Almaty. Republic Square.

Very hot weather, +29C. Rooks and Hooded Crows gradually disappeared from city, also I didn’t see any Brambling or Chaffinch. There is a emptiness because the passage Stonechats and Bluethroat left the Square too, but Blackbirds, Magpies and Greenfinches became less visible due to nesting time. Though some times I heard the songs of Blackbirds and Greenfinches. But the most of birds are affected by both nesting season and hot weather. What did I see? Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, couple of Wood Pigeons, Magpies, House Sparrow, 3 Great Tits, two Chiffchaffs. Not too much but not so much bad for the one hour birding in mid-day time. Yesterday during the evening jogging I saw Peregrine Falcon perching in night-place; today it was in one of niches in day time. Falcon will depart Square soon. Sparrowhawk soared very close to Peregrine but latter didn’t pay attention to it, but very attentively Peregrine watched me, perhaps we are the old familiars. Noticing Sparrowhawk I thought about it’s nesting in Square and went to visit the old nest on the pine-tree. Nest is empty but I found the couple of Wood Pigeons. Probably Wood Pigeons also will be the resident of Republic Square, though recent years I saw them only in autumn when they come to eat the acorns.

1.

2. Common Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

3. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

4. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

5.

6. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)