Fiche de renseignements - Go-South

Oukaimeden, 12.04.2010
Unsurprisingly it was quite cold in the early morning but it warmed up quickly when the sun
came out. Our main target bird, Crimson-winged Finch, showed well at car park 2 (80+
birds), followed by Seebohm’s Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Red-billed Chough, Alpine
Chough and Mistle Thrush as well as a superb male Moussier’s Redstart, several Shore
Larks of race atlas and a male Blue Rock Thrush. Oukaimeden also offers a chance to see
Bearded Vulture but although a bird had been seen a few days before we were out of luck.
Crimson-winged Finch, 12.04.2010 Seebohm’s Wheatear, 12.04.2010
Shore Lark ssp. atlas, 12.04.2010 Moussier’s Redstart, 12.04.2010
After a hearty breakfast in the gorgeous mountain scenery next to the highest peak of North
Africa, the Djebel Toubkal (4167 m), we headed down to the two pylons located next to the
road at 2233 m (31° 14’ 14.8’’ N 007° 48’ 59,7’’ W). I was very relieved when we got out of
the car at 09:30 a.m. and found a superb male Tristram’s Warbler singing: the species can
be quite tricky to see. At this spot we also had a pair of Barbary Partridges and 6 Alpine
Swifts. On our way down we heard 2 distant Levaillant’s (Green) Woodpeckers calling but
failed to locate them. We did encounter a pair of Booted Eagle (pale morph), Firecrest of
race balearicus, our only Red-rumped Swallows of the trip and another male Moussier’s
Redstart.
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