Posts

Searching for the Pheasants of Pakistan

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After accepting the invitation to become a Board member for WWF Pakistan,   Swabibirder  has been given more responsibilities. Not only will he continue to photograph birds, he will also undertake a special task as the youngest board member.   This time the mission was to find the elusive Cheer Pheasant ( Catreus wallichii ) in the mountains of Hazara division and a short survey to confirm the observations. On the 15 October 2022, I left Islamabad along with the team at 0400 hrs. Thanks to the motorway network, we crossed Manshera district in two hours and after driving for another two hours, we reached Panja Gali.   Panja Gali is at 2200 feet above sea level. The only forest left is a few square kilometres, and the area is the place to search for Cheer Pheasant. Cheer Pheasant was once on the verge of extinction due to poaching, hunting and grass burning. Now with the help of WWF Pakistan and KPK Wildlife their number has grown and an estimated 20 pairs have been recorded. We spent th
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Margalla Hills Trail 5

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Although the weather is currently hot Swabi Birder still managed to photograph some amazing wildlife during a recent trek along Trail 5 of the Margalla Hills National Park near Islamabad. Blue-throated Flycatcher (Female) Grey-hooded Warbler Orange-headed Thrush (Male) Rhesus Macaque White-throated Fantail (Juvenile)
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It's Been a While but Worth the Wait

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Swabi Birder has been out and about and he has shared his latest incredible images with us.  Hello everyone,  SwabiBirder  is with you again.   My life was much like a rollercoaster for the last year. Covid-19 has affected everyone’s lives and so was mine. Life was more tough every day. Businesses were hard to run and political instabilities have gripped the country. Beside that a few family marriages and so much personal issues kept me away from my birding life. But now I am back!  Islbirder  have already shared the images of my recent trips around Islamabad, Abbottabad and into Shogran Valley of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.   I wish you all a happy life and I shall be sharing some lovely bird stories from Pakistan. Before I sign off you might be glad to know that WWF Pakistan has taken invited me to become a Member of its Board of Governors.    That will give me more opportunities to serve the natural world of Pakistan. Orange Bullfinch The Orange Bullfinch is one of my favourite birds is
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A Birding Trip to Ayubia

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On 7 May 2021, my good friend Swabi Birder travelled to the Ayubia National Park located in the Abbottabad District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Although the weather was very wet, Swabi Birder managed to obtain some lovely photographs which bears testimony to his fieldcraft and skills as a photographer. I hope you enjoy these his images. Green-backed Tit Black-throated Tit Spot-winged Tit Rufous-bellied Niltava Rufous Sibia Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush Well done Mate! Stay safe Islbirder
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The Breeding Season in the Margalla Hills & a Trip to Shogran

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The changing season in Islamabad has pushed the overwintering visitors to higher altitudes and the breeding season is in full swing within the Margalla Hills National Park. Verditer Flycatcher   During weekend of 27 & 28 March 2021, I excitedly anticipated two full days of birding. On 27 March me,  SWABI BIRDER  along with  Mrs.  SWABI BIRDER   visited an area of woodland within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, to check on how the birds are preparing for their breeding season. The dry branches have their leaves and birds were extremely active. Speckled Piculet (Male) We sat quietly near to a water source and after few moments birds started coming to drink. Firstly, a Verditer Flycatcher that was quickly followed by a superb Speckled Piculet. Also in branches was a Grey-hooded Warbler in full breeding plumage. Grey-hooded Warbler   A female Common Rosefinch alighted nearby on a branch. On the edge of the stream area was a beautiful Grey Wagtail, in full breeding colours picking insect
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Swabi Birder & ZR Experience Birding Nirvana

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With an apparent lack of birds seen along the Trails of the Margalla Hills National Park above Islamabad, possibly due to the unseasonably warm winter or the sheer number of visitors now using the footpaths; we decided to extend the search criteria for new species.   On 5 February 2021, ZR and I made an early morning start and headed towards Abbottabad along the new CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) and we reached our planned destination, a valley 20km north of Nathia Gali in about 70 minutes.            We started our birding along the stream winding its way through the valley wooded with pine trees. It didn’t take long before we heard the loud call of a Spotted Forktail ( Enicurus maculatus ). Once we located the chorister, I managed to take a photograph of this stunning bird. We noted many Green-backed Tits ( Parus monticolus ) and some Warblers that we didn’t see well enough for specific identification.   Spotted Forktail © Riaz After walking for about 5km along the valley, I
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Birding Angoori & Finding Rarities

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Swabi Birder got lucky in the worst ever migration to Margalla Hills National Park Hello everyone, this is  Swabi Birder  from Islamabad. When I look back at the time it’s about twelve years that I have been photographing birds in Pakistan and my ability to find birds in the Margala Hills is much recognised at every level.    I can’t forget the golden time when  Islbirder  and I would witness birds everywhere in Islamabad. Water points and shrubs, trees and trails, everywhere you could listen to birds calling and see them flying around.   NOW I am terribly upset this year about the seeming lack of winter birdlife. I may not know the exact reason what might have done that. It might be change in migration pattern or the amount of people rushing on to trails in national park with BBQ stands and audio players. Golden Bush Robin female (Swabi Birder) Anyways amid all this, I decided to move to the place called Angoori. This place is famous for birds of prey and robins. Early in morning on
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