Ushtobe, Karatal region, Almaty oblast.

Morning trip to sand foreland on Karatal river. Driving beside the bushes I frightened a lot of Wood Pigeons. Inconspicuous at day birds flew out from trees by tens. On morning silence crying of Pheasants and little falcons (Hobbies and Lesser Kestrels) were very audible. One Black-headed Gull arrived to foreland. Also flock of Great Cormorants, one White Egret, flock of little ducks flew beside foreland. On bushes from time to time Magpies and Carrion Crows occurred. Sometimes it's possible to see little birds - Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.

Sandgouses didn't arrive and I began come back to Ushtobe and saw two flying to watering flocks of Black-bellied Sangrouses. Sandgrouses flew to Karatal but to another foreland. I waited some times but did't see another flocks and returning seeing flocks. But one sitting on dry tree raptor compelled my attention. On binocular I saw long legs and large head. It was Short-toed Snake-Eagle. Raptor sat very easy and I could make some photos.

Several times near villages I saw Common Starlings (Rosy Pastors yet migrated). Large clusters of Starlings sat on the wires. Autumn Starlings are very beautiful. Little white spots disperse on black background saving metal shadow. Starlings are loud birds, they incessant chirp. But once all birds kept silence together. On the sky I saw low hovering Kite. When Kite flew out Starlings' chirp restored.

I didn't find another Sandgrouses when I whent to other one place. Met only hares and one roe-deer. On channel saw young Moorhens and Kingfisher.