‘Vedi Hills’, Armenia

The ‘Vedi Hills’, as they are known to birders, form the northern edge of the Araks river valley in Armenia. An arid landscape of moderately sloping, rounded hills with small gorges between them, this is the only known, albeit unreliable, site for Mongolian Finch Bucanetes mongolicain the country. We didn’t find the finch, but took the opportunity to study Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota, Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani, and other specialities. In fact, we enjoyed this site so much that we returned nine days later when passing through the area again.

Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota, ‘Vedi Hills’, Ararat, Armenia, 14 May 2011 (Magnus Robb). Song reverberating off a small cliff. Background: Woodlark Lullula arborea, Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe melanoleuca, Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia and Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana.

Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani, ‘Vedi Hills’, Ararat, Armenia, 5 May 2011 (Magnus Robb). Song in the rain, with Crested Lark Galerida cristatainterrupting towards the end. Background: Common Swift Apus apus, Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops and Corn Bunting E calandra.

Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii, ‘Vedi Hills’, Ararat, Armenia, 14 May 2011 (Magnus Robb). Midday song. Background: European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear O melanoleuca and Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia.

Eastern Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas galactotes familiaris, ‘Vedi Hills’, Ararat, Armenia, 14 May 2011 (Magnus Robb). Song of a male. Background: Crested Lark Galerida cristata and Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra.