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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Morocco (1 Viewer)

C

cbutler

Well-known member
Anyone interested in a trip to Morocco next year for
Small Buttonquail, African Marsh Owl, Double-spurred Francolin, Atlas Flycatcher, Dupont's Lark, Levaillant's Green Woodpecker, Black crowned Tchagra, Seebohm's Wheatear, Little Swift, Calandra Lark, Red-knobbed Coot, Marbled Duck, Greater Flamingos, Thekla Lark, Red rumped Wheatear, Black Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Lesser Kestrel, Black-Bellied Sandgrouse, Moussier's Redstart, Spectacled Warbler, Black-shouldered Kite, ...etc!

It is with Gayuin Birding.

If anyone is interested let me know please
 
cbutler said:
Anyone interested in a trip to Morocco next year for
Small Buttonquail, African Marsh Owl, Double-spurred Francolin, Atlas Flycatcher, Dupont's Lark, Levaillant's Green Woodpecker, Black crowned Tchagra, Seebohm's Wheatear, Little Swift, Calandra Lark, Red-knobbed Coot, Marbled Duck, Greater Flamingos, Thekla Lark, Red rumped Wheatear, Black Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Lesser Kestrel, Black-Bellied Sandgrouse, Moussier's Redstart, Spectacled Warbler, Black-shouldered Kite, ...etc!

It is with Gayuin Birding.

If anyone is interested let me know please
Click to expand...
I have sent a message
 
Funny you search companions and cannot even publicly share travel dates...
I'll answer for you: end of april, beginning of may (otherwise you can't get the flycatcher). Going later would reduce chances of Good bird activity especially in the desert and anti atlas.
 
cbutler said:
I have had some requests for additional information. Here is a link to the Website http://gayuin.com/Tour.6.html
the dates are shown here, also the more the cheaper it will be.
The face book page gives plenty of info.
Click to expand...

Can't believe that a modern tour operator, uses 'snake charmers' (day 7) to evoke the character and atmosphere of a place, enough to turn me right off a company like this.
 
andyadcock said:
Can't believe that a modern tour operator, uses 'snake charmers' (day 7) to evoke the character and atmosphere of a place, enough to turn me right off a company like this.
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They don't initiate this they just take you to the square in Marakesh where it just happens. There is also an old storyteller sitting in the square with a Barbary Falcon. It is just how it is and they are just showing what happens in Morocco.
Worst things happen in Europe and the Middle East with bird slaughter there. Are you turned off all the tour operators that take birders there?
 
cbutler said:
They don't initiate this they just take you to the square in Marakesh where it just happens. There is also an old storyteller sitting in the square with a Barbary Falcon. It is just how it is and they are just showing what happens in Morocco.
Worst things happen in Europe and the Middle East with bird slaughter there. Are you turned off all the tour operators that take birders there?
Click to expand...

Most enlightened tour operators, certainly won't make it a highlight and certainly won't make it a must see, how about going off to see all the trapped songbirds in China or Malta, after all 'they're just showing you what happens', nonsense argument to justify your point.

In answer to your last sentence, I have never seen anything like it mentioned as a highlight by any other tour operator so it's moot, may as well go and find some dancing bears.
 
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What experience has the guide with finding the buttonquail? I asked him about it for this year and he went very quiet.

Steve
 
Steve Lister said:
What experience has the guide with finding the buttonquail? I asked him about it for this year and he went very quiet.

Steve
Click to expand...
I have seen pictures on their face book page of the bird.

They seem to know the site where it is seen and with a bird like this it is hit and miss. They only bird Morocco so hopefully they have as much chance as anyone else. When I asked about the Francolin they were upfront and said that they were very difficult, so like everything else you have to take their word and look at comments from customers.
I seem to remember seeing pictures on their face book page which is why I looked further into going with them. Cant say anything more.
As has proved the case in this thread you make a comment which is taken completely out of context, so I will say no more.
 
andyadcock said:
Most enlightened tour operators, certainly won't make it a highlight and certainly won't make it a must see, how about going off to see all the trapped songbirds in China or Malta, after all 'they're just showing you what happens', nonsense argument to justify your point.

In answer to your last sentence, I have never seen anything like it mentioned as a highlight by any other tour operator so it's moot, may as well go and find some dancing bears.
Click to expand...


they do not use the term "evoke the character and atmosphere of a place" and they do not use the snake charmer a "must see"

they also mention water sellers is this to "evoke the character and atmosphere of the place"

I think that your comments are ott especially comparing it to China or Malta and bird slaughter in the Middle east.

They make it clear the trip is optional and explains what you may see, if you disagree then do not go, the same way I will not go to Cyprus and Malta or even a zoo.
The exact terms that they use is "Free evening to visit the old quarter of Marrakech and the impressive Jema-el-fna square which is an unbelievable experience for any visitor - snake charmers, water sellers and spice stalls plus the charm of bargaining in the Souk (OPTIONAL)."
Which I cannot see bears any resemblance to your interpretation
 
cbutler said:
I have seen pictures on their face book page of the bird.

They seem to know the site where it is seen and with a bird like this it is hit and miss. They only bird Morocco so hopefully they have as much chance as anyone else. When I asked about the Francolin they were upfront and said that they were very difficult, so like everything else you have to take their word and look at comments from customers.
I seem to remember seeing pictures on their face book page which is why I looked further into going with them. Cant say anything more.
As has proved the case in this thread you make a comment which is taken completely out of context, so I will say no more.
Click to expand...

Double-spurred?

Common but b£$%^&RDS to see, same with the Tchagra or at least it was when we did it, Thekla can be tough too.

The iconic Moroccan bird is also missing from the itinerary, Northern Bald Ibis?

I'd hope that they'd take you up to Oukameiden above Marrakesh, amazing place, Crimson-winged Finch is very easy along with Alpine Chough and Horned Lark.
 
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andyadcock said:
Double-spurred?

Common but b£$%^&RDS to see, same with the Tchagra or at least it was when we did it, Thekla can be tough too.

The iconic Moroccan bird is also missing from the itinerary, Northern Bald Ibis?
Click to expand...

they run other trips for that, it is all about logistics and distances to travel.
 
cbutler said:
they run other trips for that, it is all about logistics and distances to travel.
Click to expand...

To be frank, it's an easy trip to do independently if you're so inclined, GPS will make it much easier than when we did it, you'd do two weeks for less than what they charge for one and get the Ibis too.

The itinerary they show is pretty unambitious to be fair.

A circular route around the country from Cassablanca is pretty easy.
 
andyadcock said:
Did they not include Tristram's Warbler either?
Click to expand...

To be honest Andy I have seen the Bald Ibis and Tristram's, Tchagra and Woodpecker etc on another trip.
The only birds I need are the Seebom's,Wheatear, Atlas Pied Fly, Francolin, Marsh Owl, Buttonquail and Red-rumped Wheatear. This is about the most new birds I can see anywhere in the WP without going to the Urals or Western Sahara so it is a trip well worth doing

I am also of an age that I am happy for others to lead, I have lead many trips for many years and now wish to chill and take my time and take photographs.

Although I try to increase my WP list I am happy to just enjoy my birding and see what I see and not get annoyed if I don't see everything.

Regards and good birding
 
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