Ile Alatau National Park.

Any times I met very beautiful male Rufous-backed Redstart in mountains in winter, but never photographed it. One time the weather was cloudy, another time the bird was too far. Today I have specially gone hoping to meet with Redstart, but have met other birds. I have a glimpse of Wren, but frequent meeting with Wrens during last two weeks have shown that Wrens will be frequent guests this winter. Four Brown Dippers. During the year all things vary, but the Dippers are the most stable birds. They are always on one place always appreciable. The Blackbird and the Blue Whistling Thrush. Not all Blackbirds have gone down from mountains to the city. And the meeting with a Blue Whistling Thrush shows that this rare bird will winter the third year in succession. All meetings in brief therefore as the meeting with the Lammergeier has eclipsed all others.

Some times I saw Lammergeiers in our mountains but saw them from afar and a short time. Today the Lammergeier flew low and sat close. I have seen flying by Lammergeier at once but trees stirred to photograph it. The Lammergeier took no notice of me has flown by absolutely low over me. Having roamed a little the bird has sat down to opposite side of gorge. It is very difficult to espy a sitting bird. I have made a photo and have increased it to find a bird in a picture (need to take binoculars next time). Step by step I began to close up to the Lammergeier. The bird took no notice of me. Some times Lammergeier flew up and having roamed sat down nearby. It always sat down on rocks placed among spinney of wild apricots and wild apple-trees. Lammergeier rested on fifteen-twenty minutes. During the rest it rotated a head sometimes and opened tail and wings. I observed Lammergeier about an hour. The winter sun moves quickly especially on mountains. When the shadow has covered the Lammergeier the bird slowly flew to the slopes even lighting by sun. Lammergeier has flown above mountain spinney and has landed on rocks. But it was already far from me.

But here I have not seen Redstart today.

1. Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallassi)

2. Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)

3. Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)

4. Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)