The manic second half of my trip to Oman and the U.A.E., journeying from Dhofar back to the superb Barr Al Hikman, this time finding the Great Knots, before travelling to the Al Hajar mountains and onward to the fantastic Musandam enclave. After Eversmann's Redstarts, Trumpeter Finches and loads of wheatears, I then returned to the U.A.E. for a few days in the Dubai area, an amazing finale with flocks of 47 Cream-coloured Coursers and 52 White-tailed Plovers, along with a Grey Hypocolius, a vagrant Brown Shrike and a Red-tailed Bluetail, the latter a first for the Arabian Peninsula!

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.