The weather is murky and windy. There are many little lakes in Ile region. There are always some birds on these lakes. Today I could to visit two lakes. On first lake met adult Great Crested Grebes with juvenile birds. Also saw a lot of Rollers' burrows. But Rollers are scary birds. Try to make photos of Rollers near the burrows unsuccessful ended. I waited birds near the nest but didn't wait. Birds flew to burrows but having seen me crying changed course of fly and departed back. Strong wind casted out birds from russian olives and salttrees. Saw only several Tree Sparrows. Once saw flying Little Bittern. A lot of Rooks (mostly juveniles) and several Jackdaws clustered near the pools and drank the water. On roadside elm thickets met only one Shikra and several flocks of Turkestan Tits. Mynahs and Rosy Pastors were in evidence. On second lake number of birds were some more. Clamorous Reed Warblers were audible. Again saw Crested Grebes, Coots with juveniles. From time to time Little Bitterns [...... read more ]

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I went to trip on later evening. Twice saw on roadside pools ducks with ducklings. Unfortunately it was dark and I didn't spy what ducks it were. But it's interesting that ducks occur about 5-6 meters from active road. There were many Hobbies on roadside. Aspara. On June 29 night went to Aspara. I didn't expend many time to find White Storks. All local people know about it. White Stork nests near Aspara and people told me how I can find it. Storks nest not in village but near it. Nest was near the road on the pole. There were female and nestling on the nest. Male sat on next pole. Storks were spy birds not as European Stork live in villages. When I closed male flew out. But female flew out only when I tried to bypass nest pole. Some hovered female sat on a distance pole. I moved off because I didn't want to scare birds. And I spied Storks from distance. Female once and again tried to back on nest. But probably someone troubled her. I moved off. Other birds were Spanish and Indian Sparrows, [...... read more ]

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Karakastek. Photohunt to sparrows is continuing (see trip to Bakanas to Saxaul Sparrow). Today main object of searching is Spanish Sparrow. Spanish Sparrow is social bird. In the colonies of Spanish Sparrows thousands of birds may live. First colonies began over Karakastek. Number of birds is not thousands but hundreds. Spanish Sparrows nest on roadside elms and Russian olives near the wheat fields. On some branches nests were built one over another like high-rise buildings. Sparrows probably yet feed nestlings because there are no juvenile birds but adult birds fly with worms in beaks. But some birds yet fly with green grass Twice found nests of Long-legged Buzzards. These nests placed on the sparrows colonies. Probably this neighbourhood is convenient to sparrows. Probably large raptor neighborhood saves from Magpies, Jackdaws and other nest breakers. Spanish Sparrows fly on later than other birds therefore I saw its this year first time. All other birds meeting on road are common. Red-headed [...... read more ]

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All birds meeting on road were common. Interesting were only Black-Bellied Sandgrouses and Black Stork. Sandgrouses dashing crossed the road near Zarechny. But Black Stork hovered over the river near Sary-Ozek. I waited when Stork alighted but bird flew out to mountains. In Ushtobe Black and White-winged Terns hovered over rice fields. Also on rice fields Great White Egrets and Grey Herons fed. [...... read more ]

Bura. 5 am. On same place as yesterday found three Saxaul Sparrows. One bird was very scary. I could spy it on binocular only. But other two allowed to make photos but through bushes only. Several times Kite hovered over the road. Once the Shikra tried to hunt away Kite. But Kite didn't pay attention and flew out. Ten Hoopoes sat on wires. Birds sat against the sun and I thought that birds are Bee-eaters. This time Hoopoes assembled to large groups. Several flocks of Rosy Pastors flew. Mynahs followed to cows. Yesterday little grey birds were the Lesser Whitethroats. Deepened to saxaul forest. Several time I heard sparrows cheeping but did't see sparrows. Another birds also. Bakanas. There are reeds over the rice fields near Bakanas and Bakbakty. Many birds live in the reeds. Mostly Red-headed Buntings, Turkestan Shrikes, Hoopoes, Cuckoos, Rollers. Once saw Red-headed Bunting driving away the Cuckoo. On the water faraway saw Grey Heron but on roadside little lakes saw Coots and Little Bittern. [...... read more ]

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Malai-Sary pass. The sands begin. Not a lot of birds. Common bird is Red-headed Bunting. In respect that these birds have very bright color, loud sounds and number of birds, seems that only Red-headed Buntings occurs all around. Turkestan Shrikes (both pale and bright), Isabelline Wheaters, Rollers occur. Raptors are one Long-legged Buzzard and two Kites only. Bakbakty. Near the rice fields European Turtle Doves, Red-headed Buntings sat on the wires. On the fields saw two Grey Herons, several Common Terns. The pair of Great Grey Shrikes sat probably near the nest. Bakanas. Collared Doves, Mynahs, House and Tree Sparrows, Barn Swallows (young birds have short tails and I thought that it were Sand Martins), Rollers, Kestrel, many Cuckoos. On the roadside little lake saw female Gadwall with ducklings and several Coots. All birds are very scary. Probably because many hunters like these places. But I didn't hear any shot. Bura. Saxaul forests. Silence. Occasionally heard catcalls of gophers. [...... read more ]

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There are a little of birds. Mostly Carrion Crows and Magpies. Saw one Brown Dipper and one Kestrel. The pair of Grey Wagtails interested me. I sat on the bank of mountain river and Wagtails closed me and postured. Unfortunately out of sun didn't allow to make a good photos. [...... read more ]

The trip not to birds but business trip. Therefore I have write so quick as we went. We went very quick and saw only birds sitting on the wires and flying above the road. Saw Rollers, Bee-eaters, Lesser Grey Shrikies, Red-headed Buntings, Kites, Kestrels and Hobbies. Also many flocks of Rosy Pastors occur. In Ushtobe abobe the rice fields Common, Black and White-winged Terns, White Egrets and Grey Herons flew. In Kapchagai saw Moorhens with nestlings. [...... read more ]

Today in Samal district saw singing Grey-headed Goldfinch. What it did here? Also saw several short-tailed young Magpies. [...... read more ]

Today went to see Dalmatian Pelicans to Sorbulak reservoir with Raufael Bairashev. On the road saw several Lesser Grey Shrikes, one Long-tailed Shrike, one Black-headed Wagtail, one Citrine Wagtail with three large juveniles, Rollers, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes. Sorbulak. Waterlogged shore. Cheeping Black-winged Stilts were a much number. Also many Lapwings, indefinite little wader flying out whet I try to close them. Near the marsh saw flock of Common Starlings but on the rock flocks of Rosy Pastors. Clamorous Reed Warbler active sang on the bulrush thickets. Several Grey Herons and one White Egret flew. Also saw common Great Crested Grebes and Coots. A lot of Great Cormorants. A lot of Ruddy Shelducks. Several flocks about 250 birds in all. Ruddy Shelducks were not so scary. When we closed them birds slowly floated to the center of reservoir. On the crowd of large Shelducks other ducks were not noticeable. Probable saw pair of Garganeys. Spied to binocular several Eurasian Wigeons, Northern [...... read more ]

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