Description
Hayravank Gulf is a good combination of artificial forest, grassland, reed islands and a rocky cliff on the northern side. You can find dry steppe species as Σταχτοπετρόκλης and Τσαλαπετεινός. Forest birds like tits, (Κοινός) Σπίνος, (Κοινή) Φάσσα, and a lot of water birds (grebes and ducks) on the lake. Reed islands and the drowned farm are home for herons, Αρκοπετείναρο and other species. On the long flat shore you can encounter waders like Ακτίτης, Λασπότρυγγας and Δασότρυγγας. At this spot you can also observe birds of prey such as Καλαμόκιρκος, (Κοινή) Γερακίνα and Διπλοσάϊνο.
In winter the area is a refuge for enormous flocks of Μαυροκέφαλη Πάπια, (Ευρασιατικό) Φερεντίνι and (Κοινή) Φαλαρίδα. About 50 Νανόκυκνος are also wintering here.
Details
Access
To get to Hayravank Gulf from Yerevan by car, you should first take M4 road "Sevan highway", then turn right to the M10 road, follow Martuni sign. After 25 km, pass the Hayravank sign and turn left at one of many unpaved roads. All of them are quite good for all types of cars. You are also recommended to go straight to the Hayravank monastery (marked with 1 on the map) for a view of the entire area and this part of Sevan lake. It is possible to explore the area by foot, by car or by bike. It takes 2-3 hours to explore the whole site.