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Alakol. Akchi village.

19 photos · 48 species
Common Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos
Common Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos
Day is cloudy or even overcast. I went to the sand spit where I saw Relict Gulls and many Caspian Terns in the May. It’s short distance to car, and I thought I reach it after about 30-40 minutes. I was without clocks but all today trip from the hotel to the end of sand spit and back was 6.5 hours of permanently hiking with some crawl on sand to birds. What did I see? The last visit I was worry that I didn’t explore the saline marsh on the road to sand spit. Now I crossed it twice and noticed nothing only tens Black-headed Wagtails of different age and gender.

As at last visit in the bay in base of spit the White-winged Terns, Black-winged Stilts, Common Redshanks, Collared Pratincoles were noticed, today Black and Little Terns added to lists. The last visit numerous Caspian Terns are absent now. But Common Terns flying with fish in bill are abundant. When I move on to spit I was attacked by the screaming flock of Common Terns. I continued moving and Caspian Gulls and couple of Caspian Terns added to screaming flock. Terns and Gulls behaviored as I intrude to the colony area; but I didn’t see any eggs or chicks. If be hornest I wasn’t so attentive. Not only Terns and Gulls were careful nut Little Ringed Plovers too.

The coast in the end of spit is the resting spot to Cormorants, Gulls and Red-crested Pochards (in some places). Tens of males of Pochards flew to the lake to moulting. Later when I view photos I find two male Pintails too. One immature Great White Pelican was in the end of spit, other three Pelicans floated near the coast. Also here some number of Pallas’s Gulls rested. I watched Black-headed Gulls with additional attention because I wanted to find the Relict Gull which looked similar to Black-headed Gull. Finally I twice watched the single Relict Gull, probably the same bird because the first one flew out in the direction of my moving. Relict Gull was less careful bird than other ones. Once I crawled to it about to 20 meters, I watched it very well but photos are bad in due of overcast weather. But I am still happy. Birds became less in number than in the beginning of May, no the abundance of Pallas’s Gulls and Caspian Terns. Probably all of them now in the islands where they have colonies.

On the back road I noticed some birds of prey: Black Kite, Marsh Harrier and Booted Eagle. By the way, latter was observed in the morning in the beginning of my trip, probably the same bird. My trip is successful in my opinion but unfortunately the weather was bad to photoshooting.
Island Sredni (Middle)
Island Sredni (Middle)
Common Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus
Common Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus
Black Terns | Chlidonias nigra
Black Terns | Chlidonias nigra
Common Tern | Sterna hirundo
Common Tern | Sterna hirundo
Black-headed Wagtail | Motacilla feldegg
Black-headed Wagtail | Motacilla feldegg
Collared Pratincole | Glareola pratincola
Collared Pratincole | Glareola pratincola
Red-crested Pochards | Netta rufina
Red-crested Pochards | Netta rufina
Great White Pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus
Great White Pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pallas's Gull | Larus ichthyaetus
Pallas's Gull | Larus ichthyaetus
Common Oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus
Common Oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus
Black-headed Gull | Larus ridibundus
Black-headed Gull | Larus ridibundus
Caspian Gull | Larus cachinnans
Caspian Gull | Larus cachinnans
Little Tern | Sterna albifrons
Little Tern | Sterna albifrons
Relict Gull | Larus relictus
Relict Gull | Larus relictus
Great White Egret | Egretta alba
Great White Egret | Egretta alba
Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia
Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia
Turkestan Shrike | Lanius phoenicuroides
Turkestan Shrike | Lanius phoenicuroides
Booted Eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus
Booted Eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus

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