Here the first snow came down in Alma Ata. It came down already two weeks ago yet in the mountains but in the city yesterday only. In spite of cloudy weather I specially went to the New Square to look to Common Whitethroats. It was interesting to me to see did they migrate or not. No they did not fly away! Whitethroats looks interesting among the snow-covered branches. There are much more Blackbirds on the Square. Blackbirds eat the frozen berries. [...... read more ]

The Gorky Park is a main and largest park of Alma Ata. The trees in the Park are very high. To examine anything in the heavy foliage is very difficult. Only Great Tits, Mynahs and Blackbirds catch the eye. Appears nobody else present in the park. But if look carefully it is possible to see other birds. Today I saw Goldcrests and one Wren. Local Goldcrests named “gold crest”. But they have a little yellow color on the head, only one small light yellow speck. Goldcrest searched food in the moss-grown crust of elms, especially at the significant height. I hoped they alight but has not waited.Also I saw one Wren. As usually Wren was visible through the branches, but wasn't photographed. And one more there was Sparrowhawk chased by crows.Republic Square. Several weeks ago I was surprised Common Whitethroats still not migrated. Today they again surprised me. Ten days are remain to the winter and Whitethroats still not flew away! [...... read more ]

Dippers are common inhabitants of Butakovka. In this place they are not fear the people. They allow to approach closely therefore the observer has the possibility to see much of the life of these unique birds. Today I have a glimpse of one White-bellied Dipper but it rapidly flew away. But almost one hour I observed Brown Dipper. In Butakovka area, in the section of Little Almatinka river always can be seen as one Dipper at least. Today I saw three ones. I speak confidence because saw all three ones at once. Usually calling Dippers rush along the river therefore their correct quantity can't be count. As it is assumed in autumn Brown Dippers most time fed. They searched large worms between the stones under water. Searching the food in the ice-cold water is not light process. Dipper finds one worm of every three-five minutes average. After finding Dipper eat the worm sitting on stone. It seemed me (see video) that Dipper washes worm in the water before get down it. May be Dipper cleaned food [...... read more ]

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This little river places between houses. This place is shadow and cool. May be therefore there are not many birds in this river. But sometimes interesting birds can be met by you, especially on autumn and winter. Two years ago we met Blue Whistling Thrush and Azure Tit. Today I saw one Goldcrest and one Wren (local subspecies both). And many Blackbirds and Great Tits were searching food in the old leaves. [...... read more ]

Today I specially gone to mountains to photograph Nutcracker. Nutcrackers live in high mountains, only once I saw Nutcracker in the bottom of a fir forest. It's usual habitat much above. On road to fir groves I saw only Coal Tits, Treecreepers and Goldcrests. In high mountains there are no much birds, but some ones are present. Above in I snows saw only Mistle Thrushes, and below in the border of a fir forest - one Great Grey Shrike and one Cinereous Vulture. And certainly, expected Nutcracker. [...... read more ]

I saw Eurasian Sparrowhawk flying above the center of the city in the company of crow. [...... read more ]

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I met several Chiffchaffs and pair of Goldcrests. Chiffchaffs may be still migrate, but Goldcrests sure went down from the mountains to the wintering. More frequently I saw Chaffinches also arrived to wintering. Two days I saw the flying Quails. There are many Crows in the city. Carrion Crows get down to the winter from the mountains. And Hooded Crows arrived to winter from the north. It is amazing, but Common Whitethroats did not fly away still. [...... read more ]

First Chaffinches of this autumn. Today I saw three birds - one male and two females. Surely there are more Chaffinches in the foothills. Even more interesting meeting – a small flock of Black-throated Thrushes. Usually Thrushes avoid the city, especially central parts, it is more possible to meet them in the suburbs. [...... read more ]

Birds have flown almost all. At least there were nobody on the lake. Neither Ruddy Shellducks nor Lapwings. Roadside bushes aren't so populated as at summer. I saw only of Great Tits and Tree Sparrows. But these are our winter inhabitants. Generally there were no many birds, only Rooks and Jackdaws. I saw two raptors - one Common Buzzard and one Steppe Eagle. Popular some weeks ago Kites have migrated. [...... read more ]

Has a little cold. Therefore birds activate some later when air is worm. Turkestan Shrikes, Bluetroats and Stonechats just not migrate. But number of Stonechats was decreased and number of Bluetroats was enlarged. From time to time I saw Whitetroats (Lesser and Common), but in a little number. Great Tits and Warblers added to other birds. I didn't true determinate what Warbler was observed. But I saw one white strip therefore I think it was Hume's Warbler.Mynahs are very marked. Inroad of Mynahs to New Square. In normal there are not Mynahs in this place. But today I saw a lot of Mynahs.Uncommon meetings. Hobby. I met Hobby in the city sometimes. But bird isn't common city bird. Today I saw Hobby very close. It flied very low in company of Magpie. In second - Oriental Turtle Dove. This Dove lives in foot-hills and meeting in the town's is a rare event. Other intersting meeting is Tree Sparrow in the flock of House Sparrows.In last I flushed more then ten Quails. I thought that behold Quails [...... read more ]

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