The road from Agadir to the Oued Massa National Park takes you through several towns and those on the outskirts of the city can make for some interesting driving. Once out and heading south things get more relaxed and its not long before you can turn right to Arhbolou and head along at your own gentle pace taking in what ever you spot.
Thekla Larks are very common and right on the road side. On the wires we see Southern Grey Shrike, plus an enormous flood of butterflies all over the fields and crossing the road. Once in the village of Arhbolou it is easy to take a right find the bridge across the Massa. Here we had Little Egret, Black-crowned Tchagra, Fan-tailed Warbler, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Reed Warbler, Kestrel and Yellow Wagtail (grey-headed). 
Heading on down the final stretch of road to the coast we found ourselves about a mile south of the mouth of the river at Sidi Massa. Here we meet with a local bird tour organiser and his wife. Of course we are sceptical of his promise to show us anything but after a short trip around a local lagoon getting Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron and Green Sandpiper we are convinced he has the knowledge and strike a deal for lunch, and a go at tracking down Bald Ibis on a strictly “no see no pay” basis.
We are driven across many field tracks, only suitable for four wheeled drive vehicles, coming across Montague’s Harrier, tens of Thekla Larks, Black Wheatear, Northern Wheatear and Stone Curlew. Our man speaks to a local Shepherds and then, high in the sky, long necked black birds! We drive fast across the arid land and get close enough to see they have no trailing legs. We are 99% certain we have found our quarry and they are dropping down! One final push and we are there with five Bald Ibis on the ground, grazing. There is no way we could have achieved this with out help, so on the drive back to our car, we feel well pleased with the small investment and the trust we put in our guide. This ends our second day and we return to Agadir contented birders. To be continued......
Life bird count:381 Year bird count:151 Month bird count:104
Heading on down the final stretch of road to the coast we found ourselves about a mile south of the mouth of the river at Sidi Massa. Here we meet with a local bird tour organiser and his wife. Of course we are sceptical of his promise to show us anything but after a short trip around a local lagoon getting Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron and Green Sandpiper we are convinced he has the knowledge and strike a deal for lunch, and a go at tracking down Bald Ibis on a strictly “no see no pay” basis.
We are driven across many field tracks, only suitable for four wheeled drive vehicles, coming across Montague’s Harrier, tens of Thekla Larks, Black Wheatear, Northern Wheatear and Stone Curlew. Our man speaks to a local Shepherds and then, high in the sky, long necked black birds! We drive fast across the arid land and get close enough to see they have no trailing legs. We are 99% certain we have found our quarry and they are dropping down! One final push and we are there with five Bald Ibis on the ground, grazing. There is no way we could have achieved this with out help, so on the drive back to our car, we feel well pleased with the small investment and the trust we put in our guide. This ends our second day and we return to Agadir contented birders. To be continued......
Life bird count:381 Year bird count:151 Month bird count:104
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