MOROCCO-MARRAKESH-LALLA TAKERKOUST-DAY 1

This trip had been booked for over a year, and at last the day had arrived. I was travelling with Jack Pettit, Malc Curtin, Owen Parsons and Marc Hughes, and after months of talking about it, we were finally on our way.

After an early morning pickup by Marc and Owen, we met Jack and Malc at Manchester Airport. Before long, we were touching down in the vibrant city of Marrakesh, Morocco. 

Coming in to land at Marrakesh with the Atlas mountains in the background

With plenty of excitement and a full week of birding ahead of us, we collected the hire car and headed straight out of the city.

Driving south along some fairly dodgy roads (great for birds though!), we quickly started adding species to the list. Early sightings included Great Grey Shrike, the impressive Maghreb Magpie, Spotless Starling, and plenty of lively House Buntings.

Southern Great Grey Shrike

Spotless Starling

Maghreb Magpie

House Bunting

Our first proper stop was the dammed lake at Lalla Takerkoust, and it turned out to be a brilliant spot. The weather was warm and sunny, and the surrounding countryside was much greener than we expected.

Lalla Takerkoust

We soon found several African Chaffinches, which looked and sounded quite different from the ones we see back in the UK. Two Moroccan Wagtails were also feeding nearby alongside the familiar White Wagtail.

Moroccan Wagtail

African Chaffinch

Then Jack suddenly shouted out, “Moussier’s Redstart!” Sure enough, a stunning male Moussier’s Redstart appeared and gave us fantastic views. Before long, a second bird joined it, giving us a brilliant start with one of the trip’s key target species.

Moussier’s Redstart

Nearby, Crested Lark and Thekla's Lark were displaying side by side, which made for a great comparison.

Thekla Lark 

Crested Lark

Eurasian Hoopoe flew overhead, and a flock of hirundines included Eurasian Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow. Two Little Owls were also seen perched on an old building, while European Serins were buzzing around.

Crag Martin

(c) Jack Pettit

Little owl

(c) Jack Pettit

As the day warmed up, butterflies filled the air, including lots of Painted Lady and a few Clouded Yellow.

Painted Lady 

Not far down the road, we were treated to a fantastic roadside Black Wheatear, which performed brilliantly on nearby buildings.

Black Wheatear

We also added Blue Rock Thrush, several Common Bulbul, a flyover Eurasian Spoonbill, and groups of Cattle Egret heading to roost.

Common Bulbul

(c) Jack Pettit

Blue Rock Thrush

(c) Jack Pettit

As the light began to fade, we made our way back to Marrakesh, already buzzing from a brilliant first day. If day one was anything to go by, the rest of the trip was going to be very special.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

7th March

Black Redstart (fem) by coastguard station - Dove Point, Meols.

Scaup (drake), Common Scoter and Goldeneye - West Kirby Marine Lake.

6 Brambling flew south over the old RAF site by Saughall Massie Road - West Kirby

Bittern in flight this morning, also Spoonbill, Little Grebe, 3+ Stonechat, 3 Avocet and 2 Great White Egret - Parkgate.

Short-eared Owl-Neston Marsh

Dark-bellied Brent Goose with Grey-lag Geese-Thornton Hough

Common scoter and Swallow-Budworth Mere-Northwich

Slavonian Grebe-Sweeney Wetlands

2 Spotted Redshank and 44 Russian White-fronted Goose

-Burton RSPB

Russian White-fronted Goose and Water Pipit-Carr Lane Pools-Hale

Caspian Gull-Two 1st-winters: one at WSR Recycling Centre-Widnes

12+ Black-necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

Common Scoter-Eyres Pit-Wincham

White-fronted Geese- Still in fields by Dragon Lane-Sandbach Flashes

Shore Lark-Still in field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

6th March 

Sand Martins reported from numerous sites today

Black Redstart (fem), east of the coastguard station - Dove Point, Meols.

Black Redstart 

(C)Sean O'Hara

44 White-fronted Geese on wet grassland - Burton RSPB

2 Eurasian Spoonbill - Parkgate

Shore Lark-Still in field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

Scaup (drake) - West Kirby Marine Lake

White-fronted Geese- Still in fields by Dragon Lane-Sandbach Flashes

5th March

Wheatear *first of spring* - Hilbre.

Green-winged Teal and 2 Spoonbill - Old Baths, Parkgate.

Black Redstart (fem) this afternoon, east of the coastguard station - Dove Point, Meols.

28 White-fronted Geese on wet grassland- Burton RSPB

At least 42 Russian White-fronted Geese at Tetton Lane flash area. Best viewed distantly from Tetton Lane or closer from Dragons Lane, park in Warmingham Flash dip and walk NE along Dragons Lane. Before reaching Woodville Farm, look over the hedge on the left, and the geese are two fields over -Sandbach Flashes

Shore Lark-Still in field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

Greater Scaup-1st-winter female and 13 Black-necked grebes-Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

Little Ringed Plover-One at Pumphouse Flash-Sandbach Flashes

4th March

Sand Martins reported from numerous sites today

3 Purple Sandpiper-Pontoon-West Kirby Marine Lake

2 Common Scoter-Budworth Mere-Northwich

2 Common Crane-Over Burton RSPB-Towards Burton Marsh

Shore Lark-Still in field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

Green-winged Teal (drake) and 6 Avocet off Old Baths, Spoonbill on Bevyl Road Flash, 5 Greenshank and 350+ Black-tailed Godwit on Boathouse Flash - Parkgate.

3 Purple Sandpiper at high tide - New Brighton Marine Lake.

20+ Siskin in oak trees at the north end of Stapledon Wood - Caldy.

40+ White-fronted Geese on wet grassland, 4 Mediterranean Gull, Spotted Redshank and 95 Avocet main scrape, also 80+ Knot and 27 Golden Plover - Burton RSPB

Greater Scaup-Reported Eastern cell, 14 Black-necked Grebes, Green Sandpiper and Dunlin-Woolston Eyes-Permit ONLY

At least 49 Russian White-fronted Geese at Tetton Lane flash area. Best viewed distantly from Tetton Lane or closer from Dragons Lane, park in Warmingham Flash dip and walk NE along Dragons Lane. Before reaching Woodville Farm, look over the hedge on the left, and the geese are two fields over -Sandbach Flashes

3rd March

2 Mediterranean Gull on main scrape - Burton RSPB

98 Brent Geese on the edge of saltmarsh at high tide - West Kirby.

6 Little Gull offshore - Hoylake.

3 Greenshank on groyne - Meols Common.

Green-winged Teal-Drake still at the new flash to the right of the Old Baths Flash-Parkgate

Black-necked Grebe-Two on No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes

Russian White-fronted Geese- 46 still; use reserve car park off Puddington Lane, Eurasian Spoonbill and Spotted Redshank also present-Burton RSPB

Ruddy Shelduck-Drake still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

2nd March

Eurasian Bittern-Went to roost off Old baths-Parkgate

Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl-Three again off Old Baths car park-Parkgate

3 Red Kite over (seen from Burton Mere Wetlands) - Burton.

Willow Tit-Moore Nature Reserve-Warrington

Green-winged Teal-Drake still at the new flash to the right of the Old Baths Flash-Parkgate

Russian White-fronted Geese- 28 still; use reserve car park off Puddington Lane-Burton RSPB

2 Black-necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes

Ruddy Shelduck-Drake still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

1st March

Sand Martin-Neumann's Flash

Black-necked Grebe and Sand Martin-Woolston Eyes

Euasian Spoonbill-Boathouse Flash-Parkgate

Russian White-fronted Goose-33 from viewpoint by barn-Burton RSPB

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

Russian White-fronted Geese-75 in fields on the east side of Tetton Lane Flash with Pink-footed geese ; park in the dip on Tetton Lane, then walk north for c 400m to view

Ruddy Shelduck-Drake still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

Hen Harrier (grey male) came in off the sea, then headed west - Hilbre.

Spoonbill on Boathouse Flash - Parkgate.

Feb 28th

Green-winged Teal (drake) on Boathouse Flash, also 12 Stonechat - Parkgate.

Scaup (drake) - West Kirby Marine Lake.

Goosander, 3000 Oystercatcher, 80 Grey Plover, 46 Golden Plover, 5000 Dunlin, 4500 Knot, 1300 Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Bar-tailed Godwit, 330 Curlew, 1700 Redshank, 2 Greenshank over high tide - Heswall Shore.

2 Short-eared Owl off Heswall Golf Course.

11 Russian White-fronted Geese, distant from Bunker hide- Burton Mere Wetlands.

Russian White-fronted Geese-75 in fields on the east side of Tetton Lane Flash with Pink-footed geese ; park in the dip on Tetton Lane, then walk north for c 400m to view

Shore Lark-In field by the wall along the Gritstone Trail between the telephone mast and the Old Man O'Mow-Mow Cop

Ruddy Shelduck-Drake still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

Caspian Gull-Two 1st-winters at WSR Recycling Centre-Widnes

2 Sand Martin-Marbury Country Park-Northwich

Black-necked Grebe-Woolston Eyes

Feb 27th

6 Russian White-fronted Geese, distant from Bunker hide- Burton Mere Wetlands.

Firecrest-One reported at Moat Lane-Rixton

Russian White-fronted Geese-52 in fields on the east side of Tetton Lane Flash with Pink-footed geese ; park in the dip on Tetton Lane, then walk north for c 400m to view

Short-eared Owl-At least one again late afternoon-Neston Marsh

Caspian Gull-Two (adult and 2nd-winter) on River Mersey-Widnes

Ruddy Shelduck-Drake still on River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

Russian White-fronted Goose-15 still at the west end of No 3 Mitigation Area-Frodsham Marshes

Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton RSPB

Feb 26th

Eurasian Spoonbill - Burton RSPB

Red Kite-Flew west over Park Lane and headed towards Meols Station at 0950am.

Willow Tit and -Burton RSPB

Willow Tit

(c)Joe Downing

Scaup (drake) - West Kirby Marine Lake

Kumlien's Gull-Adult still on River Mersey near Old Runcorn Bridge and 1st Winter Caspian Gull-Widnes

Kumlien's Gull

(c)Steve Tomlinson

Russian White-fronted Geese-74 in fields on the east side of Tetton Lane Flash with 94 Pink-footed geese; park in the dip on Tetton Lane, then walk north for c 400m to view-Sandbach Flashes

Ruddy Shelduck-Still on the River Mersey off Spike Island-Widnes

12 Russian White-fronted Geese on wet grassland and 6 Barnacle Geese- Burton Mere Wetlands

EARLY SPRING MOTHING IN CHESHIRE – DELAMERE FOREST AND HOB HEY WOOD

After a long winter, the recent lift in temperatures has finally brought the first real signs that the moth season is getting underway. With milder nights forecast this week, I headed out for a couple of trapping sessions in Cheshire at Delamere Forest and Hob Hey Wood in Frodsham.

Both sites are excellent habitats for moths. Delamere Forest, with its mixture of conifer plantations, deciduous woodland and Hob Hey Wood, although smaller, is a lovely patch of woodland.

Below are some of the moths recorded during the sessions.

Satellite-Delamere Forest

Engrailed-Frodsham

Clouded Drab-Frodsham 

Twin-Spotted Quaker-Frodsham

Hebrew Character-Frodsham

Common Quaker-Frodsham

Twin-Spotted Quaker and Small Quaker-Frodsham

Dotted Border-Delamere Forest

March Moth-Delamere Forest

SHORELARK ON THE GRITSTONE TRAIL-MOW COP

Today I made the trip to Mow Cop to see the long-staying Shorelark that has been present in the area for the last six weeks. The bird was found in a field along the Gritstone Trail and continues to attract a steady stream of birders hoping to catch up with this scarce winter visitor.

After arriving and scanning the field, the Shorelark was soon picked up feeding amongst the grassy tussocks. Although it showed well at times, it was always fairly distant and spent most of its time quietly moving between patches of vegetation. 

Shorelarks are always a special bird to see inland, as they are more typically associated with coastal habitats during the winter months. The images below were kindly given to me by Steve Seal.

Shorelark

(c) Steve Seal

A nice afternoon birding in the spring sun, and good to catch up with some familiar faces.

BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF THE WEEK:23rd FEBRUARY-1st MARCH 2026

Spring seems to get earlier every year. During the last few days, spells of warm, sunny weather had people celebrating their first Brimstones and, in some cases, summer migrants. Read more>