Following on from my successful trips to Iran in summer and winter, this trip saw me returning for three weeks between April 4 and 26 to savour the best of spring.

Building on previous trips, the aims of this time were to seek out some of the more elusive specialities (particularly Caspian Tit, but also Black-headed Penduline Tit and Basra Reed Warbler), to travel across the remote Dasht-e-Kavir desert and to generally have a whole bunch more adventures in this excellent country.

Weasels and Wolves, Capercaillie and Pygmy Owl, tasters of the first days of March! In a very early spring, plenty of birds on the move, butterflies too, including Large Tortoiseshell.