After checking out of our Agadir hotel after breakfast on May 4, we loaded our bags and started the 3.5 hour drive to Marrakech. We stopped only for coffee, but did catch a view of a Little Owl perched on a roadside power line. Arriving in Marrakech shortly before noon, our guide dropped us off in the urban Jardins de la Menara, a bustling developed urban park. We walked about 10 minutes to a reflecting pond, where Common and Pallid Swifts were swooping over the water where Little Grebes were swimming and diving.
Back to the Riad where we spent the first night, Room Fayrouz, to drop off our luggage. We headed to a nearby market to buy some Moroccan dates, a stop at the Artisenal Coop to buy some Berber Slippers, then to the Medina Souks in search of olives and dinner.
After a good night’s sleep, we had one more morning in Morocco before we had to head to the airport around noon for a late afternoon flight. After our final Moroccan breakfast, we grabbed binoculars and cameras and headed to Parc Lalla Hasna, less than a 10 minute walk. A communications tower adjacent to the park hosted a White Stork nest. Spanish Sparrows often build nests in the base of the White Stork’s large nest. Merlin picked up the sound of Spanish Sparrows, but despite our best efforts we could not positively identify any among the numerous House Sparrows. We also had some great looks at Melodious Warbler, European Greenfinch, European Turtle Dove, Common Bulbul, and Sardinian Warbler.
Heading to the airport, leaving lots of time since we had read many stories about how long security lines could be. Fortunately things moved quickly, leaving lots of time to grab lunch. As we were waiting, the last Moroccan bird showed — A House Bunting was flying around the rafters of the terminal building. Soon we’d be boarding and heading to Lisbon for a day birding in Portugal before heading home.
