Text & Photos © M. Heiß
The second half of our round trip through Azerbaijan led us along the Greater Caucasus range. We visted the alpine zone of the Shahdag National Park around the villages Laza and Xinaliq, which produced some good views of the Caucasian specialities.
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| Welcome to Laza – steep gravel roads need good driving skills |
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| Red-fronted Serins are common around the village of Laza |
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| Male Ring Ouzel in the high mountain area |
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| Common Rosefinches can be heard everywhere |
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| The old village Xinaliq |
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| Xinaliq from another perpective |
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| Horned Lark are common around Xinaliq |
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| Snowfinches are also quite common around Xinaliq |
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| Displaying Caucasian Twites |
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| Typical habitat of the endemic Caucasian Snowcock… |
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| …which is easier to hear than to see |
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| Caucasian Snowcock in flight |
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| Shepherd dog takes care of a sheep |
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| Lammergeier |
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| Griffon Vulture |
We then drove further west along the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus.
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| Black-headed Buntings are widespread in the dry foothills |
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| Eastern Olivacous Warbler |
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| Ruins of Yeddi Kilisa, the ‘seven churches’ complex near the village Lekit |
Birding Azerbaijan 
