Zholaman valley. Almaty oblast.

On the road saw two Hobbies, Golden Oriole (this year first in Kazakhstan, saw it in Tajikistan), Roller and many Rooks. In Zarechny saw two Black Kites and small flocks of the Rosy Pastors.

Zholaman valley is an arid sage-brush, in places feather-grass steppe. Somewhere steppe is ploughed up. Calandra Larks and Red-headed Buntings are background birds. Sound background is singing of the birds of these two species. The number of Sky and Short-toed Larks and Tawny Pipits is some less. Other birds are a little: several Rollers, one (apparently migrant) Red-backed Shrike, several pale Turkestan Shrikes, one Great Grey Shrike, Hoopoes. Larks and Red-headed Bunting has already large nestlings. Red-headed Buntings are bright and noticeable birds but it's very difficult to close them. But just the other way Calandra Larks willingly posture to photos.

Raptors. One male Hen Harrier, three Montagu's Harriers (pair + 1), one dark morph Long-legged Buzzard. Buzzard looked very dark like an eagle. In the small lake there are some noticeable poultry - one Crested Grebe, pair of Ruddy Shelducks with the nestlings, pair of Garganeys, three Coots. Also there are Common Starlings and Lapwings in this place. Further feather-grass steppe continued to the spurs of Dzhungar Alatau. Red-headed Buntings are rare encountered but Larks are a lot. On the field road twice saw the pair of Black-bellied Sandgrouses apparently same birds. Lately met single Sandgrouse. There is no possibility to find Sandgrouses in the steppe grass. It is necessary to be satisfied by here such random encounters on the road.

When you meet lonely tree on the steppe or on the desert then it's necessary to approach it because always there will be birds on lonely tree. Today on four separate elms saw scary Indian Sparrows, Red-headed Buntings and Lesser Whitethroat. On the same elms there is a nest of Hobbies. On my appearance Hobbies flew away.

Especially about Kapchagai. Kapchagai town is intermediate point but there are much interesting places also. Saw Black-headed Gulls, Common Starlings, one Grey Heron. On the small swamp Lapwings, Common Terns hovered about me. The Night-Heron departed from the reeds and flew away to the reservoir side. Kites hovered. About 30-40 Kites waited out the rain near the town's dump. But as soon as rain ended Kites flushed and began to hover. Sand Martins also hovered in this place.

On the lonely elm the small flock of the Rosy Pastors, the pair of Hoopoes, Carrion Crows, several Indian Sparrows, the pair of Lesser Grey Shrikes sat. Certainly birds mostly dispersed but I had time to make some photos.

1. Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

2. Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

3. Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

4. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris griseus)

5. Eurasian Roller (Coracias garrulus semenowi)

6. Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

7. Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra psammochroa)

8. Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps)

9. Black-Bellied Sandgrouses (Pterocles orientalis arenarius)

10. Black Kites (Milvus migrans migrans)

11. Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus)