Photos © Johan Stenlund
The third (following April 2012 and October 2013) arranged group trip by Swedish birders took place 5-13 May 2014 and included the highlights of eastern Azerbaijan: a few days in the Greater Caucasus, the steppes of Shirvan, the wetlands at Machmud Chala and Kizil Agach as well as the rich forests around Masalli.
Driving
up through mountains and forests along the Guidalchay river yielded
many Green Warblers and Semi-collared Flycatcher with Lammergeiers and
Steppe Eagles overhead. The fogs were thick around Xinaliq but driving
up to 2600m and then hiking, out of the fog, to some 2900m on the
Gizilgaya massif proved successful - Caucasian Snowcock, Güldenstädt´s
Redstart and a flock of Greater Rosefinches.
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| Semi-collared Flycatcher |
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| Green Warbler |
The
group then switched to next valley northwards and to Laza where they
stayed with local families in the village on 1800m. An afternoon with
Wallcreepers, Red-fronted Serins, Mountain Chiffchaffs, more vultures
and eagles were followed by an exciting morning - eager swedish birders
getting out of the houses at dawn and discover displaying Caucasian
Black Grouses basically from the doorstep! Some 15 birds seen during the
morning, on the slopes with birch scrub opposite Laza village and Suvar
resort.
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| Red-fronted Serin |
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| Wallcreeper |
Short visits at the bottleneck site
Besh Barmag with little result, some Rufous Bush-chats, Lesser
Short-toed Larks, Menetriés Warblers.
Continuing south to Shirvan Nationalpark where the expected
collection of birds showed - Black Francolin, Roller, Blue-cheeked
Bee-eater, Ferrugineous Duck, Dalmatian Pelican. The wetlands at Machmud
Chala are vast to overlook at a short visit but had some waders, 300
Greater Flamingoes and more.
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| Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin |
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| Blue-cheeked Bee-eater |
The strips of oak
forest south of Masalli proved yet again to be a safe bet for Shikra
with a pair at breeding site seen on several visits. The team also
searched for the elusive and semi-mythical Hyrcan Tit in the wooded
foothills of the Talysh Mountains without finding it but well Middle
Spotted and Syrian Woodpeckers. The smaller southern part of Kizil Agach
lagoons had lots of waders including Terek and Broad-billed Sandpipers,
Black-winged Pratincoles as well as thousands of Whiskered Terns and
herons.
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| Shikra |
Driving back to Baku with visit at the
Gobustan petroglyphs and the local Rock Nuthatches and Pied Wheatears,
but no Finch´s seen. All in all some 220
species during the week and with nice weather (perhaps a little too
nice, many days with above 30°C!) and smooth logistics. We will come back
to Aze thats for sure!
Thanks to Johan Stenlund for providing some photos (more: http://www.pbase.com/johanstenlund/azerbajdzjan_may_2014).
