GEORGIA 2004

 

“After an early morning arrival and a few hours in a hotel in old Tblisi, we soon found ourselves driving north through rolling hills cloaked in extensive beech forest.  Our first stops gave us Red-breasted Flycatchers and nesting Black Storks while the ancient walled church at Ananuri gave us a taste of medieval Georgia as well as great views of the eastern race of Common Redstart and numerous Black Redstarts.

 

Low cloud and rain hid the high mountain pass on the way to Kazbegi, although glimpses of Snowfinch, Shore Lark (of the local pencillata race) and Alpine Accentor gave us a taste of what was to come.  Dropping down to Kazbegi we were surprised to find one of the target birds of the tour, Güldenstädt’s Redstart, performing beautifully in bushes right by the road with up to six birds flycatching and perching up for all to admire. Cloud still hid the hills and it was not until the following morning that we could fully appreciate the amazing scenery surrounding us.  We were soon in the hills and connecting with another of the region’s specialities, Caucasian Snowcock as we watched up to 8 birds calling, perched and in flight. Climbing higher we glimpsed a female Great Rosefinch perching for a few tantalizing minutes.

 

The next few days were spent exploring the various side valleys, hillsides and woodland of the Kazbegi region.  Caucasian Chiffchaffs at first puzzled us but before long we all had good views of this enigmatic species.  A participant’s sharp eyes picked out our first Caucasian Black Grouse high on a snow-patched hillside and through the ‘scopes we could see up to four birds, some indulging in their strange leaping display – more were to follow.  Elsewhere we enjoyed flocks of Red-fronted Serins, Snowfinches, more Alpine Accentors, the pale local race of Twite, numerous Ring Ouzels, and amazing close encounters with Wallcreepers.  Although mammals were scarce, we did get to see some East Caucasian Tur for which the region is famous.

 

Overhead Alpine and Red-billed Chough were ever-present, sharing the skies with Golden Eagles, Griffon Vultures and, on a couple of memorable occasions, mighty Lammergeiers.  Some migrants were heading north and in Wallcreeper Valley we found Great Reed and Barred Warblers in strange settings while later, as we climbed back over the pass (this time in superb weather), we experienced some of the raptor migration we had hoped for.

 

Green Warblers and a fantastic al fresco lunch broke the drive to David Gareja, as did nesting Penduline Tits and Calandra Larks as we approached our rustic accommodation.  This proved to be a wonderful region, in total contrast to Kazbegi.  Black-headed, Rock and Ortolan Buntings sang from bush tops, Bee-eaters buzzed around us, Blue Rock Thrushes and Rock Sparrows flitted around the ancient monastic caves and Western Rock Nuthatch sat up on the more recent monastery roof.  There was plenty of other wildlife as well with a dazzling array of wildflowers and butterflies.  Finally after a week full of interesting experiences we wound up back in Tblisi and enjoyed a truly wonderful meal of local delicacies and fine Georgian wine.”  By Steve Rooke.

 

Bird List

 

Left column            = number of days seen

Right Column         = maximum number recorded

H                            = heard only

(H)                          = some seen but mostly heard

N                            = nesting evident

 

Great Crested Grebe  

1

4

 

Podiceps cristatus

Little Grebe

1

1

 

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Pygmy Cormorant  

1

58

 

Phalacracorax pygmaeus

Little Bittern

2

1

 

Ixobrychus minutus

Squacco Heron   

1

6

N

Ardeola ralloides

Cattle Egret

2

30

 

Bubulcus ibis

Little Egret  

1

8

 

Egretta garzetta

Grey Heron  

2

1

 

Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron  

1

2

 

Ardea purpurea

Black Stork  

1

2

N

Ciconia nigra

Glossy Ibis

1

6

 

Plegadis falcinellus

Mallard  

1

1

 

Anas platyrhynchos

Tufted Duck

1

4

 

Aythya fuligula

Honey Buzzard 

3

5

 

Pernis apivorus

Black Kite

2

2

 

Milvus migrans

Lammergeier

3

2

 

Gypaetus barbatus

Egyptian Vulture

3

2

N

Neophron percnopterus

Griffon Vulture

7

20

N

Gyps fulvus

Short-toed Eagle  

2

2

 

Circaetus gallicus

Marsh Harrier  

1

3

 

Circus aeruginosus

Montagu’s Harrier  

4

4

 

Circus pygargus

Goshawk

1

1

 

Accipiter gentilis

Sparrowhawk  

6

2

 

Accipiter nisus

Levant Sparrowhawk  

1

1

 

Accipiter brevipes

Common (Steppe) Buzzard

7

20

 

Buteo buteo vulpinus

Long-legged Buzzard 

2

2

 

Buteo rufinus

Lesser Spotted Eagle  

1

1

 

Aquila pomarina

Steppe Eagle

1

2

 

Aquila nipalensis

Golden Eagle

3

4

 

Aquila chrysaetos

Booted Eagle 

2

3

 

Hieraeetus pennatus

Osprey

1

1

 

Pandion haliaetus

Common Kestrel  

7

6

 

Falco tinnunculus

Peregrine  

1

1

 

Falco peregrinus

Caucasian Black Grouse

3

4

 

Tetrao mlokosiewiczi

Caucasian Snowcock

4

8

 

Tetraogallus caucasicus

Chukar

3

2

 

Alectoris chukar

Coot  

1

2

 

Fulica atra

Little Ringed Plover  

1

2

 

Charadrius dubius

Common Sandpiper

6

6

 

Actitis hypoleucos

Yellow-legged (Caspian) Gull  

1

50

 

Larus cacchinnans

Gull-billed Tern  

1

20

 

Gelochelidon nilotica

Little Tern

1

3

 

Sterna albifrons

Whiskered Tern 

1

5

 

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Black Tern

1

30

 

Chlidonias leucopterus

Rock/Feral Pigeon

7

20

 

Columba livia

Turtle Dove 

1

2

 

Streptopalia turtur

Cuckoo  

6

2

 

Cuculus canorus

Scops owl

1

1

H

Otus scops

Little Owl  

1

1

 

Athene noctua

Tawny Owl

1

1

H

Strix aluco

Alpine Swift

2

20

 

Apus melba

Common Swift  

4

‘00s

 

Apus apus

European Bee-eater 

2

50

 

Merops apiaster

Roller  

3

15

 

Coracias garrulus

Hoopoe  

2

10

N

Upupa epops

Green Woodpecker 

1

1

 

Picus viridis

Great Spotted Woodpecker

1

1

 

Dendrocopos major

Calandra Lark

2

20

 

Melanocorypha calandra

Short-toed Lark

2

6

 

Calandrella brachydactyla

Crested Lark  

2

6

 

Galerida cristata

Skylark 

1

6

 

Alauda arvensis

Shorelark

4