MOROCCO - FEB 7TH DAY 1 OF 10

Menara Airport, Marrakech – Ourika Valley

- this 10 day tour was organised by 'Bird ID' based in Norway, to test your ID skills go to :

www.birdid.no

The group consisted of 7 Norwegians, 2 Bulgarians and 1 Sardinian.

Our arrival at Marrakech was greeted by bright sunlight, the snow covered Atlas Mountains looked clear and beautiful and it was quite warm. The group arrived in stages throughout the day and those that arrived earlier were soon finding birds around the new terminal building. The Aptly named House Bunting was found inside the terminal building!

A small flock of Spanish Sparrows were found in the gardens together with the loud Common Bubul, there was also Greenfinch, Linnet, Spotless Starling, White Wagtail, Common Kestrel and several White Storks circled up on the thermals.

After everyone had arrived we set off at 4:30pm for the hour long drive to our first hotel in the Ourika Valley. We added a few common species to the list before arriving at the hotel. As we disembarked from the bus we quickly located a singing Rock Bunting and found two hawfinches as they flew over.

THE VIEW FROM OUR TERRACE AT THE HOTEL

We had about 30 minutes of daylight left so we assembled on the hotel garden terrace to watch over the river valley and surrounding mountains. Several birds were heard, Cetti’s Warbler, Robin, Wren, Blackcap and another House Bunting. A couple of birds were seen distantly, Black Wheatear, Grey Wagtail and an unidentified falcon which was probably a Peregrine Falcon.