Tour MTHC 23 – BW 01- Birdwatching and wildlife hoildays Uzbekistan - 7 days Duration: 7 days Places of visit: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Chimgan Group size: Max 12 persons. Min 4 person DETAILED PROGRAM
Day 1 - Arrive in Tashkent Morning arrival in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. You’re met by our local guide and driver and follow the ancient Silk Road out of city towards Samarkand, which will be your base for the next two nights. On the way several stops to explore the species you meet on the way to the capital of Tamerlane - Samarkand. White Storks nest on roadside power pylons, while European Rollers and European Bee-eaters adorn the roadside wires. We can also expect to encounter the distinctive ‘Masked’ form of White Wagtail, Pied Wheatears, Lesser Grey Shrikes, Rose-coloured Starlings, Common Mynas and perhaps a scattering of raptors including Shikra and Eurasian Hobby. Along the way, we hope to find Variable Wheatear, which closely resembles the more numerous and widespread Pied Wheatear. Pressing on to Samarkand, we should arrive with some time to explore this fascinating historic city. Night in Samarkand. Day 2 - Around Samarkand This morning, we drive out to the scrub and bush covered hills that surround the city of Samarkand - home to a wealth of exciting species, many of which are more numerous and occur here in greater numbers than elsewhere in their range. High on the list of species we most want to see here will be the irresistible White-throated Robin and Upcher’s Warbler, followed closely by Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Eastern Orphean Warbler and the gorgeous Red-headed Bunting. Isabelline Shrikes also await, as do a few pairs of desirably cute Yellow-breasted Tits, while overhead thermalling raptors may include Eurasian Black Vultures and Eurasian Griffons. Tracking down the subtle Hume's Short-toed Lark, which also occurs here in small numbers, is something of an identification challenge and will push our skills to the limit. If we are very fortunate, we may encounter the beautiful Asian Paradise Flycatcher and perhaps even find its delicate cup-shaped nest over a stream. On our return to Samarkand we’ll make a short stop to search for Finsch’s Wheatear. Night Samarkand Day 3 - Samarkand - Bukhara We start the day with an optional, pre-breakfast excursion to wetlands on the outskirts of Samarkand, near the Zarafshan River, where we may come across Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, the lovely White-crowned Penduline-tit, Turkestan Tit and many migrants, possibly including Blyth's Reed Warbler. Following breakfast, we spend the remainder of the morning looking at some of the outstanding architecture of historic Samarkand and learn something of its history. Don’t forget to bring your optics though as we are quite likely to encounter Alpine Swifts, Laughing Doves and perhaps a passing Eurasian Hobby over the ancient city. After lunch, we continue our journey along the Silk Road to Bukhara. Although this is a long drive, we will break the journey to search for our first White-tailed Lapwings and Citrine Wagtails by roadside wetlands, and if we are lucky we may bump into other birds characteristic of this arid region including Eurasian Stone-curlews and Collared Pratincoles. Bukhara was formerly one of the most important trading cities along the ancient Silk Road, this historic city has a rich and colourful history, and is endowed with an overwhelming number of historic sites of interest. The blue domes and towering minarets of Bukhara provide a wonderful backdrop to our stay, while the markets and bazaars are bustling, a great place to barter for jewellery, spices and the famous Bukhara rugs. We shall have some time to explore this wonderful city. Night Bukhara. Day 4 - Around Bukhara We will spend the entire day exploring wetlands which surround the oasis city of Bukhara. Known as an oasis since ancient times, these wetlands are extremely attractive to a wealth of water and marsh-loving species. We can expect to watch Pygmy Cormorants and Glossy Ibis gliding low over the reedbeds, and an abundance of herons and egrets, along with subtly plumaged Marbled Ducks. Muddy edges are home to elegant White-tailed Plovers, while graceful Collared Pratincoles hawk overhead and raucous Caspian Gulls voice their annoyance. Adjacent reedbeds are alive with an abundance of reed-loving warblers including Clamorous Reed and Paddyfield Warblers, as well as Bearded Reedlings. Such diversity seems even more extraordinary in the desert! Indeed, many dry country species breed here too, from Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Oriental Skylarks, Sykes’s, Eastern Olivaceous and Ménétries’s Warblers through to Rufous Scrub Robins, Pied Bushchats, Long-tailed Shrikes and many more. Being a wetland in such an arid region, many migrants will also be attracted to the abundant food available to them. In May, almost anything is possible! Night Bukhara Day 5 Around Bukhara and fly to Tashkent Taking a picnic breakfast with us we make an early start into the Kyzyl-Kum desert, where we expect to arrive just after dawn. This very special region is home to one of the most sought-after of all the birds that occur in Central Asia - the legendary Turkestan Ground Jay. Although they are quite numerous and widespread here, these wonderful birds are always much easier to locate in the cool of the early morning. While we are waiting for one to show, an Asian Desert Warbler may distract us as it flits from bush to bush, or a mouse-like Streaked Scrub Warbler may scurry around our feet. Nearby, Southern Grey Shrikes drop onto any unfortunate passing lizard, and Isabelline Wheatears call in warning. Very soon, a Turkestan Ground Jay will appear and keep us occupied as it sprints across the desert, occasionally perching up to allow us good views before dashing off again. In 2007, we even found the nest of this attractive species and were able to watch a pair and their helper completing the nest set in a low bush. We’ll enjoy our breakfast at a roadside farm where the small bushes attract a wealth of migrants. Here we may see Common Redstarts, Common Nightingales, Moustached and Clamorous Reed Warblers, Common Whitethroats, Greenish Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers, Isabelline Shrikes, Eurasian Golden Orioles and much more. As the desert warms up, bird activity drops off markedly and by mid morning it can seem almost lifeless. We will return to Bukhara for lunch. For those who wish to, there will be an opportunity later in the day to take in some of the sights of Bukhara, including the historic town centre with its surrounding old madrassahs, marvel at the Kalyan Minaret - a 150-foot tall tower built in the 12th century - and also the Miri-Arab Madrasa and Trade Domes. In the evening, we catch a flight to Tashkent. Night Tashkent Day 6 Tashkent - Chimgan We leave Tashkent and drive up into the Chimgan Hills, which form an extension to the mighty Tien Shan range, Asia’s legendary ‘Celestial Mountains’. Although not as high here as in neighbouring Kazakhstan, these wooded hills are home to some very special birds. We have the entire day to explore, watching for the likes of Eurasian Golden Oriole, the distinctive hafizi race of Common Nightingale and Yellow-breasted Tit - looking for all the world like an Azure Tit with a dash of yellow across the breast. The hotel, set in a delightful location, is a great place to grab a drink and just sit and watch. Red-rumped Swallows nest outside our rooms, while overhead a procession of raptors may include Lammergeier, Eurasian Griffon, Eurasian Black Vulture and Booted Eagle. Later in the day, we’ll explore the juniper scrub, where Rufous-naped Tits should be feeding their newly fledged youngsters and Hume’s Lesser Whitethroats churr from nearby thickets. We should also encounter White-capped and Rock Buntings, which breed on the rocky hillsides. Night Chimgan Hills Day 7 Chimgan Hills to Tashkent Flight schedules permitting, we’ll enjoy some final birding in these delightful hills below the towering Mt. Chimgan before we must head back down to Tashkent. Gentle valleys hold Blue Whistling Thrush and Grey Wagtail by the streams, while the scrub and rocky outcrops are home to Siberian Stonechats and Rock and Red-headed Buntings. In addition, we have further opportunities to catch up on some species were may missed so far, perhaps including White-winged Woodpecker or Asian Paradise Flycatcher. Returning to Tashkent in the afternoon, Have a flight back
Accommodation
| City | Hotels | | Tashkent | Hotel "Grand Orzu" 3* or Hotel "Uzbekistan"3* or any available of the same category | | Samarkand | Hotel "Malika Prime" 3* or hotel "Sherdor" 3* or any available of the same category | | Bukhara | Hotel "Azia Bukhara" 3* or Hotel "Amelia Boutique Hotel" 3* or any available of the same category | | Chimgan | Hotel "Nebesa" 4* or any available of the same category |
Tour Price: US$ per person
Number of persons Price per person
| 4 | 1145 | | 6 | 1064 | | 8 | 987 | | 10-12-14 | 935 | | single supplement | 115 |
What is included?
Accommodation based on twin / double room sharing
Full Board Meals
All land transfers
Domestic flight ticket Bukhara-Tashkent
English or other foreign speaking escorting guide
Escorting Birding guide
Ecological Tax
Entrance Fees
Visa support What is excluded? International Airfare
Charges in hotels for additional services
Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa
Charges for usage of Video Camera and Photo Camera
Personal insurance
Tips
Any other services not listed in "What is includes?"
Tour MTHC 23 - BW 02. Birdwatching and wildlife hoildays Uzbekistan The nature of Uzbekistan is rich and various. About 379 kinds of birds live here: you can observe birds in sunny deserts and attractive oasis, valleys of the fast mountainous rivers and of the banks of pure lakes, steppes and magnificent mountains. This journey is ideal for birdwatching and exploring of historical sites of the most ancient cities in Central Asia - Samarcand, Bukhara. Day 1 Arrival in Tashkent. PM. City tour. After lunch sightseeing Tashkent, including Applied art museum, Amir Temur square, Navoi Opera and ballet theatre. Monuments for earthquake in 1966, old town, Khasti Imam complex (madrasah, mosque, mausoleum), Abdulkasim madrasah (handicraft center), Day 2 Tashkent – Samarkand Transfer to Samarkand (5 hours). Afternoon day guided sightseeing of Samarqand: Visit observatory of Ulugbek (XV Century), Afrasiyab Museum with wall paintings and Shakhi Zinda necropolis. Reghistan Square, Gour Emir Mausoleum, Bibi Khanum Mosque, famous oriental Siyob bazar Dinner in city and overnight at the hotel. Day 3 Samarkand – Bukhara Transfer to Bukhara (4 hours). PM City tour.Visit Ark fortress with Historical Museum inside, Bolo Hauz mosque, Ismail Samani mausoleum, Poi Kalan complex: Poi Kalon mosque, Kalyan minaret and Miri Arab madrassah. Also visit Ulughbek and Abdulazizkhan madrassahs, Trade Domes, Ancient Silk Market, Magokki Attori Mosque, Lyabi Khauz complex and Chor Minor madrassah with four-coupol entrance. Folk and fashion show at Nadir Divan Begi Madrassah. Day 4 Bukhara region Watching birds in Kyzylkum desert near Bukhara. In Bukhara the watching of birds usually takes place in Kyzylkum desert, where there are many peculiar kinds of birds: Panders ground jay, rufous lark, isabelline wheater, rufous bush robin, hippolais rama, desert warbler, streaked scrub warbler, great grey shrike, long-legged bustard, black-bellied sandgrouse, blue-cheeked bee-eater and other. Day 5 Bukhara region Watching birds in the region of Tudakul lake and Amu-Bukharsky canal. In the south of Bukhara there is a huge water reservoir "Tudakul" and the huge shallow water flood of Amu-Bukharsky canal. On water reservoir you can watch a thousand of birds, among which there are many kimany kinds of birds (migrants). Besides this the following kinds of birds are breeding here: Great cormorant, pygmy cormorant, grey heron, purple heron, great egret, little egret, little bittern, spoonbill, glossy ibis, marbled teal, white-eyed pochard, red-cristed pochard, paddy-field warbler, southern great reed warbler, great-bill reed bunting, savi's warbler, black yellow-headed wagtail, small sky lark, menetries warbler, bearded reedling, pied stonchet and other. Day 6 Bukhara – Shakhrisabz - Guissar range Transfer to Shahrisabz (5hours). Short city tour in Shakhrisabz. PM. Watching birds in Guissar range. In the northern slopes of Guissar range accessible through the ancient Shahrisabz, the watchings are made both in the zone of mountain meadows and in sparse growth of trees in the region of Hisarak water reservoir, and also in the valley of Kyzylsu river, in the zone of mountain deciduous and juniper forests. Here you can see the following kinds of birds: Black stork, bearded vulture, Himalayan griffon, Egyptian vulture, shikra, barbary falcon, eversmans stok dove, eastern pied wheater, blue rock thrush, olivaceous willow warbler, humes yellow-browed warbler, plain willow warbler, large crowned willow warbler, isabelin shrike, lesser grey shrike and others. Day 7 Shakhrisabz – Samarkand Transfer to Samarkand (90km.). Watching birds on the way to Tahta-Karacha pass. On Tahta-Karacha pass (2100m. above sea level) especially interest to watch: Hume s short-toed lark, white-throated robin, red-headed bunting, humes whitethroat, orphean warbler, red-rumper swallow and many species birds of prey. Day 8 Samarkand region - region of Zerafshan river Watching birds in the region of Zerafshan river. In Tugay forests in the valley of Zeravshan river on the territory of Zeravshan reserve you can watch peculiar group of birds: Night heron, schikra, hohltaube, white-winged woodpecker, turkestan tit, pendulin tit (remiz coronatus), olivaceous warbler, biyth sreed warbler. Day 9 Samarkand region - region of Zerafshan river Watching birds in the region of Zerafshan foothills. In mountain valley zones and precipice usually: Pied wheatear, gray necked bunting, roller, common bee-eater. SS in the region of Samarkand is held in different weather conditions. Day 10 Samarkand – Tashkent – Chimgan Transfer from Samarkand through Tashkent to Chimgan (7-8 hours), mountains of the Western Tien-Shan. Day 11 Chimgan. Watching birds in subalpine zone and in mountain forests. In Western Tien-Shan mountains watching is organised in different high-altitude zones. In Chimgan mountain region, in subalpine zones and along the upper side of forest zone (1,500 - 2,200m. above sea level) you can watch: Griffon vulture, himalayan griffon, bearded vulture, black vulture, sacker falcon, rock bunting, white-capped bunting, yellow-breast tit, Siberian stonechat and others. Lower, in the zone of mountain forests you can watch: Short-toed eagle, booted eagle, crested honey buzzard, hobby, ruforus turtle dove, paradise flycatcher, blue whistling thrush, brown dipper, golden oriole. Day 12 Chimgan - Tashkent Till noon watching birds, PM. Transfer from Chimgan to Tashkent. Farewell dinner. Day 13 Departure from Tashkent. |
