Ushtobe. Karatal region Alma-Ata oblast.

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 raptors were one unknown Harrier and Kites. Once only saw two Bee-eaters. Often flocks of Rosy Pastors and Mynahs flew out. From time to time flocks of Rock Pigeons and sometimes Collared Doves flew to watering places. A lot of Rooks, some less of Carrion Crows and Jackdaws, Hoopoes.

There are a little of birds in a dry steppe. Isabelline Wheaters and Tawny Pipits flashes between stones. Found crashed buildings. There are some more birds near these ruins. Exclude Tawny Pipits there are many Desert Wheaters and Spotted Flycatchers. I was on ruins on later evening and early morning even as on birds activity times. This time Desert Wheaters and Tawny Pipits fly one after another. Also in ruins I saw Little Owl. Owl sat in shadow and I constrained to make photos against the sun. But when I turned the building Owl flew out.

1. Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

2. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

3. Garganey (Anas querquedula)

4. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius curonicus)

5. Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

6. Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor)

7. Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)

8. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)

9. Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)