Whitby, North Yorkshire.Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Morocco, Christmas 2009
Have just had a wonderful weeks birding in Morocco. Got a bargain break to Agadir for the Christmas week. We booked a guide from Back to Back Tours. We had Mohamed who was an excellent guide and a lovely person. He knew all the sites and really looked after us. The weather spoilt itself with torrential rain for 5 days resulting in flooding. It didn't stop us birding though, but sun would have been nicer! What was very worrying though, was the obvious lack of raptors and the amount of spent cartridges everywhere. Karen had 11 new species here. Best birds were Moussier's Redstart, Cream Coloured Courser, Bald Ibis and Hawfinch.
We left snow in the UK and when we came back, it was still snowing!
We left snow in the UK and when we came back, it was still snowing!
Bald Ibis
Our Christmas Eve bird. Hunted for these for hours until we eventually found a group of 16. They are so ugly yet so full of character. They weren't bothered by us at all. A target bird for Morocco.
This was the day we got stuck in the floods and the river came over the bridge. We had to wait 4 hours to get back and then the crossing was terrifying. Found a local cafe where we sampled a Lamb Tagine, which was delicious. We watched a full banana plantation get washed away while we ate. So sad that the poorest of people are always the ones that come off worst. Their livelihoods washed down the river. I can honestly say that I was terrified crossing the bridges on the way home with the water lapping at our wheels. 1000's of locals had turned out to look at the floods!
Cream Coloured Courser
Christmas Day bird. Travelled just north of Tan Tan into the Sahara for this target bird. Had to take shelter from a sand storm and torrential rain. Was just going to give up for the day when out ran these three beauties. They didn't stay still for a second so with running birds, sand and rain - photography wasn't easy. The birds are absolutely drenched. Well worth it and a lovely Christmas pressie x
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