6/24-6/25
For our final day in Astana, we decided to take a rest before catching the flight to Almaty. But who needs sleep when you can go look for birds? So I woke up early-ish and went for a nice morning stroll, walking to the beginning of the marshes we had visited the prior day. No new birds were seen but nice morning walks are nice, especially in a country where you pretty much cannot communicate with anyone.
White Wagtail
My first good views of the Paddyfield Warbler.
Vicia villosa being a constant noxious presence
A gorgeous Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis)
White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
After a few hours flying with the shady af Scat Airlines (seriously look at this and this), we arrived in Kazakhstan's cultural capital Almaty. The apartment we stayed in here looked pretty shady from the outside and the really rickety elevator ride up consisting of us 3 with our luggage and our quite burly driver in a probably 4 x 8 space lit only by a loose lightbulb supported this view. However, when I got to my room:
So yeah. The apartment had our basic needs and functional equipment, although the cutting board was sticky and weird. Views of the surrounding city on one side and the Tien Shan Mountains on the other made up for everything (mostly).
One of the most common birds of Almaty: the Common Myna. Taken from the kitchen window.
Parent with 2 recently-fledged young being teenage delinquents not looking at the camera.
Common Blackbird
Some satyrinid I think. Any input would be amazing. The next few days in the Almaty region ended up being the best days of the whole trip so remember to keep reading! Or not if you're a loser.
To be continued....
8/3/15
Common Tern reported at A2E (pretty rare in the county) and like the lame chaser I am, I decided to chase it. I also brought along my pal Will Brooks again and another nice morning was spent by the Bay. "Did you see it?" one may ask rhetorically. Nope.
Tubeworms sticking out of mud at Charleston Slough
A bunch of migrant shorebirds at the Sunnyvale WPCP marsh. Close up views of Semipalmated Plover always nice.
Same for peeps. Too bad this Western Sandpiper has this bill deform that also made me think it was a Semipalmated Sandpiper due to an illusion of a thicker bill.
Also at the Sunnyvale WPCP were an absolute shit ton of Western Orbweavers. Shit ton. I kid you not, bushes were covered in curtains full of this species. Anyways here's Will's hand next to one.
Gopher Snakes have the best face patterns. Shitty pic of one at the Sunnyvale WPCP trails.
And of course the continuing Lesser Flamingo, chillin with ducks.
8/9/15
Biked to Pearson-Arastradero Preserve and enjoyed a nice, peaceful afternoon walk. Being in the middle of the week, human activity was low and the oak forest was absolutely beautiful in silence only broken by a few birds and a warm breeze.
Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) being a fabulous beauty queen.
Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides), a year butterfly, always nice to see.
Tarantula Hawk of idk species searching for its larvae's food. With their iridescent orange wings contrasting with their jet black bodies, these showstoppers are immediately identifiable in flight. At least to tribe level.
Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) by Arastradero Lake, another stunner.
The Marsh Baccharis (Baccharis douglasii) was in bloom and being one of the few flowers around, tons of insects were drawn to the plants. Here is Dipalta serpentina, a Bee Fly.
Unidentified species of Tachinid I believe in genus Cylindromyia.
Highlight bird: male Black-throated Grey Warbler, foraging in a mixed flock with Blue-grey Gnatcatchers and Bushtit.
And highlight reptile, a very timid and gorgeous Pacific Rattlesnake who quickly slithered away after seeing me. What a true lovely.
To be continued...
