Winter birds in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – an at-a-glance list

October 08 – Ultimo February 2009 by Michael Westerbjerg Andersen

During the winter 08/09 I spend much time in Bishkek hence I was able to collect information about the birdlife in the capitol. Wintertime is not the most prolific time of birding here; however it’s possible to get some interesting birds on the list for the visitor having a day or two in the city. Of course the birding improves if you move out of the city and spend time in locations like Issyk Kul, Ala Archa, the fishponds near Bishkek etc. However it’s not my intention on this report to describe these places. This will be described in other of my reports, and accumulated finally in the birding site guide I’m writing about Kyrgyzstan and South-eastern Kazakhstan. Merely I seek to refer some of the birds available in the urban areas, and in general information about the birds here in Kyrgyzstan is sparse. The onset of the winter change and is less defined in these years. Usually snow covers the city from ultimo November to February – at least so it used to be. This winter there were snow in December, but the majority came around 1.January. The temperatures were mostly around zero Celsius degrees or thereabout, with some (but few) days around minus ten. In general it was cloudy and misty. Very often foggy in the city – however just few kilometres outside the city, it’s clear and sunny many days. It has something to do with the location of the city. It’s easy to move around in Bishkek, either by bus or taxi. I used walking long tours and check the birds, and this is useful too. The best birding areas are the parks, along the Chui-channels and in the outskirts of the city. Two things should be noted when you move around. The traffic,... and by traffic I mean the cars. When I first time came to Kyrgyzstan in 1993 numbers of cars were fairly low, and those present were outdated and slow. This has changed. Dramatically! Especially within the last 2-3 years numbers of cars have risen exponentially, and the traffic in nowadays Bishkek is in

some respect awful. There has been an immense import of cars – especially German BMW, Mercedes, and Audi etc. These 10-15 year old cars roam the streets. Very powerful engines (in Europe we don’t drive these cars anymore due expensive fuel prices and environmental issues). And the cars are driven far too fast... and whatever, people, dogs, cats, etc who cross the streets have to take extremely care. The rules for driving are similar as in Europe but its not respected. So take care when moving around in the city and crossing the streets. Don’t expect that drivers respect! Secondly... the streets get extremely slippery during wintertime. Ice and precipitation makes it at times difficult moving around. So take care... When it’s mentioned, please don’t be afraid of moving around in general. It’s a very safe and friendly city, and I have never encountered any problems in Kyrgyzstan. Never! This report describes birds seen from ultimo October to primo March. This is the time where you can expect to see these birds mentioned and primo March and onwards migrant’s turns up and completely change the avifauna in the city. This will be described in another report soon available too If you need advices about the birds available at present, you are welcome to mail, or contact me. It’s of course free of charge. We can of course accompaign and make a program for you if you wish our services. We know Kyrgyzstan as our pocket, and we always are able to provide our service. We have office here in Bishkek too.

Kind regards

Michael Westerbjerg Andersen

Bishkek 12.May 2009

Miksture (Ornithologist and Conservation) v. Zoologist Michael Westerbjerg Andersen Rungstedhave 13 C, DK-2960 Rungsted Kyst. Denmark.

Phone: +45 24 81 91 28

Mail: michaelwandersen@hotmail.com

Web: www.miksture.com

In general about Miksture, all birders are welcome and on our travels there usually is a mix-ture of nationalities. Language is no problem: English, Russian, French, German, Swedish and Danish are spoken. Miksture provide information about travelling in the region and specific ornithological information. My team and I can be hired for birding in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Southern Siberia and Western China. We are able to “tailor-make” the journey according your wishes – destinations & species as well as duration. It’s possible to book me as leader or co-leader for your journey in the region. We use our own vehicles, own gear – tents, kitchen-team, etc. Everything to increase your birding experience and your safety. In addition our prices are reasonable for everyone. We have an excellent team by whom I have travelled and worked together with since 1993. They are some of my very best friends and in combination; we know thoroughly the areas and the birds. Usually we arrange tours for 4-15 pax – best group’s size for birding is 5-10 participants; but we are flexible. Fair prices, security, honesty and great birding are keywords – try us! Please contact me for further information. Programs can be

studied on our website www.miksture.com. You are welcome to contact me for further information and I welcome any remarks and dialogue. Miksture was established with the purpose of encourage and combine Eco-tourism and biological scientific research in Central Asia; mainly Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The approach of combining Eco-tourism and Nature Conservation is in many ways opposite activities, but in Kyrgyzstan we have done it without severe compromises for the visitors and the environment. Our tours are the result of friendship and strange ideas and our carefully planned itineraries and intensive approach have since 1993 given those who travel with us an unusually experience. Miksture is an independent company, established and owned by Michael Westerbjerg Andersen. You will always be in contact with Michael when you contact us. All itineraries are accompanied by the local staff who posses the knowledge and experience to make the tour wholly successful. We know the areas thoroughly and take pride in showing those who travel the local hotspots, confidently coping with any problems that may arise and so greatly increasing the chance that everything will run smoothly. Leading a tour in Europe or North America is one thing, leading one in Central Asia where logistical problems are a fact of life is quite another! Where practicable and necessary we obtain the assistance of local leaders who have both an intimate knowledge of their home areas and the ability to look after the group to the required standard.

Systematic list Anatidae

Mallard – Gråand Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Occurs in low numbers in the small marshes and ponds in the outskirts of the city. In general there are not

many places to watch waterfowls in the city.

Podicipedidae Little Grebe – Lille Lappedykker Tachybaptus ruficollis capensis

Usually 2-3 birds present in Big-Chui Channel

Ardeidae

Great White Egret – Sølvhejre Casmerodius albus albus

2 birds present in the city. One along the

Big-Chui-channel, and the other bird occurred in the pond and marshes near

Dordoi bazaar.

Grey Heron – Fiskehejre Ardea cinerea cinerea Usually 1-2 seen when walking along the

Chui channels.

Accipitridae Eurasian Sparrowhawk – Spurvehøg

Accipiter nisus (dementjevi)

One bird seen now and then along Little-Chui channel.

Common Buzzard – Musvåge Buteo buteo

22/1 1 Big Chui Channel.

Falconidae Common Kestrel – Tårnfalk Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus

Few specimens seen here and there around the city..

Rallidae

Moorhen – Grønbenet Rørhøne Gallinula chloropus chloropus Fairly common in ponds and at the channels.

Common Coot – Blishøne Fulica atra atra Fairly common in ponds and at the channels

Charadriidae

Common Snipe – Dobbeltbekkasin Gallinago gallinago gallinago Up to six birds together in marshes

Laridae Black-headed – Hættemåge Gull Larus ridibundus

Occurs in low numbers in early spring, so in general its not correctly mention it as a wintering species.

Caspian Gull – Kaspisk Måge Larus cachinnans Few present along the Chui-channels and in ponds.

Columbidae Laughing Dove – Palmedue Streptopelia senegalensis ermanni Fairly common though usually 1-2 birds together in private house areas with gardens.

Alcedinidae Common Kingfisher – Isfugl Alcedo atthis atthis

Usually single birds present at the Chui-channels. Listen for their contact call.

Picidae

White-winged Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucopterus This is of course one of the ornithological highlights on a grey dark winterday... present in low numbers but

usually to be found along the Big-Chui channel in wooded areas eg. Close to Soviet Street. Listen for the

contact call; a typical Dendrocopos, short sharp “kyck.”

Troglodytidae Winter Wren – Gærdesmutte Troglodytes troglodytes (tianschanicus)

Few individuals usually seen and heard along the Little-Chui channel, in dense vegetation.

Turdidae

Common Blackbird - Solsort Turdus merula intermedius Common in gardens.

Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis

Again one of these nice Centralasian species the visiting birder can enjoy. Occurs in low

numbers, but actually possible to watch most places in the city – usually the contactcall are

heard from overflying birds. Its generally a

shy bird, but along the Chui-channels the chance of seeing one is fairly descent.

Especially in gardens where they fourage among fruittrees.

Paridae

Azure Tit – Azurmejse Parus cyanus koktalensis/tianschanicus Present in gardens and in the parks. Fairly

common but very silent during wintertime.

Great Tit – Musvit Parus major major

Common in gardens and parks.

Corvidae Eurasian Magpie – Husskade Pica pica bactriana

Common along the Chui-channels.

Western Jackdaw – Allike Corvus monedula soemmerringii Present in the huge Corvidae post-breeding roosts assemblages, but by far the least common. .

Rook – Råge Corvus frugilegus frugilegus Very common all over the city, and notorious common when seen flying to/from post-breeding roosts.

Carrion Crow – Sortkrage Corvus corone orientalis Fairly common but the least common Corvus in wintertime. Usually together with Hooded Crows

Hooded Crow – Gråkrage Corvus cornix sharpii Common winter visitor, but absent in summer!

Sturnidae

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis tristis Indeed common all over the city and wonderful enjoyable bird. Very smart and active part of the citylife in

Bishkek. Usually in small groups 4-6 but larger groups can be seen e.g. 40-50 along the Chui-channels.

Passeridae

Here is a subject worthwhile a closer examination... there is definitely something noteworthy about this family. I have seen several odd, strange... intergrades or ssp (?) not described in any available literature.

This is an issue Ill look for in future, and you should try to have an eye for this group and please let me know your opinion...

House Sparrow – Gråspurv Passer domesticus domesticus

Common.

Tree Sparrow – Skovspurv Passer montanus montanus & dilutus

Common.

Fringillidae

Common Chaffinch – Bogfinke Fringilla coelebs coelebs Winter visitor; usually in low numbers. Mostly seen along the Little-Chui channel.

Brambling – Kvækerfinke Fringilla montifringilla

Winter visitor. Few individuals and usually in mixed flocks with Common Chaffinch.

Red-fronted Serin – Rødpandet Irisk Serinus pusillus

Present during most of the winter along the Little-

Chui channel; 8-10 individuals.

European Greenfinch – Grønirisk Chloris chloris turkestanicus

Common but in low numbers. In gardens and cityparks.

European Goldfinch – Stillits Carduelis carduelis paropanisi Fairly common in small flocks in tall-grass areas, wooded areas and gardens.

Eurasian Siskin – Grønsisken Carduelis spinus Uncommon but seen and heard at few occasions;

mainly along Little-Chui channel.

Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus Scarce winter visitor, and very localised. Up to six

birds present all winter at the Little-Chui channel –

where this cross Soviet Street.

Emberizidae Yellowhammer/Pine Bunting

Gulspurv/Hvidkindet Værling Emberiza citronella/leucocephalos Contact call now and then heard from overflying

birds. Identical calls and if not seen impossible to separate on call.

Copyright © M.W.Andersen 2009

Miksture/Michael Westerbjerg Andersen Rungstedhave 13 C DK-2960 Rungsted Kyst Denmark Phone: +45 24 81 91 28

Web: www.miksture.com

Mail: michaelwandersen@hotmail.com