ASG Birding Field Trip May 2012

Rawal Lake Eastern Shore & Jinnah Road Marsh

On Saturday 26 May 2012 I led a group of birders who are all members of the Asian Study Group (ASG) to Rawal Lake and Jinnah Road Marsh. In total there were 13 of us, including some intrepid local kids, who managed to drag ourselves out into the field for a 0530 hours start on the eastern shoreline of Rawal Lake. Amongst the grasses and small cultivated area alongside the track to the lakeside we saw many of the expected species including ORIENTAL SKYLARK that were feeding young, displaying CRESTED LARK and numerous PADDYFIELD PIPIT. From the tops of bushes male PIED BUSHCHAT sang loudly. COMMON BABBLER scurried about in the small area of cultivated land and amongst the long grasses we obtained some good views of ZITTING CISTICOLA as BLACK DRONGO hawked insects nearby.

As we made our way to the area close to where the Korang River enters the lake we watched several BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. With the exception of the breeding RED-WATTLED LAPWING and pair of LITTLE RINGED PLOVER all of the migratory waders have moved on. There were still some terns although the 60 WHISKERED TERN had dwindled to 13 but the GULL-BILLED TERN total had increased to 11 in number.

The usual supporting cast was around the lakeside in the form of LITTLE CORMORANT, LITTLE EGRET and CATTLE EGRET on the grassy shorelines. A pair of PIED KINGFISHER put on a display of synchronised diving and a few GREY HERON stalked the shallows.

As the sun began to break through following a stormy night we made our way to what I call Jinnah Road Marsh; an area of irrigated fields and marshy ground that has been the scene of many good finds for me. Not least, the superb HIMALAYAN RUBYTHROAT (or White-tailed Rubythroat) and male SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER that spent a proportion of last winter in this area; both altitudinal migrants from the Himalayas. As we drove onto the broken concrete track that leads into the marsh we spotted a WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER that joined a female on a nearby wire and offered her a fish. A HOOPOE flew across the field as we began to add a number of birds to our ‘day-list’. BLUE-THROATED BEE-EATERS chased flying insects above our heads, on occasions, so closely that their snapping bills could be heard. A COMMON HAWK-CUCKOO flew along the track and we saw several BAYA WEAVER that are recently arrived and already tidying up last year’s nests. A group of finches caught our attention and closer examination revealed that it was made up of RED AVADAVAT, SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA and INDIAN SILVERBILL.

Baya Weaver (female) Zill Niazi

 We had good views of an ASHY DRONGO identified by its red eyes and lack of white spot at the base of the bill. These are normally found a little higher up in the Margalla Hills. The photographers in the party were enjoying recording many of the species that we saw and when a LAUGHING DOVE posed in a nearby tree lenses were pointed in its direction. The wires in this area are an attraction to many species and a pair of LONG-TAILED SHRIKE and some WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW took advantage of these man-made perches.

On a ploughed field a male INDIAN ROBIN displayed to its mate and PLAIN PRINIA, GRACEFUL PRINIA  and GREY-BREASTED PRINIA were in full song; as was a male COMMON TAILORBIRD that makes a considerable noise for such a small bird. Every flowering tree had attracted numbers of the iridescent male PURPLE SUNBIRD and the olive and yellow females. The winter’s Leaf Warblers appear to have moved on and the only warblers recorded were one BLYTH’S REED WARBLER and a some calling SYKES’S WARBLER.

Plain Prinia  Zill Niazi

By 1000 hours it was becoming hotter and heading towards the 40 degrees that will be the daytime maximum for the coming week. In total we saw 48 different species of birds and so ended the ASG birding season for 2011/2012.  As I sit writing this blog I am watching a pair of GREAT TIT search the garden plants for insects and our resident pair of ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN bathe in and drink from the birdbath. As the weather heats up you will see more garden birds if you provide a regular supply of water for them. Saucers, the type in which plant pots stand, are ideal but once you start you must keep up the supply of water, as the birds will become reliant on your support.