Rare & Beautiful Birds Photographed near Islamabad

There is nothing more exciting than receiving an email from my close friend RMK that has attachments as I know they will contain outstanding photographs of the beautiful birds he has seen in Pakistan.

It is now two years since we left Pakistan following our three-year residence and I miss my birding friends from Pakistan, South Africa, The Netherlands, Australia, France and the US. We shared many great times discovering the delights of birding in a country that has been in recent years, very under-watched, in ornithological terms. This makes birding in Pakistan both exciting and challenging. Exciting because of the discoveries that are being and can be made and challenging because of the security situation.

RMK is forging ahead with ambitious but achievable plans to help protect Pakistan’s wildlife and one hopes with an improving situation eco-tourism might offer the people of Pakistan opportunities that will improve their livelihoods but also provide a chance for the wildlife in a symbiotic relationship. RMK has brought together a Team of Pakistani photographers all of whom are committed to conservation. Through showcasing their work it is hoped more and more young people in Pakistan will gain an interest in the wildlife on their doorsteps. Of course, there will always be conflicting requirements but RMK is at the forefront dissolving these stark differences.

Some of the species that are portrayed in the following photographs I spent many days trying to find without success. However, what is somewhat reassuring is that I was looking in the right places. So, I had been barking up the right trees at the right time of year but had been unlucky. The names of villages in the text our regular readers may recognise from earlier postings.

Just before we get into the birds; RMK wanted to apologise for the lack of postings on the Blog but his recent heavy workload had prevented him from getting out into the field as often as he’d have wanted.

We have mentioned altitudinal migration many times before and winter in the Margalla Hills, forming a dramatic backdrop to Islamabad is a great place to witness the delights it brings during the period December to March. RMK stated that the winter, so far this year has been wet and there is plenty of water rushing through the streams and nullahs in the Margalla Hills. Consequently, the traditional drinking pools and springs used by birds in drier winters have not achieved their magnetic attraction this year. As a result, birds can be harder to find but you wouldn’t think so looking at these photographs. What they indicate is the skill and field craft of the photographers: RMK, ZR and RS.

The last time a GOLDEN BUSH ROBIN was reliably recorded in the Margalla Hills, according to Roberts, was in November 1983. Well, dear Readers, 32 years later it has happened again and substantiated by ZR’s fantastic photograph. Golden Bush Robin is considered a very rare and local resident in Pakistan.

What a beauty! Golden Bush Robin ZR

RMK visited the area at least ten times after ZR’s discovery but they could not relocate this enigmatic species. Continuing his rich vein of fortune ZR also discovered this cracker, a SPOTTED FORKTAIL. What an astounding find; not as rare as the Golden Bush Robin but in three winters of searching the Margallas I failed to catch up with this species.

Spotted Forktail ZR

I lost count of the number of times that RMK and I searched the crystal-clear flowing stream that passes through the village of Neelan Bhoto, deep in the Margalla Hills. We rightly believed that the area was ideal habitat for CRESTED KINGFISHER. A local man described the bird perfectly and stated he often saw it in the area. Again, in three years of trying I failed to see one. But through RMK’s perseverance he has managed to find this this impressive bird. Not only that but on 13 December 2015 they managed to see all four species of Pakistan’s kingfishers on the same wire simultaneously at Neelan Bhoto: Crested Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher and Common Kingfisher. This small village must be one of incredibly few places; anywhere in the world that such a sighting could be achieved. Then, if that wasn’t enough, RMK’s Group found another two Crested Kingfishers in the village of Talhar, even closer to Islamabad!

 

Crested Kingfisher RMK

Another awesome find was made by RS at Neelan Bhoto; when I saw BROWN DIPPER in Pakistan, I had to make the arduous journey to the Deosai Plateau in Baltistan in the north of the country. I found this species in a stream below the Plateau. However, RS located this Brown Dipper at Neelan Bhoto; a Lifer for all three photographers.

Brown Dipper RS

WHITE-CAPPED WATER REDSTART is a beautiful looking species and can also be found in the Margalla Hills during winter. In fact this species can be found in the city of Islamabad from late November to March in the nullahs flowing through the city. Watching these birds in previous years at Saidpur Nullah, the contrast of their beauty to the ugliness of the rubbish that had been dumped in the water was stark.

White-capped Water Redstart RMK

Another species I was lucky enough to see, mine at Taxila amongst the archaeological ruins, was WALLCREEPER. However, RMK and ZR saw one at Talhar Village and RMK managed to obtain this superb photograph. I don’t think much of the pointing of the brickwork but the Wallcreeper is outstanding!

Wallcreeper RMK

If all this wasn’t enough the Team managed to get some more fantastic shots of birds typical of the Margalla Hills during the winter months.

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch ZR

Great Barbet ZR

Female Grey Bushchat RMK

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (of the subspecies Accipiter nisus melaschistos) RMK

Brown-fronted Woodpecker RMK

And finally…………….. Is there any place in the world I would rather be than the Margalla Hills during the winter? The answer is a resounding No! Well done Team and I wish you all the best for your continued ornithological exploration of the Margalla Hills National Park. Which one of you will photograph the Common Leopard first? Now there’s a challenge but preferably use a lens with a longish focal length.

Whatever your belief we wish all of our Readers a very Happy Christmas and Holiday period and we hope you see lots of birds during this time. Islbirder