Kimasar, Republic Square.

Sunny and warm day. Trip to Kimasar gorge with Sanzhar and Madina. The eastern slopes of all branches of Kimasar gorge are covered by snow, but the western ones are yet clear. The day was began with Dipper as usual. But today is the day of birds of prey. During the day we saw two Lammergeiers, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Black Vulture, Golden Eagle and Eastern Buzzard. Usually raptors appear close to noon when the warm air streams from the land help them to soar. But I some times recorded Lammergeier before 11am. Today Lammergeier flew to city direction and didn't come back. Sanzhar and Madina noticed Treecreeper in the birch grove, and the Songar Tit in spruce forest. We reached the ridge where in spruce forest clearing watched quite pale Great Grey Shrike. Here we saw twice flocks of White-winged Grossbeaks, and flocks of Siskins and Bramblings-Chaffinches too. It's more interesting on the top of ridge than in the snowy bottom of gorge. Coal Tits flew from one tree to another, also Azure Tit was with them in flock. Some times Woodpecker drummed, once close to us. Regularly Nutcrackers, Magpies, Carrion and Hooded Crows flew by, once we watched Hybrid Crow. We saw the Goshawk looked almost white in underparts, unfortunately I couldn't take photo of it. When we go up some more, we again watch Grey Shrike but perhaps it was another bird. During the back way we saw Black Vulture, immature Lammergeier and Sparrowhawk (was chased by Crows) in the sky above the ridge. Near the former ecological point in the road to city we saw soaring adult Golden Eagle and Eastern Buzzard.

After noon we arrived to city and went to Square to watch Warblers. It seemed as all of one million citizens of Almaty gathered in the Square. Sanzhar noticed that sounds of wedding pipes flushed Bramblings. Also he noticed European Robin (means I am right yesterday) and very shy Black-throated Thrush (more likely it though we didn't watched it well). We didn't find Barred Warbler but some time saw Lesser Whitethroats. One of them was photographed but not so good. Also I saw one more Robin but didn't take photo.

1. Himalayan Lammergeier | Gypaetus barbatus hemachalanus

2. Hybrid Crow | Corvus (corone x cornix)

3. Azure Tit | Parus cyanus tianschanicus

4. Coal Tit | Parus ater rufipectus

5. Great Grey Shrike | Lanius excubitor sibiricus

6. Himalayan Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos daphanea

7. Eastern Buzzard | Buteo japonicus

8. Lesser Whitethroat | Sylvia curruca

9. Eurasian Blackbird | Turdus merula intermedius