So, it is that time of the year again, when Karen and I need to catch up, shake the winter off (especially after Canada - I’m talking about the extra weight from the food, not the snow) and just have a good time. So, in keeping with a sort of tradition of ours, South we went, to Kara-Alma. Why? Well, we’ve been to Arslanbob a few times and wanted something new, but getting another chance at the tawny owls was too promising to miss. Kara-Alma has the second, slightly smaller part of the famous walnut forest. From our base in a CBT guesthouse and to our host’s dismay -– Why did you come in March, when all is grey!? Come back in May, then there will be birds! –- we enjoyed three days of walking, two in the walnut forests and one lower in the pistachio forest. We were rewarded with loads of activities as birds fought, courted each other (sometimes with success, see below!) and built nests. Three of my four targets showed themselves well. First, we saw two owls, one in flight during [...... read more ]

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