| Season phenology: |
average
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Weather conditions: |
Ice broke on the Ob' River on 18-19 May, which is 11-12 days earlier than average and one day earlier than in 2000. Weather was unstable in May, with returns of cold weather alternating warmings. Average temperature was close to normal for this month (-1.5øC). 1 and 12 May were rainy, and snowfalls were recorded to 20 May. Weather changed quickly on 25 May, with first thunderstorm and start of mass migration of birds on 26 May. End of month was warm and rainy, and snow melted in usual dates. In general, summer was moderately cool and moderately humid (average temperature slightly lower than in 2000). June was the coldest and wettest (av. temp. +7.3øC). July was relatively warm (av. temp. +13.3øC) with more frequent rains in the beginning and end of month. August was moderately warm (av. temp. +10.9øC) and more rainy in the end, while September was warm and dry, with frosts starting only after 20th. The first snow fell on 29 September, and snow cover established from 10 October.
Stormy northern winds with rain continuing for at least one day occurred in the beginning and middle June and in the very end of July. From 13 to 21 June rains with small intervals occurred daily.
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
high
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Breeding conditions:
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Arctic and Red foxes were not seen. Rough-legged Buzzard was common on migration in spring and rare in September in the floodplain, along with common there in autumn White-tailed Eagle, Northern Harrier and Short-eared Owl. Numbers of gulls were usual, but skuas were not seen.
Phenologically spring was close to normal. Part of local and early migrants appearred slightly earlier than average, but northern waders migrated at the usual time. Rough-legged Buzzard, Herring Gull and Fieldfare arrived on 1 May, Common Gull and Brambling - on 3 May, Chaffinch - on 4 May, White Wagtail - on 6 May, Redwing - on 12 May, Common Reed-Bunting, Meadow Pipit and Redstart - on 14 May, Common and Little gulls - on 17 May, Wood Sandpiper, Willow Warbler and Bluethroat - on 25 May, Little Bunting - on 26 May, Red-throated Pipit - on 27 May. Mass migration of waders and other birds started after 25 May, and was most active between 29 May and 1 June (Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Temminck's and Little stints, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper and Whimbrel). Autumn migration of waders has mostly terminated in August.
Among waders Terek Sandpiper and Common Snipe were common breeders, while numbers of WoodSandpiper, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and Red-necked Phalarope were below average. In tundra Long-tailed Duck had high numbers than in 2000, while Pintail, Common Gull and Arctic Tern were common there. In floodplain Tufted Duck, Black-headed and Little gulls and Common Tern were common, while Fieldfare nested in colonies.
Numerous records of juveniles in August indicated successful reproduction in pipits, White and Yellow wagtails, Willow and Arctic warblers, Bluethroat, Brambling, Redpol, Little Bunting and White-winged Crossbill. Active migration of waders was not observed, but in the second half of August the most often seen waders were represented by snipes, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Spotted Redshank, while Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin were seen occasionally. Solitary records of waders (Spotted Redshank and Great Snipe) were made in September, when many passerines (pipits, buntings, redpols), ducks, and, occasionally, geese, including Red-breasted, were passing by.
Although breeding conditions for birds were generally normal, many nests and juveniles could have died during rains and storms, especially strong to the north from the area of observations, in tundra zone.
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