2013-02-28

121121 Morocco Day 12 Wednesday, Tan-Tan Plage - Guelmim

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121121 Morocco Day 12 Wednesday, Tan-Tan Plage - Guelmim

Woke up at 5.50 to have breakfast at 6.00. And we left at 6.35.
This was a misty morning with fog all over the place. It was quite nice but hard to get a shot at from inside the bus. But finally I think I have a few good ones.

7.15   For the first time we had a constapel entering the bus wanting our papers. He got it and off we could go. Was this the last one? We´ll see.




At 8.20 we made our first stop at Oued Boussafen, at least I think that´s the name.  A bushy land scape with some smaller birds. Here we met our first Blue Rock Trush (Blåtrast). Nice. And I got  a Sardinian warbler (Sammetshätta) too. :) Image to the right.  It had been raining so the mud was slippery. But I don´t think any of us fell to the ground. Even if it was close. I was glad I did not bring the spotting scope.


9.20  We spotted a group of Sandgrouse (flyghöns) from the bus and was able to stop for a while.


13.00
Next stop was at the lark plane (at TanTan 100) where we stayed for about 4 h and we all got really tired. Got some great shots of larks and other birds like one of the hens.
Temminck´s Lark (ökenberglärka) to the right.

To finish the day we made two short stops at some Oueds, will get the name later I hope. But there was not many birds so we did not stay long.




At the bridge with the waterhole it had rained a lot so it was a lot of water there now. And the color had changed from orange to a darker wet sand. So today the birds had a lot of places to go and drink and was not to be seen. Even the dromedar was gone. A bit of a dissappointment.





The last stop was the boring dry Oued we visited first thing in the morning on our way down. Nothing to see today either. But for one thing. There came 5 storks sailing over us. A nice sight.

Well, we stoped birding rather early and went to Guelmim to to find the supermarket and to go to our new hotel. Known as HAM. It is a great one but the room is a bit chilly. We had our birdlist at 18.30 and then dinner was supposed  to be at 19.00. But of course, we had to wait a long time at the table so Anders effort to get an early dinner did not  really work. We were shown up to the second floor and had to wait, and wait, and.... But the food was ok when it arived.





21.40  Sitting in the lobby and that is not that fun. People coming and going and connection not that good. But they had some nice things for my camera. A vase reflection on the glass table. :)
 



 
Tomorrow breakfast 6.00, hopefully and departure 6.30
And.....don´t take pics of people and castles.
 
Guelmim
 
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day 12, 121121 Wednesday, åter t Guelmim,
day 12, 121121 Wednesday, night in Guelmim Guelmim onPanorimo  http://hoteladilmoussafir.com/
Hommes blues Hotel, 447 Ave. HassanII. Guelmim Tel 05 28 77 28 21
see day 3

** Links: Gueliz Hotel Tamri, Cap Rhir images Agadir Oasis Hotel Oued Massa (on Panorimo), Barrage Youssef-ben-Tachfine, (dammen foton) Guelmim Tan-Tan Plage  Hagounia Hotel Laayoune   Sahara Line Hotel Dakhla  Bab El Bahr Hotel   Dakhla Bay Oued Jenna   Dakhla on Panorimo Djemma El Fna 

2013-02-25

121120 Morocco Day 11 Tuesday, Laayoune - Tan Tan Plage

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121120 Morocco Day 11 Tuesday, Laayoune - Tan Tan Plage

Woke up at 5,50. Been up twice during the night. There is a police man standing in the corner of the block. Checking out on us?? Who knows! Probably he did as the clerk later on told our guide that "we are being watched".

Breakfast should have been served at 6.00 but that was the time when the first member of the staff arrived. They don´t really bother do they? So, we were late again. But not that much. This time we had a young man guiding us out of town on moped.  Our portier had whispered to Anders that the Morroccan police are watching us. And they sure are. They seem to think we are there to make an uprise among the Western Sahara people. I have no clue if we ever met any of them. I don´t think so.

Well, we headed out of town the northern route, but as we were about to bird at the bridge the young man on moped lost us when we turned in on a parkinglot. But our driver horned on him so he turned and came back. The three of them, gteh guide and our drivers seemed to have a good time as we birded the area. We had a good time birding and shooting pics as the sun rose. Lots of great shots on stilts and cattle egrets.


Well, our escort leaft us on the other side of the bridge and we continued north. Our first stop was at a bushy desert area 50 km north Laayounne. Hoping for warblers but was dissappointed. The area was almost empty. At least on birds. Some ruins was still lingering. Leaving the place at 9.55h






We were a bit more lucky at Kniipfiss(?) the fishing and camping area with the cats. There was a lot of birds. Vaders and others. Spoonbill (Skedstork), flamingo at teh sand dunes further out and Eurasian Curlew (storspov) calling a lot. We left at 13.35 to go further north. We were passing by an area where they produced salt. But we did not stop there.

Eventually we did check out the three riverbeds we visited on our way south. But now it was high tide so lots of water there and hardly no birds apart from gulls. At the last one a car  arrived with 2 couples of morroccan people. They started to vade over to the nearest island of sanddunes. The two young women had some trouble with the skirts as they did not want to get wet. They had a lot of fun and the youngest women waved at me to follow. I could not do that of course. :)

Close to Tan-Tan Plage we made a final stop to look for seabirds. Nothing much again. But some photo opportunity for me. This time two cars stoped at our group wanting to know about birding. Maybe we are turning the Morroccans into a birding people. .) Also two cars of policemen stoped and checked us out. And now our driver starts to get annoyed. They know us and have all details since we went south. So why bother us now?

It is a bit strange as we went along the coast. Here and there in empty areas is a house or tent. Men sitting at the edge fishing in the middle of nowhere. You have to wonder where they live. And why they fish so far from villages and people. Do they live by themselves in a tent supporting themselves with only fish? Guess I´ll never know. And at one place I saw a woman heading straight into the desert. God knows where to because nothing was visible to give a hint.

When arriving at Tan Tan Plage we went shoping but as we were late not much was open. But we got what we needed and then we went to the Hagounia Hotel. The "shoping centre" looks tidy already.

I got the same room as the last time. The one with the blue doors and bad shower. We met again for the birdlist. But now Anders is getting sick and skipped the dinner. I think everyone had it now except me. My troubles is the foot and the lips, still.

I talked with Janet, my daughter, on skype. She was working. And wrote a bit on the trip report.

Tomorrow we are going back to Guelmim and a new hotel. Breakfast is supposed to be at 6. But who knows? We shall leave at 7 to be able to have time enough at the lark fields and the waterhole.
Natti!

No lamp at the bed. Lucky I brought my own flashlamp.
 
Seeing the coast like this you realise Morocco will one day disappear in the Atlantic Ocean.

Mer om Södra Marocko och Västsahara på NF Photo Marockos fåglar
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day 11, 121120 Tuesday, återväg t Tan Tan Plage, stop här o där
day 11, 121120 Tuesday, night in Tan-Tan Plage
Hagounia Hotel, Tan Tan Plage. Tel 05 28 87 90 20
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** Links: Gueliz Hotel Tamri, Cap Rhir images Agadir Oasis Hotel Oued Massa (on Panorimo), Barrage Youssef-ben-Tachfine, (dammen foton) Guelmim Tan-Tan Plage  Hagounia Hotel Laayoune   Sahara Line Hotel Dakhla  Bab El Bahr Hotel   Dakhla Bay Oued Jenna   Dakhla on Panorimo Djemma El Fna

2013-02-18

121119 Morocco Day 10 Monday, Dakhla - Laayoune

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121119 Morocco Day 10 Monday, Dakhla - Laayoune

Woke up at 6.50. Packed most of my stuff and went to brekfast. The group was already there and breakfast was putting forward. I ate some and put some in my backpack for use during the day. This hotel seem to always serve a lot more then anyone can eat.

Today I lost my backpack. At least I thought so. I was about to put something in it and I could not find it. I thought I forgot it at the breakfast room. But no. I went back to the room and there it was. On the chair and I did not see it. I´m getting senile. :(  Maybe this is my last trip?? So many things I "lost" this time. So many times I looked for things that was not really lost. I just did not see it. Spent a lot of time searching for my glasses for one.


Well, we left to go 550-600 km back to Laayounne. The shot to the left was taken from inside the bus just before we  left the Dakhla peninsula.


We made the same two stops as we did on the way south. The little café and the desert stop where the crows was supposed to be. They were still not there.



Took these shots from the bus. Seems to be a settlement. As poor as the fishermens village I think. But maybe not, a lot of camels were there.




As we were going up north I was now sitting on the right side. Having a gorgeous Atlantic view half of the time. Now I did see all the ship vrecks I did not see when we were going south.







We made a stop at the wetland south of L.This days highlight.  Lots of ducks there and other birds. Stilts among them. Anders and 4 more went down to bird closer to the water. I did not dare walk down with my bad shoes and it was really steep to go down. And a lot of sand to go trough.



Anders, and all of us, was happy there was several new species for the trip on that location. The water surface dotted with birds. To bad it was quite a distance to them.



Going in to town to shop for tomorrow I found a place where they was selling shoes. I fond a pair I thought would be fine. 120 dirham. Sadly I think I will get blisters from them.


Then we headed for Sahara Line Hotel our stay for the night. We met again at 19.00 h in the lobby to go through the birdlist for today. And then dinner. I joined one of the coupels and we shared a bottle of wine for dinner as this hotel actually served wine. .
Back to the room for the usual writing. And I think we were watched. There was a policemen standing outside the hotel all night. Yes, I was up once and saw him there. He was the only person on the street when I went to bed and when i woke up in the night he was still there. Clearly bored to death.

Tomorrow we continue up north. Breakfast at 6 and departure at 7.
 
 
 
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** Links: Gueliz Hotel Tamri, Cap Rhir images Agadir Oasis Hotel Oued Massa (on Panorimo), Barrage Youssef-ben-Tachfine, (dammen foton) Guelmim Tan-Tan Plage  Hagounia Hotel Laayoune   Sahara Line Hotel Dakhla  Bab El Bahr Hotel   Dakhla Bay Oued Jenna   Dakhla on Panorimo Djemma El Fna 






day 10, 121119 Monday återväg t Laayoune, stop här o där
Sahara Line Hotel, Avenue Kairawane, Laayoune Tel 05 28 99 22 26
see day 5

2013-02-11

121118 Morocco Day 9 Sunday, Dakhla area

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121118 Morocco Day 9 Sunday, Dakhla area

Woke up at 6 and went for breakfast. We left the hotel at 6.40 to go to that waterhole we investigated yesterday. I think it is called Gleb Jdiane. Hoping for some nice hens. Sandgrouse (Flyghöns) .

When we arrived it was already daylight but a bit chilly. No birds to see at all. We walked around for a bit and then there came a couple of Northern Wheatear (stenskätta). Then a wagtail. Then it was quiet again. We went slowly to the little hillock Anders had seen. Waited another halv hour and then we heard a sound. Looking up to see the first flock of Spotted Sandgrouse (Ökenflyghöna) arriving. But it seems like they were suspicíous about us being there as they sat down far away from the water and stayed there. It took about 45 min before they started to move. We moved too, a bit further away from them to give them space. Later on a small group of Crowned Sandgrouse (Kronflyghöna) arrived. Now groups also were flying overhead but did not land. As a birder it was frustrating but understandable seen from the birds point of view. They were not used to see twolegged creatures in the area.
Spotted Sandgrouse
Finally we decided that we will leave as they obviousley did not trust us. We closed in to the 4 ones on the ground to get at least a good sight of them. But then the rest started to get busy. 5 of them landed at the water so we were able to get good shots of them before we left. In that moment a Little Egret (silkeshäger) came and landed on the tower. Typical, right! We are leaving at 10.30 then they come.
 

Crowned Sandgrouse
 We headed back to Dakhla Bay camping. Not much to see but people having fun. As the tide was really low so we continued. A bunch of terns got a human visit.


Then we went to the hotel to let a few people off. And we had 5 min to go to the loo. And now I got angry. The cleaning staff had left all keys in the doors so every room was open to who ever wanted to go there. And no cleaning staff in sight. I don´t call that secure. Anyone could have been there to steal my computer that was easily seen in the room. I lock my room because I want it to be locked. And so I told the reception personel.


We went south to visit that area once more. First stop was at a lighthouse but that place was dead, no birds. Last chance for birding at Dakhhla was down at the south end where the fishing camp was.  I walked down to check if there was any vaders while the others were looking for seabirds. There was waders but so far out it was no point in trying to see what it was. Probably the same ones as the other day. But I did see a ship and a wreck out there. I sat down by the road and ate my lunch and waved at men passing by. They seem to be very friendly.  Then I stayed a little longer before I went back to the cliffs where my fellow birders was looking for seabirds.

The driver and the young codriver also came out and had some fun with my spotting scope. I bet that before I leave they will be turned into birders.

Birdlist at 7 in the lobby. Dinner at 8. Fish of course, what else? Starter was probably octopus and the main course some fried fish. Washed up some clothes as this hotel is the best one for that purpose.

Tomorrow we are going north again. Breakfast from 7 and we are leaving at 8. Hopefully!

 


day 9, 121118 Sunday, Gleb Jdiane, Dakhla Bay, ev fri tid
day 9, 121118 Sunday,last night in Dakhla
Bab El Bahr Hotel, Ave Al Moukaouama, Dakhla. Tel 05 28 93 14 40
see day 6

 
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**Links:Gueliz Hotel Tamri, Cap Rhir images Agadir Oasis HotelOued Massa (on Panorimo), Barrage Youssef-ben-Tachfine, (dammen foton)Guelmim Tan-Tan Plage Hagounia HotelLaayoune Sahara Line HotelDakhla Bab El Bahr Hotel Dakhla BayOued Jenna Dakhla on PanorimoDjemma El Fna 
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2013-02-04

121117 Morocco Day 8 Saturday, Aousard and Oued Jenna

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121117 Morocco Day 8 Saturday, Aousard, Oued Jenna

Waiting for the bus outside the hotel
Woke up at 3.35 to be ready to leave the hotel, Bab El Bahr Hotel, at 04.00. The hotel provided us with our breakfast take away. :) It was dark of course, and most of us tried to get some more sleep in the bus. It took about 4h as we headed 250km straight into the desert. I woke up about 7 to see if the sun was rising but it took another 30 min before I could start shooting and we were almost at our first stop.
 Oued Jenna 8.05, at km 25, they had km stones to show where you are ;) But I don´t know wher the counting started.

We stoped at Oued Jenna and had our breakfast. It was quite nicely arranged. Even though the egg shells was crushed. :)  As soon as people had finished their breakfast they started to look for birds. Looking for songbirds mostly, but the first thing we spotted was a desert raven. But our hopes for Cricket Longtails (Sahel sångare) was not met. But I found lot of other things then birds. Sand, grass, butterflies. IT was beautiful. We did see Thick Knees but I did not get good shots.
Aousard
It had been raining during the long ride to the location but it was not all wet. It was kind of fun to see how the sand curved itself to look like cinnamon pins .( Kanelstänger. ) Strange! Well, I did not see many birds but a lot of other things. Like patterns in the sand looking much like the arabic handwritings. A very beautiful language to look at.

(Tjockfot, slagfalk, Monarc fjäril, svart kronad finklärka,  (flygande), medelhavsstenskvätta, ökensprav)

10,40 we change location to KM 29
More of Grey Shrike, Desert Sparrow and the Monarch butterfly
11.30 KM 20     km 41 Cricket Warbler (Sahelsångare)
(Skvätta, kungsörn Sahelsongare, slagfalk mm)




First we went on the left side of the road. Lots of the bushy grass and trees. Some people saw a Cricket Warbler (sahelsångare) but not all. I didn´t. We walked a long time on that side to try to find the bird again but failed. Back at the bus we went across to the other side and now we was more lucky. We found one and after a while everyone had seen it. The little bird can sit in that thorny tree, I woudl not get near it.   Everyone was happy, me too, even if my shots got over exposed. :( We started our long trip back to the hotel. Still 150 km too go.





Vattenhål Gleb Jdiand km 195
We arrived at the waterhole as 16.25 and went out to check out what it was looking like. There was water so Anders descided we will go there tomorrow morning to see birds come and drink.

We had the artlist at 19.00h and dinner at 20.00. My lip is a little better but still not good. Hope it will be tomorrow. Todays dinner was seafood buffee. Not my kind of food. So I took a little and a slice of bread.

Torrow we have breakfast at 6 and will leave for the waterhole at 6.30 to be sure we are there before the birds arrive.

 
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day 8, 121117 Saturday, Aousard, Oued Jenna, div stop på återvägen
day 8, 121117 Saturday, night in Dakhla Dakhla on Panorimo
Bab El Bahr Hotel, Ave Al Moukaouama, Dakhla. Tel 05 28 93 14 40


Mer om Södra Marocko  och Västsahara på NF Photo Marockos fåglar
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