CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

Mar 20th

Shorelark-Still in muddy field near metal gate along Gritstone Trail between telephone mast and Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

Greater Scaup-Adult drake still on sea off lifeboat station-Hilbre Island

Ring Ouzel in a private garden, flew towards Heswall -Pensby.

2 Wheatear on rocks by Lifeboat, good numbers of Meadow Pipits - Hoylake.

Green-winged Teal off Old Baths - Parkgate.

At least 6 Wheatear in the area today, also 2 White Wagtail - Leasowe Lighthouse.

3 Wheatear by Lifeguards end of Harrison Drive - Wallasey.

3 Wheatear - Burton Point.

Spoonbill - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Mar 19th

Shorelark-Still in muddy field near metal gate along Gritstone Trail between telephone mast and Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

43 Black-necked Grebe and 1st Winter Greater Scaup-Woolston Eyes-PERMIT ONLY

2 Common Cranes flew SE early morning - Burton Point.

Willow Warbler *first of spring* - Burton Mere Wetlands.

3 Little Gull and a Red-throated diver off East Hoyle Bank, also 3 Sand Martin - Hoylake.

3 White Wagtail plus c54 Pied Wagtail in horse paddocks - Leasowe Lighthouse.

16 Chiffchaff (singing) along Wirral Way between Neston and Heswall.

18th Mar

Common Crane-Two flew south over Lower Heswall and continued up estuary-Heswall

4 Eurasian Spoonbill-Parkgate

Green-winged Teal off Old Baths - Parkgate.

FINAL DAY-AGADIR COAST-DAY 11

Our final day in Morocco has come to an end, and what a brilliant trip it’s been.

We headed north from Agadir today, looking for gulls and migrants. For the first time on the trip, we had rain, and plenty of it, but it didn’t stop the birds.

There was a steady movement of migrants throughout the day. Common Cuckoo, Black-eared Wheatear, Whitethroats, Orphean, Subalpine, Sardinian and Spectacled Warblers were all active in the bushes, while Pallid Swifts and hirundines streamed overhead almost constantly.

Sardinian Warbler

Black-eared Wheatear

Spectacled Warbler

Gulls were a big feature. We had great views of Audouin’s Gulls, with a couple at our first stop and around 15 later on. There were also huge numbers of Lesser Black-backed and plenty of Yellow-legged Gulls. A nice group of 22 Slender-billed Gulls flew straight through, and we picked up Sandwich Terns and a few Gannets moving along the coast.

Waders were excellent too, including Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stints, Bar-tailed Godwit (our first of the trip), Whimbrel, Curlew, Sanderling and Turnstone. Stone-curlews showed really well, those yellow eyes are something else!

Stone-curlew

Bald Ibises were once again a highlight, feeding along the coastal dunes and occasionally flying overhead. We also had over 250 Spoonbills pass by and around 100 Greater Flamingos feeding in the shallows, with Osprey and Marsh Harrier seen overhead.

Bald Ibis

Spoonbill

One of the standout moments was seeing a herd of Scimitar-horned Oryx in the National Park, a really encouraging conservation success.

To round off the day, four Black-crowned Night Herons flew over us as we walked to our final meal along the seafront, and I couldn’t have scripted it better.

We also managed to read a good number of rings, including Audouin’s Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls from different countries, a Mediterranean Gull, and some ringed Flamingos. Always interesting to see where these birds have come from.

Audouin’s Gull

All in all, an amazing trip, great birds, great company, and excellent guiding from Hamid. We finished on 189 species, which says it all really.

Now it’s time for one last meal, a few drinks, and to relive the highlights. Safe to say this won’t be the last trip together.

NORTHERN BALD IBIS AND RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR MAGIC-DAY 10

It was the penultimate day of our Birdwatching Morocco tour with Hamid, and what a thrilling shift in scenery! After more than a week exploring the mountains and desert, we’ve finally reached the Atlantic coast, beginning at the Oued Souss River just south of Agadir. 

Driving through Agadir, we saw our first Northern Bald Ibis. Hopefully, we will see this bird today.

Can't tick this!

Oued Souss River

Scanning from the nearby bridge soon produced our first Mediterranean Gulls, while the mudflats held a classic lineup of waders, including Dunlin, Grey Plover, and Ringed Plover. Adding to the spectacle were impressive numbers of Spoonbills and Flamingos feeding across the estuary.

From there, we headed south to Souss-Massa National Park. Along a dusty farm road teeming with hundreds of sheep, we sifted through a gathering of Cattle Egrets when one dark shape stood out. The mystery bird quickly resolved itself into one of the world’s rarest species: the Northern Bald Ibis. This iconic Moroccan bird is thankfully making a comeback, and we were thrilled to see more than 60 individuals strut just yards away in the field.

Northern Bald Ibis

Cattle Egret

The same area also hosted several races of Yellow Wagtail. We noted flava, flavissima, and iberiae, along with a few apparent hybrids. Two Spectacled Warblers and several Subalpine Warblers, Zitting cisticola and even more interest at the stop.

Zitting cisticola 

(c) Jack Pettit

Continuing along a nearby riverbank produced another wave of exciting birds. A stunning Western Olivaceous Warbler sang from close range while migrants were clearly arriving. 

Western Olivaceous Warbler

A handsome male White-spotted Bluethroat showed beautifully, joined by a Common Redstart, a Turtle Dove, and a freshly arrived Grasshopper Warbler reeling from the vegetation.

 Turtle Dove

(c) Jack Pettit

Then we heard the unmistakable downward whistle of one of the area’s most sought-after species. Soon we were enjoying superb views of several Black-crowned Tchagras, with at least three birds showing well.

Two Western Orphean Warblers and several singing Common Quails rounded out an exceptional stop.

Lunch brought its own rewards.

We all had lunch overlooking the beach

A close Stone Curlew loafed nearby while two Gannets cruised offshore and numerous Sandwich Terns streamed north. A walk along the beach produced our first Sanderlings, along with Oystercatchers, Whimbrels, and Turnstones.

Stone Curlew

(c)Dennis Morrison

In the afternoon, we explored deeper within Souss-Massa National Park.

At one point, we passed a group of roadside birders clearly focused on something special. Our guide, Hamid, suggested we move on and return later once the crowd had dispersed. The target was a Red-necked Nightjar, and he was confident it would remain in place.

The next few hours flew by as we enjoyed more of the park’s incredible scenery. Avocets fed in the shallows alongside Flamingos and Spoonbills, and the surrounding fields were bright with spring flowers.

Unfortunately, when we returned to the nightjar site, disaster struck. Mammal watchers searching for an endemic rodent had accidentally flushed the bird. It had disappeared, and we were gutted. It was the first real disappointment of the trip.

To lift our spirits, we returned to the Oued Souss River, where bird activity remained fantastic. New additions included Spotted Redshank, Ruff, White Stork, Little Stint, Little Gull, and Black-tailed Godwit. Hundreds of Flamingos and Spoonbills fed in the evening light while two Ospreys called to each other overhead. Gull-billed Terns hawked insects right in front of us, providing wonderful close views. 

White Stork

Gull-billed Tern

Osprey

As an added bonus, we noted a ringed Greater Flamingo from Andalucía and a ringed Spoonbill that had originated in the Netherlands.

Feeling bad about the missed nightjar, Hamid had one more plan. After picking up food so he and his driver could break their Ramadan fast at sunset, we headed to another site in hopes of redemption.

Lads on site waiting, listening for the Red-necked Nightjar

The evening air soon filled with the sounds of Stone Curlews calling while our first Eurasian Curlews passed overhead. Then suddenly we heard it: the distinctive “gok-gok” call of a Red-necked Nightjar.

Moments later, the birds appeared. Up to four nightjars were flying around us, wing-clapping and displaying in the fading light. It was an unforgettable show and far more exciting than simply seeing one resting on the ground during the day.

Malc, happy hes seen the Nightjar

We headed back elated after an extraordinary day of birding on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Yet again, Morocco proved why it is such a spectacular birding destination.

FROM THE ANTI-ATLAS TO THE ATLANTIC:AN ATLAS WHEATEAR TRIUMPH-DAY 9

After yesterday’s epic adventures and a magical night in a Moroccan castle, today had big shoes to fill as we wrapped up our journey west toward the Atlantic coast.

Before breakfast, we hiked to the top of a nearby hill to watch the sunrise wash over the Anti-Atlas. 

A lone Black Stork glided lazily across the valley at dawn, while a Short-toed Eagle lifted off from its overnight roost in a nearby tree. Two Barbary Partridges scurried across the hillside, and five male Northern Wheatears had clearly arrived overnight as fresh migrants. Sadly, there was still no sign of the elusive Atlas Wheatear, the one real speciality missing from our list after seven days of searching. Time was ticking.

Following what the team unanimously voted the best breakfast of the trip so far, fresh pastries, excellent coffee, and local honey, we headed out for the day’s birding. Our first stop was a serene little lake in the middle of nowhere.

It quickly produced a few welcome trip ticks: a handsome drake Northern Pintail, two Common Teal, and a skulking migrant Sedge Warbler working the reeds. A majestic Osprey plunged dramatically into the water but surfaced empty-taloned. At the same time, a Tree Pipit and flocks of hirundines and Phylloscopus warblers hinted at the site’s importance as a migration stopover. Black-eared Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler, and Trumpeter Finch kicked off the morning in style, and we even spotted a couple of terrapins sunning themselves, an identification challenge we’re still debating.

A two-hour drive through the rugged Anti-Atlas mountains followed, with everyone scanning every boulder and crag in the hope of finding that phantom wheatear. No luck… until we pulled over for a quick coffee break. As we stepped out of the van, a single wheatear zipped across the road and landed on an upside-down red Coca-Cola crate. “Atlas Wheatear!” came the excited shout, and chaos instantly followed. Everyone piled out of the van, one team member even snapping his glasses in the frenzy. Fortunately, the bird cooperated beautifully.

(c)Owen Parsons

(c) Jack Pettit

Atlas Wheatear

(c)Dennis Morrison

This near-mythical species, formerly known as Seebohm’s Wheatear, posed obligingly for the next half hour, giving us outstanding views and plenty of photos. Success at last! We celebrated with steaming saffron tea before continuing our journey west.

Hamid, pouring the saffron tea

Yes, it was found perched on here

After a delicious lunch among the Anti-Atlas peaks, we stopped to stretch our legs in an olive grove.

Our guide, Hamid, was determined to track down a Western Orphean Warbler. The grove quickly produced a pair of dazzling Moussier’s Redstarts and a striking male Common Redstart. Then, right on cue, a male Western Orphean Warbler burst into song nearby. After a brief game of hide-and-seek through the branches, we were rewarded with fantastic close views of this chunky Mediterranean warbler. 

(c) Jack Pettit

Western Orphean Warbler

(c)Dennis Morrison

As a bonus, a Moroccan Spur-thighed Tortoise lumbered through the undergrowth, a wonderful non-avian addition to the day’s sightings.

Moroccan Spur-thighed Tortoise

(c)Owen Parsons

By evening, we rolled into Agadir, the Atlantic breeze a welcome change after the mountains.

Just half an hour before dusk, we watched thousands of gulls streaming north offshore, joined by 60 elegant Greater Flamingos and a dozen stately Great White Egrets heading toward their evening roosts. 

Greater Flamingo

As we closed out the day over a round of well-earned beers, a Stone Curlew flew overhead, its haunting call echoing through the twilight, an atmospheric reminder that tomorrow’s coastal birding promises even more excitement.

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BEE-EATERS AND EAGLES-DAY 8

Today was supposed to be a post-free day since it was mostly about travel. But it turned into an absolute legend of a day, even with six hours in the car driving from the Algerian border through central Morocco toward the Atlantic coast.

We rose early to catch a breathtaking sunrise over the Saharan dunes, where Bar-tailed Larks scampered about, and a pair of Great Grey Shrikes busily fed their brood of three freshly fledged chicks.

We reluctantly left our amazing hotel, but soon pulled over in a patch of arid desert. A short walk through the low scrub revealed two incredibly showy Saharan Scrub Warblers, far more cooperative than the single skulker we’d seen earlier in the trip.

Saharan Scrub Warbler

Nearby, a pair of Spectacled Warblers chased each other playfully, while a Northern Elegant Gecko delighted the herp enthusiasts in the group.

Spectacled Warbler

(c)Owen Parsons

Northern Elegant Gecko

(c) Jack Pettit

A long drive followed, broken up by a delightful lunch stop where we added Eurasian Siskin to the trip list. On the next stretch, just as we were all starting to doze off, the minibus suddenly pulled over. Hamid scanned the riverbank and grabbed the scope. His grin gave it away; he’d nailed the target.

Perched high in a distant bare-branched tree were six magnificent Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, a mega-wanted bird for all of us and a lifer for most. Their vibrant green plumage shimmered in the light, accented by striking blue cheeks, bold black eye stripes and warm yellow-brown throats. These elegant birds, about a foot long with elongated central tail feathers, were a sight to behold.

We inched closer for epic views as they launched into action, gracefully hawking insects right over our heads with acrobatic swoops and dives.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Their rolling calls filled the air as they devoured a flurry of dragonflies, including several impressive Vagrant Emperors. A soaring Bonelli's Eagle overhead only added to the magic.

We pressed on toward our destination, but not without one more emergency stop for a mesmerising migration, 12 majestic Short-toed Snake Eagle circling overhead.

Short-toed Snake Eagle

The spectacle continued at the hotel with another 22 heading north, joined by a lone Black Stork.

What a day.

Me, Denis and Marc 

Tomorrow brings another travel leg, a five-hour journey to the Atlantic coast. But who knows what gems our rest stops might turn up. Stay tuned!