Rawal Lake Provides Lazy Birders A Great Afternoon

The weather at 0400 hours on Saturday 11 May 2013, General Election Day in Pakistan was gloomy, windy and overcast. So, rather lazily and following a series of text messages we decided the best thing was extra sleep. Having been away from Pakistan for two weeks I was keen to get back in the field. So, following a conversation with RMK we were off to the Eastern Shoreline of Rawal Lake at about 1330 hours. Whilst it is important to rise early if birding in woodland we believed that the lakeside offered us the best opportunity following our earlier torpor. RMK was trying to reassure me that the Megas that I had missed whilst being away would still be there. I was grateful for the optimism but I instinctively knew the Greater Sand Plover was long gone and so too, probably, the Baillon’s Crake. However, I hoped the Greater Painted Snipe might still be around. Even though I had seen Greater Painted Snipe in Pakistan one could not miss the chance of seeing another.

Indian Pond Heron in Breeding Plumage Sams Photography

Our arrival at the lakeside was greeted with a cacophony of bird song, mostly displaying ORIENTAL SKYLARK and ZITTING CISTICOLA. I told RMK that I would scan the water’s edge with the scope to see what was around as he set up his camera. I called out the birds as they came into view: LITTLE EGRET, INDIAN POND HERON, TEMMINCK’S STINT, COMMON SANDPIPER, BLACK STORK, BLACK-WINGED STILT. Hang on a minute Black Stork! Sure enough there was an immature Black Stork. This was only my second Black Stork in Pakistan, the first having been seen earlier in the year at the Chenab River near Sialkot in Punjab.

Immature Black Stork Sams Photography

Over the water there were Terns, lots of them. Emulating the behaviour of the Terns were several BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON that were flying low over the surface of the water and every so often would swoop down to try and pick up a small fish. This rather ungainly hunting technique appeared to be paying dividends.

I mentioned Terns. Both in the air and in amongst the flooded grassland in the North-eastern corner of the lake there were about 200 WHISKERED TERN. As I searched through the flying birds for the orange bill of the rare Black-bellied Tern, of which there were none, I did pick out two WHITE-WINGED TERN in summer plumage and a single GULL-BILLED TERN. The White-winged (or White-winged Black) Terns were a new addition to my Pakistan and resplendent they looked in their full summer apparel. Sadly, neither came into RMK’s lens range. Later the BLACK STORK took to the air and made for the seemingly more appropriate flooded grassland in the North-eastern corner.

Immature Black Stork Sams Photography

We searched the isolated and vegetation fringed pools that had been created when the floodwaters had receded to their current levels. A movement amongst the reeds caught our eye but before we could freeze a male GREATER PAINTED SNIPE took off only to land 75 yards away having flown a semi-circular route. We later inadvertently flushed a female of the same species. The following day RMK managed to capture this shot of a female Greater Painted Snipe on the Northern Shoreline of the lake.

Adult Female Greater Painted Snipe Sams Photography

It wasn’t long before we found the Baillon’s Crake (or another) around the same temporary pond. Although crepuscular and not photogenic, this super little bird did provide some good views. Amazingly, another addition to my Pakistan list.

As I scanned all areas of the lake we found a couple of other welcome additions to our day’s count: two RUDDY SHELDUCK, a male PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA with its improbably long tail and a pair of GARGANEY. On one of the small gravelly islands there were a large number of LITTLE CORMORANT there were also a couple of late GREAT CORMORANT with them. After adding LITTLE GREBE, GREY HERON, CITRINE WAGTAIL and PIED KINGFISHER to the mix we decided to move around to the Northern shoreline of the lake to where a reed-fringed river feeds into Rawal Lake. This was the area that RMK had taken the photograph of the fabulous Red-spotted Bluethroat only a week before. Sadly it had gone.

Blyth's Reed Warbler Sams Photography

BLYTH’S REED WARBLER is a very common double passage migrant in Pakistan. However, they do not like to show themselves. Their presence given away only by the “tutt tutt” contact call, they hide themselves amongst deep cover in bushes. The literature states they are not normally associated with reeds or water. Mostly true but in Pakistan due to the numbers that pass through on migration some do use such habitat as can be seen from RMK’s photograph below. Note the supercilium in front of and only just behind the eye and the all pale lower mandible.

Wire-tailed Swallow Sams Photography

As we waited to see if the Bluethroat would show, RMK took advantage of some photo opportunities. A couple of beautiful and delicate WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW began to hawk insects over the water. Anticipating where one might alight this superb picture was achieved. All three Kingfishers were at this location and a male INDIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE flew through. The reeds close to where the Bluethroat had been seen held a pair of YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA. A BLACK-RUMPED FLAMEBACK put in a brief performance and there was the usual supporting cast of LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, BLACK DRONGO, PLAIN PRINIA, COMMON TAILORBIRD, GREY FRANCOLIN, and many others.

Spotted Owlet Sams Photography

As we made our way around the perimeter of Lake View Park we stopped to admire this SPOTTED OWLET on the parapet of a bridge. In total we saw 70 species during our afternoon’s birding, which goes to prove that you don’t always have to get up before dawn. Hmmm! I wonder what would have been there at sunrise on this historic day in Pakistan’s history?