Yesterday when I saw Hen Harrier in Gulshat area I thought that birds do not depart far from the same places. Today I had a confirmation. There are pair of Ravens near Kanshengel, Upland Buzzard and Steppe Eagle in Aidarly area. All were in the same places where I saw them four days ago.Bend of the Kurty River. There was more than pair of ducks. There were different ducks also. I have seen Ruddy Shelducks, Goosanders, Mallard Ducks and Wigeons. And one Mew Gull also.There were flocks of Goldfinches in roadside spinney. I have not had time to identify its. But I think its were be Grey-Headed Goldfinches because Black-Headed Goldfinches rare migrate so far to south. One very beautiful male Hen Harrier flew above canes near Sorbulak Lake. [...... read more ]

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The blizzard in Astana is the beginning of the way, the rain in Saryshagan is the end. There was nothing interesting in the way. Only one flock of Grey Partridges and female of Hen Harrier may be referenced. [...... read more ]

The weather has some cold. There are not many birds in winter Astana, except Pigeons and the mixed flocks of Tree and House Sparrows anybody is not present. I went aside Kurgaldzhino, wished to look Snow Owls who enough winter in local places. But nobody has found, only one flock of Grey Partridges. Saw some more places of Partridges feedings on a snow but nothing more. Last winter I found Mallard Ducks on channel in the center of Astana. But this year channel is frozen and ducks are not present. [...... read more ]

This year first Bullfinch nearby Osakarovka. Flocks of Tree Sparrows, Pigeons and Magpies that's all that I have seen today. [...... read more ]

Business have called to Astana urgently. I had no time to observe birds therefore wrote only the facts of meetings. The dawn has caught me near Chemolgan. In roadside spinney Blackbirds, Waxwings (this winter first Waxwings), four females of Common Pheasant, Magpies were fed.Wintering ducks were visible through a morning fog on Sorbulak Lake. Some later on a bend of the Kurty river the pair of ducks was fed also. To identify the ducks was difficult from afar. Saw two Upland Buzzards and two Steppe Eagles. One of them was looked very large I thought that it may be a Golden Eagle.Behind Kanshengel two flocks of Geese flew to the West above road. Each flock of ten birds approximately. Amazing geese above the snow steppe. There was a little falcon, probably Merlin. Also there were two pairs of Ravens. I didn't can to lose this rare birds. I stopped and tried to photograph, but Ravens are very clever birds. At once they have understood that have interested me, but at the same time also have [...... read more ]

Any times I met very beautiful male Rufous-backed Redstart in mountains in winter, but never photographed it. One time the weather was cloudy, another time the bird was too far. Today I have specially gone hoping to meet with Redstart, but have met other birds. I have a glimpse of Wren, but frequent meeting with Wrens during last two weeks have shown that Wrens will be frequent guests this winter. Four Brown Dippers. During the year all things vary, but the Dippers are the most stable birds. They are always on one place always appreciable. The Blackbird and the Blue Whistling Thrush. Not all Blackbirds have gone down from mountains to the city. And the meeting with a Blue Whistling Thrush shows that this rare bird will winter the third year in succession. All meetings in brief therefore as the meeting with the Lammergeier has eclipsed all others.Some times I saw Lammergeiers in our mountains but saw them from afar and a short time. Today the Lammergeier flew low and sat close. I have seen [...... read more ]

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Here the first snow came down in Alma Ata. It came down already two weeks ago yet in the mountains but in the city yesterday only. In spite of cloudy weather I specially went to the New Square to look to Common Whitethroats. It was interesting to me to see did they migrate or not. No they did not fly away! Whitethroats looks interesting among the snow-covered branches. There are much more Blackbirds on the Square. Blackbirds eat the frozen berries. [...... read more ]

The Gorky Park is a main and largest park of Alma Ata. The trees in the Park are very high. To examine anything in the heavy foliage is very difficult. Only Great Tits, Mynahs and Blackbirds catch the eye. Appears nobody else present in the park. But if look carefully it is possible to see other birds. Today I saw Goldcrests and one Wren. Local Goldcrests named “gold crest”. But they have a little yellow color on the head, only one small light yellow speck. Goldcrest searched food in the moss-grown crust of elms, especially at the significant height. I hoped they alight but has not waited.Also I saw one Wren. As usually Wren was visible through the branches, but wasn't photographed. And one more there was Sparrowhawk chased by crows.Republic Square. Several weeks ago I was surprised Common Whitethroats still not migrated. Today they again surprised me. Ten days are remain to the winter and Whitethroats still not flew away! [...... read more ]

Dippers are common inhabitants of Butakovka. In this place they are not fear the people. They allow to approach closely therefore the observer has the possibility to see much of the life of these unique birds. Today I have a glimpse of one White-bellied Dipper but it rapidly flew away. But almost one hour I observed Brown Dipper. In Butakovka area, in the section of Little Almatinka river always can be seen as one Dipper at least. Today I saw three ones. I speak confidence because saw all three ones at once. Usually calling Dippers rush along the river therefore their correct quantity can't be count. As it is assumed in autumn Brown Dippers most time fed. They searched large worms between the stones under water. Searching the food in the ice-cold water is not light process. Dipper finds one worm of every three-five minutes average. After finding Dipper eat the worm sitting on stone. It seemed me (see video) that Dipper washes worm in the water before get down it. May be Dipper cleaned food [...... read more ]

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This little river places between houses. This place is shadow and cool. May be therefore there are not many birds in this river. But sometimes interesting birds can be met by you, especially on autumn and winter. Two years ago we met Blue Whistling Thrush and Azure Tit. Today I saw one Goldcrest and one Wren (local subspecies both). And many Blackbirds and Great Tits were searching food in the old leaves. [...... read more ]