Ornithological Tour N6
(On Central Asia: Tyan-Shan - Dzhungaria - Targabatay - Arbagatay - Zaysan Altay)
Duration: 21 days (20 nights).
Season: May - June - July - August.
Accommodation: hotels, cottage, tents.
Meal: full board (traditional Kazakh and Russian cuisine).
Transport: minibus, comfortable bus.
Tour description.
Day 1. Arrival in Almaty. Accommodation in a hotel. Excursion around the city and to "Medeo".
Day 2. Breakfast. Driving to national park "Altyn-Emel" (230 km). Watching of deserted fauna of Dzungaria: Pallas`s Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis), Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), Desert Wheatear (Oenanhe deserti), Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris), Bimaculated Lark (Melanacorypha bimaculata), Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris), Desert Warbler (Sylvia nana), Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). It is possible to see: Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotys undulata), Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius lescheneaultii), Sykes' Warbler (Hippolais rama). From mammals you will see Asian Ass (Equus hemionis), Persian Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), Siberian mountain goat (Capra sibirica), (Lepus tolai).
Visit of stony, clay and sandy desert, phenomenon of a nature "Singing sand dune" and Kapchagay water reservoir. Overnight in a cottage in Kzylaus gorge.Day 3. Breakfast. Excursion on �zylaus Gorge up to a waterfall. Birds of the gorge: Chukar (Alectoris chukar), Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis solitarius), Eastern Rock Nuthatch (Sitta tephronota), Crimson- winged Finch (Rhodopechys sanguinea), White-capped Bunting (Emberiza stewarti), Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps), Grey-necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani), Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka), rocky Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Lammergeyer (Gypaetus barbatus), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Lunch. Drive: Baschi - Kugaly. Excursion in a canyon of the river Bizhe. Overnight. You can see here: Calandra Lark (Melanacorypha calandra), Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Montagus Harrier (Circus pygargus), Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Hobby (Falco subbuteo), (Ciconia nigra), Goosander (Mergus merganser), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Rufous Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis), Siberian Jay (Cuculus canorus), Scops Owl (Otus scops), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor), Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Azure Tif (Parus cyaneus), Blackbird (Turdus merula), Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides), Linnet (Acanthis cannabina). It is possible to see also: White`s Thurush (Zoothera dauma), Eversmann`s Redstart (Phoenicurus erythronotus), Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus).
Day 4. Breakfast. Morning excursion in the gorge of the Koksu river. Drive: Tekeli - Taldykorgan - Kopal. You will see: Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), Little Tern (Streptopelia dacaocto), Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis), Indian Sparrow (Passer indicus), Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), pink starling (Pastor roseus), Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis), Rook (Corvus frugilegus), Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris), Skylark (Alauda arvensis). Camping in a wood near Kapal settlement. Lunch. Excursion. Supper. Overnight.
Day 5. Breakfast. Drive: Kapal - Dzhangusurov - Andreevka (Kabanbay) and further on a mountain drive through Dzhungarskiy pass up to a settlement Koktuma in a southern part of Alakol lake with some stops for ornithological excursions. It is possible to see: Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Roller (Coracias garrulus), Wheatear (Oenanhe oenanthe), Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), Azure Tif (Parus cyaneus), Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Masked Wagtail (Motacilla personata) and others. Overnight on a coast of Alakol lake. Swimming. Watching of seagulls and stints. Supper.
Day 6. Breakfast. Drive to stony desert up to Ushtaral city. Visit to the central office and Museum of Alakol reserve. Lunch. Trip to western part of lake Alakol up to a gulf "Zayachya guba". Camping on a coast of the lake and watching of numerous waterfowl birds, among them might be Relict Gull (Larus relictus). Motor boat trips to islands Chubar-Tyubek are possible under control of administration of the reserve, where are White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Great Blackheaded Gull (Larus ichthyaetus), Yellow-legged Herring Gull (Larus cachinnans), Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Little Tern (Sterna albfrons), Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola). Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 7. Breakfast. Morning watching of gulf's birds: Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), Redshank (Tringa totanus). On enclosed to gulf deserted flatness you can meet Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens). Moving from lake Alakol up to lake Sasunkol with excursions on the woody aria enclosed to the river Tentek. Camping in western part of Alakol lake. Watching of birds on a shallow stretch of lake: Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), Little Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps griseigena), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), large white heron (Egretta alba), Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Coot (Fulica atra), Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucoptera), Bearded Tif (Panurus biarmicus), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola). On deserted flatness it is possible to see Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Houbara Bustard(Chlamydotys undulata), Demoiselle Cran (Anthropoides virgo), and on the lake - White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala), Spoonbill (Platalea lecorodia), White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Common Crane (Grus grus), Water Rail (Rallus aqaticus), Little Crake (Porzana parva), Spotted Crake (Porzana pusilla), Thick-billed Penduline Tif (Remiz macronyx).
Day 8. Lunch. Driving from Sassynkol Lake up to settlements Taskesken and Urdzhar; climbing to Urdzhar River on a southern slope of Tarbagatay mountain. Camping. Dinner. Ornithological excursion woods. Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 9. Breakfast. Drive: Urdzhar - Ayaguz - settlement Tarbagatay. Camping on the coast of the Zhinishke River. Lunch. Excursion. Local birds: Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoides virgo), Nightingale (Luscinia megarynchos), Cetti`s Warbler (Cettia cetti), Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus). Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 10. Breakfast. Drive to Zaisan aria: Tarbagatay - Kyzylkisek - Aksuat- Akzhar - Kandysu River and up to settlement Zhanabozsha. On the road you will see Black Lark (Melanocorypha yeltoniensis), Short-toed Lark (Calandrella cinerea) and White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha leucoptera); Twite (Acanthis flavirostris), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis). Camping on a coast of the lake. Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 11. Breakfast. Morning excursion on a coast of the lake. You will see: Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius), Saker Falcom (Falco cherrug), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Upland Buzzard (Bubo bubo), Little Owl (Athene noctua), Steppe Eagle (Aguila nipalensis), Imperial Eagle (Aguila heliaca), Golden Eagle (Aguila chrysaetos), Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Montagu`s Harrier (Circus pygargus), Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), Pallas`s Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus). Camping in a canyon of the river Tayzhuzgen. Birds' watching. Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 12. Breakfast. Excursion. Typical birds: Bucanetes mongolicus, Petronia petronia, Emberiza buchanani, Enberiza bruniceps, Chukar (Alectoris chukar), Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Pied Wheataer (Oenanthe pleschanka), Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros). Lunch. Departure from Tayzhuzgen gorge. Arrival in a southern part of Zaysan Lake in a delta of Kenderlyk River. Camping. Birds' watching. Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 13. Breakfast. Drive: town Zaisan - sandy desert Aygyrkumy - settlement Buran - river Black Irtysh at a settlement Preirtyshskoye. Camping in woods of a coast of Black Irtysh River. Rest. Waterfowl birds' watching. Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 14. Breakfast. Excursion on a woody coast of the river. You will see following birds: White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Smew (Mergus albellus), (Anas strepera), Azure Tif (Parus cyaneus), Black-headed Penduline Tif (Remis coronatus), Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca halimodendri), Grey Goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps). It is possible to see Pallas`s Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella certhiola). Lunch. Trip on Zaysan desert up to a mountain Kara-Biryuk where are Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris), Grey-necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani), Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps), Pied Wheataer (Oenanthe pleschanka), Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti), Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis). At the beginning of XX century Henderson's Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni) was seen. Driving up to picturesque cliffs of Keen-Kerish with exiting landscape. Here might be seen: Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo), Mongolian Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes mongolicus), Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti), Swift (Apus apus). Driving on deserted flatness to a settlement Manukoy (30 km) and northern coast of lake Zaysan (15 km). On this route might be seen Pallas`s (Syrrhaptes paradoxus), Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris), Short-toed Lark (Calandrella cinerea) - frequently and occasionally - Black Lark (Melanocorypha yeltoniensis), White-winged Lar (Melanocorypha leucoptera), Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina). It is possible to see: Sociable Lapwing (Chettusia gregaria) and Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus); their nests were found here in the 70th. Camping. Dinner. Night in tents on the northern coast of Zaysan Lake.
Day 15. Breakfast. An excursion will be held on a picturesque coast of lake Zaisan within a day. Birds' watching. Night at the same place.
Day 16. Breakfast . Driving along the northern shore of Zaisan Lake up to a fishing settlement Aksuat and up to Korzhun. Camping. Birds' watching. Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 17. Breakfast. Excursion. Trip to Turanga gulf and Carynkol Lake for watching Stint and Gulls. Lunch. Driving to a settlement Kurchum and visit of fishing farms rich of water-marsh birds, where it is possible to see of goose - Swan Goose (Cygnopsis cygnoides). Camping in a wood.
Day 18. Breakfast. Excursion along the river. Driving up to Kaznakovskaya river crossing (30 km) thru Bukhtarminskoye Water Reservoir to Kuludzhinskiy National Park in sandy aria among lakes. Watching of birds: Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), Coot (Fulica atra), Common Curlew (Numenius arquata), Whooper Swan (Egretta alba), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola), Grey-headed Warbler (Motacilla flava saisanensis). Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 19. Breakfast. Drive through Kalbinskiy pass on a route: Kaznakovka - Samarka- Targyn - lakes Sibinskiye (125 km). Camping on picturesque coasts of Sibinskiye lakes. Dinner. Night in tents.
Day 20. Breakfast. Excursion on lakes. Lunch. Departure to Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Day 21. Flight to Almaty. Accommodation in a hotel. Rest. City and shopping tour. Dinner. Flight home.
Recommended equipment:
Rucksack for personal things, sleeping bag, tents, wear for hot, cold and rainy weather (from +5 up to 35 degrees of Celsius), ground cover, field-glass, peed sight X50-60 of magnification (not less than one on a group), photo equipment and video equipment in dust- and water-proof case, rubber boots, footwear for trekking and camp, lotion against the sun and windy weather, repellents, sunglasses.