The last day in Alakol, it’s the day of departure too. Morning was surprising windless, but when we arrived to canyon of Zhamanty river wind shows its power. There were a bit of birds in the gorge, probably due to wind. I saw Skylarks in the bushes of dogrose (in my opinion), Rollers, Rosy Pastors, flock of 6 Black Kites, one Upland Buzzard and one Common Buzzard. In the willow trees I heard song of Common Nightingale, and saw moving of Hume’s Warblers. I had no time to walk in coast so I can tell only about common in bay Red-crested Pochards, Pallas’ Gulls, Caspian Gulls, Great Cormorants, White Egrets and Grey Herons.After lunch we started to come back to Almaty. Almost all the road I slept and didn’t see any significant birds. In the night of arriving to home I heard in Samal the first in this year Scops Owl. [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]

Morning is sunny and very windy. I made the circle around the hotel territory; saw Kingfisher, flying Pallas' Gulls, Great Cormorants and one Bluethroat in flowerbed near café.Before the lunch we went to the foreland where Vassily, Tonya and Aibek saw Relict Gull yesterday. Road to the foreland passes through the belt of saline marshes with high tussock sedges. There are a lot of birds here, especially in the spots where marshes bordered with reeds of Alakol bays. To be honest I didn’t watch all birds which we noted in road because I hurried to Relict Gull, the main target of Alakol lake. But it was impossible to miss some of birds: numerous Black-headed Wagtails, Whimbrel, Great Bittern (!), Stonechats, 2 female Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. Arriving to the foreland we found three Relict Gulls staying in the coast of bay. When we approached to Gulls they float from the coastal border and then twice flew off but not far, not more than one hundred meters. But in the end Gulls flew away perhaps [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]

Yesterday evening we left Almaty and went to Alakol lake. Night we slept in the bus. Morning light started in Sarkand city. In the roadside forest-lines near Andreeevka we saw many Wood Pigeons. On the wires there are many Rollers, Kestrels and Wood Pigeons too. In the Alakol circle I took photos of House Martins in the nests, also saw one Black Kite and Barn Swallows on wires. During the road from the Ucharal to Akchi village in the dry stone desert there were Kites, Lesser Kestrels, Isabelline Wheatears, Hoopoes, Larks, Hobby. In the territory of “Pelican” hotel there are many Masked Wagtails and Common Starlings. Immediately after arriving to hotel we went to the sandy foreland to watch birds and didn’t pay attention to the strong wind called Saikan by local people. Two of three main targets of Alakol lake – Pallas’s Gull and Caspian Tern (my lifer) were noticed immediately, but the third and main target – Relict Gull – was not observed. Also we saw many little waders such [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]

Day is sunny, warm (but not hot) and windy. On the road to Sorbulak we made stop when heard the sound of Penduline Tit from the car. We found the building nest of Penduline Tit almost immediately after approached to the river. Both male and female were building the nest. Nest was almost ready, only enter tube was not ready; Tits were building it.The reeds in the Savkino lake (means lake of the White-Headed Duck) became be rarer; lake now is more observable. But due to colony of Black-headed Gulls in the lake the noise and chaos here are increased. When we approached to lake border, Gulls flush and begin to circle around us, some of them even tried to attack us. Of course they couldn’t disturb us to watch birds. We expected to find White-headed Ducks, and we did it, at least three males and three females. I took photos with Albert’s lens (500 mm + extender 1.4 = 700 mm), quality of result is very good. In addition to the White-headed Ducks we watch some other Ducks, Great Crested Grebes, [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]

Trip to Ile river canyon with Madina and Albert Meek from the Netherlands. Due to my business meeting we left the city only at midday time. Day is hot and sunny, probably therefore birds are not so much both in rocks and in steppe. On the one hand it is not so bad; Rosy Starling are not arrive yet, after 10 days or even less these birds filled all around by the permanent movement and sounds; and it will be impossible or very hard to watch other birds. But if be honest I expected to view more birds. Probably not all birds are arrived from wintering ranges. What we saw today? Many Lesser Kestrels, all time some birds are viewable. Many times we saw Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. The most popular bird of the day is perhaps Pied Wheatear, we saw males and females and once accidentally found the nest. We went by the road and noticed very troubled female, the behavior of which indicated the presence of the nest nearby. I lifted the old rusty iron sheet and we view the nest with six eggs. I move the [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]

During 20 minutes of birding before the work I saw in the Republic Square only Turkestan Shrike and Gennady Dyakin )). At lunch time I watched flying Black kite from the window (not first time by the way). Also after noon I took photos of Long-tailed Shrike much better than yesterday. Stonechats are not leave the Square yet, so if anyone want to shoot them, welcome to the Square, because Stonechats are the best models ever. [...... read more ]

At sunny morning I went to find Jynx. And didn’t find it. Again I saw the strange “Weatear”, I could watch the rather pale mantle, white outer tail feathers and black throat. The behavior of bird was strange in my opinion, it doesn’t fly off and perch on any elevation, but all time hid under the low branches of bushes. Also I saw Bluethroat and Swallows (in Samal, perhaps Red-rumped). After noon I again went to the Square, but weather was already overcast with little rain. I saw Stonechats, Long-tailed Shrike, and also heard the sound of bird which flew from the bush to spruce-tree. This sound I never heard before today. My first guess was of course Jynx. At home I found the sound of Jynx but I can’t be sure that I heard it’s sound in spite of unique of Jynx sound. [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]

At 8.30am weather was sunny, I went to the work, crossed Republic Square and noticed the first in this year male Bluethroat, and also 6-7 Lesser Whitethroats flying one to another. After noon I visited the same place expecting to take photo of Bluethroat, but weather became overcast and there are many people in the Square. But I noticed new birds: Stonechats (about 15 birds), Jynx, Sparrowhawk, Black Kite, 2 Wood Pigeons, Greenfinches. Stonechats as usually easy perched on the tops of bushes regularly flying to ground to insects. Jynx was very shy, I saw it twice, but each time it hid to long time. I can say that we find it accidentally. Also I saw the strange Weatear which I couldn’t recognize. [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]

Yesterday during the short-time trip to mountain I shot White-bellied Dipper. Also at lunch time I went to my common birding spot, the Republic Square and found female Bluethroat hidden under the spruce-tree. Bluethroat was very close but didn’t leave the shelter, so I not satisfied by the quality of photos though bird on photos is identified. Today I again visited Bluethroat but bird did not approach to me so close as yesterday. Also I saw female Black Redstart, Lesser Whitetroat, and heard Chiffchaffs in some places. I watched the Wood Pigeons eating last-year acorns too. Pigeons are very calm, I approached to them about to 2 meters, so Pigeon did not fit in frame. [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]

A long long time I was not in Sorbulak. But now there is birds migration in this place. So when Sanzhar suggested to go to Sorbulak I gladly accepted. Weather is windy rainy and overcast in morning, but sunny and windless after noon. Firstly we observed lakes and channels of Little Sorbulak, but didn't see any interesting, only a lot of fishermans all around. In the island of 1st reservoir we saw white spots of Gulls, but Black Kites were the most significant birds here. In my opinion Big Sorbulak is much more interesting in this season, therefore we went there. In the southern coast of Big Sorbulak there is birds activity. In the sandy shore we saw Dalmatian Pelican, Mute Swan, different Ducks and Waders. There are no Pelicans on water but a lot in island. But most numerous of birds is Black Kite again. Near the first dam we met Gennady and Lena Dyakin which drove in opposite direction. I moved to Gennady’s car but other guys went to White-headed Ducks and Curlews earlier noticed by [...... read more ]

[more photos ......]