Iran, Land of Enchantment (1 Viewer)

[Parker]

Hi Jos,

Great stuff, I've really enjoyed reading your write up of your enchanting trip to Iran, as indeed many others have. All you need now is a few months off to write your book.

Cheers, Neil.

 

[Brian Stone]

Just another word of thanks for this entertaining and inspirational account. Great to hear about the places and people as well as the wildlife. It has certainly shunted it up the list of places to visit if I ever get the chance. Cheers.

 

[viator]

Hi Jos,

An excellent read and thoroughly enjoyed the account of your trip. I'd certainly love to visit Iran based upon your report.
Cheers

 

[Shi Jin]

Wonderful!

Thanks for making me think differently about Iran.

Best regards from Beijing.

Shi Jin

www.ChineseCurrents.com

 

[GDK]

Hi Jos,

I would be interested to know whether you considered trying for Caspian Tit or Caspian Snowcock? I'd have thought you may have got near suitable locales/habitat in the last week, even if time of year was not great.

Cheers,

 

[Jos Stratford]

Hi Jos,

I would be interested to know whether you considered trying for Caspian Tit or Caspian Snowcock? I'd have thought you may have got near suitable locales/habitat in the last week, even if time of year was not great.

Cheers,

Caspian Snowcock inhabits the snowfields around Camp 3 on Damavand, a half day's hike directly up from where I was, plus however long it would take to find them. Easiest way would be to camp at Camp 3 then start out at dawn. Did consider doing so, but would have frozen and laziness dictated I didn't do so (coupled with the small detail I have seen them before).

Caspian Tit, I really could not find any info on localities - I presume I had a chance at Masuleh and hoped to bump into one, but whether they really are there, I do not know.


And thanks all for kind words on this thread. More pictures and full bird list to follow in days to come.

 

[GDK]

Hi Jos,

Thanks.

Looking at the distribution map for Caspian Tit it appears thinly distributed across the Caspian Sea and Northern Iranian mountains so maybe you were just in range at some point, or maybe not?

It'll have to be one for that trip to Azerbaijan ;-)

http://www.ecotourism.aznet.org/naturalobjects/girkan.html

 

[Jos Stratford]

It'll have to be one for that trip to Azerbaijan ;-)

It's on my list of places to visit

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I also wondered if White-winged Grosbeak might have been found in the same area.

Hugely enjoyable report by the way.

 

[Jos Stratford]

I also wondered if White-winged Grosbeak might have been found in the same area.

Hugely enjoyable report by the way.

Thanks Andrew.

White-winged Grosbeak occurs in the juniper forest in the mountains further east than Damavand. Had to leave some things for the next visit

 

[Hamhed]

An epic saga, Jos. Thanks for the post so full of adventures and a look past the extreme politics of a fascinating country.

Steve

 

[ghasempouri]

Thank you my beloved writer "Jos Stratford"

I really looked your nice episodes step by step.
I found realistic materials with an original attitude, absolutely objective and a very exact close up shots: not only on avifunna but also on mankind.
I really appreciate you for usage of fluent text and your good manner.

I am looking for your next trip to Iran.

P.S: 12 days ago, my both hands had broken in football game
Now I became OK and feeling better after attending 2 piece platinum.

 

[Chris D]

Yeah - that's great stuff. From time to time there's news or a documentary on our T.V. that shows just how cool and friendy Iran's people are. Though I'm glad the Spartans held them up at the pass a few year's back. Sure, there's extremists and some funky leaders - but I can say that about my own country.

There's been many times that friends have given my wife and grief about places we go. I'd never put her in danger - mind you. When I tell our friends how loving and generous people are it shuts them up.

Thanks for going to Iran and writing this stuff. It can't hurt...

 

[ovenbird43]

Great report, Jos. Looking forward to more pictures.

There's been many times that friends have given my wife and grief about places we go. I'd never put her in danger - mind you. When I tell our friends how loving and generous people are it shuts them up.

My mom tells me she hates it when I'm traveling in the Neotropics because she's constantly worried. I keep telling her I'm more likely to get run over by a drunk redneck in my own town than I am to be caught in some guerilla warfare or bit by a snake in most places I go... I think she just can't overcome her preconceived notions of the rest of the world, unfortunately the case for many people.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Great report, Jos. Looking forward to more pictures.

A few to keep you ticking over, almost through processing them now - all will then be uploaded onto my website, some here too.

 

[Jos Stratford]

P.S: 12 days ago, my both hands had broken in football game.

Ouch!

Moral of the story, go birding, not running around after some ball

 

[Chris D]

I hope I wasn't that 'Drunk Redneck'. I'll be more careful...........

 

[michaelboustead]

Any hints on next destination?

Mike

 

[Jos Stratford]

Any hints on next destination?

Return to the Middle East, about eighth trip to the region :t:

 

[Andrew]

AMAZING!

I have waited until this trip report was complete before printing the lot off and reading it after my evening meal and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it.

You must have a strong will to leave each place you described as I would have been happy to take the lazy option of staying in each one the whole time especially the meadow up in Mount Damavand. Also anyone giving me free meals would find me hard to shift!

This is probably the best thing I have read on the internet for this whole year!

I was sad to vicariously have to come home!