Hi Jos,
A great read! But rather lacking in detail. The exact location of the village of Kudrichi would help as well as the other sites mentioned in the article.
"But rather lacking in detail" - such is birding in this valley, areas are vast and birds such as Azure Tit can occur anywhere in good habitat. However all locations I mention are on maps. Details beyond that are not so easy, as Kudrichi, for example is at the end of about 15 km of rough gravel roads and much easier for you to simply get a map than me to describe the various turns, as I will probably forget one. It took me sometime to find it, even with a map!
In fact, the report is not really lacking in details so much...
eg
"day two in my search for Azure Tit started in the settlement of Mikashevichi. Meandering down a maze of dirt tracks, I eventually reached a fabulous area of wet woodland" It is exactly that, from the village I left the village and drove at random down little dirt roads, turning here and there in the general direction of the river (south) - I happened upon one super area, though probably no more super than than an area if I had happened to take another track.
eg
"notch up the footwork, put in the kilometres and, sooner or later, I had to bump into an Azure Tit ...or at least, so I convinced myself! Chose to walk along the river, hugging the bank where possible, the habitat a mosaic of mature trees, swampy hollows and meadows, a fantastic piece of landscape.". Again, exactly what I did, from Turov, drove to a random patch of riverbank, then started to walk.
So, in short, sorry for the lack of detail, but the whole valley is excellent and it is birding at its best, find good habitat (everywhere) and look - the Azure Tits wander a lot, but can be in any village or area of wet riverside woodland.
For locations in my report, that certainly will not guarantee Azure Tits in October, you need a good map (in Russian preferably, as all local signs where they exist, will also be in Russian ...plus useful if you need to ask directions!). Alternatively, pay my visa and I will come and show you