Our hotel on the edge of Boumalne Dades
Today started just as yesterday did with an early breakfast and a quick visit to the small ‘dump’ near the hotel. This time we didn’t return to the hotel but instead set off for our 3 –day excursion to the desert region.
At the ‘dump’ we found all the species that we recorded yesterday with particularly good views of Trumpeter Finch, Red-rumped Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Desert Wheatear and Short-toed Lark.
Red-rumped Wheatear
After 40km of driving due east from Boumalne Dades we pulled over to look around a well known site for Magreb Wheatear. We didn’t see the wheatear but many common species were present. Just after we loaded up the bus to leave ashout went up from the back of the bus “THICK-BILLED LARK”. Using the bus as a hide two larks approached very close and well enjoyed fantastic views of this elusive species, what a great find for us.
Our good luck continued as we stopped east of Goulmima to search for the hard-to-find Scrub Warbler, after 30 minutes of searching in the midday heat we found two of these little beauties. We also recorded Spectacled Warbler, Great grey Shrike and Desert Wheatear.
From there we set off back towards Goulmima, a brief stop at the river on the edge of town we found Black-winged Stilt, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret and Cattle Egret. We then bought lunch in Goulmima and drove south towards Erfoud, we ate our picnic overlooking a river where we found a couple of Moroccan Wagtails, also a Little Stint, Blue rock Thrush, Moorhen, Sardinian Warbler and White Wagtails.
The last leg of our journey took us across the desert on rough tracks, we could see the magnificent Erg Chebbi sand dunes in the distant, they looked like golden mountains in the light of the afternoon sun, It was along these tracks we found our first Bar-tailed Desert Larks. We arrived at Kasbah Café Yasmina at 5pm with just enough time left for a quick walk around the grounds. Café Yasmina is situated directly below the Erg Chebbi sand dune system and it usually has a large seasonal lake adjacent to it. This dry winter has left the lake devoid of water but the surrounding tamarisk provides a good area for birding. It was in the tamarisk that we found a pair of Desert Sparrows, which was a great treat for the group, we also saw several Subalpine Warblers and a single Whinchat.
Long-billed Crested lark
Dinner was taken in the large dining room at café Yasmina and our last bird of the day was a White-crowned Wheatear which decided to roost in the cane-roof above our dining table!
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