TRIP REPORTS – ARMENIA

4th to 15th June 2001

Leader: Vasil Ananian
Co-leader: Simon Busuttil
Observers: John Cole, Steve Gent, William Hughey, Michael Oliver, Steve Young
Number of Species Observed: 207

Itinerary

Monday 4th June
An uneventful journey included a stop at Zurich where we were able to leave the airport without a fuss and watch red kite and black kite and yellowhammer. Arrived at Yerevan in the early hours of the morning to be met by Zhanna and transferred to the Hotel Erebuni.

Tuesday 5th June
After three hours sleep most of us made a 10am start and a change of plan as we decided to go to Vedi and look for the Mongolian finches that the previous trip reported. Mike had already been up recording Syrian woodpecker. As we headed south and dropped into the Araks River Valley with a view of Mt. Ararat we began seeing the species that would later become staples of the trip – black-headed bunting, corn bunting, hoopoe and white storks. A first stop produced honey buzzards, a singing short-toed lark and marsh warblers in a wheat field. We arrived at Vedi Gorge (970m asl) and began watching the birds of this extremely arid area – Isabelline, Finsch’s and black-eared wheatears, bee-eaters, crested larks and pale rock sparrows. After hearing them singing for some time we all managed finally to get telescope views of grey-necked bunting. The first of what was to prove a series of excellent lunches was taken and we moved on to Armash.

In baking heat we were able to watch marbled teal and white-headed ducks among the thousands of red-crested pochards and coot whilst white-winged black terns appeared in a myriad of plumages. After a coffee in some welcome shade, we returned to Yerevan and pizza.
92 species

Wednesday 6th June
We met at 9am and headed towards Garni. Bimaculated larks, rose-coloured starlings and roller were seen en route as we travelled across rolling steppe and cultivation coloured with poppies and other wild flowers. A stop at a rock face with scattered bushes produced white-throated robins, an Upcher’s warbler, western and eastern rock nuthatches, blue rock-thrush and more buntings and wheatears. In the arid areas there were literally hundreds of Isabelline wheatears. We then set off walking down Garni gorge with steep cliffs to one side of us and a running river with willows, walnuts and poplars to the other. Alpine swifts and crag martins flew close by and choughs called overhead. The trees held Syrian and middle-spotted woodpeckers, golden orioles. Dippers flew along the river. The spectacular basalt rock formations supported a colony of cliff nesting house martins. We visited Garni Temple before returning early to Yerevan before a long day tomorrow.
61 species

Thursday 7th June
We started at 6 am in cold wet weather heading north towards Hrazdan. The vehicles became separated and whilst waiting for one,, we saw wheatears, stonechat, skylark and our first Armenian gulls. The road deteriorated as we neared the decrepid town before climbing up Mt Meghradzor to 2600m. The mountain meadows supported water pipits, rock thrushes and ring ouzels. It was cold at the top but we did not take long to find 3 male Caucasian black grouse. We had fantastic views when the clouds cleared. Dunnocks warbled in the high altitude and we took breakfast in the van. We returned stopping at an abandoned farm where we watched two Radde’s accentors almost immediately. At the base of the hill we had lunch among the ruins of an abandoned gold mine buildings watching Caucasian chiff chaff in the woodland and a red-fronted serin clinging to the wall of one of the buildings.

 

SYSTEMATIC LIST

Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	10
	Present in small numbers at Armash fishponds.
Great Crested Grebe	Podiceps cristatus	200
	Up to 150 Armash and 50 on Lake Sevan.
Black-necked Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	12
	12 on Lake Sevan.
Pygmy Cormorant	Phalacrocorax pygmaeus	800
	Very common at Armash.
White-headed Duck	Oxyura leucocephala	14
	At least 12 males and 2 females at Armash.
Ruddy Shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	10
	Up to 10 on Lake Sevan including a pair with young.
Gadwall	Anas strepera	10
	Small numbers at Armash on all visits.
Eurasian Teal	Anas crecca	2
	2 at Armash.
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	5
	Up to 5 at Armash on most visits.
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata	12
	12 at Armash.
Marbled Duck	Marmaronetta angustirostris	12
	Present at Armash where it breeds in small numbers.
Red-crested Pochard	Netta rufina	250
	Abundant at Armash.
Common Pochard	Aythya ferina	80
	Common at Armash.
Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca	10
	Good numbers on Armash fishponds where a female with one small chick was seen.
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula	5
	Up to 4 at Armash plus a male on Sevan.
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	33
	Only recorded from the Armash area.
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	2
	Two singles at Armash.
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	25
	Only recorded at Armash.
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	17
	Scarce at Armash with one other in the Araks Plain.
Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides	55
	Common at Armash.
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	45
	Only seen at Armash.
Little Bittern	Ixobrychus minutus	32
	Frequently seen at Armash with 2 at.Agarakadzor.
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	16
	All sightings from Armash with a max of 12.
White Stork	Ciconia ciconia	90
	Mostly found in Armash river valley with up to 40 seen – several nests with well-grown young.
European Honey-buzzard	Pernis apivorus	6
	Two at Garni, singles at Hrazdan and Dilijan and 2 at Goris.
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	1
	A single distant bird at Goris Gorge.
Lammergeier	Gypaetus barbatus	5
	1 at Dilijan and 5 at Goris plateau/gorge.
Egyptian Vulture	Neophron percnopterus	11
	Singles at Garni and Dilijan and around Goris where a min. of 5 seen.
Eurasian Griffon	Gyps fulvus	6
	2 near Vedi on 4th and 4 on the Goris plateau on 11th.
Black Vulture	Aegypius monachus	1
	A single distant bird en route to Gladzor (MO).
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	1
	Single at Armash on 4th.
Short-toed Eagle	Circaetus gallicus	2
	Singles at Megri and Goris.
Western Marsh-Harrier	Circus aeruginosus	11
	Fairly common at Armash.
Montagu’s Harrier	Circus pygargus	2
	Males recorded twice near Armash.
Levant Sparrowhawk	Accipiter brevipes	2
	Pair at nest site near Megri.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	4
	Four singles recorded.
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentiles	2
	Two at Dilijan.
Common Buzzard	Buteo buteo	35
	Common in wooded areas.
Long-legged Buzzard	Buteo rufinus	57
	Common except in wooded areas.
Lesser Spotted Eagle	Aquila pomarina	13
	Seen at several sites.
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	2
	1 at Mt Gazma and 1 at Meghradzor.
Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	9
	Seen at several sites esp Goris and Dilijan.
Lesser Kestrel	Falco naumanni	7
	Breeding in old tower en route to Goris.
Eurasian Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	37
	Widespread but nowhere common.
Eurasian Hobby	Falco subbuteo	1
	1 at Megri (MO).
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus brookei	1
	One at Sevan.
Chukar	Alectoris chukar	14
	Seen and heard occasionally throughout
Grey Partridge	Perdix perdix	6
	On Meghradzor mountain, Gazma and at Gnisheek.
Caspian Snowcock	Tetraogallus caspius
	Three at Mt Gazma
Caucasian Grouse	Tetrao mlokosiewiczi	3
	3 males at Meghradzor.
Quail	Coturnix coturnix	5
	Heard only at three sites
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	8
	Up to 7 Armash and 1 near Hrazdan.
Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra	550
	Common at Armash fishponds (500) and on Sevan.
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	2
	At Armash where displaying.
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	2
	At Armash.
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	2
	On fast-flowing river near Hradzan.
Sanderling	Calidris alba	1
	At Armash.
Little Stint	Calidris minuta	8
	At Armash fishponds.
Curlew sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	20
	At Armash fishponds.
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	20
	Present at Armash.
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	10
	Present at Armash .
Collared Pratincole	Glareola pratincola	5
	At Armash.
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	2
	At Armash.
Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	20
	At Armash.
Northern Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	10
	Breeding at Armash.
White-tailed Lapwing	Vanellus leucurus	2
	Pair breeding at Armash with 2 chicks on 9th June.
Red-necked phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius	2
	Two at at Armash on 14th June.
Armenian Gull	Larus armenicus	2,000
	Huge colony at Lake Sevan with very small numbers of immatures elsewhere esp near Hradzan. Small numbers of young seen at colony.
Black-headed Gull	Larus ridibundus	2
	Non-breeding birds at Armash.
Slender-billed Gull	Larus genei	3
	Two at Armash and one at Sevan.
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybridus	6
	Present at Armash.
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	100
	At Armash.
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	24
	Up to 20 at Armash.
Gull-billed Tern	Sterna nilotica	5
	Present at Armash.
Little Tern	Sterna albifrons	50
	Present at Armash where breeding.
Rock Dove	Columba livia	6
	Pure or near-pure birds seen at the monastery en route to Gladzor and at another couple of sites
Stock Dove	Columba oenas	2
	Heard at Dilijan and seen at Aragats.
Common Wood Pigeon	Columba palumbus	25
	Seen in a number of places esp woodland.
European Turtle-Dove	Streptopelia turtur	2
	Singles at Vedi and Aragats
Eurasian Collared-Dove	Streptopelia decaoto	2
	Only in Yerevan.
Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis	P
	All records from Yerevan.
Common Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	P
	Widespread up to over 2800m.
Tawny Owl	Strix aluco	2
	Heard calling at Dilijan and Kapan.
Little Owl	Athene noctua	2
	Two en route near Goris.
Scops Owl	Otus scopus	1
	Heard at Gladzor (VA).
Nightjar	Caprimulgus europeaus	1
	One seen well and nest found at Aragats.
Alpine Swift	Apus melba	34
	30 Garni Gorge, 2 at monastery en route toGladzor and singles at Gazma and Aragats.
Common Swift	Apus apus	P
	Abundant esp in Yerevan.
Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	5
	At Armash and Agarakadzor.
European Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	82
	Common throughout but esp Armash.
European Roller	Coracias garrulus	38
	Widespread.
Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops	P
	A common and widespread species.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos minor	2
	At least 2 at Dilijan feeding young.
Middle Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos medius	4
	Two at Garni and at least 2 at Dilijan.
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos major	5
	One or more at Dilijan and 4 at Kapan.
Syrian Woodpecker	Dendrocopos syriacus	15
	Present in Yerevan, at Garni, Dilijan and Megri.
Black Woodpecker	Dryocopus martius	1
	Seen and heard at Dilijan.
Eurasian Green Woodpecker	Picus viridis karelini	8
	4 at Dilijan and 4 at Kapan.
Eurasian Jay	Garrulus glandarius krynicki	P
	Widespread esp woodland but also at Megri.. This race is distinct with a black cap.
Eurasian Magpie	Pica pica	P
	Common and widespread.
Red-billed Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	29
	12 Garni Gorge, 6 near Gladzor, 5 Mt Gazma, 4 Goris Gorge and 2 Mt Aragats.
Eurasian Jackdaw	Corvus monedula soemmerringii	P
	Widespread eg Armash, Garni, Mt Aragats and Megri. This race has a wider, lighter collar.
Rook	Corvus frugilegus	130
	Present mainlyin the Araks River valley.
Hooded Crow	Corvus corone	P
	Abundant.
Common Raven	Corvus corax	40
	Widespread with most at Goris (15).
Eurasian Golden-Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	10
	Widespraed, more often heard than seen..
Red-backed Shrike	Lanius collurio	P
	Very common in any hilly area with bushes.
Lesser Grey Shrike	Lanius minor	35
	Widespread in open cultivated areas with poplars.
White-throated Dipper	Cinclus cinclus	2
	2 Garni Gorge.
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush	Monticola saxatilis	P
	Present on hillsides with some scrub.
Blue Rock-Thrush	Monticola solitarius	P
	Present in suitable habitat.
Ring Ouzel	Turdus torquatus	P
	Present at higher altitudes and damper habitat.
Eurasian Blackbird	Turdus merula	P
	Present in woodland, trees by rivers.
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	P
	Present only in woodland.
Mistle Thrush	Turdus viscivorus	5
	Only at high altitude.
Rosy Starling	Sturnus roseus	505
	Small flocks encountered almost anywhere.
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	122
	Patchy distribution mainly in damper areas.
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	5
	Uncommon – only at Dilijan.
Semi-collared Flycatcher	Ficedula semitorquata	5
	Two pair splus an intruder at nest sites at Dilijan.
Red-breasted Flycatcher	Ficedula parva	1
	One seen in woodlsnd at Dilijan.
European Robin	Erithacus rubecula	P
	Scarce. Only in wooded habitats.
Common Nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos	P
	Heard only, at Goris Gorge, Gladzor and elsewhere.
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica magna	9
	9, some carrying food to nests, in dwarf juniper scrub on Mt Aragats. This is a real blue-throated
White-throated Robin	Irania gutturalis	16
	5 at Garni, 2 at Gazma, 6 Gnisheek and 3 Mt Aragats.
Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin	Cercotrichas galactotes syriacus	6
	6 seen at three sites – Garni, Vedi and Aragats.
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros semirufus	P
	Patchily distributed but esp around dilapidated buildings and at altitude.
Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus	P
	Very common in open woodland areas, seemingly especially around buildings.
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra	P
	Present at higher altitudes.
Common Stonechat	Saxicola torquata armenicus	P
	Present in a number of areas esp on hillsides with bushes. At Dilijan a pr seen did not show the “Siberian” features seen on other birds elsewhere.
Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	P
	Common or abundant at higher colder altitudes.
Finch’s Wheatear	Oenanthe finschii	80
	Patchily distributed but especially in degraded habitat shared with O. hispanica.
Black-eared Wheatear	Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca	P
	Common primarily in dry stony country but also in other habitats. Both forms (black-throated and black-eared) seen. Often in more vegetated habitats than other wheatears.
Red-tailed Wheatear	Oenanthe xanthoprymna chrysopygia	5
	Only at Megri primarily in old quarry workings.
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	P
	Occasionally abundant as near Vedi. Only really in drier flatter habitats.
Eurasian Nuthatch	Sitta europaea	P
	Very common in woodland at Dilijan and Kapan.
Rock Nuthatch	Sitta neumayer	P
	Widespread and common.
Persian Nuthatch	Sitta tephronota	P
	Widespread often commoner in arid areas than the former species..
Wallcreeper	Tichodroma muraria	1
	One or two seen briefly at Mt Gazma (SG/SY).
Eurasian Treecreeper	Certhia familiaris persica	P
	In woodland at Dilijan and Kapan.
Winter Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes hyrcanus	P
	Present in wooded habitat.
Long-tailed Tit	Aegithalos caudatus major	P
	Present at Dilijan, Kapan, and perhaps surprisingly, at Megri.
Sand Martin	Riparia riparia	P
	Abundant at Armash and occasionally encountered at other sites.
Eurasian Crag-Martin	Hirundo rupestris	P
	Common and widespread.
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	P
	Very common.
Common House-Martin	Delichon urbica	P
	Locally common at Garni Gorge. Present in small numbers elsewhere.
Cetti’s Warbler	Cettia cetti	P
	Encountered regularly in typical habitat Garni, Agarakadzor etc.
Grasshopper Warbler	Locustella naevia	1
	Single bird heard at Agarakadzor.
Savi’s Warbler	Locustella luscinioides	3
	Seen and heard at Armash only.
Paddyfield Warbler	Acrocephalus agricola	1
	One only seen well (VA). Another at least, heard singing – both at Armash fishponds.
Eurasian Reed-Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus fuscus	P
	Fairly common at Armash.
Marsh Warbler	Acrocephalus palustris	P
	Frequently seen and heard, often in arable fields eg Vedi, near Hradzan, Agarakadzor.
Great Reed-Warbler	Acrocephalus arundinaceus	P
	Common at Armash fishponds. Recorded at almost all other wetlands and in ditches in Araks Valley
Olivaceous Warbler	Hippolais pallida tamariceti	7
	6 at Agarahadzor and 1 at Sevan.
Upcher’s Warbler	Hippolais languida	22
	2 near Vedi and 20 near Megri.
Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita abietinus	P
	In woodland. Only seen well at Kapan.
Mountain Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus sindianus lorenzi	P
	Song and brown colouration of bird lacking any yellow/green help identification. Seen well near Hradzan and at Sevan.
Green Warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides nitidus	P
	Common in woodland at Dilijan and Kapan.
Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	P
	Frequent in woodland at Dilijan and Kapan.
Garden Warbler	Sylvia borin	1
	A single bird at Garni gorge.
Greater Whitethroat	Sylvia communis icterops	P
	Locally common in any area with bushes and trees.
Lesser Whitethroat	Sylvia curruca caucasica/althea	P
	Locally common but especially in drier habitats. This race emphasis the “whitethroat-like” song rather than the rattle and the eye-mask is much less distinct.
Barred Warbler	Sylvia nisoria	15
	Locally common on Mt Aragats.
Orphean Warbler	Sylvia hortensis crassirostris	12
	Only at Megri where locally common.
Menetries’ Warbler	Sylvia mystacea	4
	A max of 3 at Armash and 1 at Vedi (VA)
Bearded Tit	Panurus biarmicuss	P
	Very common at Armash.
Coal Tit	Parus ater michailowski	P
	Abundant in woodland at Dilijan and Kapan.
Sombre Tit	Parus lugubris	1
	One at Megri.
Great Tit	Parus major	P
	Common.
Blue Tit	Parus caeruleus	P
	Common.
Eurasian Penduline-Tit	Remiz pendulinus	P
	Heard at Garni Gorge, Lake Sevan and armash with one seen at Armash.
Bimaculated Lark	Melanocorypha bimaculata	P
	Locally common on rolling grassland.
Greater Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla artemisiana	9
	Only recorded on dry sandy ground at Armash.
Crested Lark	Galerida cristata	P
	Common throughout.
Wood Lark	Lullula arborea	P
	Heard more often than seen, in a variety of habitats.
Eurasian Skylark	Alauda arvensis	P
	Abundant especially at altitude in wetter, colder habitats.
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris penicillata	P
	This distinctive colourless race was abundant at altitude eg on Mt Gazma and Mt Aragats.
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	P
	Common.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	P
	Scarce at a few sites eg Megri, often associated with dilapidated buildings.
Rock Petronia	Petronia petronia	P
	Common in suitable habitat throughout. Highest day count 150.
Pale Rockfinch	Carpospiza brachydactyla	P
	Very common in all sorts of habitats esp in arid areas. Fledged young seen at Vedi.
White-winged Snowfinch	Montifringilla nivalis	12
	12 Mt Gazma.
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba	P
	Common.
Black-headed Wagtail	Motacilla feldegg	42
	Most seen at Armash but 2 near Hrazdan
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	P
	Regular in suitable habitat including towns.
Tawny Pipit	Anthus campestris	6
	Scarce – mainly at altitudes eg Meghradzor, Gnisheek and Mt Aragats.
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis	20
	Scarce – found in odd locations not particularly associated with trees eg near Hrazdan. Gnisheek
Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis	P
	Abundant at altitude and in colder habitats – Mt Gazma, Gnisheek, Mt Aragats and Hradzan. Often at higher altitude than A.spinoletta.
Water Pipit	Anthus spinoletta	P
	Abundant at altitude eg Meghradzor, Mt Gazma and Mt Aragats.
Alpine Accentor	Prunella collaris montana	9
	1 Mt Aragats, 8 Mt Gazma.
Radde’s Accentor	Prunella ocularis	5
	3 Mt Aragats and 2 Meghradzor.
Dunnock	Prunella modularis obscura	P
	Scarce – in wooded habitats and at altitude eg Meghradzor.
Common Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	P
	Common in woodland.
European Greenfinch	Carduelis chloris bilkevitchi	P
	Widespread in small numbers esp in woodland around buildings eg in Yerevan.
Red-fronted Serin	Serinus pusillus	15
	1 Hrazdan, 12 Mt Gazma, 2 Megri.
European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis loudoni	P
	Common.
Twite	Carduelis flavirostris brevirostris	P
	Common at altitude. This race is very distinct.
Eurasian Linnet	Carduelis cannabina	P
	Locally common in mountain ranges and agricultural areas.
Crimson-winged Finch	Rhodopechys sanguinea	11
	3 en route to Gladzor, 2 Mt Gazma, 2 near Goris, 2 Mt Aragats and 2 at Vedi.
Trumpeter Finch	Rhodopechys githaginea crassirostris	6
	Only at Vedi.
Common Rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	P
	Abundant in places – eg 200 around poplar plantation at Sevan. In almost all habitats.
Eurasian Bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula	5
	Only recorded at Dilijan.
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes	1
	1 at Dilijan (WH).
Rock Bunting	Emberiza cia prageri	P
	Present on hillsides with scattered bushes.
Grey-necked Bunting	Emberiza buchanani cerrutii	3
	Only at Vedi where up to 3 seen well and heard.
Ortolan Bunting	Emberiza hortulana	P
	Present in suitable habitat.
Black-headed Bunting	Emberiza melanocephala	P
	Abundant in almost any agricultural habitat – cultivated or grassland.
Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus caspia	5
	Single birds at Armash, near Hradzan and near Agarakadzor.
Corn Bunting	Emberiza calandra	P
	Common and widespread in agricultural habitats..

Simon Busuttil

For more information about birdwatching tours to Armenia contact

Simon Busuttil at Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Road, Lydd, Kent, TN29 9PN, UK