Almaty - Ile canion - Bura - Zhelturanga - Topar

During the day the weather changed from time to time, a few times was heavy rain with strong wind, then rain gave way to the sun, sometimes to the clouds and strong winds, which quickly dried all around. However rainfalls and strong wind probably influenced to the behavior of birds which we watched but not much, and not all time.

To the Ile river canyon we arrived at 8:40 am, the Rosy Starlings in the numerous number was very active and flying almost everywhere. The Red-headed Bunting already began to sing, also we watched several Pied Wheatears and one Grey-necked Bunting. In the nest of Golden Eagle the one lying chick was seen, the adult bird perched on the rock near the nest but then flew away. Bura, 14.00. Long-legged Buzzard was still on the nest, the Saxaul Sparrows and other Sparrows too; Spotted Flycatchers appeared (probably passage migrants). Common Nightingale and Rufous Bush Robin were very active; especially Robin who sang on the elm twig and in danger case flew off under the next Saxaul thickets, but soon came back. I made not only the photos but the video too (quite bad quality because the weather was bad). During the road to Zhelturanga we were into the strongest tropical downpour, the effects of which were quickly eliminated by the wind. In Araltobe vicinity from afar I saw two flying Black Storks. (What they're doing so far from the rocks?) At 16.30 we arrived to Zhelturanga grove when again rainfall began. If not were the sandy ground and the wind the rain might flood the grove. After the rain for a quite long time the strong wind blew and dried up all around; but it also affected to the birds activity. The first flying from the hollows birds were Jackdaws, then the rest of birds. Then we observed all the basic list of birds of turanga grove: White-winged Woodpeckers, Bukhara Tits, Yellow-eyed Pigeons, Shikras, and the Rollers nesting in tree holes, Cuckoos, Kestrels, and the unusual Great Tits and Golden Oriole. On Topar lakes: Stilts were on the nests, once the flock of males Red-crested Pochard flew by (probably already molting birds). In Topar (19.30) we saw the flock of flying Kites and the flock of Great White Pelicans; on the water Great Crested Grebes, pair of Ferruginous Ducks, and Black Terns.

1. Ile river Canyon. Himalayan Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos daphanea)

2. Ile river Canyon. Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps)

3. Ile river Canyon. Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus)

4. Bura. Rufous Bush Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes)

5. Zhelturanga. Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

6. Zhelturanga. White-winged Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucopterus leptorhynchus)

7. Zhelturanga. European Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

8. Zhelturanga. Turkestan Tit (Parus bokharensis)

9. Zhelturanga. Great Tit (Parus major)

10. Topar. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)

11. Topar. Black Tern (Chlidonias nigra)

12. Topar. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

13. Topar. Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri)

14. Topar. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus humantopus)