Tristram's Warbler (1 Viewer)

I'm heading to Morocco for a long weekend's birding at the beginning of May 2010, covering the area between Marrakech and Boumalne des Dades.

I've managed to find excellent info on most of my target species, but I'm struggling to identify reliable sites for Tristram's Warbler in this area at that time of year.

Any suggestions, please?

I've come across references to sightings in the Todra Gorge, but not sure if they breed here or just winter.

Similarly, I've seen a few references to them in the Tizi-n-Test area, but no specifics - do they breed here, and are there any specific sites? What about the Tizi-n-Tichka area?

Any suggestions extremely welcome, as I can't see me having time to go east to the reliable site at Tizi-n-Talrhemt.

Thanks,

I saw one on Monday beside the N13 rd 186 km from Ifrane. I don't have a map to hand but the area was encountered on our drive from Merzouga to Zeida. We failed to find them a few kms further back at the The Coll (a pine plantation surrounded by juniper scrub where they've been seen before) but found them at this site on a random stop where the road starts to descend into the lowlands with widespread low scrub and lots of tussocks on the mountainside.

Tristram's are altitudinal migrants breeding in scrub at 1,000 - 2,500m so it's worth checking this habitat when driving through it. I don't know much about Todra Gorge but it sounds like it is a breeding site - check the altitude. The species winters in the lowlands/ desert and between December & mid March the best site is the tamarisks at Merzouga where I'd imagine they're quite easy (it's a very small area) and you may well see them in the hand at the regular ringing station there.

Good luck

Gruff Dodd said:

I'm heading to Morocco for a long weekend's birding at the beginning of May 2010, covering the area between Marrakech and Boumalne des Dades.

I've managed to find excellent info on most of my target species, but I'm struggling to identify reliable sites for Tristram's Warbler in this area at that time of year.

Any suggestions, please?

I've come across references to sightings in the Todra Gorge, but not sure if they breed here or just winter.

Similarly, I've seen a few references to them in the Tizi-n-Test area, but no specifics - do they breed here, and are there any specific sites? What about the Tizi-n-Tichka area?

Any suggestions extremely welcome, as I can't see me having time to go east to the reliable site at Tizi-n-Talrhemt.

Thanks,

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info - much appreciated!

As you're looking in spring, you'll need to look in breeding habitat (they're in the desert areas in winter). As already said, the road south from Ifrane is good, as you approach Zeida and better still, further south. Check the rocky / low scrub areas of slopes by the road. A few stops at habitat of this sort and you'll see them. By May, juvs are out of the nest so look / listen for family parties... Good luck

If you plan to visit Oukaimeden, drive 3.0 km along the Asni road to a place where you can see some buildings at the other side of the valley (the Asni crossing is clearly signposted along the road to Oukaimeden). A Tristram's Warbler was singing there in the beginning of April (also seen, a couple of hundred meters away there was a Subalpine Warbler with a very similar song).

Fantastic info all - really appreciate it.

I will actually be starting my trip in Oukaimeden, so will definitely try the Asni road area - thanks very much!