Avat-Baiserke.

Almost all the day was overcast with short sunny period in midday; weather is not so cold but dank. The trip with Andrei Kovalenko and Vassily Fedorenko to the silverberry thickets of Ile river valley. At first we visited vicinity of Avat village, but here birds were a bit, we saw only 2 Black-throated Thrushes, about 30 Greenfinches, Blackbird, 2 Grey-headed Goldfiches, Chaffinch, Eversmann’s Redstart, Waxwing, and the tracks of Pheasants. Then we went to thickets near Baiserke village where we stayed most of the day. The basic bird of this locality is Black-throated Thrush, which we saw at least 300 specimens (compare with 2 in Avat). Some times among the Black-throated Thrushes majority other birds occurred. But we were interested Thrushes, of which we tried to find Dusky Thrush photographed last time by Vassily. Of all Black-throated Thrushes I looked for the bird with white throat and dark streaks in all underparts from breast to belly. It was found many Thrushes with same features, in some postures these birds could be look like Dusky Thrush or like Fieldfare. Rybitsev no write anything about white throat of Black-throated Thrush, but in old soviet “Birds of Kazakhstan” I found the detailed description of this Thrush. So a) white throat bordered by black trips is the feature of female; b) male differs from female by dark mask (female has pale face); c) streaks on underparts is the feature of young birds (juveniles and 1st winter birds). In this way the Black-throated thrushes with white throat and streaked underparts are the 1st winter females. Older females are paler in underparts with unclear pattern.

Twice I noticed the Thrushes with bright reddish tails but not took photos; I can guess these birds are Red-throated Thrushes or at least hybrids because Andrei sure saw Thrush with red throat. During the watching I noticed that Thrushes in danger turned by the uniform colored back to the watcher and freezed in this pose. I was slowly moving around one Thrush, and it was turning the neck looking to me by one eye, but not turned the body.

Of other birds which also were numerous worth mentioning the Waxwings, Mistle Thrushes, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, and the rare in our locality Redwing found by Vassily.

1. Female Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis)

2. Female Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis)

3. Female Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis)

4. Female Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis)

5. Female Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis)

6. Female Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis)

7.