Baikal Lake birding

Reserve: Baikalsky Reserve Daursky Reserve

The Baikal is a mistery. They call it the “Saint Sea” but its clear waters are fresh. They say, it is the most relict lake in the world – its age is 25 million years that is 12 times older than Tanganyika – and it is an infant ocean.They say, Genghis Khan was born there on the Olhon Island. And the son of the Spirit of the Island was an Eagle. And ever until now local people believe eagle to be a sacred bird.

There are lots of eagles breeding in Baikal area - Golden Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle ((Aquila clanga), Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Pallas’ Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucophrys). And there are more than 20 raptor species in total.

Hiking through mountain taiga, composed of the famous cembra pine, fir-tree and dwarf Siberian pine forests, you can hear tender voice of Yellow-browed Bunting. There are many reputable singers in taiga. Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope) is one of them. Charming Siberian Blue Robin likes to perform in bird cherry tree and in fir tree. If it notices your attention it would not fly up but sweep down to the earth. Three-toed woodpecker you would recognize by its yellow cap.

Around impetuous mountain rivers and creeks with waterfalls, that are numerous around Baikal, you can watch fantastic bird – a dipper – diving in icy streams to find there some food. In mountain steppes of Southern Baikal long-tailed Bunting (Emberiza cioides) is one of the common species. Godlewski's Bunting (Emberiza godlewskii), Eye-browed Thrush (Turdus obscurus) and Siberian Thrush (Zoothera sibirica) are also typical for the area. Elegant Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) prefers rocky landscapes.

The best time to come is late spring and summer, when all the surrounding is flavoured with blooming aromatic herbs – Rhododendron SP (in May – June), Ledum, Thyme… Colorful hordes of butterflies come attracted with the flowers.

Our guides

Photogallery of tour:

Itinerary:

1 Day	Arrival in Ulan-Ude. Breakfast in a cafe. Transfer to Borgoyskye lakes with birding on road (200 km). Lunch, rest, accommodation in a guest house. Dinner.
2 Day	Breakfast. Birding at Borogoyskye lakes. Lunch. Tranfer to Schuchie lake (140 km). Accommodation in a hotel. Dinner. Birds of the day: Amur Falcon, Mongolian Lark, Short-toed lark, Blyth's Pipit, Avocet, Azure-winged Magpie, Demoiselle, Buzzard Upland. Some chances to meet: Great Bustard, Golden Eagle, Saker Falcon, Cinereous Vulture, Long-toed Stint, Red-necked Stint, Pallas’s Bunting.
3 Day	Breakfast. Birding at Schuchie lake. Lunch. Transfer (200 km) to Istomino village. Birding in Selenga river delta. Overnight in a guest house. Birds of the day: Long-tailed Rosefinch, Siberian Rubythroat, Azure Tit, Daurian Jackdaw, Russet Sparrow, Daurian Redstart. Some chances to meet: White-tailed Eagle, Hump-billed Velvet Scoter, Black-necked Grebe, Black Stork, Bewick's Swan, Red-throated Thrush.
4 Day	Breakfast. Birding in Selenga river delta. Lunch. Transfer Istomino village - Mishikha river (100 km). Overnight at Baikalsky Nature reserve ringing station. Dinner. Birds of the day: Richard's Pipit, Marsh Harrier, Common Crane, Pallas's Warbler. Some chances to meet: Falcated Duck, Baikal Teal, Spot-billed Duck.
5 Day	Breakfast. Birding at ringing station and surroundings, transfer to Tankhoy, lunch, overnight in Baikalsky reserve guest house. Dinner. Birds of the day: Brown Shrike, Olive-backed Pipit, Dusky Warbler, Little Bunting, Black-faced Bunting. Some chances to meet: Little Sparrow Hawk, Crested Honey Buzzard, Needle-tailed Swift, Brown Thrush, Dusky Thrush.
6 Day	Breakfast. Ecotrail of the reserve to waterfall, museum of the reserve. Dinner. Evening birding in the forest. Birds of the day: Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-flanked Bluetail, White's Thrush, Oriental Cuckoo. Some chances to meet: Spotted Bush Warbler, Siberian Blue Robin, Rufous-tailed Robin, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Siberian Flycatcher.
7 Day	Breakfast. Transfer to to Irkutsk (240 km) with lunch an birding stops on the way.

Price:

Number of PAX	4	6	8
Price per person, RUB	119 000	90 500	76 000

INCLUDED:

Аccommodations, meals, transportation and excursions according to the program .

NOT INCLUDED:

Avia tickets, visa expenses, personal expenses, additional excursions, alcoholic bevareges, medical insurance.