Snowfall in Ust-Kamenogorsk.

Today is the fourth day of the snowfall. In some places snow is already knee-high. I can’t wait the end of snowfall, tomorrow forecast is clear and then again four day snowfall and temperature decrease until – 20 degrees at day-time. I think it will until the spring.

I went to birding at 11 am, it was snowing but not as dense as at morning. Firstly I visited Park Zhambyl to take photos of heros of the occasion, because today is Tits Day. But the first birds I saw were not Tits but Waxwings; the flock of latter perched to the tree over my head but I couldn’t shoot them because they flew away. I walked in the Park about one hour; it’s a good time taking into account the ongoing snowfall. During this time I saw Great Tits, both species of Crows, Magpies, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, 2 Black-throated Thrushes and 1 Sparrowhawk. Then I moved to Park Kirova, where saw nothing. Not so bad birding for the snowfall day but I wanted to watch any more and went to the Left-riverside Park. Here were snowfall too; I again saw Black-throated Thrushes, Nuthatches, Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker and one more Sparrowhawk. The road to the Irtysh river side was untrodden and I was the first person who uses this road in probably last four day. On the open water there were resting Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Wigeons. The number of Goosanders increased, the adult males appeared. I began to take photos of Goosanders and noticed one Red-breasted Merganser in flock of Goosanders. It’s significant record. I shot it through the snowfall as I can and went on. On the water at Komsomolsky island I watched Mallards were fully diving to water like the Pochards. The Grey heron arrived to gulf and landed at 10 meters from me but behind the bushes, then it flew to another side but not so far. Also I saw one Dipper.

I was pleasure and went to home. But I was going to visit Park Zhambyl once again because snowfall is short time stopped. On the road between two parks I noticed the soaring bird of prey. While I was prepairing camera the bird circling fly up high but decreased to me, looked to me and then flew up again. I could take about ten frames and well watched the Golden Eagle the first to me in Ust-Kamenogorsk. While I was going one block to the park the Golden Eagle all the time is visible. The situation in the park was the same before the lunch-time. Even Woodpecker was in the same spot. I went to home and noticed flying Grey-headed Woodpecker, I followed it, saw it behind the branches but couldn’t take photo. During last week I saw four Grey-headed Woodpeckers but have no one photo. In the end of birding I saw Bullfinch the last bird of long day.

In total today I watched 25 species of birds, not bad tacking into account the snowfall. The birds of the day are Golden Eagle and Red-breasted Merganser.

1. Hero of the Day

2. Park Zhambyl

3. Black-thraoed Thrush

4. Great Spotted Woodpecker and Great Tit

5. Nuthatch with slightly rufous flanks

6. Left-riverside Park

7. Red-breasted Merganser (on top) together with Goosanders

8. Adult males of Goosanders

9. Tufted Duck

10. Wigeon. When it fly away?

11. Grey Heron

12. Dipper

13. Golden Eagle