Martin Pitt

@owene73 Tried but getting no response from Said. Sent him a WhatsApp message but he hasn't picked it up

Day 3 in Tunisia with @naturetrektours started with the oddly scarce House Bunting. We then headed to the coast to escape the high winds - plenty to see with flocks of Flamingos & confiding parties of Black-necked grebes. Finished on Djerba with 000's of Med Gulls going to roost

Day 2 in Tunisia with @naturetrektours started with frosted dunes and loads of Larks inc. Thick-billed & Temmincks. Lots of Desert species followed with D Wheatear & D Sparrow. Biggest surprise was a trip of dozen Dotterel in the desert. Rain brought the day to an early close

First day in Saharan Tunisia with @naturetrektours for winter sun birding. Day of Larks & Wheatears with Thk-billed, Bar-tailed, Desert & Thekla plus Maghreb, White-crowned & Red-rumped. Dorcas Gazelle & Aoudad also. Great start in wonderful scenery

@OllyFrampton Look at gull-research.org There is something odd about the bill & that may impact other plumage details. Tail coverts look too clean & pale for American

@BirdingDeane Good that you caught up with them

At least one Brambling, but probably more, in a large mixed flock at Pyotts Hill, Old Basing, this morning, comprising mostly of Linnet, but also good numbers of Chaffinch and Y’hammer plus a few Reed Bunting & even one or two Greenfinch; probably 300 plus birds.

Final full day in New England with @naturetrektours @maxshearwater and fall colours lived up to their billing on the Kancamagus highway. A boat trip on Squam lake gave us close views of Loons & Bald Eagle, & the nearby forest was full of Eastern Chipmunks collecting acorns

Fall colours of New England with @naturetrektours @maxshearwater living up to its name in northern Maine. The forests here have lots of treasures inc Am. Red Squirrel, Canada Jay, a host of woodpeckers & of course lots of Robins. The foliage itself is putting in a good show

Day 4 in New England with @naturetrektours @maxshearwater & for once the US use of awesome was justified. Whale watching gave us great views of Northern Right (2), Fin (3), Humpbacks (12+) plus White sided& common dolphins. Often surrounded it was difficult to know where to look

2nd full day of Fall colours of New England with @naturetrektours , found us off the coast of Maine searching for migrants on Monhegan Island. The weather was too good for many migrants. Good views of REV, Monarchs & lots of Bald Eagles. Visited the 'Forest Gump' lighthouse

A short visit to Tundry Pond yielded little in the way of birds & butterflies but good for Dragonflies. Plenty of Migrant Hawkers & Common Darters around. Good views of Western Willow Spreadwing, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Brown Hawker and an approachable Lesser Emperor

The 2nd day trip for Dragonflies of the New Forest with @naturetrektours was a success with great views of dragon & other wildlife. Lots of Southern Damsels in their key site plus supporting cast for a total of 16 species on the day and 18 over the two dates.

The usual July walk to Ladle Hill, found the Iron Age fort awash with the blooms of downland flowers. 55 spikes of late flowering Burnt-tip Orchid were counted together Pyramidal, Common Spotted and Fragrant. 3 frog orchid were good as well. 2 Corn Buntings were still in song.

Sun greeted us (at last!) for the New Forest Dragonflies day trip with @naturetrektours & the insects responded. Golden-ringed gave point blank views plus lots of Southern Damselflies. Overall 15 species seen and a great day in this wonderful part of Hants

A day trip to Pamber Forest with @naturetrektours yesterday went better than expected despite the rain. 2prs of Dartford with young, Hobby, & Spot Flys. Good mix of inverts inc a female Stag Beetle, White Admiral, SW Fritillary & Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

A walk from home took me to Basing Forest. With a cool start to the day, for once got my timing right and Purple Emperors were not at tree top level. Finished at the Vyne with Southern Marsh Orchid & Sedge Warblers still in full song

Good to be back closer to home. A bit late to the site, but the Wasp Orchids at Overton are still in flower (3 spikes) & with a supporting cast of Bee Orchids. For the first time this year butterfly numbers are good & many Marbled Whites joining the more common species

Last full day for Butterflies of High Atlas with @naturetrektours. Spent walking the N'fis valley around Aouzar. Lots of Butterflies to finish the trip Inc Iberian Scarce Swallowtail, lots of Tiger blues & Spotted Frits with nesting Rollers, Turtle doves & Orioles as a backdrop

Whilst in the Atlas mtns with @naturetrektours we haven't ignored the birds, especially the endemics. Good views of Moussier's Redstart, Levaillant's Woodpecker, Tristram's warbler & Atlas Wheatear amongst many

The Rollers breed in the Asni district, but seems to lack suitable hunting perches

With the High Atlas Butterflies with @naturetrektours, today was the day for tiny Blues. In the Nfis valley, despite dull conditions we found African Babel, Desert Babel & African Grass Blues. Couldn't resist adding a larger blue to complete the set