Winter Wonderland

Headed out this week (1st week of Feb 2016) into the wonderful winter landscape N of Almaty Kazakhstan.  Great birding – 32 species including eagles, winter ducks and a few LBJs

Full list:

80 Whooper Swan

2 Ruddy Shelduck

100s of Mallard

15 Smew

100+ Goosander, mainly males

30 Little Grebes

1 Great Egret

2 Great Cormorant

1 Common Kestrel

75+ White-tailed Eagles

2 Long-legged Buzzard

2 Eastern Buzzard

1 Moorhen

2 Green Sandpiper

100+ Caspian Gulls, many already at Gull Island, their annual gullery (is that a word – if not it should be)

6 Rock Doves

Flock of several European Collared Doves

Large number of Magpies

Large number of Rooks

Several Carrion Crows

Large number of Jackdaws

Lots of Hooded Crows

1 Great Tit seen and several heard

Several Common Mynas

1 Blackbird heard calling before dawn in Almaty

House Sparrows in towns and villages

European Tree Sparrows outside towns and villages

1 Goldfinch

Flock of about 20 Linnets

3 Long-tailed Rosefinches

Flock of 12 Corn Buntings

MYSTERY BIRD:  In a bush in the early morning chill, a small bird hopping around near the base of the bush, tailed cocked Wren-like.  I thought it was a Winter Wren initially, but it would be odd to see one in this location.  On reflection, it may have been slightly too large anyway.  Alternatively, it could have either been a Scrub Warbler or a Bluethroat, both of which would have been VERY early migrants. As Bluethroats are more likely to be seen in this region, this was possibly what it was but I lost sight of it all too soon to be sure. It will remain a mystery.