Sogety mountains, Kokpek gorge, Almay oblast.

The mostly cloudy and windy day. The road from Almaty to Shelek along the Big Almaty Channel is separated to the two parts: firstly the road passes on the roadside thickets, but further the road meanders on the open foothills of the Bokaidyn Tau mountains. On the first part of the road I saw a lot of Wood Pigeons, one Oriental Turtle Dove and singing Corn Buntings. The second part of the road was more abundant to the birds. I saw Jackdaws, Common Starlings, Tree Sparrows, Stonechats and flying Kestrels. The most interesting landscape is the stony meadows, on these meadows I watched Hoopoes, Pied Wheatears, one Linnet, Tawny Pipits, Chukar Partridges, the pair of Black-bellied Sandgrouses, Jackdaws and two Grey-headed Goldfinches which were flushed from tree by me. Today I saw the pair of Pied Wheatears of vitata morph; both male and female in this pair have white throat.

The little pool near the turning to Kyzylsharyk is very interesting place. On this pool there are always the birds, usually the pair of Ruddy Shelducks and different little birds. Today the Shelducks were, as common they flew out and turning landed slightly afar from the pool, waiting my departing. Little birds were too: Masked and Citrine Wagtails, three Common Sandpipers and Little Ringed Plover. It was possible to wait the arriving of other birds but I hastened to Sogety mountains. On the road to Sogety I noted one Long-legged Buzzard.

The rocks of Kokpek gorge of Sogety mountains are very beauty. I selected one of the branches of the gorge in looking-for to watch rare Rock and White-capped Buntings and Rock Thrushes which probably nest here. But unfortunately I found neither Buntings nor Thrushes. May be I made my trip some earlier. But I saw numerous Chikar Partridges. And also one soaring Golden Eagle (thorough the murky weather on the photos only the contour of the Eagle with the long wings and tail is visible). Also I heard other birds' sounds, but the windflaws made difficulties to determinate the course of sounds. Watching by binoculars to the opposite slope I found the Sulphur-bellied Warbler, so one of the heard by me sounds was the Sulphur-bellied Warblers calls. Another sound I identified as song of the Rock Nuthatch but I didn't see this bird today. Also several times I noted little grey birds hid in the bushes. Probably they were Sulphur-bellied Warblers too.

After in sum unsuccessful visiting the Sogety mountains I went several kilometers on road to Bartogai reservoir in waiting to meet the usually perching on pole Little Owl. But Owl was absent. The weather became more murky than earlier, the birds were a bit. I noted only one Ruddy Shelduck, Short-toed Larks and Isabelline Wheatear. On the back road I noted Long-legged Buzzard perched on the tree.

1. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus casiotis)

2. Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra buturlini)

3. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris griseus)

4. Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)

5. Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka vitata)

6. Stonechat (Saxicola torquata maura)

7. Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

8. Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea)

9. Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola quassatrix)

10. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

11. Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar falki)

12. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos daphanea)