Western Sahara - Day 5 - Back to Dakhla

This morning we were up again at 6.00 but the Nightjar only sang for about 5 minutes although we found it from eyeshine. It flew off shortly after and started singing from further away but only for a minute or two. We helped pack up our things, had breakfast and went for a short walk looking for Black-crowned Finch-larks and other birds, including a very close group of Fulvous babblers, while camp was packed up.

On our drive back we stopped for a quick picture of Cream-coloured Coursers and a stop at the Prehistoric petroglyph hill for a look at the carvings. While we were there a large flock of Thick-billed larks flew over, dropping down briefly and then flying on towards a distant line of vegetation. Scanning round found a large flock of larks to which it was thought the Thick-billeds had headed so we loaded up and headed in that direction. Half-way across Mohammed spotted two Fennec Foxes peering out of holes in the ground. We stopped but this proved too much for them and they ran off across the desert towards the distant vegetation, only stopping to peer at us from the safety of the bushes. We continued to look for the lark flock finding a large group that included Temmink's Larks, Bar-tailed larks and a Short-toed Lark was photographed, but no Thick-billeds.

A further stop at the same site as last year for Desert Warbler found several Dunn's Larks near th road so we spent a bit of time watchig them before a call from AF had us speeding up the hillside where he had found a single Desert Warbler in almost the exact place we found it last year.

After stopping for some fresh bread and coco cola we stopped at the farm area as last year for lunch. Around the rocky, desert areas there were Temmink's, Bar-tailed, and Crested Larks and a Marsh Harrier glided along the edge of the quarry. There was a garden area showing what was possible with some water, where there was cotton, maize, olives and alfalfa growing among other things. It also hosted White-spotted Bluethroat and lots of Chiffchaffs feeding among the bushes.

After a lovely, hot lunch of lentils and bread we set off back to Mohammed's house for our last two nights. We were treated to a very tasty camel Tagine with rice and before settling down on our various beds, mattresses and cushions.