Kimasar gorge. Ile Alatau National Park.

The warm sunny day. I left the home late and arrive to the gorge at 11.00 am only. In lower inhabited part of the gorge I watched many Grey Wagtails and one White-bellied Dipper. In spruce forest dozens of juvenile (short-tailed) Barn Swallow flew, but they instantly disappeared when the small predators appeared. Raptors were 2 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks. Once Lammergeier appeared from a far, and once I covered by the huge shadow, I didn’t identified the bird but apparently it was the same Lammergeier. The main bird of the day was of course Three-toed Woodpecker. About two hours I sat under the tree and Woodpecker moved on it before my eyes directly. Woodpecker was not down below about 4 meters but not up more than about 10 meters. Most of the time except the 15-minute break during which Woodpecker cleared the feathers and rested bird searched insects under the bark of dried spruce. Woodpecker almost didn’t pay attention to me, I called by phone, dressed, drank the tea, moved to the next meadow to watch the other birds but Woodpecker just froze for a moment but not always. While I sitting near the Woodpecker I saw flown to the next spruce one Treecreeper and one Great Tit. Constantly I heard Magpies and Nutcrackers, some Nutcrackers even were shown on my eyes. Also I watched the group of small birds were moving from spruce to spruce but unfortunately could not to observe them carefully. By the behavior and habit these birds were similar to the Leaf Warblers but looked brownish to me. The Greenish Warblers in autumn plumage have yellowish tinge, probably I saw just them.

1. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

2. Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)

3. Three-Toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus)

4. Three-Toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus)

5. Great Tit (Parus major)

6. Common Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)