Excursions
Two-day excursion to Sorbulak Lake and Charyn Canyon
For the weekend 15 and 16 March we received the request to organise a two-day birding
trip in the region of Almaty. The first day was spend towards the region of the Sorbulak
Lake. During the second day Big Almaty Lake was planned. Unfortunately large amounts
of snow was holding us back, we could not reach the lake even by four-wheel drive
car. We anticipated on this event by visiting Charyn Canyon, as Paul was a geologist
is became a pretty interesting trip. Here follows a report with the highlights of
the two days.
Saturday 15 March we picked up Paul from his hotel in Almaty. Just outside of the
city borders Madina spots a Common Pheasant. During our first stop near the village
of Shamalghan we observe many attractive birds; plenty of singing Corn Buntings,
Black-throated Trushes where flying all around, couple of Azure Tits also passed
by, a very large raptor was sitting In a tree several kilometres away. Finally we
notice a calcarata Citrine Wagtail. Passing the village of Shamalghan we make our
second stop. We start with a couple of Common Greenfinches after which we come across
two gorgeous looking male and female Long-tailed Rosefinches. Very rare sighting
for the region.
We continue towards Sorbulak lake where the birding is good, enough to see; my first
Pied Wheatears of the year, several small groups with migrating Water Pipits and
a dozen Caspian Gulls. The highlights of Sorbulak where for sure the high amounts
of Pine Buntings (32), Evermann’s Redstarts (3), Dalmatian Pelicans (2), an adult
White-tailed Eagle, Greater Short-toed Lark (7) and the first Calandra Larks (12)
where also seen. After a long day birding in nice spring weather we depart back for
Almaty noting finally a fine Steppe Eagle.
Sunday 16 march we pick up Paul again for a planned trip to Big Almaty Lake unfortunately
later it would turn out that BAL was not to be reached due the large amounts of snow
still present in the mountains. We start the day with Common House Martins and Eurasian
Crag Martin. When returning to the car we spot a White-throated Dipper sitting on
a rock, Paul manages to make pictures trough his binocular. Evermann’s Redstart and
Azure Tits are also worth looking at. When we reach the point we can not go any further
a White-winged Grosbeak fly’s over. Couple of minutes later followed by a couple
of Red-fronted Serin’s. We decide to continue the trip in the direction of Charyn
Canyon.
We drive one-and-a-half hour before stopping at a gorgeous spot surrounded by trees
and a nearby river where we enjoy lunch, grilled chicken with bread and salads. During
the drive we stop one time for a large group of Demoiselle Cranes, approximately
70 birds. During lunch we spot a Steppe Eagle who is bullied by some Eurasian Jackdaws,
Black-throated Trushes and several Yellowhammers. After lunch we drive without birding
stops to Charyn Canyon. While enjoying the amazing landscape a Black-eared Kite passes
by and a Pied Wheatear posses for us in a nearby bush. Having spend 45 minutes in
the canyon we need to head back and drive to Almaty. At 8 pm we arrive in the hotel
of Paul, we had an interesting day with several nice sightings. The superb spring
weather (25 degrees Celsius) made everything feel twice as good.
Note: During the two days of birding we came across several Shrikes, please see the
pictures, some where obvious and some less obvious. Identification remains difficult.
