Rare Birds Found in Pakistan


Islbirder was birding on the muddy perimeter of a West Midlands Industrial Estate in the centre of the England looking for a Hume’s Warbler, the first record for the Region and a British Tick. It was freezing cold with squally and heavy showers. He was thinking what on earth am I doing here? It was only a few short weeks ago that Hume’s Warbler was a regular visitor to his Islamabad garden. At the same time RMK had taken a week away from his office to undertake an expedition to photograph some of the resident species and exciting winter visitors to Pakistan. RMK takes up the story of his memorable birding holiday.

It’s been a strange winter and I am very sorry to inform you that this year the numbers of birds visiting Islamabad and Punjab appear to be reduced. On Saturday 25 January 2014 I visited Trail 5 within the Margalla Hills National Park. This was the famous Trail 5 that we had visited on many occasions and seen such wonderful species. However, birds were few. The CDA had widened the track and many of the people walking it appeared to have forgotten that whilst it is there for them to enjoy it is also a wildlife park. It appeared they would rather shout, play loud music and some would even make fires for BBQs along the path.

Nevertheless, I managed to get shots of a female BLUE-FRONTED REDSTART. Other birds that came in for water at the spring were, BLUE WHISTLING THRUSH, WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL and RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX. There were a few Warblers, including a stunning GREY-HOODED WARBLER and a few ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE were also present in the area.

Female Blue-fronted Redstart Riaz
Red-billed Leiothrix Riaz
On Sunday 26 January 2014, it was a warmer day with the temperature touching 22 degrees, unusual at Islamabad at this time of the year (LOL a hot summer’s day in the UK Islbirder). I had a lazy start and visited the marsh area around 0900 hours. The reeds had been cut down once again and birds in the area must have moved to some dense shrubs. I could see few HIMALAYAN BULBUL and some PRINIA spp along the edges. Surprisingly, a BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE was sitting on a branch and I managed to  get a lovely shot with an awesome back drop.

Black-shouldered Kite Riaz

After having two days in Islamabad, on 27 January I left Islamabad early in the morning at 0300 hours and travelled to an area near Balwal in the Punjab. My plan was to photograph a very rare species; a DUSKY EAGLE OWL. 0630 hours was the time to see the Dusky Eagle Owl near its nest, which was in a tall tree. A local boy in the area had indicated the location of the nest. As it became light, we all waited anxiously to take a shot of this majestic bird.  Photography is difficult and sometimes one gets unlucky, as I saw the Dusky Eagle Owl fly in dark hours and I missed the photograph. Sorry guys may be I will be able to take a shot and share with you this gorgeous bird of prey. But we have to remember not to disturb the bird in its habitat is a rule of birding.

White-throated Kingfisher Riaz
 
Norther Lapwing Riaz
Siberian Stonechat Riaz
Lake Balwal is another good place to visit and see different birds. We saw BLUETHROAT, a pair of ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS , PRINIA, WHITE-TAILED LAPWING, PIED KINGFISHER, COMMON KINGFISHER, PAINTED SNIPE and NORTHERN LAPWING. Unfortunately the birds of Balwal Lake are very difficult to photograph. On inquiring from the local photographer the reason of it, he responded quickly, was that hunting is the main reason. I decided to drive off to the Chenab River at Marala near Sailkot on 28 January.  This has been an amazing place to see flying machine called the BAR-HEADED GOOSE A local photographer and a wildlife lover Kamran was anxiously waiting for us.
 
Black Storks Riaz
 
Black Storks Riaz
Western Marsh Harrier Riaz

Eurasian Spoonbills Riaz
Great Egrets Riaz
Indian Pond Heron Riaz
Early next morning we set our hides up at 0600 hours near one of the pools, where BLACK STORK had been seen a few days previously. As the sun began to rise, few COMMON GREENSHANK appeared first in pond and were catching small fish. Shortly after that INDIAN POND HERON, LITTLE EGRET, INTERMEDIATE EGRET and GREAT EGRET started to gather along the shore.  After about half an hour Black Storks and EURASIAN SPOONBILL appeared flying overhead. The Black Storks soon got busy catching fish whilst the Spoonbills were not willing to come down and join the feast.  After about two hours I left the hideout and started patrolling on the track around the ponds to find some new birds.
Common Redshanks Riaz
We stopped the car next to a tree where a BLACK-RUMPED FLAMEBACK was busy eating bugs seized from holes in the bark. A group of LONG-TAILED MINIVET was also hunting in the area. As the sun was heating up we could hear the sound of Bar-headed Geese in the area and we could see them flying in to the wheat field surrounded by colourful mustard crops. We could also see some of them resting along the shore of river on the sand. Amazingly, these birds can fly through the Himalayas during their incredible migration.

Male Long-tailed Minivet Riaz
Female Long-tailed Minivet
Female Black-rumped Flameback Riaz
 
Indian Roller Riaz
Indian Roller Riaz
Rufous-tailed Shrike Riaz
Common Starling Riaz
Black Drongo Riaz
We also noticed that HIMALAYAN GREENFINCH, INDIAN ROLLER, COMMON STARLING, LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, ISABELLINE SHRIKE (also known as Red-tailed Shrike) and a BLACK DRONGO were all enjoying the winter sun with the lovely backdrop of wheat fields. As the evening was about to come and light was fading, we went back to the pond area and a gorgeous PALLAS’S GULL was busy fishing. Amazing flight and finally he got the big fish!


Pallas's Gull Riaz
Later in the evening we went to the fields and saw about 200 hundred Bar-headed Geese busily grazing. As a wildlife photographer, besides photographing a bird it’s very important to show it in its environment and I shot these beautiful birds with amazing light as the sun was about to sleep. Marala has been an amazing place for birding and photographing. I missed the company of Islbirder who was fighting with the bad weather in the UK.





Bar-headed Geese Riaz

On 30 January, I headed back to Islamabad to explore the western side of Margalla Hills and famous woodland, which has always provided us with surprises. After having a day of rest at Islamabad, on 1 February 2014.  SVZ and I headed straight for the woodland at the backside Margalla Hills. This place is always full of birds.  The water source and stream were all dried out but the spring at shrine is always with water .We sat there for half an hour and surprisingly birds started coming down for water. We could see and photograph CHESTNUT THRUSH, BLUE-THROATED BARBET, CINEREOUS TIT, CHESTNUT-BELLIED NUTHATCH, BLUE WHISTLING THRUSH, GREEN-BACKED TIT, GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRD, LEMON-RUMPED WARBLER, GREY-HOODED WARBLER, RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX and VARIEGATED LAUGHINGTHRUSH. It was a good day and lovely week to see so many birds at one place but here again.
We miss Islbirder and his company followed by a warm cup of coffee from Mrs Islbirder. We wish you a safe wet week ahead as the weather is forecasting more rains, gales and weather seems chilled (thanks for that RMK!).


Blue-throated Barbet Riaz

Cinereous Tit Riaz

Green-backed Tit Riaz

Chestnut Thrush Riaz

Grey-hooded Warbler Riaz

Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler Riaz
From Islbirder

I miss you chaps too and the wonderful country that is home and that I am proud to say was mine for three years. I am so pleased that my friends are still birding and not only that but finding and photographing some wonderful species. The photographs are breathtaking and some species are so rarely captured on film. The following photograph taken by RMK has me puzzled. On first look I thought the bird was a Yellow-breasted (or Himalayan) Greenfinch. However, the chestnut colour, white wing patches and streaking on the breast are all reminiscent of Yellow-breasted Bunting. If it is the latter then it would be only the second record of Yellow-breasted Bunting in Pakistan. The first was seen along the Makran Coast in 1901. I have yet to make up my mind and must do some more research on the colouration of first-winter Himalayan Greenfinches. The fact it has no tail doesn’t help matters! Let us know what you think Gajus!

Yellow-breasted Bunting Is this the first Pakistan Record for 114 years?
Punjab Sunset Riaz

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