undiscovered Azerbaijan

While Georgia has rapidly established its reputation as a must-visit for birders, Azerbaijan remains rather unexplored. But there is little justification for this. The country is home to all the famous Greater Caucasus endemics, has huge coastal wetlands hosting millions of migrants, subtropic lush forests where the only Shikra of the West Palearctic breed, vast steppes populated by herds of Goitered Gazelles, and dry rocky badlands with a fabulous assembly of range-restricted species typical for the Irano-Anatolian plateau. This new tour gives you exclusive access to this spectacular country, visiting all major hotpots on a 12-day tour. Be prepared to go birding long days, walk up a mountain and cover long distances - but you will come home with a stunning list of great species!

By taking part in this trip, you support the BirdLife partner in Georgia (SABUKO).

Target species

Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, See-see Partridge, Black Francolin, all four vultures, Shikra, White-tailed Lapwing, Terek Sandpiper, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Bimaculated Lark, Western and Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Rose-coloured Starling, Güldenstadt’s Redstart, Rufous-tailed Bushchat, White-throated Robin, Blue and Red-tailed Rock Thrush, Finsch's, Pied and Persian Wheatear, Alpine and Raddes’ Accentor, Semi-collared and Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ménétries’ Warbler, Mountain Chiffchaff, Green Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Pale Rock Sparrow, Red-fronted Serin, Caucasian Twite, Great Rosefinch, Crimson-winged, Trumpeter, Desert and Mongolian Finch, Grey-necked Bunting.

Day-by-day program

5 May: Arrival

You will arrive at Baku airport in the morning. We pick you up and immediately set off for our first birding! (If an arrival on 4 May and a first night in Baku is more convenient please let us know.)

We travel north through an awakening Baku to the Greater Caucasus, a number of bus hours but also interesting stops en route. The landscape changes from semi-desert to much more humid conditions in the mountains. We stop at the colourful ‘Candy Cane Mountains’ with typical rock species like Rock Nuthatch and Finch's Wheatear and pass further on the famous Besh Barmag migration bottleneck where we look out for some raptors and other late migrants.

In the evening we reach the mountain forests of the Greater Caucasus, where we overnight, tense with anticipation for tomorrow's highlight the Shahdag National Park.

Night in NazliBulaq 

6 May:

At dawn we pack ourselves into four-wheel drive vehicles of the classic Soviet model and begin our journey up through a dramatic mountain landscape. Along the road we can see Rock Bunting, Water Pipit, Ring Ouzel and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. We pass the tree line and approach the legendary village Khinaliq at 2,100 meters above sea level which has been isolated from the outside world until quite recently. From here we hike the last meters of height to the flank of Gizilgaya mountain looking for Caucasian Snowcock, Bearded Vulture, Alpine Accentor, Güldenstädt's Redstart, Wallcreeper, Great Rosefinch and other alpine goodies. We stay in Khinaliq until the evening.

Night in NazliBulaq

7 May:

We start again early for another part of the Shadag National Park. In the morning we reach the mountain village Laza from which we can spot the Caucasian Black Grouse displaying on the slopes above the village. Here on the lush north side of the Gizilgaya massive the low birch shrubs harbour Caucasian Chiffchaff and Green Warbler. On the meadows Red-fronted Serin and Caucasian Twite are common and we have the chance for Great Rosefinch. The scenery is spectacular with snow-capped 4000m peaks around. On our way back to our accommodation in Nazli Bulaq we have several stops in the Caucasian forest to look for Red-breasted Flycatcher, Semi-collared Flycatcher and Green Warbler.

Night again in NazliBulaq.

8 May:

In the morning we have the chance to complete our species list of this birding spot. Our destination is the valley of the river Guidalchay that cuts in the Caucasus and we are exploring the surrounding high mountain habitats. In the afternoon we drive south to Salyan, where we spend the night in the Kur Hotel.

Night in Kur Hotel Salyan.

9 May:

In the morning we drive to the country’s main pride for nature protection – Shirvan National Park. Here we'll find an intact and vast steppe landscape, wormwood scrub and a floodplain lake with reed beds. A representative fauna and our first meeting with the country's birds are Black Francolin, Little Owl, Roller, Lesser Kestrel, Menetries and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. At the flamingo lake where there is both a "bird tower" and a hide in the reeds we expect to find Pygmy Cormorant, various herons, Purple Swamphen, Red-crested Pochard and Ferruginous Duck. A true highlight of the park is a healthy population of Goitered Gazelles.

In the afternoon we drive to the nearby Gobustan petroglyphs site, which is famous for its archaeological and cultural heritage. Due to the frequent visitors of this place, most bird species that favour rocky habitats are tame and well observable like Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Rock Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Chukar, Pied Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush or Red-billed Chough.

We spend another night in Salyan.

10 May:

The journey continues through farmland and over the canals of the Kura-Araz lowland. After some stops along the road we reach Masalli in the country's far south. Here we will have lunch at the Shikra site with best chances to see these exclusive birds. After a few kilometres more we get to the huge coastal lagoon Kizil Agach. This offers a rich variety of wetland species, including thousands of marsh terns and all species of herons. At the sandy beaches of the Caspian Sea waders are resting and may include flocks of Terek and Broad-billed Sandpipers. 

We overnight in the Tebbesüm complex within the green and subtropical Talysh Mountains and the border to Iran in the back.

Night in Tabassum.

11 May:

In the morning we walk around the complex enjoy the pristine character of the deciduous forest including sights of typical European forest birds and the endemic subspecies of the Greater Spotted Woodpecker (poelzami). During the day we try to find the enigmatic Caspian Tit, which breeds around Lerik and was re-discovered in recent years. If we do not succeed, we can try again on 12 May.

Night in Tabassum.

12 May:

We probably try again the Caspian Tit around Lerik and drive otherwise into the dry mountain semi-desert of Zuvand upland to search for Bimaculated Lark, Pale Rock Sparrow, White-throated Robin, Crimson-winged Finch and others. We stay in Zuvand until the evening.

Night in Tabassum.

May 13:

In the morning, we drive back to Baku and stop here and there along the way. In the afternoon we have time for sightseeing in this amazing capital with its historic city centre.

14 May:

We take the morning flight to Nakhchivan and start birding upon arrival. We stay three nights and explore the province with the main town as a base.

15-16 May:

NAR –Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic– is a separate part of Azerbaijan and borders Turkey, Iran and Armenia. Although the presidential family originates from here it arises the feeling of a forgotten part of the world with small villages, olive trees and dry valleys. The landscape is semi-desert-like and mostly barren and avifauna is similar to the Anatolian plateau in eastern Turkey. The highest mountains are however moist with alpine meadows. We are looking for Persian Wheatear, Mongolian, Desert and Trumpeter Finch, Grey-necked Bunting, Upcher's Warbler, White-throated Robin, See-see Partridge, Bimaculated Lark, Pale Rock Sparrow and the elusive Radde's Accentor.

17 May: Departure

Early morning we fly from Nakhchivan to Istanbul and further to our home destinations.

When

5 to 17 May 2024

Price & Booking

Price includes all accommodation with full board, transport, guides, entrance fees. We will stay in basic but clean and comfortable hotels and guesthouses with shared bathrooms.

Please contact us for detailed information about the prices by sending an email to info@birdingazerbaijan.org.

Price includes:

E-visa to Azerbaijan

Expert birding guide – Languages: English, German

Accommodation in small hotels and guesthouses

All meals

All transportation in minibus and 4WD

Baku-Nakhichevan Flights

All entry fees

Price DOES NOT include:

International flights to Baku, return from Nakhichevan

Alcoholic drinks

Travel insurance

Personal expenses