The Eastern Shore of Rawal Lake & The Marsh

On Sunday 9 December 2012 we ventured onto the eastern
shoreline of Rawal Lake to look for wintering duck, waders and gulls. As we
made our way through the grasses and reeds towards the lake several ZITTING
CISTICOLA were present. This diminutive but smart little Warbler has a
distinctive call that gives it the name. Closer towards the lake were half a
dozen LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and as many PIED KINGFISHER hovered over the
shallows in the distance. There were numerous BLACK-HEADED GULL and several PALLAS’S
(or GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL); these are striking birds and a couple of the
adults amongst them were sporting the black head and yellow bill of the summer
plumage.
A few GREY HERON were around the margin of the lake and at least one GREAT EGRET. Other than the Little Ringed Plovers waders consisted of a COMMON SANDPIPER, some TEMINCK’S STINT, a few NORTHERN LAPWING and several GREENSHANK. There were some EURASIAN COOT occupying the shallow and seven POCHARD in slightly deeper wate…
A few GREY HERON were around the margin of the lake and at least one GREAT EGRET. Other than the Little Ringed Plovers waders consisted of a COMMON SANDPIPER, some TEMINCK’S STINT, a few NORTHERN LAPWING and several GREENSHANK. There were some EURASIAN COOT occupying the shallow and seven POCHARD in slightly deeper wate…