Ornithological Tour N4
(Ile-Alatau, Altyn-Emel National Parks - Naurzumsky Reserve)
Duration: 14 days (13 nights).
Season: April-May-June, September.
Accommodation: cottage, tents.
Meal: full board (traditional Kazakh and Russian cuisine).
Transport: minibus.
Tour description.
Day 1. Almaty-Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe. Driving to Bolshoe Almatinskoe gorge in Ile-Alatau National Park. One hour in a falcon's nursery for watching of the open cage with Sake Falcon,Gyrfalcon, Barbary Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Goshawk, Golden Eagle and Eagle Owl.Further slope along the gorge by mountain way to Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe (20km) During the way you can see such birds as Blue Whistling Thrush, Brown Dipper, Black Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Common Mynah, Masked Wagtail, Coal Tit, Nutcracker, Woodpigeon, Tree Pipit, Golden Eagle. Then hiking along the high mountain lake and having lunch. Observation of Ibisbill, Dipper, Ruddy Shelduck, Grey Goldfinch, Red-fronted Serin, Eversmann's Redstart, Black-throated Accentor, Mountain Marmot. In the evening supper and lodging for the night in the cottage and banya.
Day 2. Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe. Breakfast in the cottage. Hiking to glade Mramornaya (1 km) and stop for three hours observing Himalayan Rubythroat, Sevetzov's Titwarbler, White-winged Grosbeak,Tian Shan Redmantled Rose Finch, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Merlin, Wren, Rock and Tree Pipit, Raven, Treecreeper and Marmot. 8 kilometers rising to the space station, having lunch and observation of Himalayan Snow, Siberian Jay, Alpine Chough, Alpine and Brown Accentor, Brandt's Rosy Finch, Guldenstadt's Redstart and Common Raven. In the evening returning to the gorge, having supper and lodging in the cottage.
Day 3. Lake Bolshoe Almatinskoe - Almaty - Borandasu - Tamgali - Tas - Taukumi. In the morning - breakfast in the cottage and then leaving for Barandasu (about 160 km). The route is going through Almaty, Chilik and Masak. The itinerary goes along the saxaulnik, where there is an artesian well. The well attracts a lot of birds such as: Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Desert Finch, Red-headed Bunting, Turtle Dove, Desert Wheatear, Turkestan Red-tailed Shrike,Great Grey Shrike and Rufous Bush Robin. Then two hours stop for lunch. After lunch driving the same road which is going through Kaskelen, Samsi, Kopa and Karabastau we'll go to Tamgali-Tas (300 km) and we'll have a stop for one hour in rocks.
There observing Red-headed Bunting,Grey-necked Bunting , Nuthatch, roller, hoopoe, Chukar, Buzzard, Lawk. Here there is also an opportunity to see a petrography gallery (the Bronze Age). Further driving 80 km to Kanshengel. Supper in Taukumi on the camel farm and lodging in the house or under canvas in accordance with one's desire.
Day 4. Taukumi-Lakes Toparskie-Zheltorangi-Taukumi. Breakfast on the camel farm, then 4 kilometers drive to artesian well with 2 hours and break. It is the watering-place for Black-bellied Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Isabelline Wheatear, Demoiselle Crane,Ruddy Shelduck, Little Ringed and Caspian Plover, Houbara Bustard, Desert Warbler, Mongolian Trumpeter Finch, Bimaculated, Calandra and Short-toed Larks. By the route through Kanshegel (about 100 km) going to Topar passing by saxaulnik, lakes and uneven sands, then one hour stop for lunch on lakes named Toparskie. Further observation of Red-crested and white eyed Pochard, Common Shelduck, Black-winged Stilt,Coot, Grey and White Heron,Dalmatian Pelican, Black Tern, Bittern, Paddyfield Warbler, Great Reed Warbler,Cetti's Warbler. 30 kilometers drive to copse Turangovaya through Zheltorangi. Two hours stop there for observation of White-winged Woodpecler, Saxaul Sparrow, Grey Tit, Yellow-eyed Stock Dove, Roller, Hoopoe, Common and Lesser Kestrel, Hobby, Hawk Shikra, Desert Finch and Semirechenski Pheasant. After visit to lake Ili (5 km) on which there is a one hour stop return to camel farm in Kanshegel. Supper and lodging.
Day 5. Taukumi-Sorbulak-Altin-Emel. After breakfast on the camel farm departure to the national park Altin-Emel (350 km) through Sorbulak, Kapchagai, Shengeldi, Kerbulak. On the bank of the river Sorbulak one hour halt for lunch. Observation of White and Dalmatian Pelican, Cormorant, Herring gull, Great Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Black-winged Stilt, Ruddy Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard,Great Crested grebe, Rose coloured Starling, Calandra Lark. Across the bridge Dmitrievski we continue our way to Altin-Emel with halt on cordon named Taigak and till evening observing Chukar, Blue and Rock Thrush, Azure Tit, White-capped Bunting, Stonechat,Pied Wheataer, Sparrowhawk, Golden Eagle Black Vulture, Lesser Grey Shrike, Nightingale, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin.Hothouse, supper and lodging in the house or under canvas as on desire.
Day 6. Altin Emel. In the morning there is breakfast on cordon named Taigak and later driving 100 km by steppe road to Singing Barkhan along the Kapchagai water reservoir and through the cordon named Minbulak. On the way observation of Turkestan Red-tailed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Tawny Pipit, Buzzard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pallas's Sandgrouse, White-tailed Eagle, Grey and White Heron, Avocet, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Herring Gull, White Pelican, Dzeiran and Kulan. There is a one hour stop on the cordon named Minbulak to have lunch. After lunch trip to Singing Barkhan and river Ili (20 km) where there is a halt for two hours. Observation of Chukar, Desert Warbler, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Semirechenski Pheasant, Lesser Kestrel, Black Vulture, Grey Tit, Masked Wagtail, Hare and Dzeiran. Then back to cordon Minbulak. Supper and lodging in the house or tents.
Day 7. Altin-Emel. In the morning there's breakfast on the cordon Minbulak and then leaving for cordon Kzillaus moving on the steppe road (about 100 km). On arrival to the point there will be three hours stop for observing of Grey Wagtail, Swift, Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Thrush, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Lammergeier, Short-toed Eagle, Saker Falkon,Egyptian Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Common Buzzard, Raven and Mountain Goat. Lunch. Then 50 km drive to cordon Taigak and observation of different kinds of birds. At the end of the day supper and lodging for the night.
Days 8-9. Naurzumskii reserve. Breakfast on the central farmstead. Later outing to Aksuat and Sari-Moin lakes,where it is possible to meet such birds as Pelicans, Swans, Grey ducks, Spoonbills, flocks of different ducks, Gulls, and Stints including Sociable Lapwing, White-tailed Eagle, Osprey and other different Sparrow birds the most interesting among which are Booted Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Red-headed Bunting and Black Lark, White-winged Lark, Short-toed Lark. Dinner (lunch packets). In the evening supper on the central farmstead and lodging for the night.
Day 10. Naurzumskii reserve. Breakfast on the central country estate. Than outing to the asp and birch forest Sip-Sin. It is a remarkable forest with sandy feather grass steppe places. One can observe the life of birds of prey, Owls, Hoopoe, Azure Tit and Lark. Dinner(lunch packets).In the evening back to the farmstead, supper and lodging for the night in the house.
Day 11. Naurzumskii reserve. Breakfast on the central farmstead. Later outing to isolated terrain feature Tersek, than to asp forest Tersek-Karagai and to feather grass steppes. There observing such birds as Little Bustard, Great Bustard, Saker Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Hoopoe, Roller, Red-headed Bunting , Lark. Dinner. Than in the evening back to central farmstead, supper and lodging for the night in the house.
Day 12. Naurzumskii reserve. After breakfast on the central country estate outing to the lake named Zharkol where one have an opportunity to watch Demoiselle Crane and Common Crane, Montagu's Harrier, different ducks, Gulls, Little Stint, Larks, Wagtails. Dinner. In the evening return to the central farmstead , evening meal and lodging for the night in the farmstead house.
Day 13. Dokuchaevka- Kostanai-Almaty. Breakfast on the central reserve farmstead. Than departure to the airport in Kostanai town and flight to Almaty. Rest, supper in the guest house in Big Almaty gorge, sauna, lodging for the night.
Day 14. Almaty. Breakfast. City tour, visiting Zoo and Medeo. Dinner in one of the restaurants. In the evening to airport.