Azerbaijan Birding Trip - 2009

During the trip we will visit some of the most remote places of Azerbaijan to discover the real naturalness and wilderness of the country, and you will have the special privilege of being among its first explorers.

Dates: 1-11 June, 2009 * Tour full

Starting point: Baku Airport

Tour Guides: Pavel Simeonov and experienced local escorts

Group size: Limited to 5 participants + Tour leader

Azerbaijan is one of the most attractive nature destinations visited by almost no other wildlife tour companies. Only one-ninth the size of Turkey, it really produces as excellent birdwatching opportunities with far less efforts required.

During the trip we expect to find the following highlights, providing us with rare photographic opportunities:
Caucasian and Caspian Snowcocks, Caucasian Black Grouse, Black Francolin, See-see Partridge, Shikra, Levant, Lesser Kestrel, Lammergeier, Black Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, White-tailed & Greater Sand Plovers, Marbled Teal, Purple Swamphen, Laughing Dove, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Little Swift, Finsch´s & Red-tailed Wheatears, Güldenstadt´s Redstart, Radde´s Accentor, White-throated Robin, Rufous Bush Robin, Ménétries´s & Upcher´s Warblers, Bimaculated, Shore & Lesser Short-toed Larks, Caspian Tit, Mountain Chiffchaff, Crimson-winged, Mongolian & Trumpeter Finches, Great Rosefinch, Red-fronted Serin, Twite, Grey-necked Bunting, Pale Rock Sparrow etc., by way of a small sample (over 190 species expected).

The wildlife around is represented by several notable species of mammals that we also look for, including Goitered gazelle, East Caucasian Tur, Bearded Goat, Transcaucasian Mouflon, Caspian Seal, Marbled Polecat, Pallas´s & Jungle cats and, with good luck, we may just see Persian Leopard. Caspian tiger, which is probably extinct from the country, has been found here too.

To finance this exciting venture, which is not a "standard tourist product", we will try to find enthusiastic partners to share cost of transport, meals and accommodation across the country.

Budget cost is approximately EUR 1190 per person (not including visa and flights to and from Baku airport).

Trip deposit of EUR 200 is required at least one month before departure.

* We will be pleased to send you a bird checklist and day-by-day programme just after receiving the required deposit.

Contact Pavel Simeonov at info@branta-tours.com

General Information

Azerbaijan, located on the western edge of the Caspian Sea, has a valuable geographical position sitting at the crossroad between East and West. (Asia and Europe) Surrounding it are four other countries, namely; Russian Federation, Georgia, Armenia and Iran.

Azerbaijan, formerly part of the USSR, declared its independence in 1991 as the Soviet Union began to break up and is now a democratic republic that favours closer ties with Western Europe.

Landforms:

Azerbaijan is a mountainous country. Three physical features dominate Azerbaijan: the Caspian Sea, whose shoreline forms a natural boundary to the east; the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north; and the extensive flatlands at the country's center. Many snow-capped peaks exceed 12,000 ft. (3,700m), with Baza-Dyuzi the highest point, at 14,698 ft. (4,480m).

Climate:

The climate varies from subtropical and dry in central and eastern Azerbaijan to subtropical and humid in the southeast, temperate along the shores of the Caspian Sea, and cold at the higher mountain elevations. Baku, on the Caspian, enjoys mild weather, averaging 4°C in January and 25°C in July.

Air Travel:

This is entirely optional leaving you completely free to make personally your flight reservations and to pursue your travel arrangements to Baku with an airline company or your own travel agent. Turkish Airlines offer cheapest flights to Baku available at: http://www.thy.com

For more information please contact us: info@branta-tours.com

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