The little-visited country of Uzbekistan is famous for lying along the Silk Road, between Europe and the Orient, and its exotic Central Asian architecture is a marvel to behold especially for the photographer. Uzbekistan is also situated at a birding crossroads, where visitors can enjoy a mixture of reassuringly familiar species and exciting newcomers. On this Bird-Photo-Tour we will indulge in the cultural delights of Bukhara, with their subtly different Islamic masterpieces, while also devoting time to birding the mountains, rivers, woods and deserts, each with different specialities. We will dedicate time to exploring the Kyzylkum Desert in search of key species like Turkestan Ground-Jay, Menetries’s Warbler and Streaked Scrub Warbler. This 12-day Bird-Photo-Tour offers not just offers the opportunity for close photographic encounters with some difficult-to-see birds but also fabulous photographic opportunities of Uzbekistan's landscapes and unique architecture.
Sparrows / Wheatears: Zarudny’s Sparrow / Saxaul Sparrow / Isabelline Wheatear / Pied Wheatear / Variable Wheatear / Finsch’s Wheatear.
Larks / Warblers: Bimaculated Lark / Crested Lark / Oriental Lark / Asian Short-toed Lark / Horned Lark.
Ground Jays / Robins: Pander’s Ground Jay / Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin / White-throated Robin / Red-flanked Bluetail.
Warblers: Streaked Scrub Warbler / Menetries Warbler / Syke’s Warbler / Clamorous Reed Warbler / Blyth’s Reed Warbler.
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 1-2 Tashkent, Uzbekistan [1N, 0D, 1S]: Arrive Tashkent International Airport [Overnight: Tashkent].
Days 2-5 Bukhara Province, Uzbekistan [3N, 2D, 5S]: Domestic flight to Bukhara [Overnight: Bukhara]. Photographic Targets: Rosy Starling.
Days 5-8 Lebap Province, Turkmenistan [3N, 1D, 3S]: Drive 3-hours, 200-km to Lebap Province [Overnight: Lebap]. Photographic Targets: Zarudnis Sparrow / European Scops Owl / European Roller / Red-tailed Shrike / Pander’s Ground Jay / Bimaculated Lark / Streaked Scrub Warbler / Menetries Warbler / Syke’s Warbler / Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin / Saxaul Sparrow / Desert Finch.
Days 8-12 Ahal Welayat Province, Turkmenistan [4N, 2D, 5S]: Domestic flight from Lebap to Ayal Welayat [Overnight: Ahal Welayat]. Photographic Targets: Glossy Ibis / Purple Heron / White-tailed Lapwing / Slender-billed Gull / Whiskered Tern / Blue-cheeked Bee-eater / Isabelline Wheatear / Pied Wheatear / Variable Wheatear / Finsch’s Wheatear / Clamorous Reed Warbler.
Day 12 Ashgabat, Ahal Welayat Province, Turkmenistan [0N, 0D, 1S]: Transfer to Ashgabat Airport for International Departures [END].
[Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / S: Session / Half-Day]
Jorj is an ornithologist and professional illustrator. Born in a small town in the Khentii mountain range of eastern Mongolia, Jorj grew up birdwatching in the beautiful Kherlen river valley and Khurkh-Khuiten wetlands, leading his first classes in bird illustration in early high school. While at the National University of Mongolia, Jorj conducted research on illustrating birds in the field, including at bird-ringing stations. He has served as a field ornithologist and expert on a number of research projects including “Birds of the World” and “Migratory Birds of Prey” and also as a bird guide on a number of bird photography tours. As part of the process of illustrating birds, Jorj has also become an accomplished photographer too, using his bird images captured in the field to provide direction during the bird illustration process. As a consequence, Jorj combines an expert knowledge of the birds of central and eastern Asia, alongside professional bird illustration and bird photography skills, plus experience operating as a bird guide on numerous bird photography tours throughout the region.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping.
