Visit Malik's village for the Little Bustard. Day 1.

Trip with Gennady and Elena Dyakins to visit Malik’s village for watching the Little and Great Bustards. Day was cloudy during all road. We departed Almaty at 7.00 am, and decided to stop only near the nest of White Strok or in case of very significant record, because road is long. Before the bridge over th Chu river we didn’t see any extra interesting birds, also we didn’t notice some birds from the list of common birds, such as Eurasian Bee-eaters, Long-legged Buzzards. This two species became rare recent two years. Probably Bee-eaters were rare due to building of many brick factories which use the clay from the ravines. It’s only suggestions but the absence of bee-eaters is fact. After the Chu bridge we noticed the couple of Spoonbills flying cross the road in direction of Tasukol reservoir. Unfortunately we can’t take photos. We made stop to lunch near the nest of White Stork. There were one adult Stork (probably female) and 4 chicks. We didn’t approach close to nest but chicks hid in nest. After some time another adult bird (male) came to nest, then both adults snapped beak and male flew out again. We had lunch sitting in the car and taking photo of Spanish Sparrows from the windows. Female Stork also fed the chicks, it gave the little snake to chicks, and young birds ate snake in a short time. We aslo take photos of Corn Bunting and went on. Between Merke and Kulan villages we saw Bee-eaters (even made attempt to shoot them, but unsuccessfully), and near Maldybai we noticed white Booted Eagle.

Though we strongly hurry but in Kuyuk Pass we were only in evening time. But anyway we turned to ters-Ashybulak reservoir, where we saw common Redshanks, Common Terns, Lapwings, and also three couple of Shovellers, couple of Mallards, couple Great Crested Grebes, two couples of Garganeys and long-expected Little Bustards (two males). Some time we followed to Bustards then went to foothills of Boraldai-tau to Ertai village where malik lives. In roadside tree-lines we saw many Wood Pigeons, Hobbies, and flock of 4 Orioles and Bee-eaters on wires.

Our cordial host Malik gave us the tea and then we go to view the nest of Little Bustard. Though we reach the nest quickly I nothing saw because nest and female on nest are covered by the grass (Malik calls it “yurta”). But we didn’t worry because we planned to visit other nests tomorrow and also we watch Great Bustard! Male Great Bustard was feeding in field and we saw its white-rufous plumage in binoculars, and when it flew off we have possibility to take photos. Photos are bad but bird in photo is identified. The nice day!

1. White Storks (Ciconia ciconia)

2. Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)

3. Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)

4. Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)

5. Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax)

6. Golden Orioles (Oriolus oriolus)

7. Great Bustard (Otis tarda)

8. Gennady Dyakin

9. Malik Nukusbekov