Urban Birding. Almaty. Republic Square.

In the morning before the weddings come to Square I was going to watch here birds. Now I didn't expect any new bird in Square, so my main target is to take photos of birds I watched here in recent days – Warblers. European Robin etc. I watched from 9am to 11am. I saw Robin two times, Lesser Whitethroats three times, and Barred Warbkers four times. All birds were very shy, Robins (perhaps the same bird) did not show up more than one second time, all Warblers didn't leave the bushes. Once I manually focused camera because automatic focus didn't fixed on the yellow eye. All two hours I was in the little area in the NW part of Square. There were only common birds in other parts of Square. But in spot I was I watched many Bramblings, Blackbirds, Great Tits, two Black-throated Thrushes in addition to Warblers and Robins. Sparrowhawk also noticed the concentration of the little birds. I saw it yesterday on the dogwood tree where Warblers prefer to feed. So Vassily's guess that Warblers are killed by raptors until the New Year holidays, is indirect confirmed.

After noon I thought that it is a sin to work in computer when the weather is so fine, and once again go on Square. Unfortunately there are a lot of people in the Square. In addition to weddings there are parcour guys, models and photographers, and the film makers. The actor was running for the driving car and was shouting “Stop!”, and then desperate kicking the green fence where usually Warblers hid. Actor was running for the white Gelandewagen in which cameraman was. Gelandewagen was turned and group was making the next take. After the fourth take I understood I don't watch birds and going to back home but noticed the flying Peregrine Falcon. It was not the bird usually wintering in Square but paler, I guess the same bird I saw in November 2.

Also today I so probably the last butterfly in this year. Butterfly was flying so sluggish that I thought it can fall asleep directly in flying. But it landed to asphalt road and stopped reacted to situation, probably really fall asleep. Also I heard the sounds I never heard before today, the strange call, perhaps of Robin. Need to find in internet and listen.

1. Black-throated Thrush | Turdus atrogularis

2. Barred Warbler | Sylvia nisoria

3.

4. Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus