Urban Birding. Almaty.

Two days I watched birds in Republic Square together with Sanzhar Abdikhalyk. Now is migration time, the perfect time to watch birds. All the birds are expected and common, but perhaps it is good as the meeting with old friends.

The Nightjar Day (20th Spetember) is not far and I carefully explored the branches of larch-trees in high-part of Square, but Nightjar waited me on the ground near juniper bush. Nightjar twice close moved from one point to another but in third time I lost it. I understood that scared Nightjar could fly far but unlikely not out of Square area. So I began to carefully observe all of trees and meadows. After about half of hour I came back to start point and noticed Nightjar flying into the space between bushes. I began to explore the birch-tree grove again and noted Nightjar on the branch of birch-tree. Nice, because when I see Nightjar before it see me I can approach close to the distance of good photo. But if Nightjar sees you first, more likely you have no photo but only watching of flying away bird.

Also we saw two adult and two juvenile Hobbies. Two guys tried to take video of flying Hobbies by quadrocopter, but I think unsuccessfully because Hobbies always were above the quadrocopter. From time to time we saw Sparowhawk hunting to little birds mostly to Warblers in green fence and Bluethroats in glades.

Significant record: Pied Wheatear feeding of berries on tree. It was so pale that I looked it for female Stonechat. Then looked carefully and saw the larger size, slightly different color, quicker moving and Wheatear's tail-pattern.

Also I saw Kestrel but not in Sqaure but in wasteland near Alfarabi street. Other birds: Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Barred Warbler, Red-backed and Turkestan Shrikes, Hume’s Warblers, Great Tits, Magpies, Blackbirds, Bluethroats, Stonechats.

1. Bluethroat

2. Common Whitethroat

3. Juvenile Hobbies

4. Siberian Stonchat

5. Common Kestrel

6. Juvenile Barred Warbler

7. Juvenile Red-backed Shrike

8. Female Pied Wheatear

9. Female Stonechat

10. Nightjar