Merke. Zhambyl oblast. Trip to White Stork.

I went to trip on later evening. Twice saw on roadside pools ducks with ducklings. Unfortunately it was dark and I didn't spy what ducks it were. But it's interesting that ducks occur about 5-6 meters from active road. There were many Hobbies on roadside.

Aspara. On June 29 night went to Aspara. I didn't expend many time to find White Storks. All local people know about it. White Stork nests near Aspara and people told me how I can find it. Storks nest not in village but near it. Nest was near the road on the pole. There were female and nestling on the nest. Male sat on next pole. Storks were spy birds not as European Stork live in villages. When I closed male flew out. But female flew out only when I tried to bypass nest pole. Some hovered female sat on a distance pole. I moved off because I didn't want to scare birds. And I spied Storks from distance. Female once and again tried to back on nest. But probably someone troubled her. I moved off.

Other birds were Spanish and Indian Sparrows, Calandra Larks. Warblers were heard. On the channels saw three-four Kingfishers. Further saw Red-headed Buntings, Stonechats, Rosy Pastors. On roadside Rock Pigeons and Oriental Turtle Doves fed.

Merke. 8.30 am. Golden Oriole, many young Lesser Grey Shrikes, Rosy Pastors and Common Starlings, Rollers. The pair of Gadwalls flew very close to me.

Kirgiz Alatau foothills. Additional objects pf the trip were Cinereous and Egyptian Vultures. Therefore I went to foothills. Local herdsman told that vultures live in these mountains. He clear detailed three species - Cinereous and Egyptian Vultures (white and black juveniles) and Himalayan Griffon-Vulture. But all of them live in high mountains on rocks. They fly down to carrion only. But I decided to wait someone until dinner. During Vultures waiting saw two Long-legged Buzzards on the ground and one Steppe Eagle on electric pole. A lot of Calandra Larks and Rosy Pastors on foothills. On dry river's channel found male Nightjar.

On dinner time all moving was stopped. Nobody downed from the rocks. I decided to come back. On Merke on midday heat Barn and Red-rumped Swallows, Lesser Grey and Long-tailed Shrikes, Common Starlings and Rosy Pastors flew. Over Merke again met Golden Oriole and Kingfisher. On dinner time again photographed White Storks. Locals told that Stork's nest was burned from short-circuit but Storks rebuilt it.

On back way I didn't see many birds. Saw only Rollers, Rooks, Bee-eaters and Red-headed Buntings. Yesterday ducks turned out the Ruddy Shellducks. On Degeres again met Rock Nuthatch.

1. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia asiatica)

2. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia asiatica)

3. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

4. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

5. European Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus kundoo)

6. Rosy Starlings (Sturnus roseus)

7. European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus unwini)

8. Eastern Rock Nuthatch (Sitta tephronota)