Back in Korgalzhyn

Hi together,
after three years I’m back at the Tengiz and Korgalzhyn Lakes.
It’s really great to be here again and visit all the nice lakes, riverbanks and endless steppes.
As in 2015 my main task is to do waterbird census in the area and provide reliable data on valuable species like White-headed Duck, Dalmatian Pelican and further species.
Along this job I also like to watch out for passerine migration, taking photos and just spending time in the steppes.

Passerine migration already started of course but is still a bit slow at the moment. Numerous flocks of Yellow Wagtails gather and are joined by some Citrine Wagtails and single Red-throated Pipits.
In gardens, plantations and bushes Spotted Flycatchers and Lesser Whitethroats seems so to be the most common passerine at the moment followed by Greenish Warblers. Goodies within the gardens so far were a Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) and up to three Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) but also Tree Pipits, Common Whitethroat and Siberian Chiffchaffs could be seen daily.

Short text, now some pictures…

1. Record shot of Wood Warbler I

2. Record shot of Wood Warbler II

3. Pied Flycatcher

4. Spotted Flycatcher

5. Adult Black-tailed Godwit

6. Juvenile Turkestan Shrike

7. Juvenile pallidus Merlin decided to have a Bee-Eater for lunch.