Independence Day Birding
As today was a public holiday celebrating the 65th
year of Pakistan’s independence we decided to visit the Margalla Ridge and
Rawal Lake, Lake View Park. We are glad we did because following a slow start
on the Ridge the birding picked up at Rawal Lake. As previously stated the
water level is seriously low and this is far more evident from the Lake View
Park shoreline. Half of the lake now appears to be pasture for the Water
Buffalo.
However, we started on the Margalla Ridge where our first
bird was a STRIATED PRINIA in full song. The origin of some noisy squawking was
identified as a young GREY TREEPIE being fed by an adult. A small group of
birds were represented by two species, COMMON TAILORBIRD and WESTERN CROWNED
WARBLER, at least three of the latter. The only other species of note was
ALPINE SWIFT and we watched twelve of these giants pass low over our heads
heading from east to west.
We began our walk at Lake View Park by following the path
around the arboretum. Immediately we were in to birds and there was a feel of
migration in the humid air. There were a least six GOLDEN ORIOLE moving around
that offered stunning views of both the males and females. A BLACK-RUMPED
FLAMEBACK allowed an unusually close approach and to watch this species is
always a pleasure. On the shorter grass a couple of EURASIAN HOOPOE hunted
insects and a RUFOUS TREEPIE called from amongst the treetops.
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| Rufous Treepie Zill Niazi |
Looking out over the savannah that used to be the lakebed a
small area of open water had a attracted a large number of LITTLE EGRET and
WESTERN CATTLE EGRET and amongst the grasses were INDIAN POND HERON and a good count of
about 40 RED-WATTLED LAPWING. Our visit on Saturday had been a washout
regarding migratory waders but today was different with at least 60 COMMON
GREENSHANK already congregated amongst the egrets. Over the same channel
BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER launched sorties after flying insects and a pair of PIED
KINGFISHER hovered over the water. However, sensibly they chose not to dive
into the very shallow pool.
Amongst a stand of reeds at the edge of the former lake were
two SYKES’ WARBLER that had recently left their breeding grounds in Siberia.
These were the first we had seen on their autumn passage that should be at its
height in Pakistan by mid-August. Sykes’ Warbler has recently been split from
Booted Warbler the eastern range of which extends to the Caspian Sea. We inadvertently
flushed a WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN from the same area.
In other lying water away from the remainder of the main
lake COMMON REDSHANK that numbered about a dozen fed on the edges and four
EURASIAN TEAL dabbled in the shallows.
Back on dry land there were several PIED CUCKOO, also known
as Pied Crested and Jacobin Cuckoo. At least three of this species were,
hopefully, temporarily incarcerated inside the partially completed aviary in
the Park. Other species seen included ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN, several juvenile
PIED BUSHCHAT and a BROWN ROCK CHAT.
