Return to the Mountains

Returned to the Tien Shan Mountains and birded a different valley for the morning. We found more Eversmann’s Redstarts, Godlewski’s and Pine Buntings, and many Common Rosefinches. A delightful Azure Tit performed exceedingly well but would just not settle on any close trees, instead it took delight in confounding us by landing on overhead telegraph wires…..The only new birds were a dark-phase Booted Eagle and a Great Tit – the latter species caused Clements’ list followers some palpitations in case it was a Turkestan Tit, but alas not!

Azure Tit

 As this was our 23^rd consecutive day of high energy birding/travelling we decided to finish after lunch and return to the hotel early. Despite the mother of all traffic jams slowing us down, fortunately the traffic queue was going in the opposite direction, we arrived back shortly after 4pm for a much deserved rest before visiting the Irish bar for ….. pizza…….