Full route from Karaganda to Almaty can be divided into three about equal parts. First part - from Karaganda to Balkhash. Common birds are Greater Short-toed Larks, Tawny Pipits. Twice Black Larks flew above the road. A lot of birds died from the impacts of automobiles. Any bird dispatches to fly away when the speed of automobile is 60 km/h, but now no one drives this speed. Therefore every 10-15 meter the carcass of small bird lies on the asphalt. Let alone the birds I saw today the downed horse and even the downed camel. In Akshatau saw the pair of Black-headed Gulls. On this part of road besides common birds I saw six Steppe Eagles, three Long-legged Buzzard, several Kestrels, one Merlin, one Brown-necked Raven. Second part of the way goes along Balkhash. Road goes along the lake first being moved away that approaching it. Near Gulshad saw female of light Harrier, two Steppe Eagles. Further saw Black Kites. After Aksuyek I made a short stay on the shore of lake. In the saxaul grove from [...... read more ]

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In Temirtau city there is a Samarkand reservoir. Reservoir is large, coast by places overgrown by reeds by places coast is sandy. Almost everywhere fishermen on the shore catch fish. In the shore bushes the small flocks of House Sparrows chirp, Yellow and White Wagtails fly. Noticeable large birds are Black-headed Gulls and Coots. On one place Coots and Black-headed Gulls feed on three meters from the fishermen. This trustfulness is rare on birds behaviour in Kazakhstan. Moorhens are more fearful. Moorhens departed from the reeds only when young fisherman approached to reeds closely. But nevertheless even Moorhens sailed not far from the sitting fishermen. Besides Black-headed Gulls on the reservoir there are Caspian Gulls. Several times I saw Mew Gulls. Some tens Black-headed Gulls chose to rest metallic construction. I approached them in the hope to photograph the trimmed Caspian and Mew Gulls. But exactly these two birds flew away first. Other seen birds are Crested Grebes, Sparrowhawk, [...... read more ]

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I tried to go rapidly because next day I need to be in Temirtau. Therefore I stopped only several times and only in the most interesting cases. In Zhambyl (near Shamalgan station) on the wires I saw four Long-tailed Shrikes. On early morning on Sorbulak from a long distance I saw 20-25 Dalmatian Pelicans, 100-150 Great Cormorants, about 30 White Egrets and one Grey Heron among Egrets. On other side of route saw lonely Dalmatian Pelican, Lapwings, Stilts, the flock of small waders (did not examine species), Black-headed Gulls, Garganeys, Red-crested Pochards. Kurty. Pair of Great Cormorants, one White Egret, many Black Kites. Calandra Larks always fly above the roadway and Crested Larks cross the roadway. Many Rollers and Isabelline Wheaters, several Kestrels. Near Aydarly saw Long-legged Buzzard and some further lonely Brown-necked Raven. After Aksuyek yet two Brown-necked Ravens. Yet one Brown-necked Raven near Burylbaytal. South-West extremity of Balkhash Lake. Grey Herons , White Egrets, [...... read more ]

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Today I observed birds not specially but on the side. On morning I went to the mountains. Batareika River. Two Grey Wagtails and one Blue Whistling Thrush. Wagtails jumped out to the road before the automobile, but Blue Whistling Thrush flew out from the bushes and flying before the automobile sat on fir-tree foot. It was necessary to make photos through the windshield and even also in the shadow. Republic Square. A lot of birds. House Sparrows and Great Tits fly by small flocks. But there are another birds on the flower beds. Turkestan Shrikes (young), Stonechats (also young), Common Whitethroats. Shrikes and Stonechats are well noticeable birds, sit always on the visible places. But here Whitethroats try to hide into the branches. Also in the branches other unobtrusive birds hide, such as Bluethroat and Booted Warbler. Isabelline Wheater keeps apart. Once saw the unknown large bunting (most likely Red-headed Bunting). All these birds feed on one flower bed. I stayed about fence as in [...... read more ]

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Tried again to find Red-backed Shrike. Unsuccessful. Today even Turkestan Shrikes were two only. Mainly no changes on Square. Birds are same. Only one news, I spied Common Quails. Before now I thought that it is impossible to spy Quail in the grass, but today I saw it. I was luck that bird moved in the grass. If Quail lurks it's impossible to find it in the grass. Quails, Stonechats and Red-backed Shrike appear in Alma-Ata, autumn migration continues actively. [...... read more ]

On morning I tried to find Red-backed Shrike. Red-backed Shrike is rare bird in Alma-Ata, occurs only on migration pass. Therefore I want to find it and make some photos. Unfortunately I didn't find Red-backed Shrike but found about ten Turkestan Shrikes, several Stonechats, Common Whitethroats and one Sparrowhawk. Even saw Sparrowhawk hunting to Whitethroat. Red-rumped Swallows fly above the Square. [...... read more ]

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On August 07 on Republic Square I saw one Turkestan Shrike. Today saw two Turkestan and one Red-backed Shrikes. Also saw several Common Whitethroats. In the city's center saw one Warbler on the elm. I didn't identify species but sure that it was one of Phylloscopus Warblers. Autumn migration has been begun. [...... read more ]

I was in Ushtobe on business trip, therefore I didn't have too mach free time to watch the birds. Free time was only after 6 pm on August 9 and before 8 am o August 10. The landscape over Ushtobe is dry steppe. Only near Karatal river and channels issuing from Karatal there are fresh grass and even little marshes. Near the water met Lapwings, Black-winged Stilts, two Green Sandpipers, one Little Ring Plover. Lapwings and Stilts are a lot, they are present all around near the water. Many young birds. Adult Stilts are near the young ones and cry on danger. Also near the water I saw feeding Masked and Black-headed Wagtails. Wagtails are a lot and mostly young. Also young White-winged Terns are present. Twice saw Kingfishers, once two young Coots and one Garganey. Above the water Sand Martins and Barn Swallows fly. Swallows fly by flocks and flying drink water. Along the road permanently saw Rollers and sometimes Lesser Kestrels and Lesser Grey and Turkestan Shrikes. Exclude Lesser Kestrels [...... read more ]

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Today I climbed high to plateau Ushkonyr. But I did not arrive to the lake, now it is private property of one very high ranking person. It's a pity that the general national property belongs to one person. Therefore I was on plateau a little time. The main species is Common Roller. Rollers are a lot, both dim young and bright adult birds. Barn Swallows fly above the grass, several times met Hobbies and Stonechats. Still from a distance saw the hovering Golden Eagle. [...... read more ]

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