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Morocco - fun in the desert

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Almost exactly a year since the last trip to Morocco but there was unfinished business to attend to. The geographic diversity of the country provides a range of regional specialities and this time, we were hitting the desert. A long nine hour drive across an arid landscape skillfully avoiding incident while driving out of Marrakech arriving at the Kasbah Erg Chebbi by early evening. The accommodation and food here was incredible as were the views across the desert. The following morning provided the main focus of the trip - a guided half day tour out into the wilds of the desert for plenty of target species. On-board a 4x4, the guides Otman and Mohammad threw the jeep into the wilderness.  It wasn't long before these targets came into view. A group of sandgrouse were seen in the distance heading toward a watering hole. In no time at all, we were observing a decent group of crowned sandgrouse around a modestly sized watering hole. These birds were thought to have originated their j
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Sandon - Hen Harrier

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Took me a while to get there but thankfully the ringtail hen harrier that has been faithful to a fallow field beyond Roe Green near Sandon was present and in full hunting mode as it quartered the field between 1600 and 1620 showing really well at times. This was my first for Herts. Also an impressive charm of goldfinch numbered at least 150 with probably the same number of fieldfare that fled for the skies as the harrier passed by. A group of at least 80 red kite toward Sandon was the largest gathering I had seen locally. The ground was saturated ploughing through the mud in the presence of at least 55 roe deer that included to impressive stags.
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Brecks - Great Grey Shrike

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 A rare free day and an opportunity to head to The Brecks - only an hour up the road but a great place to visit at any time of year but particularly early spring. On arrival, Lynford Arboretum was heaving with people with numbers increasing further throughout the morning. A bit of a scamper round provided views of a single hawfinch perched up high in the paddocks. The feeding area by the gate was a flurry of activity with a couple of smart brambling accompanying marsh tit , nuthatch , yellowhammer , and coal tit continually and nervously dashing in for seed. Across the other side of Lynford, the lakes produced my first drake goosander for over a year. Five crossbill flew over. It was generally very quiet here and sadly there were no signs of woodlark. The next stop was at Weeting, a ten minute walk the track to the clearfell where the continuing great grey shrike was still present and showing really well as it moved between the scattered trees. At least two goshawk were seen from t
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Short break to Spain - El Fondo Alicante

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 ...a very short break - pretty much two and a half days to an area I have wanted to visit for a while. Particularly the 'El Fondo' reserve a mere thirty minute drive from Alicante Airport. A two hour delay from Gatwick meant that my drive down to Torrevieja was made in the dark - a shame really having realised on the drive back just how vast the wetland is in this area. Greater flamingo were dotted seemingly on every pool, glowing in the bright Spanish sun. A beautiful country outside of the resorts and away from the sun parched tourists. Thankfully it was relatively quiet at this time of year. The El Fondo reserve surpassed my expectations. It's a truly stunning reserve, free at the point of entry for everyone to enjoy. It appears to be really well managed. The wooden walkway through the wetland is stunning, where species such as red-knobbed coot , purple swamphen , black-winged stilt and glossy ibis can be seen in close proximity.  The paths wrap round the reedbeds and
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