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 WarblerNearby, a pair of Spectacled Warblers chased each other playfully, while a Northern Elegant Gecko delighted the herp enthusiasts in the group.
Spectacled Warbler
Northern Elegant GeckoPerched 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-eaterWe 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 EagleThe spectacle continued at the hotel with another 22 heading north, joined by a lone Black Stork.
What a day.
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!