Georgia - 5th to 12th May 2018 (1 Viewer)

Final selection from that classic day in Chacuna - 10.05.18 - 78 species with 30 photographed - https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45772600 - Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Nightingale, Ruddy Shelduck and Woodchat Shrike.

All the best

Paul

Sadly, we only had one full day at Chacuna but still a few things on the way out from 11.05.18 with Siberian Stonechat, Rock Sparrow, Hoopoe & Spanish Sparrows - male and a female for all those still searching for a vagrant female in Britain.............

All the best

Paul

Never underestimate travel time on Georgian roads - a bit of a lengthy trot to Lake Jandari on 11.05.18 but a few stops along the way - Eagle Owl, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Grey Shrike & Penduline Tit.

All the best

Paul

Almost there - still the final day 11.05.18 - a selection from Lake Jandari with WW Black & Whiskered Terns, Marsh Sand, Great Reed Warbler & Hobby.

All the best

Paul

Penultimate site with the heronry viewable from Rustavi cemetery - a couple of Imperial Eagles and the mass of Cattle Egrets, Night Herons, Pygmy & Great Cormorants, etc.

All the best

Paul

And then it ended - Lake Kumisi with a couple of Demoiselle Cranes, Armenian Gull & that final Golden Jackal. Those cranes were very welcome and still don't know how they were spotted in the first photo!

Unfinished business with Georgia and it remains a blow that my fitness levels in the unseasonably warm weather conditions in the mountains meant that two very big targets eluded me but I'll hatch a plan on those in the future if time permits. Nevertheless I enjoyed the diversity and the breadth of habitats so I recommend others to sample the country and get mobile rather than smash & grab Kasbegi. Although that in itself is undoubtedly, fantastic.

Treat the dogs with caution - at one point one sunk its teeth into my coat and I ripped it back. Usual precautions apply! We saw one Levantine Viper and again usual precautions apply. Finally a few of us had the odd stomach upset - so again usual precautions apply..... :t:

Good to get this wrapped up inside a fortnight with this thread - now to get back stuck into the patch. Not away again until a brief planned break at the start of July.

All the best

Paul

Stella trip Report, Paul, and some great reference shots - a lot of work putting all that together which deserves a nod (and will be very useful for anyone thinking of doing a ‘footstep’ trip).

A terrific report - loved the Spanish Sparrow shot and the Demoiselle Cranes look impossibly elegant.

Cheers
Mike

Mike & Deb - many thanks.

Correction - 'Siberian' Stonechat has been reidentified as European on flank streaking.

All the best

Sounds like a great experience. The terrain looks absolutely breathtaking and the roll call of birds impressive. Was particularly taken with the unusual silvering on the ring ouzel wings. Is this a local trait or was it just an unusual individual?

Great read and definitely somewhere to consider for a future trip.

It is the subspecies plumage - amicorum - rather than an aberration.

All the best