Rawal Lake East

I have about 15 months of birding records from in and around Islamabad and have yet to make the decision about whether to back record convert or not. My 300th species in Pakistan was a personal landmark so I will start with the circumstances regarding that numerical milestone. As all birders will know, lists are so important to the hobby.

Before birding began on Saturday 12 May 2012 my list was on 297. Waders were on my mind because of the time of year. As there has been so little rain recently the water levels in Rawal Lake are reducing leaving large areas of exposed mud and shingle, particularly on the eastern shoreline. So, that's where I drove my companions to as dawn broke on that day.

As we approached the lake we noticed the large number of BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON flying away from the lake along the Korang River. Others were still around the shoreline and in total we recorded more than 20 of this species. From the lakeside fields the distinctive calls of GREY FRANCOLIN were heard and a BLACK FRANCOLIN was nearby.

On the track in front of us ORIENTAL SKYLARK, CRESTED LARK and PADDYFIELD PIPIT were seen the latter also known by the rather unflattering name Oriental Pipit.  Clinging to the reeds were ZITTING CISTICOLA as others uttered the call in flight that gives them their name.

The short grass that has sprung into life due to the receding water levels harboured numerous wagtails including some full summer-plumaged CITRINE WAGTAIL, some YELLOW WAGTAIL (with their distinctive powder blue heads and white superciliums and several WHITE WAGTAIL of the race Motacilla alba dukhunensis.

Adult Male Citrine Wagtail islbirder

 

Water Buffalo were enjoying the new growth and CATTLE EGRET patrolled nearby looking for insects disturbed by the hooves. Pairs of RED-WATTLED LAPWING were nesting amongst the short grass and boulders and whilst some still sat on eggs other were already new parents with their young looking vulnerable. LITTLE RINGED PLOVER also appeared to be breeding around the margins of the lake; at least a couple of pairs were noted.

On an island of exposed shingle sat a group of more than 60 WHISKERED TERN all of which were in their smart breeding dress. Amongst them was my 298th species in Pakistan in the form of three GULL-BILLED TERN. Most of the migratory duck species had long gone but with the scope we were able to pick out two RUDDY SHELDUCK on the north-eastern shore, a male GARGANEY was much closer and a lone female TUFTED DUCK looked lost.

Following a very close but careful approach a group of waders allowed us to scrutinise, at close range, the differences between TEMMINCK'S STINT which is a winter visitor to Pakistan and LITTLE STINT, a passage migrant. I was surprised that there were still over 100 Temminck's around the lake. LITTLE STINT numbered only about 20 but in the beautiful morning light the white V on the mantle stood out as did the yellow-ish legs of the TEMMINCK'S STINT. Amongst the waders were two COMMON SANDPIPER, six COMMON GREENSHANK and a solitary BLACK-WINGED STILT,  a remnant of the much larger number that graced Rawal Lake earlier in the year.

Terek Sandpiper & Curlew Sandpiper Inbound Rawal Lake Islamabad Lynne Newton

A flurry of wader activity in flight drew our attention and my excitement. I had struggled in the 280s to add new species to my Pakistan List but two new additions arrived at the same time in the same flock. When the birds alighted on the same shingle island I could not conceal my joy at seeing ten summer-plumaged CURLEW SANDPIPER, number 299, and 26 TEREK SANDPIPER. From what I can gather TEREK SANDPIPER should have been over 1500 kilometres away migrating along the Pakistani coastline not near the outer foothills of the Himalaya. Inland records of TEREK SANDPIPER are rare in Pakistan so a suitably apt addition to my Pakistan List to be numbered 300.

Terek Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper & Little Stint at Rawal Lake Islamabad Lynne Newton

Other species of note at the lake were several GREY HERON, numerous LITTLE EGRET and LITTLE CORMORANT, PIED BUSH CHAT, BROWN ROCK CHAT, COMMON BABBLER, LONG-TAILED SHRIKE and PIED KINGFISHER. The latter showing off as they hovered above the water. The ubiquitous, in Pakistan terms, BLACK KITE were showing off their aerial superiority and others were loafing around the shoreline of the lake.

On the way to "our special marsh", I had the pleasure of pointing out to my companions a BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE sitting on a wire. At the marsh, the photographers in our small party had a field day; visually feasting on the delights of the recently arrived BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER, STREAKED WEAVER and BAYA WEAVER. We tried to spot a summer-plumaged male RED AVADAVAT but had to make do with the slightly less impressive females and some SCALY-BELLIED MUNIA as well as a few INDIAN SILVERBILL.

A WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN ran across the path from a reedbed and a GREATER COUCAL laboured in flight nearby. In a tree next to the path we spotted an almost reptilian female ASIAN KOEL being mobbed unmercifully by RED-VENTED BULBUL. I failed at my attempt to "pish" a YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA from its reedbed hiding place but we did see some GREY-BREASTED PRINIA. Watching a late CLAMOROUS REED WARBLER out in the open was a treat; unlike the SYKE'S WARBLER that remained hidden from view, its presence detected only by its call. We managed to scope a male PURPLE SUNBIRD that reflected all of its iridescent glory in the early morning sunlight.

The raucous call of a RUFOUS TREEPIE gave away its location and whilst watching that we found a single COMMON ROSEFINCH; perhaps a straggler from the huge flocks that passed through Islamabad and the surrounding areas in April. Overhead was a good variety of birds; as well as the ever present BLACK KITE, there were some WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW offering further photographic opportunities. Not so the PLAIN MARTIN, and numerous STREAK-THROATED SWALLOW; the latter from the colony that nests under a nearby road bridge.

So a pleasing and rewarding morning and worth the struggle out of bed. It has to be said that one of our party had been surprised that are two four o'clocks in the day. More than 60 species were recorded and when I checked next day the flock of TEREK SANDPIPER had moved on from Rawal Lake as had all but one of the CURLEW SANDPIPER. However, one more GULL-BILLED TERN had arrived. Right place, right time, what must we miss?

As I sit here writing this, my first blog, I am watching a couple of HOUSE CROW dip the toast I had left out for them in water to soften it before consumption. Clever birds; more so than the HIMALAYAN BULBUL that persists in attacking its own reflection in the window to the accompaniment of the monotonous beat of a COPPERSMITH BARBET. We haven't seen Rocky One or Rocky Two today; they being our resident pair of BROWN ROCK CHAT but the RED-VENTED BULBUL, COMMON MYNA, ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN and COMMON TAILORBIRD are all present and accounted for!  I hope to persuade my photographer friend to allow me to use some of his shots within the blog. If I do it will be worth visiting for them alone. With grateful thanks to photographer Lynne Newton whose photographs of the Terek Sandpiper will assist in me getting this exciting record for Islamabad Birding accepted.