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Merja Zerga

Rabat-Salé-Kénitra  >  Morocco

This tidal lagoon on the Atlantic coast is one of Morocco's prime birdwatching sites. The intertidal mudflats, marshes and reedbeds attract thousands of birds.

Hinzugefügt* von Stephanie Cupa
Zuletzt aktualisiert 6 Juli 2024

Beschreibung

Merja Zerga (also called the Moulay Bousselham Lagoon) is large, coastal lagoon of variable salinity with extensive intertidal mudflats, fringing marshes and reedbeds separated from the sea by a stabilized dune system. It is a a key site on the East Atlantic Flyway and protected by the Ramsar convention. The large tidal lagoon has an average depth of 1.5 metres and is fed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Oued Drader, a freshwater stream. The area's annual rainfall (600–700 mm) results in winter floods that inundate the surrounding areas.

More than 100 bird species have been recorded in the lagoon. Between 15,000 and 30,000 ducks overwinter at the lagoon, and it regularly holds 50,000 to 100,000 waders. One of the very special birds that can be spotted here is the Kapohreule. It is regularly spotted around the campsite at Moulay Bousselham. Other birds you can observe are Rohrweihe, Wanderfalke, herons, ibises, plovers, egrets and and rare gulls such as Dünnschnabelmöwe and Korallenmöwe. Winter visitors include Rostgans, Brandgans, Pfeifente, Löffelente, Marmelente, Rosaflamingo, Säbelschnäbler, Uferschnepfe, Pfuhlschnepfe, Regenbrachvogel, Großer Brachvogel, Alpenstrandläufer, Seeregenpfeifer, Sandregenpfeifer and Kiebitzregenpfeifer.

The area around the lake supports species such as Turteltaube, Haubenlerche, Grauammer. In the south there is a large colony of Rotflügel-Brachschwalbe.

Details

Zugang

Merja Zerga lies midway between Tangier and Rabat, 70 km north of the city of Kenitra on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, near the village of Moulay Bousselham. If you don't have your own transport you can get to Merja Zerga from Kenitra. Go to a grand taxi station and arrange transport for a day trip. The village of Moulay Bousselham is at the northern end of the lagoon but the best birding tends to be in the south. With your own transport you can drive around the lagoon. Another nice option to explore the lagoon with a boat trip. Merja Zerga boat trips are easily arranged with the local fisherman if you wander down to the small port of of Moulay Bousselham where boats are moored. Expect to pay about € 25 per hour for the boat.

Terrain und Habitat

Feuchtgebiet , Meer , See , Strand , Schlammflächen , Dünen , Schilfflächen

Bedingungen

Flach , Sandig , Offene Landschaft , Sumpfig , Hochwasser möglich , Kein Schatten

Rundweg

Nein

Ist ein Spektiv nützlich?

Möglicherweise hilfreich

Gute Beobachtungszeit

Ganzjährig

Beste Beobachtungszeit

Frühjahrszug , Herbstzug

Route

asphaltierte Straße

Schwierigkeitsgrad der Tour

Einfach

Erreichbarkeit

zu Fuß , Fahrrad , Auto , Boot

Beobachtungshütten oder -türme

Nein

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Karte

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