DATE                     04.05 - 19.05.2024 (16 days)

GENRE                  Birdwatching                  

TOUR LEADER      Michael Westerbjerg Andersen. The language we                                     speak on our tours is either/and English, German                                     and one of the Scandinavian languages.

FEE                       From 3,250 USD pr. person in shared DBL room                                       from Bishkek. From 8 to 10 participants

SINGLE SUPPL.    600 USD for a single room           

DEPOSIT               700 USD pr. person

VISA                      Most nationalities does not need a visa. Information                               when booking the tour

VACCINATION         Yes, against COVID-19 (If no vaccination PCR-test                                                     might be needed). Miksture will keep updating

GROUP SIZE             Min. 8, max. 12 participants ​

​

DESCRIPTION

Our ‘Best of Kyrgyzstan bird birdwatching’ shows you the best of Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked country with spectacular scenery, interesting historical and cultural sites, wide varieties of exciting habitats, and of course both well-represented with some of the finest Central Asian birds found in this fascinating country. We focus on the birds of Kyrgyzstan's mountain and semi-desert regions.

 

During the Soviet era, most of Central Asia was closed to Westerners. The few ornithologists who visited Kyrgyzstan were escorted to bird sites near the capitals. Interesting bird sites, but certainly not adequate for the amazing avifauna. It is different today where visitors to a greater extent can choose. For the ornithologist, Kyrgyzstan has a lot to offer, and the bird life can be described as a cocktail of species from the Middle East, southern Siberia, and the steppes from eastern Austria to Mongolia. Several areas are ornithologically unknown and always contain ornithological surprises. 

 

The theme is unambiguous - it's about observing as many of the region's birds - as good as possible too. A journey that also gives participants the opportunity to enjoy magnificent landscapes and meet Central Asia's nomadic people. The countries of Central Asia have been ornithological dream destinations for years but are still logistically difficult to access. The journey has an expedition-like character but is a quality product: maximum time in the field, excellent bird places, informal travel, and formidable nature. The ornithological ambition is a high priority, but there is room for ornithologists at all stages of knowledge. The most important thing is enthusiasm. The program is based, among other things, on Miksture's ornithological expeditions since 1994 as well as the undersigned's other experience in the areas. 

 

We’ll drive up into the Tien Shan Mountain range where the highly sought after Ibisbill occurs. We also visit the Walnut forests in southern Kyrgyzstan - broadleaf forest. Many mountain birds live in the mountains which roughly considered form the northernmost Himalayas with Tien-Shan as the all-dominated mountain range. This applies to species that we also know from the central and southern European mountains. In general, there are many species that are also widespread in southern Europe, as well as many local breeds, the most distinct of which, presumably over time, will gain status as independent species. Not only is a virtue made of seeing as many species as possible, but also as good as possible. Prior departure, a detailed species list and Practical information will be sent.

 

Tour start: Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan 04.th May 2023 

 

​Joining one of our expeditions, you are going to have the very best opportunities to watch and photograph the wildlife and pristine landscapes. ​In Miksture, we enjoy comfortable accommodation and cuisine, but most important: We enjoys the maximum amount of time in the field and ee will be in the field positioning ourselves for the opportunities of a lifetime!

​​

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Breathtaking mountainous landscapes of Kyrgyzstan with snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, meadows, and rivers

• Central Asian bird specialities

• Lakes and Rivers: Ruddy Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Bar-headed Goose, Demoiselle Crane, Horned Grebe, Ibisbill, Lesser Sand Plover, Terrace Sandpiper, Pallas's Gull, White-winged Tern, Black Stork, White Stork, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern, Great Egret, White-crowned Penduline Tit, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, White-throated Dipper, Brown Dipper; 

• Tien Shan Mountains: Himalayan Snowcock, Horned Grebe, Ibisbill, Lesser Sand Plover, Black Stork, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Booted Eagle, Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, White-browed Tit-warbler, Hume's Leaf Warbler, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Wallcreeper, Little Forktail, Blue Whistling Thrush, Eversmann's Redstart, Blue-capped Redstart, Güldenstädt's Redstart, White-throated Dipper, Brown Dipper, Altai Accentor, Brown Accentor, Black-throated Accentor, White-winged Grosbeak, Mongolian Finch, Plain Mountain Finch, Brandt's Mountain Finch, Red-mantled Rosefinch, Red-fronted Serin;

• Steppe and walnut forests: Daurian Partridge, Common Pheasant, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Booted Eagle, Eurasian Hoopoe, European Roller, European Bee-eater, White-winged Woodpecker, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Saker Falcon, Turkestan Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Indian Golden Oriole, Rufous-naped Tit, Songar Tit, Azure Tit, Yellow-breasted Azure Tit, Booted Warbler, Sykes's Warbler, Upcher's Warbler, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Rosy Starling, White's Thrush, Himalayan Rubythroat, Little Citrine Wagtail, Richard's Pipit;

• Stay in the yurt-camp run by Kyrgyz nomads;

• Maximum amount of time in the field, positioning ourselves for the birdwatching;

• Flexible, with plenty of time and respect for your birdwatching and photographing; 

• Meeting the Silk Road hospitality;

• Expert tour leader with 25+ years expedition experience  

​

KEY BIRDS 

Ruddy Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Daurian Partridge, Common Pheasant, Himalayan Snowcock, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Bar-headed Goose, Hill Pigeon, Oriental Turtle Dove, Eurasian Corn Crake, Demoiselle Crane, Horned Grebe, Ibisbill, Lesser Sand Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Pallas's Gull, White-winged Tern, Black Stork, White Stork, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern, Great Egret, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Booted Eagle, Golden Eagle, Shikra, Upland Buzzard, Eurasian Scops Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, European Roller, European Bee-eater, White-winged Woodpecker, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Saker Falcon, Turkestan Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Indian Golden Oriole, Rufous-naped Tit, Songar Tit, Azure Tit, Yellow-breasted Azure Tit, White-crowned Penduline Tit, Bearded Reedling, Horned Lark, Turkestan Short-toed Lark, Pale Sand Martin, White-browed Tit-warbler, Hume's Leaf Warbler, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Booted Warbler, Sykes's Warbler, Upcher's Warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barred Warbler, Hume's Whitethroat, Wallcreeper, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Common Myna, Rosy Starling, White's Thrush, Himalayan Rubythroat, Little Forktail, Blue Whistling Thrush, Eversmann's Redstart, Blue-capped Redstart, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Güldenstädt's Redstart, Common Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Siberian Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, White-throated Dipper, Brown Dipper, White-winged Snowfinch, Altai Accentor, Brown Accentor, Black-throated Accentor, Citrine Wagtail, Richard's Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Meadow Pipit, White-winged Grosbeak, Mongolian Finch, Plain Mountain Finch, Brandt's Mountain Finch, Common Rosefinch, Red-mantled Rosefinch, Twite, Red-fronted Serin and Pine Bunting

​

HABITATS COVERED Mountains, Walnut-forests, and semi-desert plains

​

EXPECTED CLIMATE Distinct mainland climate which is locally influenced by the heights. Kyrgyzstan’s great distance from the oceans and the sharp change of elevation from adjacent plains strongly influence the country’s climate. Deserts and plains surround Kyrgyzstan on the north, west, and southeast, making the contrast with the climate and landscape of its mountainous interior more striking. The lower parts of its fringing ranges lie in belts of high temperature and receive hot, drying winds from the deserts beyond. The amount of precipitation the country’s westward- and northward-facing slopes receive increases with their height. The valleys have hot dry summers, with a mean July temperature of 28 °C. In January the average temperature is −18 °C. Annual precipitation varies from 180 mm in the eastern Tien Shan to 760 to 1,000 mm in the Kyrgyz and Fergana ranges. In the most populous valleys, rainfall ranges from 100 to 500 mm a year.

 

MAX GROUP SIZE 12  

​

TOUR PACE & WALKING Moderate.  

​

ACCOMMODATION We will stay in the 3-4**** hotels in Bishkek and Karakol. We will stay in community-based guesthouses when we explore Tien Shan and southern Kyrgyzstan. We stay two nights in yurt camp in Son Kul with European toilet style. There will be a place to wash hands and face and a shower room

​

ELECTRICITY AND POWER SOURCES We have electric power in hotels and guesthouses. We have limited electricity in the community-based yurt camp, which provides electrical power (220 Kv) between 18:00 – 22:00 with the help of a generator. 

​

FOOD Breakfast, 15 lunches, and 15 dinners are included during your stay in The food is excellent! Good hearty, tasty and healthy home-cooked food in the best sense of the word based on fresh ingredients: Soups, poultry, vegetables, and pilaf - rice dishes with mutton and lamb and the indispensable bread nan. Tea is served with meals. There will also be an opportunity to taste the local wine or traditional kumus made from fermented mare's milk. Please let us know your dietary requirements in advance so that we can prepare the supplies accordingly. 

​

OTHER ATTRACTIONS spectacular scenery and Kyrgyz culture

​

PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Very good