Morocco in Spring

Day 1: The tour begins this evening in Marrakech.

Days 2-3: We’ll drive south to the Atlas mountains for two days of exploration of this wonderful area. African Crimson-winged Finch, perhaps easier to see here than anyplace else, is our primary goal, and it’s often found among the Rock Sparrow and ‘Atlas’ Horned Lark (a potential split) flocks. Small flocks of African Chaffinches are usually around and sometimes we find a Common Chaffinch mixed among them offering excellent comparisons. 

The countries of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria make up the Maghreb, a mountainous area with several endemic species/subspecies depending on whose taxonomy you follow. With luck we’ll connect with two of these, Moussier’s Redstart and Atlas Wheatear. The high meadows, sometimes snow covered even in April, are home to both Yellow-billed and Red-billed Choughs, while Alpine Accentor, Water Pipit, and White-throated Dipper may be found nearby. Overhead we may see the local ‘Atlas’ race of Long-legged Buzzard. Nights near Oukaimeden.

Day 4: After an early breakfast we’ll leave the mountains behind, perhaps pausing en route for Levaillant’s Woodpecker. From the flat plains of Marrakech we’ll turn back uphill and make the long, scenic drive to Boumalne via the spectacular Tizi-N’Tichka Pass. As the road climbs into the hills, we may start to see more raptors, possibly including migrant Booted and Short-toed Snake Eagles. Before lunch we’ll target another North African endemic, Tristram’s Warbler. If time allows, we’ll stop in Ouarzazate to explore the dam at Mansour Edhabbi where we have a chance of seeing Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and 'Maghreb' Crested Lark, as well as Ruddy Shelduck, Marbled Duck, Eurasian Spoonbill, and a selection of waders and other migrants. Night in Boumalne Dades.

Day 5: We’ll depart early to explore the famous Tagdilt Track. Our targets will include Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Cream-colored Courser, Desert and Red-rumped Wheatears, Trumpeter Finch, and a selection of larks including Greater Hoopoe, Temminck’s, both Greater and Mediterranean Short-toed, and with luck the highly nomadic Thick-billed. At this time of year migration is often evident over the desert as small groups of European Bee-eaters and swifts, both Pallid and Common, work their way north. Night in Boumalne Dades.

Day 6: The scenery will change again as we leave the high, stony desert and travel to a sandier habitat. New birds will continue to appear, with Brown-necked Raven, Bar-tailed Lark, Scrub Warbler, and White-crowned Wheatear all possible. We'll visit a stunning valley to catch up with with Maghreb Wheatear, Pharoah Eagle-Owl and Lanner Falcon en route. After passing the dramatic Ziz Gorge with its unexpected palm-lined valley, we’ll make our way to Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara. On the edge of the desert, we could see a selection of migrant warblers around the hotel, ranging from Western Subalpine and Sardinian to Western Bonelli’s and Western Olivaceous, as well as Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Hoopoe, Bluethroat, Woodchat Shrike, and European Bee-eater. The highly localized Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (race reiseri) sometimes breeds near the hotel. Night in Erfoud.

Day 7: We’ll spend the day in four-wheel-drive vehicles exploring this magnificent desert habitat. We’ll search for classic desert birds including Desert Sparrow, Bar-tailed Lark, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse, Cream-colored Courser, Great Grey Shrike, and African Desert Warbler. We’ll have another chance at Lanner Falcon, and Pharoah Eagle-Owl is a real possibility. We also hope to find a beautifully camouflaged Egyptian Nightjar at a daytime roost. Night in Erfoud.

Day 8: We have another long journey, but not without some birding along the way. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is often seen and we’ll stop at likely looking spots to check for migrants. After lunch we’ll continue to Ouarzazate where, depending on our arrival time, we may be able to check the shoreline of the nearby reservoir or bird lush green gardens along the river. Night in Ouarzazate.

Day 9: We’ll spend the morning birding around the reservoir, in recent years a reliable site for Ruddy Shelduck, and migrant waders could include Wood and Curlew Sandpipers, Ruff, Little Stint, and Black-winged Stilt. Passerines will also be present, and careful checking through groups of Yellow Wagtails could produce three different subspecies as well as the Moroccan White Wagtail, separate species or not, a stunning bird to see. Migrant harriers often drift through, with Montagu’s and Western Marsh the most likely, and we may see Greater Flamingo and Black-crowned Night and Purple Herons. Once away from the reservoir, we’ll drive through mountainous habitat, home to Bonelli’s Eagle, Black Wheatear, and Western Orphean Warbler, and stop in Tazenahkt for a coffee break and the chance to haggle for a carpet to take back home from Morocco’s ‘carpet city’. Night in Agadir.

Day 10: We’ll head north of Agadir, driving alongside long Atlantic rollers, in search of one of Morocco’s most iconic birds, the Northern Bald Ibis. At this time of the year, visiting the breeding cliffs of this endangered species is quite rightly not allowed, but we may find them in coastal fields where they can sometimes be very confiding. At nearby Tamri we’ll check the estuary where the ibis sometimes drop in to bathe, as do hundreds of gulls, often including the increasingly numerous Audouin’s and Slender-billed. If there is an onshore wind, seawatching may produce Northern Gannet, Cory’s or Scopoli’s Shearwaters, and occasionally a skua or even a Razorbill. Migrants may include Western Black-eared Wheatear, Tawny Pipit, and Eurasian Thick-knee, while European Serin, Zitting Cisticola, and House Bunting are all common breeders. We’ll spend the afternoon around the Souss estuary, where anything can and frequently does turn up. Large wading birds such as Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Spoonbill, and White Stork can be numerous, and we’ll check the gulls and terns for species such as Mediterranean Gull and Gull-billed and Caspian Terns. Waders are often plentiful and the selection ever-changing, from both Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits to Common Greenshank, Black-bellied and Kentish Plovers, and Little Stint. The nearby scrub holds plenty of Maghreb Magpies as well as a special bird widespread throughout Africa south of the Sahara, the striking Black-crowned Tchagra. Night in Agadir.

Day 11: The Oued Massa estuary, about an hour south of Agadir, is the other famous Agadir area estuary. Here the dry stone walls provide ideal perches for Little Owl, Thekla Lark, and wheatears, and the neatly farmed agricultural areas are excellent for Laughing and European Turtle-Doves, as well as Barbary Partridge, “Sahara” Great Grey Shrike, Moussier’s Redstart, and Cirl Bunting. The once brackish lagoon inland of the dunes can hold a variety of waders and herons, and walking along its length provides a great opportunity to scan for raptors, with Osprey, Bonelli’s Eagle, and Black-winged Kite all possible. After lunch we’ll explore more agricultural areas inland where we may find Little Bittern, Squacco and Purple Herons, and Plain Martin, the latter at one of its few Western Palearctic locations. Night in Agadir.

Day 12: The tour concludes this morning at the airport in Agadir.

2026 Narrative

The tour began on the outskirts of Marrakech at our comfortable hotel where we had a wonderful dinner and intro meeting.

Leaving the vibrant city behind, we began our ascent into the stunning Atlas Mountains passing farmland hosting Spotless Starlings and Maghreb Magpies. Each twist and turn revealed breathtaking views of hillside villages, sweeping vistas, and roadside stalls brimming with pottery and earthenware. Our first stop was a quiet mountain road with oak and mixed coniferous hillsides. Here African Chaffinches sang from all directions with smaller numbers of Rock and Cirl Buntings, Moussier’s Redstart, and Sardinian Warbler. Coal and Great Tits were also present along with Eurasian Jay, Common Firecrest, and a pair of Eurasian Kestrels. Overhead Common Wood-Pigeons could be seen along with a bonus Bonelli’s Eagle. The real highlight, however, was a cooperative Tristram’s Warbler, a North African endemic, saving us time trying to find one later on during the tour!

At our hotel, where we would stay for two nights, we enjoyed some casual birding around the grounds while lunch was prepared. The garden had Eurasian Blackbird, European Serin, European Robin, African Blue Tit, and European Red-rumped Swallows overhead, while the stream below attracted Gray Wagtail and Eurasian Wren. While enjoying our tagines, we had a flyover Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a pair of Bonelli’s Eagles.

After lunch, we ascended the scenic mountain road to reach the high-altitude village of Oukaïmeden. Famous for its birding, the area quickly delivered many of our targets despite the weekend crowds. Crimson-winged Finches and Rock Sparrows fed on the gravel parking lot oblivious to the people. Hundreds of Red-billed and Yellow-billed Choughs fed in the open plains and flew overhead in impressive flocks along with Booted Eagles and Common Ravens. Other highlights included Thekla’s Lark, Black Redstart, Blue Rock-Thrush, Black Wheatear, and a White-capped Dipper in a river stream.

The following morning, we returned to Oukaïmeden, but this time had the place nearly to ourselves. Upon arrival we found a flock of wild type Rock Pigeons, the ancestors of the global feral pigeons. A short walk in the plains yielded a half dozen “Atlas” Horned Larks, a pair of Atlas Wheatears, and yet more incredible views of the pretty Crimson-winged Finches. Turning our attention to a cliff face, after a bit of effort, we soon had point-blank views of a pair of Alpine Accentors. 

As we descended the mountain, we visited a small coniferous plantation that added Short-toed Treecreeper and a single Eurasian Siskin before reaching our hotel for lunch. The afternoon was met with rain, but we birded the drier spells and also had some enjoyable birding from underneath a roof for cover. Common Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, and Common Nightingale all put on a show in one small shrubby area in front of us. Nearby we were able to observe a pair of Levaillant’s Woodpeckers perched atop a dead conifer. To cap off an already outstanding day, we had a “Maghreb” Tawny Owl right outside our rooms, watching it for an extended time.

The next morning, we descended into the Ourika Valley, birding a series of rocky fields along the way. Highlights included Little Owl, Great Gray and Woodchat Shrikes, Corn Bunting, and Barbary Partridges. Further down the road we stumbled upon a Eurasian Griffon, which is not an easy bird to find here. From there, we continued through the scenic Tizi N'Tichka Pass and enjoyed a memorable lunch in the remote highlands. A short walk after lunch yielded Common Hoopoe, Willow Warbler, Mistle Thrush, and Blue Rock-Thrush. We spent the remainder of the afternoon completing our drive to Boumalne Dades, where we settled in for a two-night stay at a stunning hotel overlooking the Dades River valley.

Well rested, we set out the next morning for the renowned Tagdilt Track, one of Morocco’s prime locations for larks. We were quickly rewarded with an impressive variety -- Thekla’s and Temminck’s Larks scurried around us, while flocks of Greater Short-toed Larks passed by. A particular highlight was watching a pair of Greater Hoopoe-Larks perform their dramatic display flights, spiraling upward before diving steeply back to the ground. We also encountered numerous Desert, Red-rumped and White-crowned Wheatears, and a couple of Tawny Pipits.

Continuing on, we reached another promising site where we soon located seven Cream-colored Coursers. A nearby lush farm added some variety, producing a number of species including a Common Redstart, European Greenfinch, and Eurasian Linnet. Eventually we stumbled upon a couple of our main targets in this area, a pair of stunning Thick-billed Larks and soon after a Black-bellied Sandgrouse flying by. We returned to town for lunch and birded the lush gardens lining the Dades River valley. The area was teeming with both migrants and resident species, including our first Laughing Doves, European Bee-eaters, “Atas” Great Spotted Woodpecker, and Melodious, Sedge, and Western Bonelli’s Warblers.

The following morning, we visited a local herder who monitors several key species along a stunning escarpment. Our first highlight was an active Pharaoh Eagle-Owl nest in a cliff face where we enjoyed excellent scope views. The excitement continued with excellent views of Desert Lark, “Maghreb” Mourning Wheatear, Trumpeter Finch, and a nesting Lanner Falcon.
 
A short visit to Todra Gorge took us to a stunning gorge with towering walls on each side of us with a shallow stream running right through it. Birding was pretty slow, but we were here for the scenery. However, we did enjoy watching a pair of Gray Wagtails practically at our feed in the stream and had a couple Eurasian Crag-Martins circling in the gorge. After lunch, we headed to a dry, open region punctuated by a line of shrubs, the ideal habitat for Scrub Warbler. After some considerable effort, we managed a few brief views of this often difficult species to see. We also picked up our first Spectacled Warbler, Fulvous Chatterers, and Western Black-eared Wheatears. 

Following this string of successes, we made our way toward Merzouga and checked into our hotel, which offered stunning views of the towering Erg Chebbi sand dunes just steps away. Famous as a filming location for several Hollywood productions, the dunes provided an unforgettable backdrop and promised spectacular sunsets and sunrises to come.

The next day, we switched to 4x4 vehicles, giving us better access to some of the region’s most remote and arid birding hotspots. Our first stop was a traditional sandgrouse drinking site, however, there had been a lot of rains recently, which meant they no longer required searching out water. 

We then visited a remote desert camp known for hosting nesting Desert Sparrows. These pale, desert-adapted relatives of the House Sparrow are both attractive and distinctive, and we were fortunate to get good views of a couple pairs. By now the rains had returned and we kept dry under a traditional berber tent. A Western Marsh-Harrier made a brief flyby, while a group of at least ten noisy Rufous Chatterers worked the nearby date palms. The rain had let up enough to search for and find an African Desert Warbler, which showed very well as it worked some low shrubs with a Western Subalpine Warbler. 

Before we knew it, it was time to head to lunch, and the weather had a different idea. Torrential rain had arrived here in the middle of the desert. We were in two 4x4s and due to a flashflood, one had to take the long “scenic” detour around the Merzouga region, but both vehicles eventually arrived for a late berber pizza lunch. During this predicament, one of the vehicles happened upon a Ferruginous Duck wading in a newly created puddle.

In the afternoon, we headed to an inland lake where we added Ruddy Shelduck, Marbled Duck, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Kentish Plover, Ruff, Gull-billed and Sandwich Terns, Greater Flamingos, Great Crested Grebes, Little Egret, and Osprey before we got the call… An Egyptian Nightjar, despite the rains, had been located roosting by a local herdsman. We rushed back into the 4x4s and headed out to that location where we quickly located and enjoyed extended views of a pair of nightjars. An excellent end to an exhilarating day.

The following morning was primarily a travel day as we began our journey westward toward Ouarzazate. But first we checked out some gardens near the hotel, which could turn up just about any migrant. A careful search netted us European Turtle-Dove, Eurasian Wryneck, Greater Whitethroat, and a couple Tree Pipits. Before heading out, we made another stop along a tamarisk-lined dry streambed finding our target Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. 

We made one last stop before lunch quickly finding several Western Orphean Warblers. Lunch was then enjoyed outside with a view of the gardens where we relaxed, had excellent food, coffee, and garden birds, before continuing on and reaching our next hotel in Ouarzazate. With some extra time in the late afternoon, we enjoyed a short walk behind our accommodation, which abuts some community gardens where we had more views of species such as hoopoe, European Bee-eaters, Western Orphean and Western Subalpine Warblers and more.

The next morning we headed to the Drâa River. The birding along the river was fruitful, with another Eurasian Wryneck along with our first Common Reed Warbler and Spanish Sparrows. We then turned our attention to the thick reeds along the stream where we saw Water Rail and Common Snipe and heard a Little Bittern. Much of the afternoon was spent traversing Morocco as we made our way toward the Atlantic coast. En route, we stopped at a couple sites picking up Western Marsh Harrier and Common Quail before reaching the coastal city of Agadir and our very comfortable hotel.

On our second-to-last day in Morocco, we departed our hotel in Agadir and made our way north to the Tamri River estuary region. Just inland, we successfully located one of the trip’s most sought-after species: a group of a dozen Northern Bald Ibis! The estuary itself hosted a nice selection of shorebirds and gulls, including Common Ringed and Kentish Plovers, Eurasian Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin and of course a whole host of gulls namely Audouin’s, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged. Other highlights included Eurasian Spoonbills, “Iberian” Yellow Wagtail, both “White-faced” and “Moroccan” White Wagtails, and some offshore Northern Gannets. We then visited a nearby coastal promontory which can turn up interesting birds moving offshore. Our visit was pretty slow, but we did see several Cory’s Shearwaters. 

In the afternoon, we birded the mouth of the Oued Souss, carefully working through large flocks of gulls, shorebirds, and waterbirds. We had our first Eurasian Oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers, Eurasian Curlews, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, and again a whole host of gulls. Among the common Slender-billed, Black-headed, and Yellow-legged, we picked up a few Mediterranean, a single Little, and a vagrant Ring-billed Gull. The latter may be the same individual that we had at this site on last year’s tour. 

Sadly, our final day of birding had arrived. We headed south toward Souss-Massa National Park, one of Morocco’s premier birding sites. We spent the morning exploring this productive area, which yielded our highest single-site species total of the tour. Waterfowl were particularly well represented. Highlights included our first Northern Pintail, and “Eurasian” Green-winged Teal. In addition to the ducks, we had excellent views of several Black-crowned Tchagras, a regional specialty, and enjoyed a vibrant showing from Sardinian Warbler, Moussier’s Redstarts, European Stonechats, Eurasian Linnets, and Crested Larks.

After lunch, some final target birding proved fruitful, adding Plain Martin, Bank Swallow, and Little Grebe before turning our attention to our final new bird. With assistance from a local, we tracked down and enjoyed excellent views of a Red-necked Nightjar at its day roost where we got to spend some time watching and photographing it before leaving it undisturbed. An excellent finish to successful Morocco tour!

 - Ethan Kistler

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