Trip to Trans-Balkhash area.

On the reservoir over Bayserke there are no birds except Great Crested Grebes and Black-headed Gulls. But a lot of Grebes, I think that it's possible to see not less than 50-60 birds simultaneously. In the roadside elm I heard but not saw the Azure Tit.

On the way before Kapchagai reservoir and immediately over Kapchagai the Rooks were soaring in the sky, apparently were forming the flocks and were preparing to fly away. Near Kerbulak wintering first time this year I saw Hooded Crows. Also the Chaffinches have already arrived, I saw the single male and several flocks flying over the steppe. On roadside bushes I saw Black Redstart, Hume's Warblers, Isabelline Shrikes, several Kestrels and two Hobbies. Twice I saw the flying Harriers, presumably the Hen Harrier. Black-throated Thrush was sitting on the dry twig, but saw me and flew to the nearby tree and hid in the large Magpie's nest. In the large clay coomb I saw Little Owl (unfortunately wasn't shoot), Hume's Warblers, Chiffchaffs, female Redstart and Grey-necked Bunting.

At the Sasyk well I observed White and Yellow Wagtails. In the valley near Bakbakty village, in the reeds there were many Chiffchaffs and Stonechats, over the rice fields Kestrels were flying, and on the wires I twice saw Rollers. Two Tree Pipits hid in the dry grass sometimes flying up to the wire. In saxaul groves the flock of large Larks flew, probably Crested Larks, in same place I twice noticed the Isabelline Wheatears. In Bakbakty I saw Rosy and Common Starlings, Black-throated Thrushes, Laughing and Collared Doves and a lot of Rooks. In the late evening I paid attention to the dark underwing of Pigeons arriving to drink on the channel. It turned out that it were the Stock Pigeons.

On the whole the trip has shown that local species mostly were already departed, and the birds of species wintering with us have begun to arrive.

1. flock of Crested Grebes

2. Black-headed Gull

3. juvenile Crested Grebe

4. Hume's Warbler

5. Siberian Chiffchaff

6. Isabelline Shrike

7. Black-throated Thrush

8. Common Kestrel

9. Chaffinch

10. Hobby

11. Isabelline Shrike

12. Roller

13. Stock Doves

14. Common Kestrel

15. Tree Pipit

16. White Wagtail

17. Yellow Wagtail

18. female Stonechat