At last, back to some serious birding around Islamabad.
Sunrise found us at the Eastern shoreline of Rawal Lake. The water level at the
lake was the highest we had witnessed. Consequently, the lake’s margins have
not been attractive to waders and the passage of this grouping of birds has
been poor in comparison to earlier years. Only two species were noted, a GREEN
SANDPIPER and the below flyby of BLACK-WINGED STILT.
 |
| Black-winged Stilts Sarel van Zyl |
However, there was still a sense of migration in the air and
some of the 57 species we found today were passage migrants and arriving winter
visitors. The most obvious of these birds were the 20 or so SIBERIAN STONECHAT
that we found amongst the reeds and around the stony fields that border the
lake’s margins. There were some cracking males but they eluded the cameras
today. So, the pictures below are of females/first winter birds.
 |
| Siberian Stonechat Riaz |
 |
| Siberian Stonechat Sarel van Zyl |
 |
| Black Bush Chat (male) Sarel van Zyl |
There were several WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL, a couple of
brightly coloured males but many more, drab in comparison, females and
juveniles. The male pictured below is of the race Motacilla flava beema that is also known as SYKES’S WAGTAIL. This
is one of the more common races that migrate through the Islamabad area.
 |
| Male Sykes's Wagtail Riaz |
 |
| Female Sykes's Wagtail Riaz |
A COMMON HOOPOE was feeding in a small field and we found a
beautiful BLUETHROAT furtively moving around the edge of the reeds offering
tantalising glimpses but it steadfastly refused to appear on film. Most of the
larks present were either ORIENTAL SKYLARK or CRESTED LARK.
 |
| Crested Lark Riaz |
However,
perseverance paid off and we located two GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK. There were
several PADDYFIELD PIPIT in the stony fields and we found a single TAWNY PIPIT
nearby that was pumping its tail in wagtail fashion.
 |
| Tawny Pipit Riaz |
Having once been a
rarity around the capital city, BROWN ROCK CHAT has now colonised the area and
wherever there are rocky outcrops or deserted buildings there is likely to be a
pair. Today was a case in point with a pair feeding well-developed young on a
stone wall. Nothing much was happening on the lake other than a few LITTLE
CORMORANT and some BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON flying low over the water looking
for fish. Over the reedbed BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER hawked insects and a
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE hovered nearby looking for a meal. Using the reeds as
perches PIED BUSH CHAT were plentiful and there were several ZITTING CISTICOLA
one of which appears below.
 |
| Zitting Cisticloa Sarel van Zyl |
 |
| Blue-tailed Bee-eater Riaz |
We moved across to Jinnah Road Marsh and immediately spotted
a superb COMMON KINGFISHER. There was a cacophony of noise coming from the
vegetation alongside the irrigation channel. The cause of the commotion was the
colony of BAYA WEAVER; some of which were building their intricately woven
nests.
 |
| Female Baya Weaver Nest Building Sarel van Zyl |
 |
| Female Baya Weaver Riaz |
The marsh was alive with birds; SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA used
the wires as perches and WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW and ASIAN HOUSE MARTIN chased
flying insects. Both BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER and GREEN BEE-EATER were seen and a
typically skulking BOOTED WARBLER was heard. The only other Warbler we noted
was a COMMON CHIFFCHAFF. The marsh is an important area for a scarce bird in Pakistan-term, the YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA. Consequently, evidence that the species has successfully bred is welcome news. The photographs below are of juvenile Yellow-bellied Prinias, the underparts of which are wholly yellow at this age.
 |
| Yellow-bellied Prinia (juvenile) Sarel van Zyl |
 |
| Yellow-bellied Prinia Riaz |
Another species of Prinia that we saw several of was PLAIN PRINIA and many of the birds were in fine song; if you can call a buzzing insect-like call a song. However, the call fitted in well amongst the environment of reedbeds.
 |
| Plain Prinia Riaz |
It is always worth checking the wires at the marsh and
on this occasion we noted a female “hepatic” morph Cuckoo. It could have been
one of three species: Common Cuckoo, Oriental Cuckoo or Himalayan Cuckoo. The
below photo was taken at some distance and for SvZ to have achieved any sort of
image was remarkable. However, the flight shot below displays a characteristic
of HIMALAYAN CUCKOO that is lacking in the other two species and that is the
unbarred area of under-wing at the bend of the wing. On the other two species
that area is barred (per HBW).
 |
| Female (Hepatic Morph) Himalayan Cuckoo Sarel van Zyl |
INDIAN POND HERON is a common species in Pakistan but they do tend to be photogenic subjects and often adopt some dramatic poses either in trees or in the water. The birding paparazzi can seldom pass by an opportunity to photograph them.
 |
| Indian Pond Heron (juvenile) Riaz |
 |
| Indian Pond Heron Sarel van Zyl |
A beautiful morning and a good day in birding terms. Two Pakistan Ticks added that takes the Islbirder Pakistan List up to 356. Greater Short-toed Lark and Himalayan Cuckoo were the additions. As we were packing away I casually asked my photographer chums "Did you get any good shots?" "No, nothing any good they both claimed". Well Dear Readers I'll let you make your own minds up on that one. No hides, sometimes handheld lenses and only a couple of hours. They did brilliantly and thanks to them as always.
