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.