James Dee Birding

Having glimpsed the Black-faced Bunting  twice before, I'd not quite given up trying for some proper views.  And of course, on this occasion with the intermittent rain making me leave my camera in the van it showed better than ever before.  Luckily, Javi of Birding the Strait  did bring his camera to record the moment. My shot from a previous visit was a little less.... clear.

Just after 1pm on the 10th February, whilst exploring Rabat, and at the suggestion of local ornithologist and PhD student, Mohammed Hilmi, I visited Fôret Moulay Abdellah to look for Levaillant's Woodpecker. Ten or so minutes after arriving I disturbed a pipit from the floor.  it flew up into the tree where it joined another individual.  I was confused to see what I thought had to be early migratory Tree Pipits, and continued my wandering, hearing at least one Levaillant's Woodpecker amongst other usually present birds. Later that evening, it was suggested by Abdassamad Annoury that they may have been Olive Backed Pipits !  The penny dropped, I realised he was right and now had to go back to try and see and photograph them. Unfortunately, we couldn't go the next day as I was accompanying Mohammed to one of his Brown-throated Martin surveying areas, but we went back on the 12th February instead, arriving at midday. It took much longer to find one this time but eventually, ...

This morning, I joined PhD student Mohammed Hilmi on a data gathering mission approximately 50 miles inland from Rabat.  We paused for a short while at Khemisset to look at Little Swifts of which we managed to see over 30.  They have very interesting nests on balconies and inside unfinished constructions but face nest destruction by some property owners and are in decline. We continued to the Plain Martin  ( Riparia paludicola) n est sites 5 miles East of Khemisset where we counted around 50 individuals in total.  They flew in crazy patterns around us, a much reduced colony since a new dam was built up river.  Mohammed Hilmi is one of the few heroes of conservation carrying out important, unsung, work, encouraging locals to be kinder with these rare birds whilst at the same time collecting data for his doctorate. Also seen today, Moussier's Redstart , Laughing Dove, Hoopoe, Black-winged Kite and Long-legged Buzzard .

Mohammed Hilmi and I set off to look for for Double-spurred Francolin 15-20 miles inland from Rabat.   We visited a couple of sites, with no sign nor sound, although we did see 5 Ferruginous Duck,  heard 3 Black-Crowned Tchagra and saw an unexpected flock of 41 Stone Curlew.  At the last stop, around 12.30, after walking around for about an hour, and with the heat of the day increasing, our energy was fading and out stomachs calling for lunch, we headed back to the van.  As we approached the van, two Double-spurred Francolins broke cover.  On seeing us, they scuttled back into the cover of the bushes.  But they weren't done, teasing us yet, as Mohammed moved toward along a higher line, they broke cover once more, pausing for a moment on the track in front of me allowing views and a quick photograph. Another challenge met!  It took 5 hours in total but they gave themselves up at the final hurdle.  This species is much bigger than I expe...