*Saturday May 13th – Wednesday May 24th 2006 Leader: Vasil Ananian and Roy Beddard Group Size: 12 with 2 leaders Birds: 195 – 220 species *Due to changing flight schedules to Yerevan, this tour may depart one day earlier or later. Armenia is located in the Lower Caucasus Mountain range situated between the Black and Caspian Seas. It is an extremely important area for migratory and breeding species of high mountains and sub-desert habitats. Our tour covers the main birdwatching areas of Armenia, a country slightly smaller than Belgium. Armenia is a fascinating country with its own language and culture going back many centuries. It is also an outstanding place for birds and other aspects of natural history seen amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in extreme south-eastern Europe. Birdwatching Breaks are market leaders in tours to Armenia having run trips to the country since 1999.

Itinerary:

Day 1: We fly to Armenia and transfer to Yerevan for two-nights.

Day 2: Yerevan is situated in the Lower Caucasian Mountains. Armash Fishponds overlooked by snow-capped Mount Ararat is an outstanding area for wetland species. Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern, Purple and Squacco Herons and Bearded Tits reside in the reeds along with Great Reed and Paddyfield Warblers. Open waters have Marbled and Ferruginous Ducks, White-winged and Little Terns. Water meadows attract Collared Pratincole and White-tailed Lapwing. Armash regularly holds migrant Terek and Curlew Sandpipers and Red-necked Phalaropes. Armash is surrounded by sub-desert with tamarisk, camel’s thorn and sagebrush bushes, a unique habitat luring Menetries’s and Upcher’s Warblers, European Roller, European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters.

Day 3: Garni is situated on the edge of Khosrov Nature Reserve, a barren landscape where Short-toed Lark, Isabelline, Black-eared and Finsch’s Wheatears, Lesser Grey Shrike, Black-headed and Ortolan Buntings occur. Garni Gorge has Alpine Swifts and tumbling flocks of Red-billed Choughs. Wooded gullies attract the Caucasian races of Middle-spotted Woodpecker. In the afternoon we search a barren region with scrub for White-throated Robin, Rufous-tailed Bush-chat, Eastern Rock Nuthatch and, with luck, Trumpeter Finches.

Day 4: Today we travel towards Hradzan. Fast-flowing rivers attract White-throated Dipper and villages host Black Redstart and Common Rosefinch. Alpine meadows scattered with isolated bushes hold Ring Ouzel, Whinchat, Red-backed Shrike and Rock Bunting. Our main interest is an area of rock-strewn slopes littered with dwarf birch where we should find Caucasian Grouse, Twite and Water Pipit. Later in the day, we visit Gull Island on Lake Sevan where Armenian Gulls nest. Stands of birch and scrub may have Marsh Warbler and Mountain Chiffchaff. Travel to Dilijan for a one-night stay.

Day 5: The hotel is situated in a beech and oak-forest, an important area for breeding woodland species. A walk in the forest may reveal woodpeckers, tits and Hawfinch. Our main interest is locating Semi-collared and Red-breasted Flycatchers. After lunch we travel to Yeghegnadzor for a two-night stay.

Day 6: An early start to drive up Mount Gazma, an outstanding and isolated spot for high mountain birds. The track passes through meadows with a ruined castle and 13th century church. The castle has a resident pair of Golden Eagles and flocks of Red-billed Choughs. An isolated village has Chukar and Red-fronted Serin. The summit is dotted with rocky outcrops next to huge cliffs dropping to a remote valley below. We have an excellent chance of Lammergeier, Caspian Snowcock, Horned Lark and Alpine Accentor. On our return to Yeghegnadzor we can check village gardens for Syrian Woodpecker.

Day 7: Today we head south to the industrial city of Kapan. A stop en route should reveal Lesser Kestrels. The road passes through a high plateau area with Eurasian Black and Egyptian Vultures, Long-legged Buzzard and Peregrine Falcon. Fallow fields attract flocks of Rose-coloured Starlings. The road between Goris and Kapan snakes over wooded hillsides with Common Buzzard and other raptors. We have a two-night stay at a secluded hotel set in its own wooded grounds near Kapan.

Day 8: This morning we head towards Megri on the border with Iran. Megri has a dry sub-tropical climate with rocky gorges, deciduous woodlands and arid open juniper woods. At our first stop we can check for Levant Sparrowhawks. A rocky gorge may have Lesser Whitethroat, Upcher’s Warbler and Sombre Tit. Just past Megri is a dry rocky gorge with Red-tailed Wheatears. A pomegranate orchard attracts the eastern race of Orphean Warbler and Woodchat Shrike.

Day 9: Today we leave Kapan and travel to Yeghegnadzor for a night’s stay. Hillsides on the road north to Yerevan hold Wood Lark, Ortolan Bunting and, occasionally, in the valley bottoms, Corncrake. Raptors comprise Short-toed and Booted Eagles. The dry, rocky gorges should have the irruptive Pale Rockfinch singing its buzzing song.

Day 10: Back to Yerevan via Armash fishponds to see if any late migrants have appeared. On recent visits these have included Slender-billed Gull. Vedi, nearby, is an extremely arid region noted for Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Mongolian Trumpeter and Trumpeter Finches and Grey-necked Bunting.

Day 11: Mount Aragats is our destination. The lower valleys are dominated by juniper scrub attracting Bluethroat and Radde’s Accentor. The road terminates at a scenic watch-point overlooking a ruined castle and church. Raptors occurring include Long-legged Buzzards, Booted and Lesser-spotted Eagles. Later in the day we ascend towards the summit for a final opportunity to observe White-winged Snowfinch and Crimson-winged Finch.

Day 12: Morning flight back to London.

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Tour Price: £1895...... Single room occupancy: £200 Deposit: £200 Not included: drinks, insurance and items of a personal nature. Visa to enter Armenia, departure tax from Yerevan airport. This holiday is fully inclusive of flights, accommodation and meals, transport, permit fees, guidance, tips and taxes. Flights are available from Heathrow, Glasgow and Manchester. Good accommodation in Yerevan in a 3* hotel with en-suite facilities, traditional village houses with guest bathrooms and toilets at Yeghegnadzor, factory workers retreat at Kapan with en-suite facilities. The Composer’s House at Dilijan is basic with en-suite facilities. Picnic lunches provided, some breakfasts in the field. Evening meals in Yerevan of international cuisine. Transport by minibus and 4x4 in the mountains. Walks in mountainous country with a few at high altitude, otherwise short walks on level ground in woodlands and marshes. Stout footwear recommended. Book this Tour >>