Uzbekistan - Extension from Kazakhstan: Jun 05—11, 2009

Turkestan Ground Jay— Photo: Mary Jean Hage

Uzbekistan was a rich region of ancient cities and cultures based along the Great Silk Route to China, the crossroads between east and west. Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, and Attila the Hun all passed through, fought, or lived here. Based in fabled Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, we'll be walking distance to superbly intact, extravagant, and beautiful ancient architecture—a phenomenal array of turquoise-tiled minarets, mosques, madrassahs, and mausoleums within aged city walls. A very special birdlist includes local and Asian species: Long-tailed Shrike; Pied Bushchat; Caspian Plover; White-tailed Lapwing; Clamorous Reed, Paddyfield, and Menetrie's warblers; Blue-cheeked Bee-eater; Rufous-tailed Bush-Robin; Hume's Short-toed Lark; Yellow-breasted and Azure tits; White-crowned Penduline-Tit; and Marbled Duck. Topping our "want-list" is the enigmatic Turkestan Ground Jay, easily found in the stony deserts of Kizzyl-kum.