Description
Lake Arpi has a big nesting colony of kodrasti pelikan and žličarka. It is also a perfect stop for spring migrants like rožnati pelikan, rjasta kozarka, siva gos and various waders. In summer the surrounding fields and meadows become home for passerines such as kavkaška listnica, škrlatec, kupcar, vrtni strnad, severni repnik and predators like mali orel, kanja, rjavi lunj, skobec and mali klinkač.
During spring migration and summer you can find waterfowl, waders, field and even forest species like kukavica and carar in the area. There are several villages at the coast of Lake Arpi with cattle farms, where škorec, kmečka lastovka and other synanthropic species live.
Details
Access
From Gyumri go to Berdashen (last 20 km are unpaved but smooth). Then after the bridge over Ahuryan river, turn left, and after 100 m turn left again on a small road to the hydropower plant and park your car there. If the road is dry, you can go closely along the lakeshore.
It is the best place to observe kodrasti pelikan. There is a colony on a nearby island. If you go further around the lake you can make a stop between Dzorakert and Tsakhut villages. It is also good place on a lake shore.
It takes 3-4 hours of thorough birding in this part of the lake. If you want to make full circle around Lake Arpi it can take 6-7 hours (including 3-4 stops).