As yet I badly identify birds by sounds, therefore I could only to assume what birds so actively sing in the spruces in the Republic Square. Today I saw these birds, they were Common Whitethroats. Also today in the evening dusk I saw Scops Owl again. [...... read more ]

When drive from Bakbakty to Almaty the road over the Malay-Sary passes on semi-desert landscape. In this place trees are present only as elms roadside thickets, but asian elms in dry climate don't grow high and don't formed the forests. The single trees are the haven to the birds, but to me these trees are absolutely guaranty of interesting photos. In the morning I specially stay near the asian elm to make photos of birds. In this elm there were male Red-backed Shrike, male unidentified Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Whitethroat. If to this list add also Calandra Larks, Sky Larks, Turkestan Shrikes, Lesser Grey Shrikes, Stonechats, many-many Red-headed Buntings and a lot of Rosy Starlings, we form the short list of basic species of the area from Malay-Sary to Kapchagai. The additions to this short list are raptors (Long-legged Buzzards and Kestrel), Cuckoos, as yet rare Rollers and pair of Black-bellied Sandgouses. My second stay was near the large clay coomb. In the holes in slopes [...... read more ]

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My trip to Bakanas was private and wasn't special birding tour. Therefore I watched and photographed only birds which were close to the roadside. On the roadsides from Kapchagai reservoir till Malay-Sary Pass the most popular bird was Red-headed Bunting. Singing males of Red-headed Bunting were noticed almost each fifty meters. The Stonechats were popular too. In addition to these birds I saw Black Kites, Rollers, quite a few Common Kestrels, Lesser and Greater Whitethroats, Bluethroats, different Shrikes, one Tawny Pipit, two Hobbies. Directly before the Malay-Sary pass on the little lake I saw the mixed flock of Garganeys and Northern Shovellers. Almost from this place the Rosy Starlings started dating in flocks and singly. Over the Malay-Sary pass till Bakanas the most popular bird was Isabelline Wheatear. The road passes the desert with bushes. There were a lot of Rosy Starlings. From time to time I noticed Kestrels perching on poles, three times I saw Long-legged Buzzards. In Bakanas [...... read more ]

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Migration of Nightjars has began. Today I found one Nightjar in the Republic Square. In airport area I saw this year's first Golden Oriole and Kingfisher, and also heard first Nightingales and first Cuckoo. [...... read more ]

In city the day was hot and sunny. I waited the same weather in the mountains too but unfortunately the weather in Little Almaty gorge was overcast. So the planned testing of camera on sunny day was not. I saw White-bellied Dippers, pair of Mistle Thrushes, Carrion Crows, many Grey Wagtails and the pair of Blue Whistling Thrushes. [...... read more ]

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In Butakovka the list of observed birds was standard: Brown Dippers, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Grey Wagtails. Other birds are almost not observed in this place in summer time. Therefore evening trip to Butakovka should be considered as the testing of new photo camera but not as birding trip. [...... read more ]

Birding trip with Javier Piedra and Mark Ashcroft. In the beginning we visited Almaran (Ile Alatau National Park). The weather was mist and cold. In two places snow slips crashed the pathway and the bridge. In Prokhodnaya river we observed only common local birds - some Grey Wagtails and pair of Brown Dipper. The male Dipper sang the song. In the rocks the pair of Blue Whistling Thrush flew from one rock to another. Also we noticed one Black Kite. Probably birds were a bit because of the weather was cold and mist. At afternoon we arrived to Ile river over the Kapchagai reservoir. During the road we saw the Black Kites and Rooks, but over Kapchagai the Rollers too. Weather at Ile river was sunny and warm. Rosy Starlings as yet were not arrived to the rocks. We saw one Golden Eagle but the last year's nest of Golden Eagles wasn't inhabited. In large rock canyon many Lesser Kestrels and Common Jackdaws were flying, sometimes Hobbies were noticed. As usual there were a lot of Chukar Partridges [...... read more ]

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7 am. I watched this year's first Red-rumped Swallows. [...... read more ]

Sunny day. Hume's Warbler were very active, they flew almost everywhere. The Blackbirds, Great Tits and Greenfinches sang. The Lesser Whitethroats appeared. Also I noticed one flying by Hoopoe and one Common Kestrel perching on he building of city administration. [...... read more ]

At day I saw Turkestan Shrike and at evening I heard this year's first Scops Owl. [...... read more ]