Long-legged Buzzard in D12 Sector Islamabad


Today, we thought we would explore some different habitat and at dawn we were in the D12 Sector of Islamabad. Whilst, arguably not the most picturesque of locations, with its partly built residences and plots in preparation, it does contain some small cultivated fields, scrubland and a backdrop of the Margalla Hills. We were there looking for migrants with some limited success. The unseasonably warm and wet weather persists and there has been little evidence that migration is in full swing.

The large Bayan Tree at the small shrine looked perfect for a SPOTTED OWLET and so it proved with this young bird doing its best to look inconspicuous but not quite achieving it.

SPOTTED OWLET Riaz
This was the first of 39 different species we were to encounter during this outing. We had hoped for Chats and Larks and we were not disappointed. Both CRESTED LARK and ORIENTAL SKYLARK provided good views. However, the overcast and drizzly conditions made photography hard work. There were plenty of SIBERIAN STONECHAT but two male and a female VARIABLE WHEATEAR caught our attention. The lack of black on the outertail feathers of this female below ruled out Pied Wheatear.

Variable Wheatear (Female) Riaz
Large numbers of TREE PIPIT had been passing through our area and there were more this morning. This typical autumn bird was skulking through the undergrowth when photograph. We had carefully checked all Tree Pipits in the hope of locating a migratory Olive-backed Pipit but no such luck today! The Tree Pipit in the photograph below can be identified as such by the lack of contrasting supercilium and the less obvious pale and dark areas behind the ear coverts.

Tree Pipit Riaz
We watched a superb BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE in the early morning light that was quartering the fields and occasionally stopping to hover over potential prey. Whilst watching it the Black-shouldered Kite made one dive but missed its potential victim.

Black-shouldered Kite (hovering) Riaz
There were several HOOPOE, an INDIAN ROLLER, PADDYFIELD PIPIT, PLAIN PRINIA and ZITTING CISICOLA to name but a few species but the star of the show was this beautiful LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD. This was our first of this winter but not our earliest. Those were seen on 1 October 2011 and 29 September 2012.

Long-legged Buzzard Riaz
The PIED CUCKOO or JACOBIN CUCKOO is a late arrival in Pakistan and breeds during the monsoon. They are not normally that shy, unlike many members of its genus. However, this individual decided to play “hard to get”.

Pied Cuckoo Riaz
An equally monochrome species is pictured below, a CINEREOUS TIT. This species used to belong to the Great Tit family but has recently been taxonomically split.

Cinereous Tit Riaz
My sincere thanks go to RMK for his wonderful photographs taken in adverse light conditions. That we came away with any images bear testimony to his skills with camera and lens. May I wish everyone in Pakistan Eid Mubarak.

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