The Chronicles of the Camouflage Jacket: Armenia 2026

 Here is a slightly more honest account of what happens when you trap a group of hardcore birdwatchers in a minibus and unleash them upon Armenia.

The Chronicles of the Camouflage Jacket: Armenia 2026

Day 1: The One Where We Don't Swim

London – Paris – Yerevan We spent the entire day flying across Europe, finally converging in Yerevan. The hotel boasted magnificent indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Did we swim? Of course not. It was bedtime, and more importantly, swimming pools do not contain birds. However, the trip was instantly validated at the airport when someone spotted a bunch of Common Swifts. We then stared at them everywhere we went for the next twelve days. Days usually started late when Godfrey was often missing, until we realised he was just wearing his camouflaged jacket.

Day 2: Watermelons Ruin Everything

Yerevan – Armash Fishponds – Chiva Weather: Windy, dry, and then damp. Standard.

We started breakfast on a lovely terrace, but nobody looked at the view because a Laughing Dove was sitting nearby.

Next, we hit the famous Armash Fishponds. The minibus doors opened, and the group suffered collective sensory overload. Birds everywhere. People were spinning in circles, binoculars colliding. White-tailed Lapwings! Black-winged Stilts! White Storks!

Then came the tragedy. It turns out that in recent years, some locals have dared to drain the fishponds to grow... watermelons. Apparently, people prefer eating fruit to providing habitat for the endangered White-headed Duck. The audacity. Disappointed but undeterred, I hunted down a local worker, used some aggressive English, and demanded to know where the actual water was.

We eventually found the right ponds and went back to aggressive spotting. Phil began his reign as the supreme ruler of finding birds hidden deep in bushes. We ended the day in Chiva, split across two B&Bs, where we aggressively cross-examined our spreadsheets and counted 85 species.

Day 3: Nature is Running Late

Gndvank Gorge and Areni Cave Weather: Sunny, but trying to blow us over.

Our guide, Jozef, informed us that nature was currently 13 days behind schedule. Spring was late. The birds apparently didn't get the memo, because they were everywhere anyway. Bob rejoined the group today, which everyone agreed was better than finding a Hobby in a Poplar tree.

We hiked a volcanic gorge to the Gndvank Monastery (built in AD 931). A major theological crisis occurred when we spotted a black-and-white bird.

The Great Wheatear Debate: "It's a Finsch’s Wheatear!" "No, look at the back!" *Aggressive camera zooming ensues * "The black on the head is legally separated from the black on the wings! It’s an Eastern Black-eared Wheatear!" Crisis averted.

Later, we visited a cave featuring the oldest leather shoe ever discovered (3100 BC) and the oldest known winery. We ignored the shoe, drank the wine, and argued about Nuthatches.

Day 4: The Day the Bear Upstaged the Bird

Chiva – Gndsar – Yeghegnadzor – Noravank

We dragged our carcasses out of bed at 05:30 AM to climb Mount Gndsar in 4x4s. The roads were nonexistent, and we drove through actual riverbeds. Shaken, rattled, and mildly traumatized, we arrived at the snowline.

Jozef stood up and announced: "Right, it will take roughly two hours of freezing our toes off to see the Caspian Snowcock." Sean immediately looked through his scope: "I’ve got them." Two minutes in. Show-off.

Then, a Brown Bear walked across the snow. Suddenly, the Caspian Snowcock—the entire reason we climbed a freezing mountain—was dead to us. Birdwatchers are fickle creatures.

We then spotted a weird, pale mammal hunting in the rocks. A massive, high-stakes debate broke out. A stoat? A polecat? A giant weasel? I had to go all the way back to the UK to look it up in a textbook to prove it was a Mustela nivalis boccamela.

The drive down the mountain was so terrifying that half the group refused to look out the window at the wild tulips because they were praying for their lives. We finished the day looking at a 14th-century monastery, but mostly we looked at Western vs. Eastern Rock Nuthatches.

Day 5: Stuck in the Mud

Chiva – Selim Pass – Lichk – Lake Sevan

We set off and immediately found a Spanish Sparrow squatting inside a White Stork's nest. Rent-free.

We climbed up to the Selim Pass (2,410 metres). Jozef, who has been doing this for twelve years, looked out the window and gasped—it was covered in snow. Predictably, a car got hopelessly bogged down in the melting snow and mud. We all stood around pretending to help push it before realizing we needed an actual rescue vehicle.

We stopped at an old watermill for lunch to thaw out. Phil found yet another Barred Warbler hiding in a bush, further cementing his status as a wizard. We ended the day at a new hotel

with a record-breaking 90 species logged. We couldn't agree on a bird of the day, so we just argued until bedtime.

Day 6: Bribed with Apricot Vodka

Lake Sevan – Dilijan National Park – Haghartsin Weather: Rain, thunder, and a chilly 14°C.

Today we hunted the sammamisicus subspecies of Redstart, because standard Redstarts are far too mainstream.

We hiked through the stunning hornbeam and beech forests of Dilijan National Park. Just as the heavens opened and thunder started rolling in, a group of incredibly friendly local Armenians appeared out of nowhere and insisted we drink homemade apricot vodka. This is how all birdwatching trips should be managed.

In the alcoholic haze, John was aiding Bob look for his passport, Suzanne had returned to the bus to change her glasses, then her coat, then her shoes and finally changed her mind on the lot. Nigel and Maris were discussing the merits of not talking to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Phil and Sean were discussing the tertials of the redstart, and Godfrey had knocked Rob unconscious with his Tripod.

Day 7: Plan B is for Birding

Bazum Range – Dilijan – Dsegh

The mountains were completely choked with snow, completely ruining our chances of seeing the Caucasian Grouse at the original site. Luckily, our local agent, Hovhaness, pulled a secret alternative site out of his sleeve.

We jumped into 4x4s, drove to Margahovit, walked a few hundred metres, and boom: displaying Caucasian Grouse. The males were doing their little dance on the ground and in the air. 10/10 performance.

Later, in Dsegh, we found 13 Griffon Vultures and an Egyptian Vulture circling over some animal carcasses on the edge of the village. It was delightfully macabre.

Day 8: The Ghost Owl

Dilijan – Gorge Jrashen – Pemzashen

We drove a 4x4 up a hill surrounded by an obnoxious number of Skylarks. We spent the afternoon at a quarry near Pemzashen looking for an Eagle Owl. We found Isabelline Wheatears, Rock Sparrows, 14 Honey Buzzards, and a random fox wandering along the cliff edge. No owl. The owl won this round.

The group was split up tonight into different guesthouses, presumably to give us a break from each other's bird lists.

Day 9: The Mysterious Reed Monster

Pemzashen – Lake Arpi

Phil solidified his legendary status today. At lunch, he got prolonged views of a Barred Warbler right by the steps of the national park office. Classic Phil.

Later, at a pond near Pemzashen, we hit a wall. There was a mysterious warbler singing in the reeds.

• The Merlin App: "It's a Moustached Warbler!"

• The Group: "Shut up, Merlin, you're wrong."

• The Group: "Is it a Marsh Warbler? No, the vibe is wrong."

• The Group: "Paddyfield Warbler? Why is its chest so pale?"

After a forensic analysis of digital photographs, it was legally declared a Paddyfield Warbler. We celebrated with an underground barbecue involving pork, chicken, and highly necessary homemade wine.

Day 10: 3 metres of Snow

Pemzashen – Talin – Arragats – Yerevan

We tried to drive up Mount Aragats, but the road was blocked by a casual three metres of snow. We couldn't reach the Radde’s Accentor breeding ground, but we did get an incredibly cooperative, white-starred Bluethroat sitting right in front of us. We unanimously voted it Bird of the Day, which is a miracle because this group never agrees on anything. We celebrated by eating trout in Yerevan.

Day 11: Bob's Redemption Arc

Yerevan – Vedi Gorge – Armash – Yerevan

We took taxis into a semi-desert gorge while it drizzled. We found a Desert Finch showing off its pink wings, and 150 Rosy Starlings.

We then rushed back to Armash so Bob could finally see the White-tailed Lapwing and Ménétries’s Warbler he had missed earlier in the trip. The pressure on Bob was immense, but he checked them off. We concluded the day with a Spoonbill and a traditional dinner accompanied by live duduk music.

Day 12: Back to Reality

Yerevan – Paris – London

We woke up at some ungodly hour to head to the airport. Even while sleep-deprived and dragging luggage, the group managed to spot 4 species of birds between the hotel door and the terminal.

Jozef abandoned us in Paris to fly to Glasgow via Schiphol, leaving the rest of us to return to London, unpack our binoculars, and finally go to sleep. Somewhere along the way we lost Godfrey ….

Birding before Lockdown

I wanted to do some birding in my local patch, Hightown before the lockdown. I wanted to see a Curlew before the curfew, and a Woodcock before I'm locked up. I thought it would be best to arrive early, and see a Chiffchaff before the riffraff arrived. I managed to get out of bed early, so early in fact, that I was up half an hour before I went to bed. My day did not however, get off to the best of starts. I forgot to take my mobile, gloves and hand sanitizer. One thing I did remember to do was leave the radio on for my Budgie, Harvey. Named after one of Everton's finest, Colin. After having Harvey for about six months, I did find out that "he" was a "she", but the name stuck.

It didn't take me long to drive there, with the roads quiet. I parked in my usual place and headed off along the path, after about 200 metres, I recalled that I had a spare pair of "Original Lithuania" gloves that I purchased at Kaunas Airport after wanting to rid myself of the old currency before Lithuania moved to the Euro. They were in the most obvious place, in the glove compartment in my car. I nipped back to the car, I had a sense of deja vu except with warm hands.

Reed Bunting

The first bird of note was a singing Chiffchaff, I changed my direction to try and seek it out. I spotted it straight away, but no chance of a photograph as it was moving constantly. I walked up alongside the golf course, flushing some Red-legged Partridge and startled an early morning jogger, I stopped to observe the 2 metre social distancing. Other birds in the dunes were Meadow Pipits parachuting, Skylarks ascending and Reed Buntings singing.

Black-tailed Godwit

I walked up to the coastline and there were was a mesmerizing cluster of Knot, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Oystercatchers and Redshank. Also Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. My main target was Wheatears, which are often standing tall on the rubble. There was no sign. I carried on towards the Hightown end and a number of Shelduck and Cormorants were hanging out along the end of the River Alt. The usual Gulls were vocal; Black-headed, Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and the graceful Great Black-backed.

Stonechat

I thought I'd try the other end and head towards Crosby, so I turned around and then a male Wheatear appeared on a small bush. I didn't have my camera handy and it dropped down onto the rubble, out of sight. I carried on and then spotted another, assuming it wasn't the same one, but this time it flew inland into the dunes out of sight. I carried on but no further sightings. I headed inland and walked along the golf course fence. Plenty of Linnets singing on the top of bushes and the odd Stonechat. There wasn't too much in the way migration, just one or two Pied wagtails. No (hoped for) Swallow, Sand Martin or Ring Ouzel.

Cluster of Knot

I then headed down the path towards the railway, but just some common birds, with more Chiffchaff and a Great Spotted Woodpecker the only birds of note. I thought I'd give myself another half hour and headed to the bench on the front, for a sit-down and drink from my oft used flask, with more dents in the cup than a dodgem at Southport Fair. Luckily the bench was free and noticed an increase in the number of Knot, flying in the closely-knit groups.

There was a noticeable increase in the number of cyclists, runners, walkers and dog walkers along the path and decided I'd head back to my car, knowing it might be my last visit here before the lockdown is lifted. I saw 47 species, but just the one tick for my 2020 Patchwork Challenge.

Belarus: Bison, Pancakes and (lack of) Racoon Dogs

We started at Liverpool Cricket Club, where six of us met for a minibus and collected 2 on the way to arrive early at Manchester Airport for our afternoon flight to Frankfurt. There wasn't much turnaround time for our early evening flight to Minsk, but thankfully everything ran smoothly. We had met up with the other 3 in our party at Frankfurt, and the smaller aircraft set off on time to Minsk. There were a few hiccups getting through Passport Control where we had to produce documentary evidence that we had travel and medical insurance. At that point I realised I had my documents in my suitcase, and I was escorted to the luggage by a Guard to find my missing sheets. The story quickly escalated to "Rob has been escorted by an armed guard to collect his luggage...." trying my best to downplay the episode I realised I had been escorted by a guard who was armed, and my passport was held at Passport Control. I was able to provide the evidence eventually and was quickly able to retrieve my passport. This actually meant I avoided other searching questions that others experienced.

We met up with our Birding Guide for the week, Denis, and the driver, Sasha. We then had a two hour drive to our overnight stay in Sluck. It was raining heavily the whole of the journey and we set off the next morning in heavy rain, after a typical Belarus breakfast, with pancakes. At our first birding stop the rain had lightened but it was cold and I regretted not packing my gloves, thinking I wouldn't need them in the 2nd week in May. We had a number of interesting Waders, Wildfowl and Marsh Terns. Most had never seen a Terek Sandpiper and we were pleased with our efforts.

Terek Sandpiper

We arrived at our hotel in Turaŭ where we were based for 2 nights.













An evening visit took us to the marshes in search of Great Snipe and we weren't disappointed when we saw three, the conditions were challenging but it was well worth it.

I realised when I opened my toiletries bag that I had forgotten to pack my toothpaste. A drugstore was a short distance away from our hotel and when I entered the store it was evident that it was not self-service. There were no English signs or labels on the products. The lady behind the counter spoke no English. It did not take long for her to cotton on to what I was after. I managed to convince her with a shake of the head that I did not require a toothbrush or dental floss.

We had an early start the next day, after a good teeth clean, for a pre-breakfast birdwatch to a forest for those who were able to wake up to their alarms.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

We were rewarded with Pied, Spotted and Red-breasted Flycatchers, as well as hearing Collared. The weather was wet but not as bad as the first day. Certainly the bird of the day was at a stop in a small village where we saw two Azure Tits that were flitting about near to their nest. It was a bird that most had never seen before and it turned out to be the "Bird of the trip". We reluctantly returned to the minibus leaving the birds in peace. Other highlights at other stops of forests and marshes along the Prypiać River valley were Middle- spotted, Black and White-backed Woodpeckers.

Azure Tit

After an evening meal, which included pancakes, and a rest we took a stroll over to the floodplain meadow in Turaŭ close to our hotel, where we hoped to hear Corncrake. The weather was much improved and the wind had dropped although still a bit cool. There were many White-winged Black Terns and Little Terns. We were all pleased to see Beavers swimming, and a Long-eared Owl flew at dusk. Sadly no Corncrakes were heard.

The following morning we started our journey to our next hotel in Belaaziorsk, after a pancake filled breakfast, after allowing time to pack our suitcases. I managed an early start and was rewarded with Hoopoes, Golden Orioles, a Black Redstart and Thrush Nightingale, also hearing Corncrake. We had a few stops after breakfast.

Bluethroat

We called in at Bielaje Fishponds, and the highlights were a singing Bluethroat, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Savi's and Great Reed Warblers.


Our star bird of the day was saved until later in the evening when we patiently waited for the song of the Aquatic Warbler, walking in the Sedge Tussocks was difficult, but most of us were rewarded when one showed briefly in the failing light. Great Snipe were also heard.



The next day we were on the move again heading west, this time to Bielaviežškaja Pušča National Park, where we spent the next three nights. It was quite a long drive and we had a few stops and had great views of a Montague's Harrier and Lesser Spotted Eagle. A lunch stop at a park was productive when we found a Hawfinch on a nest. We had great views of Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Wryneck and Icterine Warbler. We called in to see probably our second bird of the trip, the Great Grey Owl. After a failed first attempt, we later saw two adults and four chicks, three of which were still on the large nest. It was a fabulous experience and some having seen them for the first time. It was quite a trek to get there in the forest but well worth it.

Great Grey Owl chicks

The next day we were joined by our local guide Anton, and we had a 5 am start for a drive through the National Park for distant but good views of Bison. It had been raining again and misty but the early start was worth it. We headed back to our hotel and had our pancake breakfast and met up with Ged, who had just finished with another group. We started with a Three-toed Woodpecker, a lifer for most in the group. Some more great Owl views, this time Tengmalm's and Pygmy. The Tengmalm's Owls were nesting in an old Black Woodpecker hole where we saw one peering out. Shortly after we saw a Black Woodpecker popping out of a new hole.

Three-toed Woodpecker

Tengmalm's Owl

Black Woodpecker

There was no let up for our final birding day when we had a new local guide, Vadzim. We had distant views of a Great Spotted Eagle, another new bird for most. A Grasshopper Warbler showed briefly and numerous Whinchats, Sedge Warblers and Skylarks. At another stop at a tower hide we had distant, but better views of an Aquatic Warbler, also Citrine Wagtail and Common Rosefinch. We heard but failed to see Spotted Crake.

We had another early start on the last day, sadly this early start was for a five-hour minibus journey with a pancake filled breakfast stop. The two planes from Minsk and Frankfurt departed more or less on time. It was a long travel back home.
We had approximately 180 species, with some species only having been heard. The highlight birds were Azure Tit, Great Grey and Tengmalm's Owls, Terek Sandpiper and Great Snipe. We had other fabulous Birds and Mammals, with Beavers and Bison. Unfortunately a Racoon dog escaped us despite some possible (?) sightings.

Aquatic Warbler

A big thanks to Denis Kitel, Gerard Gorman, Vadzim Prakapchuk and Anton and all at APB-Birdlife Wetland Centre

List
1. Mute Swan
2. Whooper Swan
3. Greylag Geese
4. Mallard
5. Gadwall
6. Pintail
7. Shoveler
8. Teal
9. Garganey
10. Common Pochard
11. Red-crested Pochard
12. Tufted Duck
13. Wigeon
14. Goldeneye
15. Smew
16. Black Grouse
17. Grey Partridge
18. Corncrake (H)
19. Black Necked Grebe
20. Little Grebe
21. Great Crested Grebe
22. Red-necked Grebe
23. Cormorant
24. Bittern (H)
25. Great Egret
26. Grey Heron
27. White Stork
28. Black Stork
29. White-tailed Eagle
30. Lesser Spotted Eagle
31. Greater Spotted Eagle
32. Marsh Harrier
33. Hen Harrier
34. Montague's Harrier
35. Common Buzzard
36. Honey Buzzard
37. Sparrowhawk
38. Kestrel
39. Hobby
40. Black Kite
41. Spotted Crake (H)
42. Moorhen
43. Coot
44. Common Crane
45. Red-throated Diver
46. Oystercatcher
47. Little Ringed Plover
48. Ringed Plover
49. Lapwing
50. Dunlin
51. Temminck's Stint
52. Wood Sandpiper
53. Green Sandpiper
54. Common Sandpiper
55. Terek Sandpiper
56. Redshank
57. Spotted Redshank
58. Marsh Sandpiper
59. Black-tailed Godwit
60. Woodcock
61. Great Snipe
62. Snipe
63. Ruff
64. Black-headed Gull
65. Common Gull
66. Caspian Gull
67. Little Tern
68. Common Tern
69. Caspian Tern
70. White-winged Black Tern
71. Black Tern
72. Whiskered Tern
73. Feral Pigeon
74. Stock Dove
75. Wood Pigeon
76. Collared Dove
77. Turtle Dove
78. Cuckoo
79. Great Grey Owl
80. Tengmalm's Owl
81. Pygmy Owl
82. Long-eared Owl
83. Tawny Owl (H)
84. Little Owl
85. Hoopoe
86. Black Woodpecker
87. Grey-headed Woodpecker
88. Great Spotted Woodpecker
89. Middle Spotted Woodpecker
90. White-backed Woodpecker
91. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
92. Three-toed Woodpecker
93. Wryneck
94. Skylark
95. Crested Lark
96. Sand Martin
97. Barn Swallow
98. House Martin
99. Swift
100. Meadow Pipit
101. Tree Pipit
102. White Wagtail
103. Yellow Wagtail
104. Citrine Wagtail
105. Robin
106. Dunnock
107. Thrush Nightingale
108. Bluethroat
109. Redstart
110. Black Redstart
111. Wheatear
112. Whinchat
113. Stonechat
114. Song Thrush
115. Fieldfare
116. Blackbird
117. Kingfisher
118. Barred Warbler
119. Garden Warbler
120. Blackcap
121. Whitethroat
122. Lesser Whitethroat
123. Sedge Warbler
124. Aquatic Warbler
125. Grasshopper Warbler
126. Savi's Warbler
127. Great Reed Warbler
128. Willow Warbler
129. Chiffchaff
130. Wood Warbler
131. Icterine Warbler
132. Goldcrest
133. Firecrest
134. Wren
135. Spotted Flycatcher
136. Pied Flycatcher
137. Red-breasted Flycatcher
138. Collared Flycatcher
139. Great Tit
140. Blue Tit
141. Coal Tit
142. Long-tailed Tit
143. Azure Tit
144. Crested Tit
145. Willow Tit
146. Marsh Tit
147. Penduline Tit
148. Bearded Tit
149. Nuthatch
150. Common Treecreeper
151. Great Grey Shrike
152. Red-backed Shrike
153. Magpie
154. Jay
155. Jackdaw
156. Rook
157. Hooded Crow
158. Raven
159. Starling
160. Golden Oriole
161. House Sparrow
162. Tree Sparrow
163. Chaffinch
164. Linnet
165. Goldfinch
166. Bullfinch
167. Greenfinch
168. Siskin (H)
169. Serin
170. Hawfinch
171. Common Crossbill
172. Common Rosefinch
173. Reed Bunting
174. Yellowhammer
175. Corn Bunting
176. Lesser Black-backed Gull
177. Reed Warbler
178. Quail (H)












 

Azure Tit in Vilnius, Lithuania

My latest birding trip to Eastern Europe was to Lithuania, my sixth visit to the country. It is my favourite of the three Baltic Countries and I decided to split the week between Klaipeda and Vilnius. I arrived at Vilnius airport on time, which was something of a surprise, since I was expecting something that wasn’t quite as advertised. Since my glass is often half empty, I had booked a coach to Klaipeda in the mid afternoon, meaning a three hour wait at the airport and then a four hour coach journey. I somehow managed to get on the earlier coach at 11.50 am and arrived in Klaipeda at 4 pm.

I found my hotel near to the ferry terminal and next morning after a hearty breakfast, having managed to avoid a group of boisterous Germans in the queue, I caught the ferry over to the Curonian Spit at 8 am. A twenty minute walk to the Baltic sea side of the spit it was immediately apparent that there was lots of migration taking place.

Ringed Black-headed Gull, ringed in 2013 in Klaipeda, but spends a lot of time in Poznan, Poland

I walked along the coast eastwards and the water was calm, I did see five great egrets and a number of great crested grebes and Gulls. There were waves of finches passing overhead also skylarks and thrushes. I would estimate a few thousand flew overhead, occasionally I checked the bushes in the dunes and saw lots of Goldcrest and Tit flocks, including white headed Long-tailed and Crested. In the wooded area at the tip of the spit a Black Woodpecker flew in front of me.

Long-tailed Tit

Higher up were skeins of White-fronted geese and some Common Cranes. The weather was warm and I was a little weary after finally making my way back to the ferry. The evening meal was early and was grateful because as I was leaving a mass arrival of the Germans had the noise levels rising.

Common Cranes

The next day I arranged an early breakfast and arranged a local birding guide to take me to some well known birding spots on the spit. We took the 7 am ferry and arrived at Nida for a migration watch at the Sundial. There were lots of Goldcrest, Thrushes, Finches, Yellowhammers, Eurasian Sparrowhawks and Tits on migration. Also Black-throated Divers flying towards the Lagoon. Next was a sea watch, where we saw a number of Velvet Scoters, Great Crested Grebes, a Slavonian Grebe, Guillemots and Razorbills. We checked out a couple of gull sites and saw Caspian Gulls in amongst Black-headed, Common and Herring. Next stop was in the dunes at the widest part of the spit and the highlight was seeing 7 Hen Harriers and a Pallid Harrier, as well as Sparrowhawks and a White-tailed Eagle. Also plenty of migration. We went back to Nida for lunch and then went to Smiltyne, to the same place where I was the day before. We finished about 5 pm and I couldn’t avoid the noise in the restaurant that evening.

Hen Harrier

The next day there was no time for birding as i travelled by train to Vilnius which took four hours. My hotel was a little outside the Old town. I picked up a transport card from the Railway station and was pleased that I had bought one.

I had an early start the next day, when I had to queue at breakfast to be served, not Germans but Americans. I just about managed to catch my bus that only runs every 2 hours or so. I went to Baltoji Voke, about 35 km outside Vilnius. It was a cloudy day but next to no wind. I walked down from the main road and the first bird of note I spotted was a Great=grey Shrike, one of about eight I saw during the day. I walked along a track to scope one of the lakes and saw Tufted Ducks, Common Pochards, Goldeneye, Coots and Mute swans. A lot less wildfowl than on my last visit a year earlier. I walked further up and saw some Willow Tits with white cheeks some Yellowhammers and Thrushes. Then I saw a bird above a Blue Tit on a tree and wasn’t sure what it was, I took a few pics and tried to get a little closer, but to do so I had to walk past a tall tree. The bird had flown. From the pictures I had I could see it was an Azure Tit and I was not expecting that.

Bird of the trip, Azure Tit

A lifer for me and I was later to find out that it was only the 5th recorded sighting of the bird in Lithuania. I walked on for a while but not much else apart from a Raven and White-tailed Eagle and I headed towards another lake where I could see Teal, Wigeon and Mallard and Whooper Swans. Carrying my camera, binoculars and telescope and all the walking had taken its toll on my left knee. I hobbled back to the bus stop for a 50 minute drive back to Vilnius.

Great-grey Shrike

The next day, breakfast was served later and I wasn’t early enough to avoid queuing behind an Estonian fencing team, but the Americans had departed. It was Saturday and I wanted to get to Vingis Park early anticipating that it would be busy in the park on a nice sunny day. My knee was sore and I was walking quite slow, I heard a familiar sound from high up and there were about a dozen waxwing, but were mobile.

Waxwing

Also I saw Hawfinch, Thrushes, many Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Treecreepers. There were a small number of Goosanders on the River Neris. Walking back I was told off by an elderly man in Lithuanian, with hand signals, I was walking on the wrong side of the path. I was feeling a little rebellious and carried on walking on the “wrong” side.

My evening meal was a short hobble away from the hotel for a Chinese.

The next day I was first to breakfast and the Estonian fencers were queuing up behind me. I was still struggling a bit with my knee and went to Pavilniu Regional Park just outside the city. There were only a few common birds here, although a Black Woodpecker was nice and a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker was heard. A walk along the River Vilnia was pleasant and there were lots of people out. I headed back and had an evening meal in the Old town which was tasty.

Nuthatch

The next day I was departing back home, and I was again first to breakfast, where Chinese tourists had queued behind me, but they were much quieter. I made my way to the airport on one of the frequent express buses. I was mightily surprised that the plane departed on time and arrived in Liverpool ahead of schedule. A reminder i was back in Liverpool was misbehaving kids on the upper deck of the bus….

An excellent birding trip to Lithuania again.