Ile river valley.

Trip to Ile river valley with Vassily Fedorenko and Antonina Fokina. Weather was sunny at morning but further became overcast. 1st spot, the turn to Koishibek village. On roadside we three times noticed Great Grey Shrikes (think two different birds), two adult White-tailed Sea-Eagles, Eastern Buzzards, two (couple?) Merlins, two flocks of Goldfinches (first Eurasian ones then Grey-headed ones) near burs; the local dump was without any significant records, but near well we saw Red-mantled Rosefinches (my first record outside the mountains), Eversmann’s Redstart, male Hen Harrier, Barbarian Falcon.

2nd spot, silverberry-tree groves near turn to Zhanaashar village. Local groves of silverberry-trees are dense, extensive but impassable in winter time. There are a lot of Black-throated Thrushes and Blackbirds, we saw Mistle Thrush and local rare Redwing too; twice noticed Eversmann’s Redstart, and also White-winged Woodpecker and Sparrowhawk. In the local marsh we saw Great White Egret too.

3rd spot, the Tonkeris village vicinity. As usual there are many Buzzards in roadside, once noticed Sparrowhawk. In silverberry-grove we saw flock of grey-headed Goldfinches and Tree Sparrow.

4th spot, vicinity of Zhanalyk village. Here there are mostly Tree Sparrows and Long-tailed Rosefinches in groves; also we saw Eversmann’s Redstarts, Great Tits too, and once the flock of Waxwings. There are many birds in silverberry-trees but they are unavailable to photoshooting. Once Sparrowhawk landed to pole, and once Great Egret flew by.

1. Eurasian Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis major)

2. Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

3. Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

4. Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

5. Merlin (Falco columbarius)

6. Eversmann's Redstart (Phoenicurus erythronotus)

7. Common Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

8. Grey-headed Goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps paropanisi)

9. Great White Egret (Egretta alba)

10. Long-tailed Rosefinch (Uragus sibiricus)