The male Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri)
The fourth day was spent in a place of a whole system of desert lakes with growing saxaul trees. In the morning we drove to a place we had a few hours to walk around at in order to see a few species specific to this area. Or rather, we most likely won't see elsewhere on our trip. It was the Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri) which only lives in the well... saxauls, White-winged Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucopterus) nesting in the old trees, and globally endangered species - Yellow-eyed Pigeon (Columba eversmanni).
White-winged Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucopterus) - a young one in a nest
When we first arrived, we moved in between the bushes, where we saw some warblers. After a while I went near the old tall trees, following a sparrow-like voice, feeling the Saxaul Sparrow I really wanted to see was nearby. And I was correct. A male was sitting in a tree and calling out. A bit further we saw a Common Cuckoo and found an Azure Tit relentlessly bringing food into a cavity in a tree, where undoubtedly was its nest. Along with my dad and a couple friends we then turned towards the main road. On a tree we drove by I think I saw a woodpecker. I walked a bit away form everyone, following the voice as I really wanted to see the woodpecker, and a friend said it was somewhere here. I followed a voice and found an adult White-winged woodpecker, feeding a young on in a cavity, maybe a meter and a half above the ground. I only relized it was there when I was standing fairly close, some 10 meters, maybe? I stopped moving and the adilt climbed on top of the branch the nest was in and we were just watching one another for a good few minutes. While the young one was often looking out of its nest. It was big enough and would probably leave the nest soon. Awesome! Later we saw more Woodpeckers, but the nest was the best. I told others about it, so we still watched from a distance later and I hope no photographers really attempted to get too close to disturb them.
One of the species we didn't really expect to see here was Eurasian Oystercatcher - a wader always seen near water - lakes, seas..., but four were flying apparently from one place to another, crossing this forest.
White-winged Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucopterus) - adult
Then the species most interesting by its endangered status, was the Yellow-eyed Pigeon. We saw a couple, but from a good distance, when it looks nearly like an ordinary pigeon, so I really wanted to find one somewhere where I could clearly see its yellow eye ring. And I did!
We still had time in this place so we walked to yet another part and we saw the Eurasian Rollers and only heard the Indian Golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo). Another group also got to see it up close as well as see a nest of a White-tailed Sea-Eagle.
Later we mover to some of the lakes not far away, walking among them and watching the birds in the reeds (like a Black-headed Wagtail - a subspecies of White Wagtail we know from Europe) and in the water.
Eurasian Penduline Tit - a Caspian, dark-headed subspecies (Remiz pendulinus caspius)
aaaAt a couple lakes I heard a voice similar to that of a Penduline tit. However it started raining yet again, so most of the group were running to the next lake (those who had cameras on them, therefore most of the people except for me, for example - my dad was taking the pictures) where we had lunch prepared on the usual camp tables. We were able to eat it in the busses that had been waiting for us there.
Azure Tit (Cyanistes cyanus)
After someone told Askar about the Penduline Tit voice, Askar got all excited and played the voice. We easily lured a beautiful Eurasian Penduline Tit, which however differs from the one we know from our home by it dark brown head. It is a different subspecies here - Remiz pendulinus caspius. And while we were at it, we used the recorder to also provoke a make Azure Tit singing from a tip of a nearby tree. Just like before, we didn't have to try particularly hard, before the tit flew fairly close, agitated.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
We moved to yet another place - more lakes with more birds. We saw a lot of Black-headed Gulls and among them, Askar noticed a Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica). Very hard to take a picture of, until it sat down on the mud. But still the distance was quite great for a good photo. We arrived to a small lake with some mud on it and several species. From birds of prey we saw a Western Marsh-harrier. The Black Terns were flying over the other part of the lake. We also enthusiastically watched the Black-winged Stilts (there's never enough of them and they are always so nice to watch!).
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) took us a while to figure out
aaaWhile watching the big waders, we also noticed a Little Ringed Plover and one other small, unconspicuous wader the lot of us spent a good while trying to determine. We were looking through the few scopes we had, consulting the book, Askar and one another. The tiny bird was too small and too hard to see on the mud that we had trouble seeing the important marks. When we finally decided it had yellow legs covered in mud - not black ones, it became clear it was actually a Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) most of us were familiar with, but we could never know what "exotic" species we could see here. And waders are sometimes a bit tricky to determine.And since we finally knew what species it was and it wouldn't be such a problem if it flew away, I asked the group for permission, and went down the small slope just to the water as close to the Stint as I could get to get a nice look and nice pictures as well. Both of the Stint as well as the Stilts :)
The graveyardWe drove again and stopped for a few minute here and there, although the evening was slowly approaching. We could not resist taking pictures of these pitoresque graveyards we drove past. They are very different to what we know and although a place of sorrow, they painted a nice picture in the evening sun against the dark, rainy sky.
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
We also made a shortish stop on the road near the thick growing trees, looking for a Hobby's nest for a while, and other mostly songbirds, too.
The final stop (after one near a small local shop to buy beers or - in my case - a delicious green melon ice cream) was near a bus stop not far from our camp, surrounded by Saxaul trees. And sure enough, we saw at least three pairs of Saxaul Sparrows yet again, all working hard to feed it young in the nests all identically placed in ... the bus stop.
Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodenri)
The last event of today was not a very happy one. Just after the dinner someone saw or heard one of the women serving us plates was in stress or something, suddenly fell, and despite her young age - probably around 50 at most, although I think it was less - had a stroke it seemed. People tried to help and take her to a hospital, however, it was dark outside and the nearest hospital or so someone said was maybe something like 4 hours away? I unfortunately did not know what happened afterwards, but we could only hope for the best. I really really hope she held on and got help in time.
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