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Dear friend! Would you be interested in joining a small group of like-minded birders on a trip to the glorious Russian Altai in June 2011 (4-19th)? This fascinating region borders Mongolia and Kazakhstan, and includes the highest peak in Siberia, Mt Belukha, 4506m. It is served by a very good road from Novosibirsk (Russia’s third largest city, with a wide choice of flights), via Barnaul and Biysk, but at most places camping is the only option, allowing early morning birding at the best locations. Independent travel to this area is still challenging, but our Russian partners have been taking tours to this region for over 15 years, with great success. Travel to this area is a unique experience, combining great birding with awe-inspiring scenery and fascinating history and culture near the point where Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia all meet Russia. It was here that the famous ‘Altai ice-maiden’ was found, attracting world-wide attention. More recently (2008) evidence of what appears to be a new species of hominid that lived 40,000 years ago has been found in the Denisova cave in the southern Altai. Three habitats illustrate the variety of this tour: The West Siberian Plain contains the biggest area of temperate marsh on earth. We will visit a site near Novosibirsk where Yellow-breasted Bunting (now listed as Vulnerable by BirdLife) sings close to Long-tailed Rosefinch and Citrine Wagtails, while Siberian Rubythroat and Bluethroat add to the colour palette. The site is next to a small village, where we will camp and experience traditional Russian hospitality. Moving into the Altai mountains, the Seminsk pass, at 1800m, has a simple but clean hostel next to a winter sport complex, with excellent birding all around in the old pine forest and open marshy areas. Species seen in 2009 include dozens of Swinhoe’s Snipe in their astonishing display, many Black-throated Thrushes, Siberian Tit, Olive-backed Pipit and Black-throated Accentor. Less predictable was a remarkably tame Ural Owl, that allowed an approach to within 12m while it was on the ground. As the road approaches Mongolia it crosses the Chuya steppe, and very different species are found, including Demoiselle Crane, Black Vulture, Lesser Kestrel, Pied and Desert Wheatears and Ruddy Shelduck. The small lakes in this area can hold White-winged Scoter, as well as stunning White-winged Black Tern and Slavonian Grebes. These examples just give a taste of the variety to be found, with the full range of habitat gradations in between, and many more bird species – see list of notable species attached. We hope this has whetted your appetite, and that you can join us on this Russian adventure – you will not be disappointed! Although birds will be the focus of the tour, there is also a great deal to interest more general naturalists and photographers, including a very rich flora, with sub-mountain flowers being at their peak at this time. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information or see the leaflet enclosed. The prices for the 2011 are: €1450 for 10, €1750 for 6 and €1600 for 8. Adam Gretton
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