Kazakhstan 2024 - the final day

Our final full day of birding. We had breakfast at our hotel at 6am, and we listened to the sounds of Cuckoo, Tree Pipit and Common Rosefinch while we waited for Lyosha to pick us up. Shortly after, we were re-united with Anar who drove us to a spot where there are Radon Baths. There were many people there enjoying a pre-work dip in the cool pools before heading down to the heat of Almaty for their working day. 

Early morning dip at Radon baths

Along side the fast flowing mountain stream we found Brown Dipper and Blue-Whistling Thrush. 

Brown Dipper

Blue Whistling Thrush

I decided to take off my shoes and socks, roll up my trouser legs and take a paddle in the fast-flowing and very cool mountain stream. My feet really appreciated it. 

Anar then drove us to another spot (ski resort) where we caught a series of three cable cars to the summit and walked around amongst the many visitors as we searched for Red-fronted Rosefinch. We had Guldenstadt's Redstart, Himalayan Rubythroat, Altai Accentor and Plain Brown Mountain Finch. ebird checklist here.

Time for a quick group photo (me with Loius-Philippe, Anar and Nick).

Yak

We returned to Almaty and checked into the Kazakhstan Hotel which was rather palatial. 

Everywhere has an Irish bar - I didn't sample the Guinness though!

However, I was on something like the 14th floor which meant the windows were locked shut and the air con didn't work. Coupled with the stifling heat it meant another sleepless night. We had dinner in a local restaurant which had a 94 page menu and were up at 5am the next day for our flight home via Istanbul.

And that was Kazakhstan. An epic two-week long trip covering deserts to mountains and everywhere in between. I haven't counted up the trip list but it was quantity and quality with some excellent birds such as Himalayan Rubythroat, Ibisbill, Guldenstadt's Redstart, Black Lark, Caspian Plover, Sociable Lapwing, Pine Bunting, Demoiselle Crane, Long-tailed Shrike, Sykes's Warbler and Pallas's Gull. I could name many more. Big thanks to Anar and Louis-Philippe for their hard work ferrying us around, feeding us and showing us some excellent birds - I can highly recommend them if you're planning a trip to Kazakhstan. And finally thanks to my travelling companion Nick.