Birding in the Caucasus Mountains

As most of our friends and family know, , Roy is an avid (with a capital A) Birder.  Several months ago he booked us on a 4 day bird watching trip about 3 hours north into the Caucasus Mountains.  I went for the scenery, Roy, one other American, one German, and six Brits went for the birds.  From dawn to dusk.  

A spring not too far from Tbilisi - looking for water birds.

It has snowed the day before we entered the Caucasus Mts.

Looking high mountain for raptors.

Did you know..... the Caucasus Mountains are considered to be in Europe and are higher than the Alps?  The highest peak in the Caucasus Range is Mount Elbrus at 18,500'.

Mt. Kazbek 16,500' - 3rd highest Mt. in the Caucasus - we stayed in the little village in the foreground.

We stayed in the small town of Stephantsminda

Mary's lambs came to school ..... and were allowed to stay it would seem.

The cows in the town, which seem to wander and graze where ever they pleased, at the end of the day, went home - right down main street.

this was taken out of the front of our van

an old farm building 

 From here we were within 5 miles of the Russian border.  Glad I didn't know that at the time.

now that is a different approach to birdwatching..... Lol. 

and this is what we came for: 

Guildenstadt's redstart

red-throated flycatcher

Grey wagtail

Rock Bunting

In all, 45 new birds for Georgia and for Roy's life list.  Happy guy.  Photos by Roy with his new toy.  

Have you noticed all the blue sky?  I thought we would escape the Woodward travel 'normal'.  Haha.  Funny girl.  This is what the mountains looked like the last morning we were preparing to leave.

One mile down the road it started to snow.  
Now between us and Tbilisi is a 7800' pass, on a narrow 2 lane road that has not been scraped.  

and of course no one stopped the semi-trucks from attempting the cross the pass (this is the main route to Russia), so when they realized they couldn't make it, they just stopped.  (no room to pull over).  Now add crazy Russian and Georgian drivers in small cars hell-bent to make it through and you have a white knuckles, hold-your-breath two hour drive.  We had a terrific driver and he got us through; we squeezed by one of these semi's by 2".  I will honestly admit, I was extremely nervous.  

Once down the mountain we found blue sky and had a wonderful Georgian lunch outside in green trees and sunshine.  

Ananuri Church and castle

Ananuri was a castle and seat of the eristavis  (Dukes) of Aragvi, a feudal dynasty which ruled the area from the 13th century.  The castle was the scene of numerous battles.