Novruz 2021. Ters-Ashibulak, Stony Ravine.

Day of a back way. The weather is mostly sunny, the second day (of five) without rain. This snowy and rainy spring we are lucky have a five sunny or a bit rain consecutive days. By the plan we first go to Ters-Achibulak reservoir. There were no the expected flocks of thousands Cranes and Ducks, in total not many birds in water. But in roadside thickets we have a chance to take photos of little passerines, nothing special but Buntings and Bramblings in bright breeding plumage look so nice, unfotunately light was not so good. Than we go to Assa river started from the reservoir. Here in floodland thickets we heard and watched the first in this spring Cetti's Warblers, which usually good attractable to the sound. Also we sa Blackbirds and Chiffchaffs. In a back way we saw the Cranes after all. Fistly the flying along foothills little flock of five Demoiselle Cranes appeared from east. Than we noticed the large flock of several tens birds flying from opposit direction. Cranes started to hum and both flocks changed the fly direction for joining. That so happened the point of contact was directly above us. That was so touching. One of my familiars said the Crane wedge always makes us feel sadness. It's true.

Then by the Gennady's suggestion we go to Kamennaya Balka (means 'stony ravine'), one of the popular birding spots of our friends from Southern Kazakhstan. It's slightly an early season for the inhabitants of this little gorge, this fact evidented by the still not disappeared Blak-throated Thrushes. But we saw Egypian Vulture, Rock Nuthatch, Common Rock Thrush after all. The nice place, good sunny and windless weather.

It was a time to go back at home, we didn't return to highway but go by the secondary road through Bilikol and Assa in which we expected to view somting interesting. We recorded many Marsh Harriers, one Short-toed Snake Eagle, and made one more stop in 27th Siding. But that moment the not shy Ducks and little passerines of reeds already lost thier freshness therefore we are quickly left this nice spot. In the road around Taraz city we one more time saw the flock of Demoiselle Cranes, and then some time took photos of numerous Black Kites in a local dump. So our five-days birding is finished, and the rest 500 kilometers we drived almost without stops, reaching Almaty at about midnight.

Despite the changing of plan, the more mileage than planned, the permanenty rain, the still a little number of birds, I can to say the trip was good. Hope the birding trip of a multi-days Novruz holiday will become regular. Also we able to try make two-days birding in group, especially since the opportunity to spend night in tents is coming soon. That also will facilitate preparing of itinerary. Thanks a lot for all of participants of trip for a good time of birding together!

1. Eastern Rock Nuthach

2. Bramblings

3. Pine Bunting

4. Blackbird

5. Egyptian Vulture

6. in the process of photographing of Nuthach

7. Black-throated Thrush

8. Rock Bunting

9. Reed Bunting

10. Chiffchaff

11. Demoiselle Crane

12. Black Kite

13. Common Snipe

14. Stony Ravine

15. Gennady near the nest of Nuthach

16. Victoria Zvyagintseva