Almaty - Ushtobe.

Almaty. Samal. At the morning I saw the flock of the Martins about 20 birds. In my opinion they were the Sand Martins. Martins flew some laps around our block and flew off. For a long time I didn't see Martins in the city.

The road to Ushtobe. The noticeable observations: the white morph Booted Eagle was recorded near the Arkharly pass. Some earlier near Shengeldy village I saw the Black-bellied Sandgrouse flying to the Kapchagai reservoir side. All other observed birds were common: numerous Black Kites, Rooks, Rollers, flocks of Rosy Starlings, in some places Bee-Eaters and Kestrels. In Arkharly pass I saw Spotted Flycatcher, female Northern Wheatear and Pied Wheatears.

Ushtobe. In the dry foothills I was looking for two springs which are the waterplaces to Black-bellied and Pallas's Sandgrouses. But unfortunately I didn't find them. I saw only numerous in this place Tawny Pipits, Spotted Flycatchers, Pied and Isabelline Wheatears. Most birds in paddy fields around Ushtobe town. Most noticeable birds were Common, Black and White-winged Terns, Black-headed Gulls, Black-winged Stilts, Rollers, Hoopoes, Lesser Grey Shrikes, Spotted Flycatchers. These birds observed more often than other ones and also in many places. I also watched young Gulls and Terns. In addition to these birds I saw one male Red-backed Shrike, young Cuckoo, Wood Pigeons, Coots, Moorhens, pair of Long-legged Buzzards, little shorebirds and female Marsh Harrier. Harrier patrolled the paddy fields. There were a lot of Tree Sparrows. Twice I saw Kingfishers. Several times I saw flying Reed Warblers which were uncommon quiet. On the roadside poles there were common Rollers, Kestrels, Hobbies, in wires once I saw Barn Swallows.

1. Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus pennatus)

2. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris griseus)

3. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

4. Juvenile Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)