Georgia, Day 5, 5 May 2013 - Kobi Village, Krestovvy Pass, Sno Village & Kazbegi

Our last day up in the mountains. Having run out of options in Kazbegi we decided to use our taxi driver from yesterday to take us up to the Krestovvy Pass and then work our way back north to Kazbegi.

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

 

On the way into the village Jus thought he’d seen a Lesser Grey Shrike from the car so we stopped at the same spot on the way out and hey presto, he’d not been going mad!

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!