One Very Happy Girl!

There had been tremendous thunderstorms overnight, and the heavy rain still fell as we met at 7 am, so we delayed our start until after breakfast then set off for the Russian border.  This was a rather eerie place where two of us got mistaken for Russians and had a very one sided conversation with a  local - at least he tried to converse!

The Gateway to Russia

On our way there were some Common Linnet feeding on a dung heap in the rain - we decided to get back in the van rather than get soaked.

We waited around the border where there are steep sides to a gorge which makes this outpost an ideal defence area - with old fort ruins on the hills, I am sure lives have been lost here.   After a while the rain stopped and blue sky appeared so we moved off to a small track which led to nirvana.   

An area where there was a small lake with reed beds, high in the mountains with high peaks all around us.  A Purple Heron was our first sighting, followed by Rose-coloured Starling, Rock Bunting, Willow Warbler, Caucasian Chiffchaff and finally, the pure gold sighting of a Lammergeier - close, low and absolutely stunning - just magic.   It made the number of Griffon Vultures we had gazed at well worthwhile.   Then two more appeared and eventually we had three individuals circling overhead.     

Devdoraki Valley - Lammergeier land

Thanks to Nico for the loan of the bins, which gave me fantastic views of a bird that has eluded me for many trips/years.

As we moved back towards the bus, we enjoyed the scenery and beautiful wild flowers which were blooming in perfusion and found a couple of Caucasian Brown Frogs (Rana macrocnemis), and some tadpoles.

We spent some time here just enjoying the scenery, the grandeur and marvelling at how the views changed as we moved around the valley.

Time to move back towards base and with a second stop just outside town, which proved as rewarding as yesterday, we were soon in a local restaurant enjoying local dumplings, kebabs, wonderful breads and pear and tarragon juices. 

Caucasian Brown Frog

The afternoon was spent revisiting previous sites to try to see Snowcock and other mountain specialities.   We managed to add Güldenstädt's Redstart, Garden Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and heard Thrush Nightingale. 

We eventually moved to an area by the river where access was interesting to say the least, but three Corncrake were heard calling.  No sightings, however and as the rain started again, we decided to retreat, but not before we found another Frog and this time some spawn.