Europe - Georgia

Georgia straddles the borders of Europe and Asia and yet has its own unique character, culture, and ancient history. A land of contrasts, it varies from the cold high mountains of the Greater Caucasus to dry, hot, rocky steppes, where the flora and fauna are more like those of Anatolia and the Middle East.

Many birders are drawn to Georgia by the special birds of the High Caucasus, including Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, Güldenstadt’s Redstart, and Great Rosefinch. While searching for these birds, there’s also the chance of other high-altitude European mountain birds from Lammergeier to Wallcreeper. The mountain passes are also natural gateways for migrants and witness a spectacular passage of raptors as they fly north over the Caucasus Mountains and into Russia. Similarly, passerines funnel through the valleys, so there are always interesting migrants to see and the very real chance of finding something rare and unexpected. There are bound to be good numbers of Ortolan Buntings in the fields, while the bushes can hold Caucasian Chiffchaffs mingling with Common Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. Red-throated Pipits also pass through, as do migrant Bluethroats and Barred Warblers. Small stands of trees could hold anything from Scops Owl to Collared and Semi-Collared Flycatchers.

From the mountains head south to find arid grassland steppe and striking rocky landscapes with wide-open spaces where Isabelline Wheatear and Crested, Short-toed, and Calandra Larks, and possibly Lesser Short-toed Lark are found. Nearby rocky escarpments are home to Western Rock Nuthatch, Blue Rock Thrush, Pied and Black-eared Wheatears, Black-headed, Ortolan, and Rock Buntings, and Spanish and Rock Sparrows. Ménétries Warbler and Eastern Orphean Warbler also breed here.

Guldenstadt's Redstart © John Oates