Trans-Aral area.

At morning in Toretam area I saw the pair of Stock Pigeons picked up the seeds on roadside. Between Toretam and Kazalinsk in addition to Stock Pigeons (which were the most interesting of the morning records) I also have three observations of Black-bellied Sandgrouses (3, 1, 2 birds). Some times Caspian Gulls were noticed. From about Kamyshlybash till Aralsk in the desert roadsides there are the wells near which I observed not only Camels but the birds too. Almost on each well the Steppe Eagles were occurred, the Eagles were so much that first time I took them for the Kites. The Sandgrouses occurred too, I for sure saw Black-bellied Sandgrouses and heard croaked Pin-tailed ones. Also on one puddle I saw the flock of Collared Pratincoles and one Kentish Plover.

In Aralsk city on so hot day I probably should glad to see even common Sparrow. But I watched more rare bird. Near the well the water formed the puddle, from which the Desert Finches drunk the water. Finches were both black-billed adults and juveniles with pale bills. In addition to Desert Finches also one Wagtail and a lot of House Sparrows were here.

Over Aralsk in the dry desert country from time to time the little saline lakes occurs. On these lakes I think the birds stay all the time. On one lake I watched the flock of Caspian Plovers of different ages, and also some Steppe Eagles and flock of Pin-tailed Sandgrouses. On another lake (bigger than first one, about 30x120 meters) I watched water drinking Black and Horned Larks, Hoopoes, Black-bellied, Pin-tailed and Pallas's Sandgrouses, Green Sandpipers, Plovers. Also there were Steppe Eagles and Kites. Birds were a lot, only Steppe Eagles were more than twenty, Sandgrouses and Larks were numbered by several dozens each.

Before the sunset near Meirman wintering place in Barshakum sands I saw Little Owl near its burrow under the concrete plate.

1. Stock Pigeon (Columba oenas oenas)

2. Steppe Eagles (Aquila nipalensis orientalis)

3. Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus)

4. Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)

5. Black-Bellied Sandgrouses (Pterocles orientalis arenarius)

6. Masked Wagtail (Motacilla personata)

7. Desert Finch (Rhodospiza obsoleta)

8. Desert Finches (Rhodospiza obsoleta)

9. Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis orientalis)

10. Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus)

11. Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus)

12. Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis orientalis)

13. Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

14. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris brandti)

15. Pin-Tailed Sandgrouses (Pterocles alchata caudacutus)

16. Pallas's Sandgrouses (Syrrhaptes paradoxus)

17. Pallas's Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus)

18. Little Owl (Athene noctua bactriana)