Almaty - Balkhash.

Before the Sorbulak lake I saw only Coots, one Moorhen near Shamalgan station, Citrine Wagtails, one Gull and two Kestrels.

Sorbulak lake. Near the Sorbulak lake I saw the flock of Lesser Kesrels. The day was sunny but wind was very strong. Ducks and waders hid from the wind on the little salt lake hidden from the wind by the mound. There were not a lot of birds but the number of species was very diverse. So the longer watch to birds the more birds occurred. Ducks: Shovelers (most number), pair of Mallards, Ferruginous Ducks (5 birds), Red-crested Pochards (pair), Common Pochard (one male), Gadwalls, Garganeys, Common Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck (pair), Pintails (5-6 birds). Waders: Pied Avocets (pair), Black-winged Stilts (a lot), Common Redshank, Little Ringed Plovers, Common Snipes, Bar-tailed Godwits, one Lapwing. Also Coots, Moorhen, White-winged Terns, Common Terns, Black-headed Gulls, Caspian Gulls. Sand Martins, Common Starlings, Masked Wagtails and one of Yellow Wagtails group. The pair of Cormorants and one Long-legged Buzzard. I numbered 29 species of birds on this one little lake. The pair of Avocets were fed with Stilts together. I saw Avocets first time. The male of Red-crested Pochard disregarded all and active gallanted to female. Ferruginous Ducks tried to keep close to reeds but I probably a little frightened it and Ferruginous Ducks from time to time came close to reeds and floated out. Bar-tailed Godwits rested with Garganeys together. Both Godwits and Garganeys hid the heads under the wings. So I didn't see the heads of Godwits. On the next lake I saw a lot of ducks (Garganeys and Gadwalls). For some reason the number of males was more than number of females at all ducks.

Sorbulk was stormed. The water was cloudy. Some Dalmatian Pelicans and some tens Great Cormorants took fish. But probably Pelicans were not take fish but rest only. But Cormorants very active dived. Over the water only Cormorants' heads and necks were visible, but all bodies were under the water. From time to time one or two heads occurred but other ones hid. Very interesting show. Pelicans didn't dive but high waves from time to time hid some of them also. Here above the Cormorants Caspian Gulls roamed. There were large colony of the Cormorants and Dalmatian Pelicans on the coast.

Two large flocks of the Demoiselle Cranes (more than 80-100 birds each) flew against the wind to east. Cranes didn't stay on the lake and flew out further. The wind was very strong and Cranes couldn't fly by order but they all time tried to make wedge. So opposing against the wind Cranes hid over the horizon.

Between Sorbulak and Kurty the birds were a bit. Only one Kestrel, one Common Starling, some Larks.

Kurty. Usually many birds are on the turn of Kurty river. Here this time on the short stay I saw pair of Common Redshanks, pair of Black Kites, pair of Garganeys, pair of Common Tern, pair of Lesser Whitethroats, pair of Black-bellied Sandgrouses, pair of Hoopoes, Masked and Citrine Wagtails, Tawny Pipit, pair of Ruddy Shelducks, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Stonechats (three males), one Common Snipe and one Common Sandpiper.

Over Kurty the sands of Southern Trans-Balkhash area begins. The left side of the road is Zhusandala steppe but right side is Taukum sands. Larks occurred once and again but Isabelline Wheaters occurred more often. Raptors in this zone were two female Harriers, one male Montagu's Harrier, one Steppe Eagle and one young Eastern Imperial Eagle. The closer to Balkhash lake the more desert landscape. Some times sands crossed by the channels of dry rivers overgrowing by saxaul and jingil. On the one of saxaul grove I saw Steppe Grey Shrike. Also on roadside saw Brown-necked Ravens (twice by one bird). Near Balkhash lake I met three Hooded Crows.

Balkhash lake. By the binocular I saw six Pelicans, probably they were Great White Pelicans. Though distance to Pelicans was not less 500 meters birds probably saw me, opened out the wings and departed slowly and low on the water. Pelicans flew long about five minutes till hid over the bank. During observing flying Pelicans I spied yet one large flock flying Pelicans (about 15-20 birds) which hid over the hill. This flock was observed by binocular only. On the lake pair of Great Crested Grebes floated, above the water Sand Martins flew. Along on the bank the Gulls (Great Black-headed and one Siberian Black-backed Gulls) rested. Every so often some of them took fish. On the bank's thickets I saw one Steppe Grey Shrike and one Turkestan Shrike, Carrion Crows, one female Harrier. From watering place beside me the pair of Black-bellied Sandgrouses flew out. On the rocks I saw pair of Hoopoes. On the water border Common Sandpiper and Masked Wagtail fed. In the bushes a lot of little birds. Lesser Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs (with reddish shade, I didn't see it before now), Isabelline Wheaters and Stonechats.

From afar I saw the large flight of whirling Pelicans (about 20 birds). It was Great White Pelicans. Pelicans arrived to the lake but I didn't see where because hills opposed to observe birds. Probably flight divided to several groups because coming to arrival place I saw White Pelicans in four groups by 1, 4, 1, 3 birds. White Pelicans are more wild than Dalmatian ones, it's very difficult to close them. On showing interest birds flush at once and fly to safe distance. White Pelican has very beautiful rosy color which good looked on short distance or by binocular.

In the bay when Pelicans were I also saw two Common Shelducks and two Northern Pintails. Also I saw Common Redshanks and Stilts. Further I went without long stays. On the coast's rocks some times I saw Pied Wheaters. On reeds some times Garganeys, Great White Egrets, Grey Herons, once Long-legged Buzzard were observed. A lot of Barn Swallows were everywhere. On evening in Saryshagan I saw flying Swifts.

1. Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata)

2. Ferruginous Ducks (Aythya nyroca)

3. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

4. Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

5. Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

6. Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)

7. Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus)

8. Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoides virgo)

9. Garganey (Anas querquedula)

10. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

11. Stonechat (Saxicola torquata maura)

12. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

13. Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

14. Pallas's Gulls (Larus ichthyaetus)

15. Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)

16. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

17. Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius pallidirostris)

18. Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)

19. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

20. Great White Egret (Egretta alba)