Accentor.

                                                                    Red-billed Choughs

 After a superb first day we made our to our overnight accommodation arriving as darkness fell.

                                             Mark and Chris relaxing after a long first day

We woke up to a cacophony of Nightingales. Chris and I took a dawn stroll around the superb grounds of the hotel, seeing Cuckoo's, Bee-eaters, House Buntings, Crossbills, a Black-eared Wheatear, Red-rumped Swallows and more.

 House Bunting

                            Red-rumped Swallows collecting mud a dripping tap at the hotel

This morning Brahim had promised us Levaillants Woodpecker, he did not disappoint.

                                                             Levaillant's Woodpeckers

Next stop Boumalne du Dades.