19 Feb 2019: The Tafilalt

The Tafilalt region, in southeast Morocco and bordering the Sahara, was once famous for its trade in ivory, ebony and gold; and in birding terms for its desert species. Having already found most of the desert birds, we targeted the Egyptian Nightjar and Pharaoh Eagle Owl for this area.

A few hours trudging down a dry watercourse near Kasbah Derkaoua and closely inspecting every bush failed to deliver the scarce Egyptian Nightjar, but we were privileged to find some more Desert Sparrows. Later, near Rissani, Mohammed found a Pharaoh Eagle Owl roosting in a crag – one of the highlights of my Moroccan trip!

Pharaoh Eagle Owl location, Rissani, Morocco

The afternoon was spent on the shores of Dayèt Merzouga, a desert lake well-known as a stop-over for migrants. It was inspiring to see hundreds of Greater Flamingos, and add Ferruginous Ducks, a Western Marsh Harrier, some Marbled Teals and a Kentish Plover to my year list.

Merzouga landscape, Morocco