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Russia Urals

Black-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis atrogularis � Charlie Moores http://10000birds.com/

The Urals area of Russia consists of the Republics of Komi, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Chuvashia, Mari El and Udmurtia and the 'oblasts' of Kirov, Perm, Novgorod, Ul'yanovsk, Sanara, Saratov, Orenburg, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan and Yekaterinburg.

The region is interesting because of its location: the Ural mountings represent a natural border between Europe and Asia. In such a way, the flora and fauna of the region is very rich and can have radical differences from one place to another. On the south of the Urals lays the steppe zone where it�s possible to see such birds as Steppe Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Demoiselle Crane and Little Bustard.

Along the Belaya-river remain large plots of old forests, and numerous populations of predatory birds, for example, Eagle Owl, breed here. Closer to the north, the steppe changes to mountain taiga. Fast-flowing rivers with stone bottoms, taiga forests, elfin woodlands and mountain tundra will meet you here. The highest site is 1894m up, and usual height at the Middle Ural is close to 800-1000m above sea level.

Dark coniferous forests dominate on the west mountain sides, and on the east side pine and cedar-pine are more common. More than 150 species of birds have been recorded here, and among them there are a lot of Siberian species, such as Red-flanked Bluetail, Black-throated Thrush and Pine Bunting. Up in the taiga forests and the tundra are Willow Grouse, Tundra Grouse, Common Dotterel and many others.

top sites

Belaya-River

The environs of the Belaya-River is one of the most interesting and ornithologically rich sites in the region. A landscape of river banks with the scenerey often changing from one bank to another. You can find here coniferous taiga forests, alder and birch river-valley forests, meadows, willow bushes and small bogs. This variety determines a rich avifauna. More than 130 species of birds have been recorded here. The most important peculiarity is a very high density of predatory birds. Especially Peregrines, Eagle Owls, Golden Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle and Osprey. Moreover, rhe river channels have a lot of waterfowl.

Katay Lake

The banks of the lake attracts the great attention of birdwatchers and ornithologists. Lots of water loving boirds and waterfowl can be found here in a very short time. Close to you settle Swans, Bald-coots, Common Pochards and other ducks. Groups of Turnstones, Dunlins, Black-winged Stilts, Sandpipers, and Black-tailed Godwits forage on the shore and are easily observed. All these birds use the Katay Lake as a breeding site, and in the middle summer you can be lucky to see their nests and nestlings.

Pechoro-Ilytchsky Reserve

This part of the northern Urals near Pechora-river is original and unsurpassed. The mountain taiga forests are inhabited by special avifauna, including such rare species as Golden Eagle, Eagle Owl, Great Grey Owl, Hawk Owl and Marsh Owl. There are a lot of Galliformes birds, and in spring it�s possible to see large leks of Capercailyes and Black Grouses. Big flocks of Red-breasted Geese, Scoters and Pintails on their spring migration have a rest on the river channel. On the highest mountain levels live Tundra Grouse, Common Dotterels, Snow Buntings and Shore Larks.

Tchekinskaya Steppe

This site represents an area of untouched feather-grass steppe. Landscape diversity bordered by different sized rivers and mixed forests with well-developed under storey. A lot of rare bird species can be found here including Steppe Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Serpent Eagle, Saker Falcon, Peregrine, Demoiselle Crane, Halcyon, Golden Plover and Little Bustard breeding here.

contributor

Olga Batova
Ornithologist
(Ecological Travel Center - Moscow)
info@ecotravel.ru
http://www.ecotravel.ru

useful reading

A Field Guide to Birds of Russia and Adjacent Territories

V. Flint, R. Boehme, Y. Kostin, A. Kuznetsov Paperback - 440 pages (December 1983) Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691024308
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Where to Watch Birds in Europe & Russia

Nigel Wheatly Paperback - 416 pages (28 April, 2000) Christopher Helm
ISBN: 0713648708
Buy this book from NHBS.com

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can�t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page� give them a try!

1998 [May] - Roberto Garavaglia

http://www.ebnitalia.it/trips/trip06.htm
During a business trip to Russia, I had plenty of spare time, which I spent birding...

tour operators

Ecological Travel Center - Migrating birds of Volga delta

http://www.ecotravel.ru/eng/tours/1/2/
The Volga delta is the largest in Europe and it occupies a triangle of 100 (length) x 200 (wide) km. A lot of different landscapes can be found when on the way from Astrakhan through the delta to the Caspian Sea. Extensive pastures are crisscrossed by broad waterways and fast running streams, which turn into well developed floodplain forests with huge amounts of willows, poplars and alders. Typical birds of the area are: Great Black-headed Gull, White-tailed Eagle, Caspian Tern, Dalmatian Pelican, Penduline Tit, Night Heron and Cetti's Warbler...

Ural Expeditions & Tours

http://www.welcome-ural.ru/tours/53/195/452/
Siberian lakes and Ural's rivers - Birdwatching in the Middle Urals (combined tour)...

mailing lists

Birds in Russia

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/BirdsinRussia/
To post to list:BirdsinRussia@yahoogroups.com
List contact:BirdsinRussia-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:BirdsinRussia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Information and discussion list on all aspects of biology, ecology, behaviour, number, distribution, migrations and conservation etc. of all bird species of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (within the borders of the ex-USSR). Founder Jevgeni Shergalin.

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