[balkantrek]

Some years ago I was asked to lead a two week trek through the Jebel Sarhro Mountains in Morocco. It turned out to be a fascinating place and I would highly recommend the region for anyone interested in wildlife. The initial impression is of a somewhat bare and barren mountain region, but as you spend spend more time in the mountains you start to notice more and more the great variety of beautiful plants and animals that survive in what is a seemingly harsh and hostile environment. For me the highlights were seeing a pair of Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Moussier's Redstart (Phoenicurus moussieri) and Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides). I also found a beautiful feather from a Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara) but alas didn't see the bird itself. There were lots of fascinating invertebrates, including scorpions and large Scolopendra centipedes.