May 15: Paul French on his just concluded tour to Georgia: The High Caucasus
Fierce snowfall across the Caucasus slowed migration, but it did mean that our main targets in the high mountains were all seen fairly easily. Multiple Güldenstädt’s Redstarts on our first afternoon were followed by several Caucasian Black Grouse and a dozen Caucasian Great Rosefinches the next morning. The mornings highlight however, were the three Caucasian Snowcocks, proclaiming their territories on the slopes above us. Excellent scope views were had of these large game birds, and the delicate markings that are usually so subtle at distance could be seen in all their technicolour glory.
Guldenstadt's Redstart
Caucasian Black Grouse, a blurry camera image but sharp in the telescope
Caucasian Snowcock, again blurry here but sharp in our scopes
The following two days in the mountains delivered all the hoped for specialities, with Snowfinches, Alpine Accentors, Horned Larks, Wallcreepers, Lammergeiers and sky-dancing Golden Eagles all against clear blue skies and dazzling white snowfields.
Semi-collared and Red-breasted Flycatchers and Green Warbler all performed well on the way back to Tbilisi, before heading to the south east of Georgia and the steppes and sheep ranch at Chachuna.
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Large numbers of Rollers and Bee-eaters are always a highlight here, but they had to compete with 35 Demoiselle Cranes, Saker, Levant Sparrowhawk, Ménétries’s and Eastern Orphean Warblers, Nightjar and Rock Nuthatch, as well as more Lesser Grey, Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes, Calandra Larks and Black-headed Buntings than you could point your bins at.
Demoiselle Cranes
European Nightjar
A family of Eastern Imperial Eagles finished our time off nicely, before it was time to head back to Tbilisi and a final evenings meal overlooking the old city and river Mtkvari.
Posted: May 15, 2015