Morocco 2011 Species List

For the full report click here

Birds (126 species)

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea - 25 Barrage Al Mansour and 2 south of Goulmima
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos - Barrage Al Mansour
Garganey Anas querquedula - Barrage Al Mansour
Quail Coturnix coturnix - 3 in oasis near 'wheatear wall'
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis - Barrage Al Mansour
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus - Barrage Al Mansour
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo - Barrage Al Mansour plus one flying south of Erfoud
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - west of Ouarzazate and the low-lying Ourika valley
Little Egret Egretta garzetta - Barrage Al Mansour
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - Barrage Al Mansour
White Stork Ciconia ciconia - 2 on nests 7km west of Skoura, 23 at Oued El Malah west of Ouarzazate
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia - 1 Barrage Al Mansour
Black Kite Milvus migrans - 5 near Rissani, 2 at Boumalne Tip
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus - 1 north of N10 44km west of Errachidia
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus - 1 female at Barrage Al Mansour
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus - mainly singles in deserts and mountains, less common than in December
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos - 1 immature with prey 45km west of El Keela
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus - adult pale morph on Circuit Touristique and immature rufous morph at Boumalne Tip
Osprey Pandion haliaetus - 1 Barrage Al Mansour
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni - at least 2 near Rissani
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus - odd ones and twos in many places
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus - 1 in Tagdilt area
Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides - pair at cliffs west of Rissani and single over N10 248km west of Errachidia
Coot Fulica atra - many at Barrage Al Mansour
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus - 4+ Barrage Al Mansour
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus - 1 calling in night west of Skoura
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor - 11 by oasis near 'wheatear wall'
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius - several in river beds with some water
Snipe Gallinago gallinago - 2 in wide river bed west of Erfoud
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus - 2 in wide river bed west of Erfoud
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus - Barrage Al Mansour
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis - Barrage Al Mansour
Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus - 13 at pools with water on Iknounen road
Rock Dove Columba livia - c.25 pure birds at Oukaimeden, Feral Pigeon common throughout
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus - 2 over Ourika valley
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto - widespread
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis - up to 3 on Circuit Touristique
Paraoh Eagle Owl Bubo ascalaphus - male in crevice at cliffs west of Rissani, 1 calling at dusk in Tagdilt area
Little Owl Athene noctua - 2 by river at Zaouzt Sidi Ali on Circuit Touristique
Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis - one near road at cliffs west of Rissani
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius- 2 singing and flying at dawn on tracks north of Auberge Tresor just south of small hillocks
Swift Apus apus - 1 north at Iknounen Road
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus - a few north near Boumalne and several around terminal building Marrakech Airport
Little Swift Apus affinis - 1 over Ourika valley
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus - up to 6 on Circuit Touristique plus 1-2 just west of Rissani and in wide river bed west of Erfoud
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster - c.20 at Ksar-el-Kebir-el-Kdim SE of Goulmima
Hoopoe Upupa epops - singles seen and heard in desert oases
Levaillant's Woodpecker Picus vaillantii - pair at nest site in Oukaimeden village
Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus - only in the eastern desert area
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti - in deserts west of Fezna and in Boumalne area
Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes - several in western deserts and Tagdilt area
Thick-billed Lark Rhamphocoris clotbey - 2 over the Iknounen Road, 3 at Boumalne Tip and 1 at wadi on N10 248km west of Errachidia
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla - common in deserts
Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens - small numbers in eastern desert and Tagdilt area
Crested Lark Galerida cristata - small numbers widespread, presumed Mahgreb Larks seen in Rissani area
Thekla Lark Galerida theklae - fairly common in stony deserts
Atlas Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris atlas - 4+ around the ski area at Oukaimeden
Temminck's Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha - a few in Tagdilt area
Sand Martin Riparia riparia - a few south of Erfoud
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula - 2 at cliff on NE shore of Barrage Al Mansour plus several suspected elsewhere in east
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris - several in High Atlas
Swallow Hirundo rustica - quite common in deserts
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica - widespread in small numbers
House Martin Delichon urbica - singles south of Erfoud and at Erg chebbi
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris - singles in eastern desert and Tagdilt area
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava - several iberiae in damp river beds, 1 flavissima west of Erfoud
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea - singing male at river in Tinghir
White Wagtail Motacilla alba - small numbers, mainly in desert areas, 2 subpersonata in river bed west of Erfoud and 1 in river at Ourika Valley
Garden Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus - common and widespread in well vegetated areas
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes - 1 singing above first village down from Oukaimeden
Robin Erithacus rubecula - 1 calling in pines just below Oukaimeden
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos - 2 singing in agricultural plain south of Marrakech
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - numerous at Oukaimeden around resort and mast areas
Moussier's Redstart Phoenicurus moussieri - female at cliffs west of Rissani, male at teh Goulmima turn west of Fezna, singing males and pairs in mountains
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - several singles in deserts
Seebohm's Wheatear Oenanthe (oenanthe) seebohmi - male by Soleil Bleu, Boumalne
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica - 1 in river bed west of Erfoud and 1 by river in plains south of Marrakech
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti - very common in deserts
Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta - fairly common west of Tinghir
White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga - very common in deserts and desert towns
Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura - pairs seen in mountains
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius - singles at Soleil Bleu and in mountains
Blackbird Turdus merula - quite common in desert oases
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus - several at Oukaimeden
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti - 1 singing at river in Tinghir and 1 in agricultural plain south of Marrakech
Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis - 2 singing near river bed in agricultural area south of Marrakech
Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta - 2 east of Goulmima at 44km west of Errachidia
Saharan Olivaceous Warbler Iduna (pallida) reiseri - 3+ in tamarisks c.1km along Circuit Touristique
Isabelline Warbler Iduna opaca - 1 at river crossing south of Goulmima
Tristram's Warbler Sylvia deserticola - 1 male in tamarisks at cliffs west of Rissani
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata - fairly common in low desert scrub
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans - fairly common in deserts and oases
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala - small numbers in suitable habitat
Desert Warbler Sylvia nana - a pair collecting nesting material 2-3km along Jasmina track
Western Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis - 1 in date palms between Erfoud and Rissani
Whitethroat Sylvia communis - 1 at cliffs west of Rissani
Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli - small numbers in oases and damp river beds
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita - common in desert oases and damp river beds
(Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus - probables in in river bed west of Erfoud)
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus - common in pines along mountain roads
Fulvous Babbler Turdoides fulvus - 6 in open cultivated aera south of Zaouzt Sidi Ali on Circuit Touristique
Coal Tit Periparus ater - in high pines in mountains
African Blue Tit Cyanistes teneriffae - quite common in high mountains, especially at Oukaimeden
Great Tit Parus major - in high pines in mountains
Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla - 1 heard singing along Oukaimeden road
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor/meridionalis elegans - quite common in deserts and low-lying cultivated areas
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator - scattered singles widespread
Moroccan Magpie Pica pica mauritanica - pair at presumed nest site in agricultural plain south of Marrakech
Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus - common around Oukaimeden
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax - common around Oukaimeden
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis - up to 10 around Erg Chebbi and single at Scrub Warbler site
Raven Corvus corax - several in high mountains
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor - a few along the Route d'Ourika near Marrakech
House Sparrow Passer domesticus - common and widespread
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis - 1 with House Sparrow roost at cliffs west of Rissani
Desert Sparrow Passer simplex - 5-6 breeding in lone tree north of Sand Fisch near Erg Chebbi
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia - common at Oukaimeden
African Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs africana - quite common and widespread in mountains and plain south of Marrakech
Serin Serinus serinus - fairly common and widespread
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris - a few in and around towns and cultivation
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis - a few scattered records
Linnet Carduelis cannabina - very small numbers on desert areas
African Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys (sanguinea) aliena - just over 100 around the ski areas at dawn
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus - small numbers in many desert locations
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus - 1 singing in northern side of Tizi 'n' Tichka pass
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia - 2 in Oukaimeden village
House Bunting Emberiza striolata - 1 or 2 around many buildings including most of the hotels

Mammals
Cape Hare Lepus capensis - 1 flushed from small oasis near 'wheatear wall'
Lybian Jird Meriones libycus - 1 showed very well by the Merzouga road
Fat Sand Rat Psammomys obesus - common in Tagdilt area, especially at Boumalne Tip

Reptiles
Bibron’s Agama Agama impalearis - 1 on the Circuit Touristique
Moroccan Rock Lizard Scelarcis perspicillata - 1 in Oukaimeden
Atlas Day Gecko Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus - many in Oukaimeden village and around the comms tower.

Butterflies
Green-veined White Pieris napi - 1 south of Rissani
Bath White Pontia daplidice - 1 south of Rissani
Swallowtail Papilio machaon - 1 south of Rissani
Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra - several in High Atlas mountains
Clouded Yellow Colias croceus - scattered singles in deserts

Dragonflies
Vagrant Emperor Anax ephippiger - 1 positively identified at Rissani plus presumably the majority of the many resembling this species seen in the wider desert, often far from water.
Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii - 1 in river bed west of Erfoud.

Red Kite

First reasonable moth catch of the year last night. The totals were:
1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 2
1934 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 2
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 6
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 17
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 4
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3
1546 Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) 1

Late in the day the sun came out and provided the opportunity for this shot. I hope better will be possible as a pair have settled very close to home and are often low over the garden.

Red Kite Milvus milvus

Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM

Red-crested Pochards, Ferry Meadows

On Overton Lake.

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Male


Female


Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM

Castor Hanglands Tits and Nuthatch

A good selection of birds, mainly tits visiting the feeder at Castor Hanglands this morning and excellent views of a drumming male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea


Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus


Marsh Tit Poecile palustris


Coal Tit Periparus ater


Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus


Great Tit Parus major


Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM

Nordic Jackdaw

Working from home today and saw two of these striking Jackdaws briefly under the feeders. Jackdaws never seem to stick around for long, especially when trying to photograph them, so the pic is a bit ropey but you can see the silvery collar distinctive of the Scandinavian/East European race. Compare with the one in front.

Nordic Jackdaw Corvus monedula monedula

Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM

Stoatally fantastic

OK so this pic is not of the Stoat, which didn't stick around quite long enough for a photo. But a Stoat in ermine is a fine thing to behold and this was my first since I was a nipper and the undoubted highlight of the year so far. It showed really well at the SW end of Orton BP and was white except for some yellowing of the fur to the rear and a black 'mask of Zorro' and of course tail tip.

The Roe Deer was one of five that appeared nearby. At least two were males with full antlers. They were a bit distant but a record shot was just possible.

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus, male

Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM

Ferry Meadows this morning

At last the sun comes out. Took the opportuntity to exercise the new camera on the way to work through Ferry Meadows this morning.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea hunting





Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
One of two males sparring every morning in front of the first hide on the reserve.


Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
A ringed adult saluting near the visitor centre




Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM

Barcelona Wildlife

A great weekend in Barcelona. In addition to those photographed there were also Serins, Firecrests, Ring-necked Parakeets and plenty of Hummingbird Hawk-moths.

Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus



Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus





Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros


Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis


Common Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis



Carpenter Bee Xylocopa sp.


Canon EOS 500D, 18-55 or 70-300mm

Stoat

On Oak Meadow at Ferry Meadows this morning. Don and I were able to watch this for some time before it spotted us and legged it.

Stoat Mustela erminea

Canon EOS 500D, 70-300mm IS USM

Lesser Redpolls

One of eight feeding in birch trees in the garden today.

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret

Canon EOS 500D, 70-300mm IS USM

Elton

Some more fun with the new 500D and 70-300mm. These all taken in and around Elton.

Alder catkin Alnus


Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto


Woodpigeon Columba palumbus


Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus


Tree Sparrow Passer montanus


Elton Church


Canon EOS 500D, 70-300mm IS USM

First day with the 500D

New toy arrived yesterday so, with the wind finally died down and the sun out, I was keen to get to Ferry Meadows for a go. The first shot was taken at home before the sun came up and is of the heron that has taken to perching on the roofs here.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea


Mute Swan Cygnus olor




Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus


Canon EOS 500D 70-300mm IS USM

Garden Moorhen

Canon Powershot SX30IS

January Moths

Some mild conditions encouraged me to try a bit of winter mothing and three species resulted. Second Mottled Umber for the garden and first January records for Winter Moth and March Moth (previous earliest 11th Feb.).

Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria


March Moth Alsophila aescularia


Winter Moth Operophtera brumata


Canon Powershot A640

Nordic Jackdaw, Ferry Meadows

Feeding at lunchtime today near the visitor centre.

Jackdaw, Corvus monedula monedula

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77x20

The worst Waxwing photo?

Cycled up to Werrington to see the flock of Waxwings here today and counted about 120. Photography was hampered by the fact that the birds were staying in the tops of the trees and I had left my camera on settings more suited to midday in the sahara than midwinter in Peterborough. Hence this rather ropey attempt.

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77x20

Climbing Bank Vole

The cold weather has made the Bank Voles in the garden much bolder. One has taken to climbing an ivy-covered fence to get at some fat balls in a feeder hanging nearby. At least three others feed below it.



Videoscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77x20

The Biking Birder

Well it was excellent to be able to meet up with Gary yesterday and offer him somewhere to stay. Gary's epic journey around the UK visiting every RSPB and WWT reserve, not to mention a fair few ECO Schools, continues through Cambridgeshire and I was able to join him for the ride to the Nene Washes this morning.

There were not that many birds on show and nothing to add to Gary's 242 species total (chasing the record of 251) but it was a fabulous morning; icy cold and still with a cracking sunrise.

Keep going Gary and good luck:
http://www.bikingbirder.co.uk/
http://bikingbirder2010.blogspot.com/