A year ago at Dakhla peninsula in Morocco

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Dakhla peninsula in Morocco
© NF Photos 121118

A year ago I was in Morocco and at the southern part of Dakhla peninsula. There was lots of gulls and terns at the low tide area and in the back some flamingos. And...as it turned out to be, a wreck.

Wild Bird Wednesday

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Labels:  Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding,  resa, travel, family, familj, Marocko, Morocco, Western Sahara, Dakhla, peninsula, gulls, vrak, wreck,

121119 Morocco Day 10 Monday, Dakhla - Laayoune

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121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

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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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More about South Morocco and Westsahara on NF Photo    Moroccan Bird species ** Labels: Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, airplane, flygplan, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, fågelblog, birdblog, Marocko, Morocco, Västsahara, West Sahara, Sahara, desert, öken, Marrakech  Dakhla, Laayoune, Marocko, Morocco, foot, fot, oas, sanddyn, sand dune, Al-Ayun,


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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

day 10, 121119 Monday night in Laayoune http://lexicorient.com/morocco/laayoune.htm

Sahara Line Hotel, Avenue Kairawane, Laayoune Tel 05 28 99 22 26

see day 5

121117 Morocco Day 8 Saturday, Aousard and Oued Jenna

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121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

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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

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121116 Morocco Day 7 Friday, Dakhla area

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Sky Watch Friday  Himmelsk  Our World Tuesday

121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

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121116 Morocco Day 7 Friday,

Woke up at 6.10. I had been up once during the night but slept again. Now we had breakfast at 6.30 for departure at 7. We had mostly the normal breakfast but the bread was "hamburger bread" and we had to get the coffee from the bar. But that is just details, it was tasty and nice.

Today we spent the time on Dakhla peninsula and Dakhla Bay. We left at 7 and the driver had some trouble finding the way out of town. We wanted to go south along the coast. I don´t think those guys had any map to consult. :)

We found the road and headed south along the coast. Stoped here and there to look for sea birds. At first it was hard as it was still dark and a bit foggy. Most of the birds seen was gulls, terns, gannets and a few vaders like a Sandpiper (Drillsnäppa).

At the south point of the peninsula was a fishermens village of sort. We only turned the bus there. Nobody went out. It did not look nice. I did not see any woman so my guess is only men lived and worked there. Living in simple sheds.

We saw a lot of small boats on the water during the day.

On the road back there was a low area with tides and a lot of birds. Mostly gulls of course but also vaders and two Eurasian or African Spoonbills (skedstork). A nice sight.  

 

After "lunch" we headed north. Passed by Dakhla city, still birding here and there. Lots of terns and gulls. At the north end of the bay was a camping site. When it was high tide they used to do different sort of water sports in that area. There was also flamingos. :)

Back in town there were the, now usual, routine. And there are also some birding opportunities in town too.  Finding somewhere to buy next days lunch and then back to the hotel for a quick shower before meeting the others. Going through the days birds and then dinner. Tomorrow we will be early birds. Up at 04.00 to go deep into the desert. The hotel will provide us with breakfast.

Dakhla on Panorimo
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day 7, 121116 Friday, Dakhla Bay,

day 7, 121116 Friday, night in Dakhla

Bab El Bahr Hotel, Ave Al Moukaouama, Dakhla. Tel 05 28 93 14 40

** Labels: Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, airplane, flygplan, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, fågelblog, birdblog, Marocko, Morocco, Västsahara, West Sahara, Sahara, desert, öken, Marrakech  Bab El Bahr Hotel, Common Sandpiper, Dakhla, drillsnäppa, Dakhla Bay, fishermen, fiskare, by, village,

121115 Morocco Day 6 Thursday, Laayoune - Dakhla

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121115 Morocco Day 6 Thursday
 

I went up at 7 as we had a sleeping morning. I was a bit late for breakfast so I was almost alone. There was a buffé to choose from but half of it was gone. But I manage to get an egg, yougurt and some bread.  The people running the restaurant is not what I would call serviceminded. The lady in charge took an order and then she sat down reading a book. Leaving me waiting till I got tired and reminded her. L
 

Never mind, we left Sahara Line Hotel at 8.35. My lower lip is swollen and not fun at all. The cold seem a bit better today. We started our long journey south. Kind of nice at first as I spotted some dunes. But then it started to become a really dry land. I thought it would bee very warm today as we were going south into the desert, so I took my lighter clothes. Mistake! But I managed. So far temperature has not been higher then Swedish summer. .


 

First stop, at 10.25,  we made was at a coffee shop to go to the loo and have a coffee break. Well needed for everyone I think. Then we continued. We still had 330 km to go. And the road is straight. No curves what so ever.





At 13.30 h we stopped at the shop/gas station where some black and white crows had nested 2 years ago. But we did not see any. What we DID seee was litter! So much litter all over the place. I can´t help but being amazed about how much litter they can dump in the middle of nowhere. :(   In this "dumpsite" were some gorgeous flowers growing and gulls searching for whatever leftovers they could find.
We are now in Western Sahara.



I am sneezing and feeling bad all over. And I start to feel dirty. This country don´t seem to be good to me at all. I am sneezing my way through it. Usually I start to feel great as soon as I leave Sweden. But not now.

 

Passing a desert area one of us suddenly shouted out. A falcon was in the air. The driver was able to stop the bus so we checked the bird and then went out to look at it. It was a pair of Lanner Falcon   (slagfalk). We were lucky. And Anders was overwhelmed. Such a beautiful bird. And it turned out to be 2 of them. Probably a couple. We were able to get a bit closer before they took off. That was a nice and needed break. Cheered everyone up.

 

Later we stoped at Dakhla Bay to watch for vaders. There were quite many of them so we stayed until 17.15 before we went to Dakhla and shopping and then the hotel. The room Is gorgeous but Internet connection is lousy. I took  a shower but it took 5 min before the water was warm. Lukewarm, not hot.

We met for the birdlist at 20,00 in the lobby. For dinner we had first a starter with some fish and vegetables. Then the main course was also fish. And for desert some kind of fromage. The dining room was outdoors and it was rather chilly so I had to go to my room for a jacket. My room is luxuary. Not used to such things. And we are going to stay here 4 nights. :) 

There is one thing strange with Morocco. At 23.00h the whole country seems to go dead. Everything outside our rooms goes blank. And the light in the corridors is not lit even for so long it takes to open the door. You really need a flashlight if you want to leave the room in the evening.
 

Tomorrow up at 6.10. Breakfast at 6.30 and off we go at 7 to watch for seabirds.

day 6, 121115 Thursday, Oas vid Laayoune, div stop

day 6, 121115 Thursday, night in Dakhla http://www.visitmorocco.com/index.php/eng/I-am-going-to/Other-cities/Dakhla/

           Bab El Bahr Hotel, Ave Al Moukaouama, Dakhla. Tel 05 28 93 14 40

           www.h-rez.com/a277132/index.htm

           wireless internet complimentary in public areas,

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 Dakhla, Laayoune, Marocko, Morocco, Dakhla Bay, Bab El Bahr Hotel, Sahara Line Hotel, dune, dyn, sanddyn, öken, desert, Western Sahara

Morocco Translate - Traduire - ترجم

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121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

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Pour mes amis marocains. Merci beaucoup pour les 2 semaines au Maroc. J'ai ajouté un outil de traduction dans la barre latérale de sorte que vous serez en mesure de lire, si vous le souhaitez. Et vous pouvez commenter aussi bien en français que je puisse le traduire. Pour utiliser le lien ci-dessous le poste commentaire qui dit "Commentaires" ou "Kommentarer". Ensuite, vous pouvez suivre mon journal ici dans le blog de ​​voyage ainsi que le blog oiseau marocaine. http://nfmoroccobirds.blogspot.se/

 

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For my Moroccan friends. Thank you very much for the 2 weeks in Morocco. I have added a translation tool in the sidebar so you shall be able to read if you like. And you can comment as well in french as I can translate it. To comment use the link below the post that says "Comments" or "Kommenater". Then you can follow my diary here in the Travel blog as well as the Moroccan birdblog.

 

Flamingo - Flamant

NF Photo 121116  Dakhla Bay, Morocco

SOOC Sunday
 

Mer om Södra Marocko  och Västsahara på NF Photo Marockos fåglar

More about South Morocco and Westsahara on NF Photo    Moroccan Bird species ** Labels: Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, airplane, flygplan, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, fågelblog, birdblog, Marocko, Morocco, Västsahara, West Sahara, Sahara, desert, öken, Marrakech franska, french, friends, Dakhla, Dakhla Bay, flamingo, flamant
** 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   http://www.allbestbeaches.com/africa/morocco/dakhla_bay/