First stop was the village of Kobi again where we spent an
hour checking for migrants. In one of the first gardens we looked at we found an
acro which had us rather flummoxed. With the aid of my photos we eventually
nailed it as a Marsh Warbler but without those we’d probably still be
scratching our heads! Also around the village were Caucasian Chiffchaff, Willow
Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Red-backed Shrike, Ring Ouzel, 2 Common Crossbills
and an addition to the triplist in the form of a Corn Bunting. 2 Red-billed
Chough were obviously nesting in the largest abandoned building and House
Martins were on the move with 40+ over.
Marsh Warbler, Kobi
Marsh Warbler, Kobi
Black Redstart, Kobi (the species is rather variable in the Caucasus, this one is approaching 'semirufus' in the extent of red on the belly)
Red-backed Shrike, Kobi
Corn Bunting, Kobi
Up at the Krestovvy Pass there was still loads of snow about
and relatively few birds to boot. We couldn’t find either Snowfinch or
Caucasian Black Grouse but Lammergeier, Honey Buzzard and 2 displaying Golden
Eagles certainly livened proceedings. Around the small abandoned building a
pair of Twite and a pair of Whinchats showed really nicely. Also seen were
Raven, 2 Alpine Swifts, Red-billed Chough, numerous Water Pipits, 2 Black
Redstarts, 2 Northern Wheatears and a flock of c35 European Bee-eaters high
north.
Twite, Krestovvy Pass
Whinchat, Krestovvy Pass
Whinchat, Krestovvy Pass
Top of the Krestovvy Pass (2395m)
View from the Krestovvy Pass
To be a little bit pioneering we decided to explore the side
valley and village of Sno next as it was on our route back. This nice little
village with its tower perched on a rock gave us a few nice birds. Initially 3
Dippers and 3 Grey Wagtails were on the river where a single Rock Bunting also
put in an appearance. A female Sparrowhawk flew through scattering Tree Pipits.
A flooded pool beside the river held 2 Wood Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plover
and 2 Mallard which boosted the trip list a fraction. Around the village itself
Rock Buntings seemed particularly common, a Grey Wagtail sang from wires and a
flock of c25 Red-fronted Serins showed well feeding in a tree. Whinchat,
Red-backed Shrike, Ring Ouzel, Common Redstart, Common Whitethroat, Caucasian Chiffchaff,
Black Redstart, Common Swift and c40 House Martins were also seen.
Sno Village
Red-fronted Serin, Sno
Red-fronted Serin, Sno
Grey Wagtail, Sno
Common Redstart, Sno
Rock Bunting, Sno
Rock Bunting, Sno
Back in Kazbegi a meandering amble back to the hotel yielded
3 Griffon Vultures, 2 Ravens, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Treeceeper, Caucasian
Chiffchaff, Ehrenbergs Redstart, 2 Red-fronted Serins and finally a
yellow/green escaped Budgerigar!
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