Big Almaty Lake. Ile-Alatau National Park.

Along the road met only two Mistle Thrushes in the fir woods, one Azure Tit and small flock of Grey-headed Goldfinches. There are never many birds in the fir woods, also we went at early time. By the way Mistle Thrushes sang.

The purpose of trip was observation of the birds in juniper groves on the boundary of conifer forests. The birds nesting in junipers are scary and hide into the thick branches at any little danger. Therefore ii is not so easy to observe them. The female of Red-mantled Rosefinch and Tree Pipit glimpsed. Pipit usually sang in flight. These birds are interesting, but today I attempted to photograph Himalayan Rubythroat. There were several singing Rubythroats but one male periodically arrived to sing into the same place. It sang onto three fir trees in turns. I sat in the middle of trees and awaited it. Also I spied and photographed other birds. Goldcrests probably already feed nestlings. The pair of birds always carried worms into the bushes. Black-throated Accentors and Coal Tits sang. White-browed Tit-Warblers darted on the bushes. To my regret, I could not photographed Tit-Warblers. On the water three pairs of Ruddy Shelducks cackled, from time to time Shelducks flew over from the one shore to another. One time flew the pair of Citrine Wagtails. Much Carrion Crows flew, but here I did not note raptors. The sounds similar to the voices of waders were heard from the stones, probably it was any wader. Rubythroat was photographed but all photos from far distance. Bird flew up closely once only, but sat into the shadow and the photo shaped not so good. Saw foreign birdwatchers with the large scopes and the lenses.

1. Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus bonapartei)

2. Grey-headed Goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps paropanisi)

3. Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea)

4. Black-throated Accentor (Prunella atrogularis huttoni)

5. Himalayan Rubythroat (Luscinia pectoralis)