With Lithuania still sub-zero, a quick trip across the Baltic to Sweden was a most pleasing way to begin the month. With a Black-throated Thrush up for grabs, along with an Eagle Owl and Hawk Owl, it really had the makings of an excellent couple of days. As the month progressed, Labanoras again dealt the trump cards - as well as the return of the Three-toed Woodpecker and the appearance of a second Grey-headed Woodpecker, a male White-backed Woodpecker arrived, a fantastic development, joining the female just in time for the breeding season.

Starting and finishing in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, this entire trip was done in the comfort of a hire car. With good roads throughout, bar a few sandy moments here and there and some rough tracks in the mountains, my standard 2WD was quite ample and the trip of almost 6000 km went like clockwork. In short, this section of the report covers the first half of the trip, a route that took me from the U.A.E. to northern Oman and thereafter down to the fantastic tidal flats at Barr Al Hikman, before crossing the vast deserts to reach Dhofar, the endemic-rich southern district of Oman.