Bird Watching in the Northern Tian-Shan – “Birds of Issyk-Kul”, 13 days and 7 days

Meeting at the airport. Meeting with guides ornithologists. Introductory lecture on birds of Kyrgyzstan. Briefing – presentation of the program. Overnight in hotel

Ponds and Ala-Archa Reservoir, located 15 kilometers north of the city of Bishkek. A large number of birds are found on ponds and reservoirs during the autumn and spring migrations. These are various ducks, including mallard, gray duck, two types of teal, red-nosed duck, crested blacken, waders, white and gray herons. There are also birds of prey: black kite, steppe harrier, steppe eagle, osprey, and a large number of passerine species. Near the ponds, some species of ducks, waders, waders, cormorant, cormorant, black tern and many others nest. 11 species of birds appearing on the territory of this territory are listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan. This is a curly pelican, small cormorant, whooper swan, white-eyed duck, spoonbill, long-nosed merganser, black-headed laughter, osprey, steppe harrier, steppe eagle and white-tailed eagle. Of the mammals in this area, the corsac, common fox, yellow ground squirrel, badger, muskrat and various species of mouse rodents live. Overnight in Bishkek

Birdwatching in the picturesque gorge, Location 1. We may meet cupcakes, various passerines: tits, thrushes, warblers, nightingales. Overnight in guest house.

After lunch, birdwatching on the southern shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake, Location 2. On the lake at this time you can see mallard, gray duck, red-nosed and red-headed diving, coot, big grebe. From small passerines in the coastal thickets you can see hawk warbler, Indian warbler, nightingale shorthaired, blackbird, eastern nightingale and gray-headed goldfinch. Issyk-Kul Lake is one of the oldest (1948) reserves in Central Asia with an IUCN category.

The climate in the Issyk-Kul depression changes from west to east, it also differs on the north and south coasts. On the south coast, the average monthly temperature in July is 18 ° С, on the north coast is 17 ° С, in January, respectively - 3 and - 2 ° С. In the western part, the average temperature in January is 4 ° С, in the eastern part, - 8-11 ° С. There are 23 species of mammals in the fauna of the Issyk-Kul reserve and 140 species of birds. Among the birds, the most interesting are the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), the red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), white-eyed dive (Aythya nyroca), black-headed laughter (Larus ichthyaetus), in the foothill regions there are Saker Falcon, Shahin (Falco pelegrinoides), coot (Fulica atra). During the wintering in Issyk-Kul, there are about 60 – 70 thousand waterfowl (fulix) and waterbirds that belong to 98 species. During the winter you can find rare birds listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan and the International Red Book, such as flamingos, whooper swan, white-tailed eagle, white-eyed duck, red-headed duck, and white-headed duck.

On the territory of the Issyk-Kul Reserve more than 100 species nest; 34 of them are waterfowl (fulix) and waterbirds, 47 species of passerines (Passeridae), 3 species of chicken (pullum), 6 species of pigeons (Columba), 6 species of birds of prey owls (Strigiformes), 3 types of lilac-breasted rollers, cuckoos and nightjars (Coracias, Cuculidae, Caprimulgus europaeus). The direction of scientific studies of the reserve is the study and development of methods for protecting the wintering of waterfowl and near-water birds, pheasants and other animals and plants of the flat part of the Issyk-Kul depression. Perhaps during the observation we will be lucky and we will be able to see a rare over-wintering species - a mark recorded in the International Red Book.  Overnight in guest house in the Bokonbaevo Vllage.

In the morning, the route continues to the Altyn-Arashan gorge. On the way, we visit the Skazka gorge – a kingdom of wind, sun and water that formed a beautiful red-colored stone landscape.

After lunch, a trip to the depths of the Altyn-Arashan gorge to watch birds, Location 3. If we are lucky, we will see rare birds listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan and the International Red List of IUCN. Here we can also see such birds as: hoopoe (Upupa epops); golden bee-eater; a rodent, black kite, Buzzard, mullet, pheasant - a black swift; - Goat (Caprimulgus); - pigeons (Columba); - Streptopelia (Streptopelia) and also if you're lucky then a falcon saker.  Overnight at hotel in Karakol.

City tour. Karakol is the most ancient city in the north of Kyrgyzstan. More than 150 years ago, the first Russian settlers came here, this is evidenced by the old Russian-style residential buildings and different buildings that form entire neighborhoods. From the city of Karakol we will make daily trips to the vicinity in order to observe various species of birds.

In the coastal zone, river valleys and swamps, you can spend the whole day watching different species of birds. We will travel to the Jergalan River Valley, Location 4, the Tup River Valley, as well as to the peninsulas and bays on the east coast of the Issyk-Kul Lake. Here, in the eastern part of Issyk-Kul, there is a unique mild climate for a high mountainous lake. The climate on the coast is moderately nautical, with mild winters and cool summers. The average temperature in January, from west to east: Tamga -2 ° C, Cholpon-Ata -3 ° C, Karakol -6 ° C. The average temperature in July: +17 ° C. The prevailing air temperature during the summer months is +20 ° C / +23 ° C, some days the air warms up to +25, and sometimes even to +28 ° C. Due to this climate, many rare species of birds found their habitats here. Here you can find a lucky black-throated loon (Gavia arctica). Status: Category III, Critically Endangered, CR: R. Close to extinction in Kyrgyzstan. Habitats - in Issyk-Kul nested in Tyup and Jergalan bays. And also we can observe mallards, gray ducks, red-nosed and red-headed dives, coots, various species of grebes. Of small passerines, hawks, Indian reeds, nightingale tailed tails, blackbirds, eastern nightingales and gray-headed carduelis nest here. Overnight at hotel.

Morning excursion to the valley of the River Tup. The river flows into the Issyk-Kul Lake, forming a long and wide bay – a habitat for different fauna, Location 5. In the middle part, the river is calm with tugai forests on both sides of the riverbed. We can settle in the floodplain of the river with dense thickets of sea-buckthorn bushes and barberries. On the slopes of the valley grows a pine forest. It is very romantic place, here you can spend time watching birds, Location 6. Here you can find a lucky black-throated loon (Gavia arctica). And also we can observe mallards, gray ducks, red-nosed and red-headed dives, coots, various species of grebes.In the evening, we return to the hotel. After dinner – a lecture on endangered birds, and the problems of their conservation. Overnight at hotel

The Tasma Peninsula is located between the bays of Przhevalsk and Tup. Here, on the eastern shore of the lake, there are extensive shallows, where you can comfortably watch birds: various waders, mallards, gray ducks, red-nosed and red-headed dives, coot, for grebes. Location 7. There are also forest areas with poplars and pines, as well as sea buckthorn bushes. You can spend all day watching birds here. Pheasants, small passerines can be found: various species of warblers, tits, Indian reeds, nightingale tailed tails, blackbirds, eastern nightingales and gray-headed carduelis. At noon, we return to Karakol. After lunch, excursion to the Ak-Suu Gorge. Here is one of the resorts with thermomineral waters. There are extensive pine and spruce forests. Return to Karakol. Overnight at hotel

The Grigoriev Gorge is one of the most beautiful places in the Issyk-Kul region. It is located 5 km north of the coast of the Issyk-Kul Lake. There are extensive spruce and birch forests; also you can find juniper and other plants and trees here. Here you can observe the birds of the foothills of the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake, Location 8. We can see: Keklik (Alectoris); Bearded Partridge (Perdix dauurica); Pheasant (Phasianus); Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos major); Golden bee-eater (Merops apiaster); Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). Overnight in yurts. Overnight in yurts.

In the morning excursion in the vicinity of the Grigoriev Gorge. Birdwatching, Location 9. After lunch, we will have a show of birds of prey, this is the hunt of the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) and Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). Meeting with the locals, lunch in the national style. Overnight in yurts.

Our route goes further along the northern coast of the lake to the resort town of Cholpon-Ata. This final day of the excursion is devoted to rest and relax on the Issyk-Kul Lake. We will make a trip on a ship. Overnight at hotel.

On the way to Bishkek we will make an excursion to the ancient petroglyphs, a UNESCO World Heritage. More than 10,000 ancient petroglyphs (I-II millennium BC) painted on granite boulders, attracting thousands of tourists visiting Kyrgyzstan. Overnight at hotel.

Transfer to the airport.

- Meeting and seeing off at the airport
- Accommodation in 3 * hotels, in yurts, in guest houses according to the program (double occupancy)
- Three meals a day for the entire program,
- Transport according to the program,
- Expert guide,
- Entrance fees to nature reserves
- Equipment rent
- Bottled water

• - International airfare to Bishkek and back
  - Equipment rental
  - Surcharge for single occupancy
  - Cost of visa and consular services
  - Personal expenses in a hotel: bar, international calls, etc.
  - Insurance
  - Any changes to the program