Ozernoe gorge. Ile-Alatau National Park.

On the place of jointing of Ozernoe and Prohodnoe gorges there are the sea-buckthorn thickets. In winter time in these thickets quite a lot of birds occur. The day was cold, misty, very murky and snowy and wasn't very successful to the trip. It is not possible to take photos in such day but some birds I still saw. The visibility was a slight and I saw only birds stirring in bushes almost before my face. Most of birds of course were the Carrion Crows and Magpies. In the mist either birds more hearable than visible. I don't know what were Magpies doing but Crows very actively ate the sea-buckthorn berries. To them it was to do easier than to small birds because all berries has been densely covered by prickly hoarfrost.

Some time the Red-mantled Rosefinches loudly flew by me, from 5-6 seen by me Rosefinches the one only was adult dirty-pink male, all other birds were dark-brownish females or probably juveniles. Twice I saw Guldenstadt's Redstart and once Great Tit. On the slowly stream the Wren fed. In the mist I heard the Dippers' calls and the calls of other birds. it is still difficult to me to differ the sounds of much birds therefore I don't assume anything, all the more so the calls were very low and not active.

1. Female Red-mantled Rosefinch (Carpodacus rhodochlamy)