BIRD WATCHING IN MOROCCO

When to go!

In the northern half of Morocco, between 28°N and 36°N and 1°W and 12°W, the biological seasons are the same as in Western Europe. From an ornithological point of view, the period from March to May is probably the most interesting, as a wide variety of species, migrants as well as residents, are present. This is the most pleasant time of the year as af ter the winter and early spring rains the weather is generally mild and the sun shines most of the time.

Among the most conspicuous migrants are the raptors and the waders. Most of the Lesser Kestrels pass through in March, Black Kites, Egyptian Vultures, Short-toed Eagles and Hen Harriers in March-April and Honey Buzzards in April. Ospreys, Booted Eagles and Hobbies pass through anytime from March to May and the migration of Montagu's Harriers begins at the end of March and goes on until the beginning of May. Most waders such as Black-winged Stilts, Grey Plovers, Knots, Sanderlings, Little Stints, Curlew Sandpipers, Dunlins, Ruffs, Curlews, Greenshanks and Wood and Common Sandpipers migrate from March to May. Green Sandpipers are mainly seen from mid-March to mid-April. The first Collared Pratincoles arrive in mid-March.

On the Atlantic coast, most species of gulls and terns migrate throughout the spring. Audouin's Gull moves from February to mid-April, Black Tem from late March to the beginning of May and Whiskered and White-winged Black Terns from the beginning of March to the beginning of May. Of the migrants which breed in Morocco, Red-rumped Swallows, Tawny Pipits, Desert Wheatears, Subalpine and Bonelli's Warblers and Woodchat Shrikes arrive in early March. From mid-March Bee-eater, Short-toed Larks, Nightingales, Wheatears (Moroccan race), Black-eared Wheatears and Spectacled and Orphean Warblers can be seen. Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Rollers begin to appear from late March. From the beginning of April Rufous Bush Robins, Melodious Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers and Golden Orioles arrive.

In the plains north of the Atlas Mountains, breeding generally begins in March and goes on until June. In semi-desert and desert areas, the season is approximately the same. Early nests have been found in January (e.g. Hoopoe Lark) during favorable (wet) years although even then laying can occur very late. Sand grouse seem to breed mainly in June, when the weather is becoming very hot. In June the climate begins to become uncomfortably hot, except near the coast or in the mountains. At Oukaimeden for example (site 8), breeding is in full swing (Shorelarks, Tawny Pipits, Black and Moussier's Redstarts, Wheatears and Rock Sparrows).

In July and August, the heat may be unbearable away from the coast and the high mountains. Breeding is over, and some species have already begun their autumn migration by August (e.g. Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, Egyptian Vultures, Montagu's Harriers and Booted Eagles).

In November, most of the wintering birds have arrived in the country. This month is generally one of the wettest of the year and al! the wetlands along the Atlantic coast are worth visiting. With a little luck, some rarities will be discovered among the more common birds.

Even though the temperatures are decreasing, December and ]January are generally more agreeable, with less humidity and more sunshine. Christmas and New Year are particularly pleasant along the southern Atlantic coast. If you intend to take a trip at this time, try to spend several days at Massa (page 35). Besides the thousands of coots and ducks, you should see the first spring migrants of such species as Great Spotted Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Pallid Swift, Swallow and Red -rumped Swallow. In the semi-desert and desert areas, the nights are fairly cold (water can freeze in the palm-groves) but the days are generally pleasant.

Seize the opportunity to visit such sites as the Ouarzazate Barrage and the Draa valley (page 42) or the Tafilalet (page 47), with the famous dunes of Merzouga -a temporary lake in the open desert, which attracts hundreds, sometimes thousands, of birds during wet years. During this period mountains are covered with snow, and several roads and passes are blocked. Bird watching becomes difficult there except in places such as the Ifrane region (page 24) or OukaimedenJ (page 31), two spots where skiing resorts have been built. In  January and the beginning of February the largest concentrations of White Storks may be seen. Several hundred birds often gather (e.g. 700 on 5 February 1981, on the refuse dump of Marrakech city). In February the rains begin again, and allow the vegetation to grow. The spring migration intensifies and by the end of the month the first breeding begins. Throughout the year a birdwatcher will always find something interesting in Morocco, whether in the plains, wetlands, mountains or deserts. Always bear in mind that some places are better than others, depending on the time of year.