Georgia & Armenia - Birding the Caucasus 2021

Located deep in the Caucasus, our birding tour to Georgia and Armenia is one of the most recent additions to our birding calendar. The end of the line as far as Europe is concerned, Georgia and Armenia stand at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. For centuries both countries stood as Christian bulwarks against the Muslim tide sweeping across Asia Minor, before being dominated by the Mongols, Ottoman Empire, Persia (Iran) and ultimately the Soviet Union. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to a rocky independence with military skirmishes and near economic collapse. Fortunately, both Georgia and Armenia are now well on the road to economic stability and prosperity. Beginning in Tbilisi, we make our way along the Georgian Military Highway. Originally built to facilitate troop movements, it provides an excellent thoroughfare to some of the most spectacular scenery and birding sites on earth. Our first days around Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) offer us the opportunity for some high-altitude birding and some of the Western Palearctic’s most sought-after species including the splendid Caucasian Snowcock (endemic to this single mountain range), Güldenstädt’s Redstart, Great Rosefinch, Caucasian Grouse, the Caucasian (lorenzii) subspecies of Mountain Chiffchaff and Wallcreeper. The higher altitudes also support Bearded Vulture, Ring Ouzel, Red-fronted Serin and Alpine Accentor. Heading south to Jandari Lake, we should find an isolated population of Pygmy Cormorants and our first Armenian Gulls, and will make a visit to the 6th-century rock-hewn Georgian Orthodox monastery of David Gareja. After a week in Georgia, we move south into Armenia, first stopping at the ancient Haghpat Monastery. Moving further south we will make a stop at Armash fishponds to search for three rare and elusive species, Marbled and White-headed Ducks, and White-tailed Lapwing, as well as a feast of warblers, before moving into the dry Vedi Hills to target Grey-necked Bunting, Finsch’s Wheatear, Eastern Rock Nuthatch and Desert Finch. Our next destination on the tour is Meghri, in the deep south of Armenia near the Iranian border. Of prime interest here are the few pairs of Red-tailed Wheatears, a species mostly restricted to Iran and Afghanistan. Using 4×4 vehicles, we shall also ascend a high mountain to search for our second snowcock species of the trip, Caspian Snowcock. Finally, we will visit the sacred Mount Aragats, to the north of Yerevan. Here we shall be on the look-out for Radde’s Accentor, White-throated Robin, Bluethroat and perhaps Asian Crimson-winged Finch before taking in the scenic Amberd Fortress built in the 11th century.