Novruz 2021. Almaty - Chulakkurgan.

In 2013 and 2014 birdwatchers of Almaty in a long holidays of Nauryz visited Zhabagly village to meet spring. First visit was very emotional, but not become regular because repeating of watching birds in same places was so bored. However the five days holidays of this year Nauryz should be used for birding exactly, but having last experience we decided to make center of birding not Zhabagly but Kyzylkol salty lake in Suzak district of Turkestan oblast. Lake is interesting for birding ecpecially in migrating season, also in a quite short distance of the lake there are Karatau mountains and Betpakdala and Moinkum deserts. The team of the expedition is formed by Gennady Dyakin, Alexander Belyaev, Victoria Zvyagintseva, Olga and Marina Sivokons, Robert and Krishanti Parkers, and me, in total eight persons in three cars.

Due the very unstable weather I before the tour regularly checked weather report which was changed several times a day, but closer to the tour it became more or less good, and one of days was promised even without rain.

We started at 6 am, first stop we planed to make near nest of White Stork in Aspara, in a distance of 350 km from start point. But in the road we of course made some pauses near resting birds of prey, and in important places like Degeres where we immediately heard and then saw the Meadow Bunting. To the White Stork's nest we arrived quite a late, but with some photos of other birds. We had lunch, took photos of Stork, then hovering Steppe Eagles, and then noticed Black Vultures eating carrion. Paying all of attention to the food the Vultures gave us some time to take photos, but then flew away. The moving of hot air at that moment heavy prevented to photo shooting.

The next birding spot was the lake near 27th Siding over Taraz, where Evgeny Belousov regularly photographs Pygmy Cormorants. Lake is little in size, with a lot of quite not shy Ducks and Coots. Majority of Ducks formed by Tufted Ducks, Common Pochards, and also Gadwalls, Northern Showellers, Common Teals, and single Goldeneye. In the reeds there were many little passerines, such as Reed Buntings, Yellow-breasted Azure Tit, Turkestan Tit, Great Tits, Isabelline Shrike, Wagtails. Anyway, birding was good, the weather too.

After the dinner we start in Chulakkurgan direction through Akkol. But just we left Assa town, the rain started, it was expected, but after Akkol it's turned out that all steppe is covered by snow, the roadside lakes are still frozen, and the mist in some places is very dense. As longer we drove as weather became worse, snow became more, temperature became less. That time I understood we will not have biding in that area. Crossing Kyzylkol lake area I wanted to check the presence of ice in this lake, but all of roads in lake direction were snow covered. Arriving Chulakkurgan and reaching hotel we discussed the situation and decided to change itinerary to Kyzylkum desert. We thought that center of cold is located in north of Karatau ridge, but area in south of ridge should be warmer and dryer.

1. Black Vultures

2. Meadow Bunting

3. Imperial Eagle

4. White Stork

5. Steppe Eagle

6. Olga Sivokon, Alexaner Belyaev

7. Demoiselle Cranes

8. Common Pochards

9. Pygmy Cormorants

10. Reed Bunting

11. Yellow-breasted Azure Tit

12. Isabelline Shrike

13. start of day, foothills of Zhetizhol ridge (photo by Krishanti)

14. end of the day, sunset in Kyzylkol lake area (photo by Victoria)