Tonkeris, BAC, Almaty oblast.

The silverberry groves in Ile river valley is the one of the most interesting spots for birds watching in winter time. Last winter Red-throated and Dusky Thrushes were found directly in these groves. The berries of silverberry are the main winter food for numerous of birds. This time is very warm and snow is almost absent, most of northern (or eastern) migrants not yet reached to us, because the food in northern regions are full yet. In addition the groves are very close to the city, it was the important element of our choice in weekend birding spot.

Weather was mostly sunny, partially cloudy. Birds are yet not a lot, but not a bit, in my opinion there are at least one hundred Black-throated Thrushes. Thrushes as usual were noticeable but shy. I recognized by binoculars about two-three tens of Thrushes but not one of them was candidate to be Dusky, Red-throated or at least Hybrid Thrush, all Thrushes I saw were the typical Black-throated ones. Moreover, most of them had the bright black bib, though usually in winter we watch mostly juveniles with streaked breasts. In addition to Thrushes we saw many Greenfinches, Bramblings, Reed Buntings, Eversmann's Redstarts. Common Starling, Azure Tits, Long-tailed Rosefinches, Wren was recorded by single birds. Some times I heard Pheasants, and flushed one hen. Fact that Pheasants inhabit these groves confirmed by the continually shooting hearable everywhere. Of the raptors directly over groves we saw three Hen Harriers, the common wintering birds in this area. On the road near Tonkeris we recorded Imperial Eagle, kestrel, three Eastern Buzzards, and one large raptor more likely White-tailed Sea Eagle. Directly in Tonkeris village we saw flying Sparrowhawk.

Because we finished explore silverberry groves before noon, we decided to go roadside thickets of BAC (Big Almaty Channel), where in winter time sometimes possible to find the rare birds. But not this time. We reached plant nursery near Baltabai village, but we didn't see birds almost all the road time, only in two spots we saw flocks of birds, perhaps near the same silverberry trees. Of recorded birds the same Black-throated Thrushes, Greenfinches, and Bramblings-Chaffinches dominated. But also we recorded Mistle Thrushes and Tree Sparrows. Of birds of prey we noticed two Eastern Buzzards. Probably “bird are yet not pressed” as Oleg Belyalov says. Need to wait the snowfalls and subzero weather. For the off-season time our trip was quite successful.