Iran Bird Watching Tour - Northern Part

Arrival in Tehran - Kelardasht

Your tour starts with your arrival at IKA. We immediately start the tour by heading to the northern part of Iran, the village of Kelardasht. While on the road, we will encounter some of the commoner birds of northern Iran, such as Common Kestrel, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, White Wagtail, Cetti’s Warbler, Eurasian Magpie, Rook, and Carrion Crow.

Kelardasht

Our day starts early in the morning to go on an excursion around the district. We will watch different species including Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Pheasant (here in its native home), Common Cuckoo, European Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Lark, European Robin, Common Stonechat, Common Redstart, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed, Coal and Blue Tits, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Jay, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, and Common Linnet. Other common European birds that we are likely to encounter in this area include European Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby, Common Quail, Red-backed Shrike, Common Rosefinch, Black-headed and Corn Buntings, and perhaps European Scops Owl.

Kelardasht - Mian Kaleh - Behshar

Today we head eastwards to Mian Kaleh Peninsula to watch birds at the edge of the Caspian Sea where the restricted-range Black-headed Penduline Tit can usually be found, along with Little Grebe, Little Bittern, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Moorhen, Common Kingfisher, and Moustached, Eurasian (or European) Reed, and Great Reed Warblers.

Other species we may well find in the Caspian Sea lowlands include Black-necked and Great Crested Grebes, Great Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Grey Heron, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, and Pied Avocet. Migrant shorebirds should be present in good numbers, along with Whiskered and White-winged Terns.

We will cross the southern edge of the Turkoman Steppes, the vast rolling plains to the east of the Caspian Sea, where we will be on the lookout for Lesser Kestrel, Calandra and Lesser Short-toed Larks, Isabelline Wheatear, Rosy Starling (sometimes in large swirling flocks), Eurasian Tree Sparrow and the handsome Red-headed Bunting (here at the western extremity of its range).

Later at night, we will head to Behshar, and overnight there.

Behshahr - Turan National Park 

Today we start by traveling to Touran National Park, lies at the northeastern edge of the great Dasht-e-Kavir desert, about 150km southeast of Shahrud. Our primary target will be the highly localized Pleske’s Ground Jay, not only a member of a uniquely Central Asian group of aberrant corvids but also a species endemic to the eastern deserts of Iran.

Delbar - Shahrud

Today we will continue as the previous day to watch as much as birds possible at the area. Will overnight in Shahrud.

Shahrud - Tehran

Today we will drive westwards along the northern edge of the Dasht-e-Kavir to Tehran for an overnight stay. When arrived in Tehran, you will have a few hours to go around the city.

Tehran, IKA

Today the tours end, and you should pack to go to the IKIA and have a flight back home.