The afternoon was spent at Upton Fen, which was alive with dragonflies including Norfolk Hawker & Scarce Chaser. The only Swallowtail of the day fortunately showed well. The last target was Fen Orchid - the most inconspicuous at the site.

A day in the Bure area of the broads started at Ranworth with the breeding Ospreys - Norfolk's only pair and a mix of other wetland birds.

Our last day in Morocco with @naturetrek.bsky.social & we returned to Oukaimeden. Another stunning day with clouds of butterflies.The Berberia Graylings performed brilliantly, Spotted Adonis, Aetherie's Fritillary, Moroccan Meadow Brown and so much more.

A day in the N'fis valley with @naturetrek.bsky.social. Thwarted from getting to Tizi n'Test by N7 roadworks we stayed lower around Tinmel. The c12th Mosque still looks terrible from the earthquake but added Moroccan Small Skipper, Mountain Argus plus Swallowtail. RT Scrub Robins were plentiful

With the weather a bit cooler we headed to the N'fis valley at Aouzar with @naturetrek.bsky.social Desert Orangetips, Plain Tigers & Desert Fritillary found. The usual desert-like valley is transformed by meltwater this year. The breeding Rollers seem to enjoy it! Af Knapweed Frits on the way back.

A day around imlil & Tizi n'Tamatert with @naturetrek.bsky.social. Giant Graylings & Vaucher's Heath were good finds at high altitude, adding Spanish Marbled Whites as we descended through the pine woods. We watched Moussier's Redstarts feeding young, all in the shadow of a snowy Toubkhal

Another day in Morocco's High Atlas with @naturetrek.bsky.social this time in the Ourika Valley. Flowering season appears late here but still added some new butterflies inc Spotted Fritillary, False Ilex Hairstreak & African Grass Blue. Even the endemic Atlas Goldenring made an appearance.

It wasn't all butterflies at Oukaimeden with @naturetrek.bsky.social today. The swathe of Marsh Orchids were spectacular. Atlas Day Geckos were sunning themselves. Barbary Featherlegs were the best of the Odonata & good views of the Crimson-winged Finch plus Atlas Wheatears

A great day at Oukaimeden on Atlas Butterflies with @naturetrek.bsky.social The alpine meadows were full of flowers and clouds of butterflies. Whites, small coppers dominated but Fritillaries were plentiful, lots of blues and key species such as Vaucher's Heath and Berberia Graylings.

The 1st day in Morocco's High Atlas for Butterflies with @naturetrek.bsky.social & lots on the wing. Focused on low elevation near the hotel & already specials found Inc African Babul Blue, African Knapweed Fritillary, False Mallow Skipper, False Baton Blue & Med Tiger Blue. Cloud of whites too

Odonata were the biggest surprise in Uzbekistan with @naturetrek.bsky.social. Of the ten species 3 had previously been unrecorded on these trips - Forked Bluetail, Samarkand Demoiselle & Ivory Featherleg. Added to these were local specials of Turkestan Goldenring & Turkestan Winter Damsel.

The last few days with @naturetrek.bsky.social in Uzbekistan were around Bukhara & the Kyzlkum desert. Rain in the desert made it challenging however still found Turkestan Ground Jay & other specials like Desert Finch, Scrub Warbler and Saxaul Sparrow. Perrin's Green Toad & a few butterflies too

Today we were in Samarkand with @naturetrek.bsky.social & focused on the cultural sites related to Amir Temur. The Registan was the obvious highlight. Wildlife was not totally forgotten. Alpine Swifts & Blyth's Reed Warblers were common across the city. The riverside walk added Marsh Frog & Muskrat.

Our last day in Za'amin Uzbekistan with @naturetrek.bsky.social before heading to Samarkand. Great views of Blyth's Rosefinch & Bearded Vulture amongst the high altitude birds. The lower meadows were full of gentians & lilies even if there was new snow on the high tops.

Day 2 in Uzbekistan with @naturetrek.bsky.social & after a brief tour of the sights of Tashkent we have been in Za'amin NP. Mtn species have been our targets with White-winged Grosbeak & Grey-crowned Goldfinch showing well. Butterflies & dragonflies including local endemic Samarkand Demoiselle

A Historic Hampshire day trip with @naturetrek.bsky.social with 4 clients in the footsteps of Gilbert White around Selborne. Lots of Firecrest & the first Spotted Flycatchers were singing on territory. Duke of Burgundy & Dingy Skippers were found as were a few orchids inc the spectacular mimic, Fly

The last full day in the desert on Moroccan Sahara with @naturetrek.bsky.social took us to the desert spring. A Lanner hunting Bee-eaters & Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse were the highlights before visiting a nomad camp where they baked bread in the sand. Finished with sunset camel ride in Erg Chigaga.

Day 4 of Moroccan Sahara with @naturetrek.bsky.social started with a viewable Fennec Fox. We then found Ostrich & Addax, both part of reintroduction programmes here. Migrants continue to stream through, Montagu's & Marsh Harriers, Booted Eagle & lots of European Bee-eaters were today's treats

Day 3 in Moroccan Sahara with @naturetrek.bsky.social started at the Sandgrouse pools. 2 hrs after dawn & the birds dropped in with both Crowned & Spotted present. A Lanner came through as we were leaving. We later headed south to the Draa itself - no water but Fulvous Babblers on a walk.

Day 2 of Moroccan Sahara with @naturetrek.bsky.social & we stayed in the vicinity of Camp al Koutban. The overnight rain meant that the usually dry wadis were flooded. We found a mix of migrants & resident birds. Desert Sparrows & CC Courser were highlights. An evening drive yielded Dorcas Gazelle

First full day in Moroccan Sahara with @naturetrek.bsky.social travelling from Foum Zgoud to Camp al Koutban in the shadow of Erg Chigaga. Found our first Desert special with Tristram's warbler and Sandfish. All in dramatic landscapes

The last full day in Oman with @naturetrek.bsky.social & hoping for flight home tomorrow. Returned to Muscat via Wadi Fanja, a wet wadi with 5 Greater Spotted, 2 Steppe & Booted Eagles. Also found Arabian & Sand Partridge plus Long-billed Pipit. Isabelline Shrike was a crowd pleaser too

Day 10 in Oman with @naturetrek.bsky.social & we spent the day around Jebel Shams. We arrived at our first wadi just in time to watch 7 Lappet-faced Vultures leave their roost. A pair of Bonelli's Eagles & LL Buzzard joined them on the thermals. We finally caught up with the striolated buntings too.

Day 8&9 in Oman with @naturetrek.bsky.social .We crossed. Wahiba sands & headed into the Hadjar Mtns. Dramatic landscapes & some special birds inc Lappet-faced Vulture & Plain Leaf Warblers. Persian & Hume's Wheatears, Dhofar Toads and Semaphore Geckos added to the mix

Day 6&7 in Oman with @naturetrek.bsky.social With Salalah out of reach now, we spent our time in the Empty Quarter looking for desert species. Hoopoe Lark showed well. At Muntasar we watched Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse come to drink. Asian Desert warblers and the vagrant White-breasted Waterhens too

Day 5 in Oman with @naturetrek.bsky.social started with a Sociable Lapwing next to our hotel - amazing views. The mixture of desert & coast gave us the chance to connect with wild Asses, Black crowned Sparrow-larks, Green Turtles and Red-billed Tropicbirds for a varied day around Ras Al Khabah.

Day 4 in Oman with @naturetrek.bsky.social We left Muscat with many Egyptian Vultures being seen as we headed SE. We stopped at estuaries with Spoonbill & the main target of Crab Plover secured. We spent the evening with the nesting Green Turtles, 2 females & 3 hatchlings returned to the sea. Magic

Day 3 in Oman with @naturetrek.bsky.social & everything here seems normal. We headed out on a boat trip off Muscat finding Loggerhead Turtle, Common Dolphin and hundreds of Red-necked Phalaropes. Few seabirds though. We then headed into the mountains for more Hume's Wheatear and Arabian Babblers

Day 2 in Oman with @naturetrek.bsky.social & we tried the stoney desert and mountains around Nakhal west of Muscat. Persian Wheatears, Arabian Babblers & Egyptian Vulture were all key finds in this dramatic landscape. The spring at Tawarah attracted Indian Rollers & lots of dragonflies.

Day 1 in Oman -Arabia's Finest Birding with @naturetrek.bsky.social focused on the coast west of Muscat. Plenty of waders, gulls & terns to keep us busy with great views of Sooty and Pallas's & 7 species of tern Inc both crested. Even had a visit from a friendly Desert Wheatear.