Urban Birding. Déjà vu.

Today I was going to visit Republic Square and thought about juvenile Red-backed Shrike was photographed on the bush near fir-tree almost one month ago. Since I made first photos of this bird I visited Square some times and all the time the Shrike perched on the same bush. Last time I was here three day ago with Sasha Katuntsev and Shrike was on its post. But in my opinion Shrike must leave the Square before the rains, I thought it could not stay in one spot so long. But I was wrong; Shrike was on its post. I took some photos and go. When I approached to the spot where we photographed Nightjar I see the same bird on same place. Déjà vu. I took photos of Nightjar and was tried to remember what other birds I saw that day. I saw Quail. When I was watching Nightjar the Rat expels the Quail from the green fence. Quail didn’t fly away but hid under the next tree. I hoped the Quail stay under tree some time, but bird was scared and fly away in time when saw me. Hard to hope to shoot the Quail therefore I forgot this bird and go to find Warblers. Near the rose flowerbed I heard the crackling (well hearable in video), I guessed the alarm call and tried to view anything around the point of sound. And once I noticed the Sparrowhawk was eating the Quail at distance 3-4 meters from me. I reduced lens focus and took photos then video. I however watched Quail even of the dead bird. Later I found another one dead Quail which died of the the clash to the billboard.

Yesterday I and Andrew Simon found the Blue Whistling Thrush under the bridge above the Big Almaty River (Andrew calls it channel). We found it by sound as last year. By the way the Blue Whistling Thrush watched 5 days ago in Kimasar was singing too. It perhaps seems that autumn song of Whistling Thrush is not uncommon although strange to hear it.

No birds in Dendropark (aka President’s Park) excluding 30-40 eating acorns Wood Pigeons and flock (5 birds) of Mallards often staying in channel.

1. Nightjar taken today, 29th September

2. Nightjar taken 26th September in the same place

3. My friend Shrike taken today

4. The same bird taken 3 days ago

5. Sparrowhawk with prey Quail

6. Daed Quail under the billboard

7. Bluethroat

8. Blue Whistling Thrush under the bridge