Return to Iran, the Enchantment Continues. (1 Viewer)

MKinHK · May 24, 2014

etudiant said:
Just superb trip reporting!

The aggravating thing is that there is almost certainly no one in the Iranian government who has any understanding that an environment that allows for some 870 Wood Sandpipers to assemble is a valuable resource that is well worth protecting and preserving.
Too bad the Ayatollah was not a birder.

Jos Stratford said:
Except the Iran-Iraq war was started by Iraq with an invasion of Khūzestān, the only Iranian province with Iraq Babbler and Basra Reed Warbler ...we could argue that it was Iraq wishing to hog the exclusivity of the two as endemics, but given Saddam also drained the Mesopotamian marshes (heartland of the two species) to screw the Marsh Arabs, I don't think these incidental birds were too close to his heart.

Wise men say never let the truth get in the way of a good story. I say, fair enough, but never let ignorance get in the way of a good story either!

Seems like Saddam was the psychotic list defender instead - thanks for the clarification Jos!

Cheers
Mike

Jos Stratford · May 29, 2014

25 April. Damavand to Tehran

Last day of the trip. With everything essentially seen, I basically mellowed out today, taking a short morning walk in the gullies south of Reynah (three White-throated Robins, a pair of Persian Wheatears, one Turkenistan Shrike), then retiring to write up my notes.

Took an afternoon bus to Tehran, wandered the streets for a while and stopped in the park, adding Ring-necked and Alexandrine Parakeets (species number 259 and 260 for the trip), then headed for the airport late evening.

26 April.

4.40 a.m. departure from Tehran. Again a four-hour flight to Minsk, a one-hour transfer and then back to Vilnius, home by 9.00 a.m. local time. Trip over.

.

Jos Stratford · May 29, 2014

1. Decidedly dodgy picture of Black-headed Penduline Tit
2. Rather better of Radde's Accentor
3. Local Yellow Wagtail

Richard Prior · May 29, 2014

It all made a great read Jos, thanks for sharing your expériences on Birdforum, I'm sure I'm not the only one that's been green with envy on several occasions when reading your posts!

Richard

Selsey Birder · May 29, 2014

Hi Jos,

Must agree with Richard, your reports are always a great read, you should definitely consider publishing a book of your adventures. You write the reports in the "correct" way in that it is not just about the birds, but also the other incidents and the people involved.

Thank you again.

Ian

wolfbirder · May 30, 2014

Selsey Birder said:
Hi Jos,

Must agree with Richard, your reports are always a great read, you should definitely consider publishing a book of your adventures. You write the reports in the "correct" way in that it is not just about the birds, but also the other incidents and the people involved.

Thank you again.

Ian

Urging Jos to do that already.............hopefully its work in progress for one day, but I guess there are many more chaptors to be potentially enjoyed yet. Maybe for when he puts his feet up when he's an old(er) man!

Allen S. Moore · May 30, 2014

wolfbirder said:
Urging Jos to do that already.............hopefully its work in progress for one day, but I guess there are many more chaptors to be potentially enjoyed yet. Maybe for when he puts his feet up when he's an old(er) man!

If it is during my lifetime and it just comes out as an eBook or whatever you call those modern things readable only by Kindle, I would definitely buy said device, apparent technophobe though I am!

lobas · May 30, 2014

Great read again Josh, many thanks for sharing, I wouuld happily buy your book if indeed you decided to put your stories in print, and I guess a destination on many would be travellers list.

Jos Stratford · May 30, 2014

Selsey Birder said:
...you should definitely consider publishing a book of your adventures. .

wolfbirder said:
Urging Jos to do that already.............hopefully its work in progress for one day

Allen S. Moore said:
If it is during my lifetime and it just comes out as an eBook or whatever you call those modern things readable only by Kindle, I would definitely buy said device...

lobas said:
I wouuld happily buy your book if indeed you decided to put your stories in print,....

Many thanks all.

I can share the secret that I have begun to put it all together, have sorted out a structure and have even done a couple of chapters already ...but, heck, I haven't even got to the 20th Century yet ...so I can confidently predict it will be a good couple of years before I even approach the finishing line

....but I am writing every week ...

chris butterworth · May 30, 2014

Certainly looking forward to that Jos ....... but

Jos Stratford said:
I haven't even got to the 20th Century yet ....

:eek!:

....... how bloody long have you been birding?

Jos Stratford · May 30, 2014

chris butterworth said:
Certainly looking forward to that Jos ....... but

:eek!:

....... how bloody long have you been birding?

Oops, 21st Century ... clearly I might need an editor before going to press

.

Jos Stratford · May 30, 2014

And to round off the Iran report, some random statistics that currently clog up the back of my notebook ...

Days in Iran: 21
Number of species seen: 260
Number of new species: 3

Approx distance travelled within Iran: 6275 km (299 km/day)
• approx. distance hitchhiked: 2800 km
• approx. distance by public transport: 3475 km

Expenditure in Iran: 250 euro (11 euro/day)
• accommodation: 119 euro (five nights free camping, one night on train)
• transport (bus, train, savari): 87 euro
• food: 15 euro
• drink (primarily milk, 29 litres): 19 euro

Number of road accidents seen: two pedestrians killed (Shiraz and Tehran), one head-on collision between coach and truck, three overturned trucks, several minor incidents with cars.

.

wolfbirder · May 30, 2014

Jos Stratford said:
And to round off the Iran report, some random statistics that currently clog up the back of my notebook ...

Days in Iran: 21
Number of species seen: 260
Number of new species: 3

Approx distance travelled within Iran: 6275 km (299 km/day)
• approx. distance hitchhiked: 2800 km
• approx. distance by public transport: 3475 km

Expenditure in Iran: 250 euro (11 euro/day)
• accommodation: 119 euro (five nights free camping, one night on train)
• transport (bus, train, savari): 87 euro
• food: 15 euro
• drink (primarily milk, 29 litres): 19 euro

Number of road accidents seen: two pedestrians killed (Shiraz and Tehran), one head-on collision between coach and truck, three overturned trucks, several minor incidents with cars.

.

......and the armed hold up!!

Have you thought of a title for your book Jos? What about "Mad blogs and Englishmen" (except I have a feeling you are a Welsh lad??), which of course makes that suggestion a non-starter.

Jos Stratford · May 30, 2014

wolfbirder said:
...... I have a feeling you are a Welsh lad??

Defamation! I merely lived in Wales for a significant part of my misspent youth, and even then I was within 2 km of the border in three directions

Jos Stratford · May 30, 2014

A final offering on the Ground Jay, just look at those wings!

Allen S. Moore · May 30, 2014

Jos Stratford said:
A final offering on the Ground Jay, just look at those wings!

Wow, what a photo!

joannec · May 30, 2014

Jos Stratford said:
Many thanks all.

I can share the secret that I have begun to put it all together, have sorted out a structure and have even done a couple of chapters already ...but, heck, I haven't even got to the 20th Century yet ...so I can confidently predict it will be a good couple of years before I even approach the finishing line

....but I am writing every week ...

I will buy it when it's published. Great thread and a pleasure to read.

birdboybowley · May 30, 2014

wolfbirder said:
...What about "Mad blogs and Englishmen"

Or "The Mad Sod's an Englishman".......

MKinHK · May 31, 2014

birdboybowley said:
Or "The Mad Sod's an Englishman".......

Like!

Jos Stratford · Jun 21, 2014

birdboybowley said:
Or "The Mad Sod's an Englishman".......

Yep, I like that too :t:

Full report with added photos now on my WEBSITE too if anybody interested.

And a little sting in the tail to this trip to Iran - if anybody fancies following in my footsteps to this amazing country and they happen to hold a British passport ... you can't go! Wasn't my fault honest

but British are now banned from independent travel to Iran!!!

The new rule actually came into effect about a month before my trip, but as I already had my visa they allowed me to enter without issue - I later heard my visa was the very last successful British application with the agency I use.

This has been the case for over 30 years for Americans, but even when diplomatic relations hit there worst (eg when the two countries shut down their embassies), getting a visa was 'fairly' easy for British passport holders. Quite why it has happened now is baffling and nobody seems to know why, relations are better than ever and the country is truly opening up.

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