Georgia & Armenia, mighty Caucasus

Overview

The Caucasus is a massive mountain range at the edge of Europe, albeit based on its very long and intense history, it can also be considered as the heart of the continent. Georgia & Armenia are neighbours, but they are very different both culturally and historically. Both countries have their own alphabets and observe the Christianism in different ways. Armenia has had its own Church and Pope for over 1800 years. And Georgia is an Orthodox country. Both countries were ruled by Russia for long periods, and this country is still having a strong influence in the area. In the case of Armenia, it has also a very difficult relationship with its Turkish neighbours, and the tensions between them have led to a number of armed clashes in the last years.

This is a land of massive mountains, everlasting snow peaks, ondulated hills of deciduous oak forests in the North Caucasus, green pastures and valleys but also arid hillsides in the Southern Caucasus. Here the farming is still connected with natural rhythm of the wildlife, and the farmland around still have good populations of Larks, Buntings, Wheatears and Sparrows of many kinds. Geographically, the mighty Caucasus is a wide natural corridor connecting Eastern Africa and the Middle East with the Russian plain, and West Siberia. It means that billions of birds cross the area in their way to their nesting grounds and back.

Migration is a great time in this part of world, and it is always easy to see flocks of birds of prey, Swallows, Bee-eaters and passerines moving to their nesting grounds hundreds of thousands of miles North.

In this trip we will explore these two countries at the peak of the spring migration. While most of the summer visitors have already come back to their nesting grounds in the area, we will still be able to enjoy a good migratory action moving North. During our time in Georgia we will explore the high Caucasus, where we will be concentrated in the area around Stepandsminda in the aim to connect with the specialties living up there: Caucasian Snowcock, Wallcreeper, Bearded Vulture, Caucasian Grouse, Mountain Chiffchaff, Güldenstädt’s Redstart, White-winged Snowfinch & Great Snowfinch to name the main ones. Our time in Georgia shall produce other interesting species including Levant Sparrowhawk, Krüpper’s Nuthatch, Barred & Green Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatcher, European Roller, Lesser Grey Shrike and Syrian Woodpecker.

Once in Armenia, we will enjoy the long list of specialties living on its hillsides and fresh water ponds. Here we shall enjoy Caspian Snowcock but also wide array of birds including Bimaculated Lark, Finch’s Wheatear, Blue-cheecked Bee-eater, Pale Rockfinch, both Eastern & Western Rock Nuthatches, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Kurdish Wheatear, Black Francolin, Paddyfield & Upcher’s Warbler, Radde’s Accentor, White-throated Robin,.. the list keeps going on!

Tour leader

Carles Oliver started its career as a birding guide chasing Wallcreepers and Snowfinches in the Pyrenees. So, to explore the Caucasus after being so many times in the Pyrenees, the Atlas, the Alps and the Balkans is more a natural step than a challenge. Birding in the mountains is always a bit unpredictable and, thus, it makes birding way more funny than in other landscapes. This is a tour of short transfers (out of one), good meals and astonishing landscapes, with accommodations of different qualities (lower in Armenia) and good roads (if forgetting the bumping road to Stepandsminda and the terrible traffic in Tblisi..).

Pláning

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Day 0. Flight day. Most flights arrive to Tblisi during the afternoon or the evening. Meeting at the airport, greet and welcome before transferring to our accommodation.

Day 1. Early morning start to explore a nature reserve next to Tblisi. Here we will have chances for the first Levant Sparrowhawks of the trip but also Middle Spotted, Syrian and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Red-breasted Flycatchers nest here and our walk around may also produce Green & Sedge Warblers. Here there is also a number of ponds with suitable habitat for Little Bitterns, Squacco Herons and, if lucky, Crakes in migration.

After breakfast we will explore some open lands where shall connect with the first Barred Warblers of the trip. Here there is also chances for Thrush Nightingale, Red-backed Shrike, Levant Sparrowhawk & Chukar before going up in the hillsides around Tblisi in the search of the very located Krüpper’s Nuthatch. From here we will keep West to check a couple of very interesting wetlands before arriving to Kutaïsi for an overnight.

Day 2. From our accommodation around Kutaïsi, we will explore the mountain passes hosting an interesting population of Caspian SnowCock. Along with it, we will have a first chance for Radde’s Accentor and woodpeckers including Black Woodpecker before coming back to our accommodation for a late breakfast. After breakfast, we will drive to the High Caucasus, expecting to arrive to Stepandsminda during the afternoon, ready to try to connect with some of the high mountain specialities living here. 3 nights stay in Stepandsminda.

Day 3. Early morning start to try to connect both with Caucasian Grouse and Caucasian Snowcock. Along with them, we shall enjoy Ring Ouzel, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Water Pipit (coutelli) and Common Rosefinch.

After breakfast and the rest of the day we will keep exploring the hillsides, this time going even higher with the hope to connect with White-winged Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor and Gündestdalt Redstart. In the afternoon we will explore a very interesting cliff hosting Wallcreeper but also Red-billed Chough and Red-fronted Serin.

Days 4 & 5. Early morning start to explore a second location for Caucasian Snowcock. Here we shall also connect with the very scarce Great Rosefinch. After breakfast we will explore the best area for birds of prey in the High Caucasus. Here we can see Eurasian Griffons, but also Bearded Vulture, Cinereous Vulture but also Long-legged Buzzard and Golden Eagle.

During the afternoon we will visit a nice valley having good winter populations of Gündelstdalt Redstart but also Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Tree Pipit, Mountain Chiffchaff, Rock Bunting, Northern Wheatears and Dipper. Along with them, we may contact with some migratory species including Whinchat and Red-throated Pipit. These high mountain grasslands can also host Corncrakes or Great Snipes in migration!

After breakfast day 5 we will transfer to Armenia enjoying some stops in the way to have good views on Armenian Gull, Black-necked Grebes and other species. In the afternoon we will explore the area around the famous David Gareji Monastery. Here shall contact with Lesser Kestrel, Ménétries’s & Eastern Orphean Warblers + Eastern Black-eared Wheatears. Migration here is intense, and flocks of birds of prey shall appear at any moment. Lesser Spotted & Eastern Imperial Eagles are common views here, while Steppe Eagle is a bit more scarce. 3 nights overnight in Aristo.

Day 6. First full day in Armenia. Early morning birding to explore the hillsides South of Erevan. Here, in a arid countryside, we may find a very interesting selection of birds including Upcher’s Warbler, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Finch’s Wheatear, Chukar, Grey-necked & Ortolan Buntings, Pale Rockfinch, Black-headed Bunting and Desert & Trumpeter Finches.

After breakfast we will explore the massive Armash Fishing Ponds. Here we shall contact with a long list of specialities including Paddyfield Warbler, Blue-cheecked Bee-eater, White-winged Black Tern, Armenian Gull, Black Francolin, Bearded Tit, Cetti’s Warbler and chances for a long list of waders including Black-winged Pratincole and Marsh Sandpiper. In addition, the salty plains around hosts Turkestan Short-toed Lark.

Day 7. Early morning birding immediately North of Erevan in a high mountain habitat with more chances for Radde’s Accentor, Barred Warbler, Kurdish Wheatear, Ring Ouzel and White-throated Robin. Depending on the weather we may also connect with White-winged Snowfinch in this area. In the afternoon we will explore a nice plain with good populations of Bimaculated & Short-toed Larks but also Pied Wheatear, Tawny Pipit and Western Rock Nuthatch. In previous visits we can even found Black-bellied Sandgrouse here!

Day 8. Final transfer from Stepandsminda to Tblisi Airport for an afternoon flight. We still may have a last chance for high mountain birds before leaving to the mountains.

Información adicional

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VAT included in all prices.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

8 nights of accommodation in twin/double room, breakfasts, lunches and evening meals, birding guides, ground transport & nature reserves entrance fees.

NOT INCLUDED

International flights, alcoholic drinks, any other item not listed as “INCLUDED”

ACCOMMODATION

4 different accommodations in our itinerary. We will spend most of them in local owned, small accommodations in privileged locations and wonderful birding immediately around. All dinners are in our accommodations.

WEATHER

In the High Caucasus you can expect variable high mountain weather. Temperatures can rank between 5ºC and 20ºC. In Armenia and Southern Georgia temperatures are milder, with temperatures ranking 15ºC to 25ºC with mostly sunny days but some cloudy or even light rains appearing. It is important to bring wind stopper and waterproof jackets as well as trekking boots. THE TOUR INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE LONG TREKKING.

PASSPORT, VISA & HEALTH

Georgia & Armenia authorities ask all Passports to have an expiration date of at least 90 beyond your date of arrival into their territory. Visa is not required to European, British, US nor Canadian Passport holders. Currently there is no health issues nor restrictions when accessing these countries.