Candy Cane Mountains On the highway between Baku and Guba, an extraordinary sight suddenly rises from the landscape—a series of red-and-white striped peaks known as the Candy Cane Mountains. Part of the majestic Greater Caucasus mountain range, these formations earned their whimsical nickname thanks to their striking resemblance to the iconic Christmas treat. The mesmerizing… Continue reading Day trip – Candy Cane Mountains + Altiagaj National Park
Absheron National Park The outermost tip of the Absheron Peninsula is a small but rich protected area teeming with birdlife. Lagoons and shallow bays often host large numbers of waterfowl, waders, gulls, and terns. During migration, this exposed point becomes a vital stopover, attracting many birds to feed and rest, while bushes burst with bird… Continue reading Day trip – Absheron National Park
Located 260 km south of Baku, this nearly 100,000-hectare protected area by the Caspian Sea is one of Azerbaijan's top birding destinations. With its mix of wetlands, reedbeds, sandy beaches, and shallow lagoons, it hosts millions of birds from October to May, offering a constantly changing avian spectacle throughout the year. Recognized for its importance,… Continue reading Day trip – Gizilagaj National Park
Over the course of two days, this tour takes you to one of the most iconic mountains of the Greater Caucasus, where we’ll search for regional endemics such as the Caucasian Snowcock, White-winged Redstart, and Caucasian Grouse around the stunning Khinalig and Laza villages. Birding in the Greater Caucasus We will also have the opportunity… Continue reading 2 Day Trip – Greater Caucasus
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Azerbaijan’s most captivating birdwatching destinations. Over three exciting days, you’ll explore the country’s stunning southern regions, from dramatic semi-deserts to lush forests and expansive wetlands. With each stop offering unique habitats and diverse avian species, this tour promises exhilarating birding experiences that will leave you inspired. Tour plan: Day… Continue reading 3 Day Trip – Southern Azerbaijan
Text & Photo © Christoph Himmel On 17 August 2017 I discovered an odd looking sandpiper during a wader study in Gyzylagach. I photographed the bird, but it flushed while approaching to get a better view. Bad luck, but at least I had some record shots. The first feature which made this bird so interesting,… Continue reading First record of White-rumped Sandpiper for Azerbaijan
Text © Kai Gauger From October 22nd to November 20th teams of birders have been around Besh Barmag for countinously counting of the daily visual migration. Before this period there have only been incomplete countings for a few hours per day or random observations by Pia Fetting's ringing team. Migrating Calandra Larks with Besh Barmag… Continue reading Autumn migration at Besh Barmag – a summary
The journal Bird Conservation International has just published a paper about the nocturnal bird migration at Besh Barmag. SummaryBird migration studies are sparse in the Caucasus region, but have received more interest in recent years. To date, these studies have focused on diurnal migration and no information about nocturnal bird migration is available from this… Continue reading Nocturnal bird migration at Besh Barmag
For spring 2018, Batumi Birding offers a birdwatching trip to Azerbaijan. The travel route will cover all main landscape types from the Greater to the Lesser Caucasus, from coastal wetlands to dry steppes in order to cover the large diversity of bird species including all Caucasian specialities. These beautiful Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters were photographed in Shirvan… Continue reading Birding tour in spring 2018
The Baku Magazine recently published an article on the Bird Camp Besh Barmag, which took place in April 2017. Read the whole article here: http://baku-magazine.com/conservation/wings-across-caspian/
Birding Azerbaijan 