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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Morocco Oued Massa 121112

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121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

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NF Photo 121112 Oued Massa , Morocco

 

 Looking at the shot above I was amazed. The waves looks really huge. The pink birds walking in the water is flamingoes. This place was the mouth of the river entering the Atlantic ocean. Images from my trip to Morocco last November.

Water World Wednesday

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Mer om Södra Marocko  och Västsahara på NF Photo Marockos fåglar

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121124 Morocco Day 15 Saturday, Djemma El Fna to Arn

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Sky Watch Friday   Himmelsk    Ein stuck himmel

121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

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121124 Morocco Day 15 Saturday, Djemma El Fna
going back home

Woke up the first time rather early but then I slept till 8. Went up and headed for breakfast. I met some of the others at the dining room so I joined them. The 3 of us that was from Denmark has already left the group for an early flight to Denmark.

At 9.30 we left for the Marrakech market, Djemma El Fna. Quite interesting place really. It was not only the square outside but also a lot of shops under roof or tentlike rooms. And I mean a lot. I´m not too fond of places like that but I had company at all times so it was ok. It is easy to get lost when you don´t know the place. I compared it with the Kairo market I visited a lot of yeas ago and this was really different. This was very clean and well maintained. http://www.ilovemarrakech.com/marrakesh/el_fna.htm

First thing when we jumped of the bus was an entire street with horse wagons one could rent. We did not as we were supposed to take a look at the market. Then I notices something that made me a bit uneasy. On three buildings were gallows. I really hope they were not in use. But was still there only as a warning. I took the shot from the bus. That is why it is a reflection.

 

 

 

There were snakes, monkeys and people trying their best to get our attention. Some were earning their living by being “clowns”. What a life! A few women was painting with henna. I would have loved it but there was not enough time.  A lot of noice all over that almost made my ears cry. We walked around for about 2h then we went to a restaurant to get some food as the plane don´t offer it. It was a nearby restaurant with a gret view over the market place from the balcony. We were even able to get some new birdspecies from there.

 

 

Back to the bus at 13.00h to go to the hotel. I took a quick shower before finish packing and leaving the room.

Writing a bit in the lobby. The image shows the pathway to the second floor. It had a very nice fence. Enlarge for a better view.

The airport was a disaster. Talk about waiting in lines. When the incheck was supposed to start the info boards said point 8 and 9. But there stood Manchester, not Arlanda. After a while a person came and chooed us over to point 20 and 22. But point 22 was out of order. So, again after 20 min a person came and told us to go to line 5 and 6. LOTS of people there and a very slow process. Then some person, again, told us to change point. This time we actually got through our luggage and got our boarding card.

Passing through security was both easier and worse. First point was fast, did not even have to remove the computer from the backpack. But next one I had to go in a female line. For body visits. But after a while the males checkpoint failed and they came over to the female line. Chaos! 5 min later their point worked again and they had to go back to the male line. :) At passport control we were actually checked out from Morocco. This is the first time ever I have been checked out of a country. I have immigrated a lot never exited. :)

All of this took so long that the plane started boarding long before we came out of passport control. So no time for shopping. :( I was happy to buy a bottle of orange juice.

We had to go to the plane with a bus shuttle as the plane was not connected ith the building.

Then the plane was late ofcourse. We were airborn about 45 min late at 18.55.

Stockholm by night

Flight time about 4.5h and landing at Arlanda probably 10 min late at 00,20 local time.

I could not take shots during the takeoff as they had some rules of keeping digitals off during takeoff. To bad as it was dark and really a beautiful sight with all lights below.

But later on we were allowed to turn on everything. They even had internet connection. So, I was online while I was connected as well as upplifted in cyber/space.  Sounded much funnier in swedish. :) "Uppkopplad and upplyft"

The weather was good so we landed on time at midnight. Now I spend a few hours on a bench before my connection home by train.  

 

Djemma El Fna, indoors. It shows quite well my mixed feelings about having to go home to winter and cold and darkness. Would have loved a few days in Agadir.

 

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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,  airplane, arlanda, Djemma El Fna, flight, flyg, Marocko, Marrakech, Morocco, galgge, gallow, market, marknad, ormtjusare, snake,
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121123 Morocco Day 14 Friday, Seabirds Agadir

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Water World   Ourdoor Wednesday   Wild Bird Wednesday  Our World Tuesday

121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

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121123 Morocco Day 14 Friday, Seabirds

Woke up early and went out for a stroll in the hotel garden,  parks and the beach before going back to pack and have breakfast. I tried to find one of the birds we have not seen but didn´t see it.

 I like the breakfast at this hotel. Really great. The bags will stay in a luggage room over the day. We were a bit late as our second party, a man from Scotland, was waiting at the wrong hotel. But finally we embarked at the harbour. The boat was rather small and had seen better days. Probably a luxuary yaht in it days of glory. Going to the loo was not fun.




When we left the harbour we saw a Peregrine Falcon (pilgrimsfalk) snatch a Sandwitch Tern (Kentsk tärna). Funny thing is that severel of us was preparing to take a shot of the tern and did not see the falcon coming. A great experience indeed.

But  after that there was not much more. I think it was rather empty of birds but Anders seemed rather pleased. Or he pretended to in order to cheer us up.

I was confused about the haze over land until I realized it was sand in the air.

We saw the Cory´s Shearwater (gulnäbbad lira) and Red Phalarope (brednäbbad simsnäppa). There were lots of food served omboard so we were certainly not hungry when we came back to the harbour around 15.00h.

There was food for the birds also but with the lack of birds most of it was left when we turned back. We throw it out to the terns and gulls. That was the fun thing of the day if you ask me.

At one point I was rather pissed. I was just seated at the table when the Red Phalarope came into view. Like everybody else I wanted to see it and to take shots. But I was locked at the table with people on both sides and could not get out. And People standing right in the sight path not moving aside despite I begged them to move sideways and even though they was able to do it they did not. I got one shot below somebodys armpit. From the back of course.  :(

We went back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and then started the journey to Marrakesh . We took the highway this time to shorten the trip. It still took several hours. We arrived at Gueliz Hotel about 19.00h. M is very dirty and dusty and I felt it as soon as we arrived. Not a great feeling at all. My lungs would not like to live there.

Birdlist at 20.00 and then dinner. A bufé again. Tired and slept with the computer in my knee again.

Tomorrow at 9.30 we go to the market and around town. Back to the hotel for a quick shower before we go the airport.

The morning view from my hotelroom in Agadir 121123

 

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day 14, 121123 Friday, Seabirds by boat then transport to Marrachech

day 14, 121123 Friday, night in Marrakech

Gueliz Hotel, Avenue Hassan II, Marrakech, Tel 05 24 42 52 00

see day 1

** 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  Agadir, boat, Gueliz Hotel, havsfåglar, Marocko, Marrakech, Morocco, seabirds, tour, turkduva, Peregrine Falcon, pilgrimsfalk,

** 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 

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. :)
 

 For weekend Reflection

 

Tomorrow breakfast 6.00, hopefully and departure 6.30

And.....don´t take pics of people and castles.

 

Guelmim

 

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  Guelmim, H.A.M, Hotel Adil Moussafir, Marocko, Morocco, Oued Boussafen, Sammetshätta, Sardinian warbler, Tan-Tan Plage, Temminck´s Lark, ökenberglärka,
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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 

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.

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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

Labels: Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden,  photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, fågelblog, birdblog, Marocko, Morocco, Västsahara, West Sahara, Sahara, desert, öken, Hagounia Hotel, Kniipfiss, Laayoune, Tan-Tan Plage,
** 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