Caucasus Royal

On this trip, we aim to get all the good breeding birds of the Caucasus. First, we go for the endemics of the Greater Caucasus and other mountain species at Kazbegi, then we briefly explore the steppes of East Georgia, before finally heading down to Armenia  for the specialties of the Anatolian plateau, along with a selection of fine wetland birds. Ten days of excellent birding, and a trip you will not easily forget! By taking part in this trip, you support the BirdLife partner in Georgia (SABUKO).

Target species

Caucasian Snowcock, Caspian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, Imperial Eagle, Bearded, Black and Egyptian Vulture, Pygmy Cormorant, White-headed Duck, White-tailed Lapwing, Roller, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Bimaculated Lark, Western and Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Kruper’s Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Rose-coloured Starling, Güldenstadt’s Redstart, Rufous-tailed Bush-robin, White-throated Robin, Persian and Finches Wheatear, Blue and Red-tailed Rock Thrush, Raddes’ Accentor, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ménétries’ Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Moustached Wabler, Green warbler, Mountain chiffchaff, Red-fronted Serin, Great Rosefinch, Rock Sparrow, Pale Rock Sparrow, Crimson-winged finch, White-winged Snowfinch, Black-headed Bunting, Grey-necked Bunting.

Day-by-day program

5 May: Arrival in Tbilisi and road to Kazbegi

Participants arriving early morning will have possibility to have few hours rest at the hotel and fresh up before heading towards Kazbegi, our base for the next three days. Departure to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) 9:00am. We may make few stops on the way to catch few species.  

Night in Stepantsminda

6 May: Kazbegi valleys

Today we will explore the valleys, partly walking and partly driving. First, we drive up to the Elia church a good place to observe Caucasian black grouse and Caucasian Snowcock. Bushes down in the valley are often teeming with migrants, while raptor migration can be quite spectacular.

Night in Stepantsminda

7 May: Up to the glacier

This day we leave early, we make our way up the mountain at the Gergeti church, having an impressive view of the village. The bus drops us off at an altitude of 2100m, and from there we walk towards the glacier. Hike may take up to 2.5 hours and we will cover up to 1.2km.

If the weather in May is not too hot, we may have a good chances to see altitude species down in the valley, without a need to hiking towards the glacier.

Here we are likely to see Güldenstadt’s redstarts, Great Rosefinches, Bearded and Griffon vultures, Caucasian chiffchaff, Twite, Red-fronted serin and other local goodies.

Night in Stepantsminda

8 May: Birding the way back

Before breakfast we spend the morning birding in the bushes and marshes along the river. We will leave Kazbegi for a long 4 hours drive towards Kumisi lake, stopover site for migratory waterfowl.

Night in Tbilisi

9 May: Davit Gareji monastery complex

East of Tbilisi, a vast semi-arid landscape starts, with steppes, rocky outcrops, shallow lakes and riverine forest.

Our first stop will be Kojori forest where will look for Krüper's nuthatch. From there we drive to Krstanisi forest site, here we we will have views of 6 species of woodpeckers; Syrian, Black, Green, Lesser spotted, Middle spotted and Great spotted. As well here are nesting Golden oriole and Levant sparrowhawk.

After we will continue our way to east towards the rock monasteries of Davit Gareji, passing through steppes where huge numbers of Rose-coloured starling, Tawny pipit and Calandra lark breed. We will walk around the monasteries where western rock nuthatch, blue rock thrush and Pied wheatear breed.

Night in Tbilisi

10 May: Tbilisi-Dilijan Forests-Lake Sevan (Norashen)

Dilijan forests (Dilijan National Park) occupying 24,000 ha, is located in the North-Eastern part of the Republic of Armenia. We may see Golden eagle, Lesser spotted eagle, Booted eagle, Common buzzard, European Honey-buzzard, Eurasian sparrowhawk, Great spotted and Middle spotted woodpeckers (ssp. caucasicus), European nuthatch, Eurasian tree-creeper, Red-breasted and Semi-collared flycatchers, Green warbler, Eurasian jay (atricapillus) and many other forest species.

 Night in Sevan

11 May: Sevan-Vardenyats pass (Selim Pass)-Noravank Gorge-Yeghegnadzor

Vardenyats mountain pass (2410 m ) is the shortest road that connects historical Gegharkunik with Vayots Dzor region. It is an interesting spot for Ortolan Bunting, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Rosefinch, Common Rock Thrush, Red‐backed Shrike, Bearded Vulture, Lesser Spotted and Short‐toed Eagles, Long‐legged Buzzard, Common Buzzard and many other raptors, as well as Rock Sparrow, Linnets and Twites. In case if we are lucky we may see Radde’s accentor, Swnofinch and Bluethroat.

 Night in Vayots Dzor

12 May: Yeghegnadzor-Snowcock site-Vedi gorge

Early morning we will start to look for our target species, Caspian Snowcock in Yeghegnadzor Mountains. We will spend much of the time up in the high mountains to see Caspian Snowcock and also on the way to mountains we may see Northern Wheatear, Alpine swift, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow and Water Pipits, Alpine accentor, Dunnock, Rosefinch and Peregrine Falcon.

Vedi gorge (Vedi hills) with its semi‐desert vegetation and rocky slopes hold rarities such as Egyptian Vulture, Long‐legged Buzzard, Short toed Eagle, Grey‐necked Bunting, Trumpeter and Desert Finches, Pale rock‐Finch, Eurasian Nuthatch, Roller, Blue rock‐Thrush, Black-eared and Finsch’s Wheatears, European Bee‐eater.

 Night in Yerevan

13 May: Yerevan-Armash-Oorts Mountains

Armash fish farms hosts a variety of birds such as Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed Lapwing, Glossy Ibis, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian spoonbill, Marbled Teal and White-headed Duck and many other waterbird and songbird species. Ooranots is a semi-desert with rocky outcrops located not far from of Armash in the foothills of Oorts Mountains. The site hosts many interesting species such as Griffon and Bearded Vultures, Chukar, Eastern and Western Nuthatches, Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes, Red-fronted Serin. If we are lucky we may see the Persian wheatear, one of the rarities of Armenia.

 Night in Yerevan

14 May: Yerevan-Aragats-Amberd

Mount Aragats rises 4,090 meters, making it the highest point within the Republic of Armenia. It is an excellent area to observe woodland, meadow‐steppe, and sub‐alpine species. Radde's Accentor, Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel and White‐throated Robin can be found within the sub‐alpine zone, while Alpine Accentor, Snowfinch, Crimson‐winged Finch, Horned Lark, and Red‐billed Chough are all common in the boulder fields of the sub‐alpine zone. Raptors such as Common Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Lesser‐spotted Eagle soar woodland areas, while Snake Eagle and Black Kite frequent meadow‐steppe regions. The precipitous crags surrounding the crater also host Wallcreeper and Bearded Vulture. Amberd is the name given to the 7th century Armenian fortress located 2,300 meters asl, on the slopes of Mount Aragats at the confluence of the Arkashen and Amberd rivers in the province of Aragatsotn, Armenia. The name translates to "fortress in the clouds" in Armenian. It is also the name incorrectly attributed to Vahramashen Church, the 11th century Armenian Church near the castle. 

Night in Yerevan

15 May: Departure

After a few celebratory drinks on the last night, we’ll make sure you catch your flight back home! For those who prefer to book a return flight from Tbilisi, transfer will be organised.

When

5 to 15 May 2025

Price & Booking

Price includes all accommodation with full board, transport, guides, entrance fees. We will stay in basic but clean and comfortable hotels with shared bathrooms. If you prefer to have a single room, a supplement of 350 EUR applies.

Please contact us for detailed information about the prices using the form below or by sending an email to info@batumibirding.com.