Dunga Gali Part One


After leaving Le Grande at Changla Gali on Monday 3 June 2012 we made our way to Dunga Gali where we checked in at the Hotel Mukshpuri with its very pleasant gardens. After dropping our gear we left to take the famous Pipeline Trek and at 8,200 feet above sea level there was a chance of some interesting avifauna. It is about 4.5 kilometres from Dunga Gali to Ayubia. Again our arrival coincided with the hottest part of the day and whilst it was ten degrees cooler that the 45 degrees in Islamabad, it was still warm. Birds were few and far between. We saw some RUFOUS-NAPED TIT and even more SPOT-WINGED TIT amongst the pine trees. The Pipeline Trek is so named because it follows the route of the pipe carrying water from Dunga Gali to Murree. The trek follows the perimeter of the valley high up on the cliff faces. Consequently, in places you walk level with the treetops. The valley resounded with the calls of GREAT BARBET that were accentuated by the echoes during our whole time there.

Close to the start of the trek we watched a VERDITER FLYCATCHER perched in the top of a dead tree. In the bright sunlight its colour was impressive. A YELLOW-BILLED BLUE MAGPIE flew below us giving us great views of both its plumage and its lengthy tail. Other flybys included many SLATY-HEADED PARAKEETS. Birding was tough so it was pleasing to see a group of WESTERN CROWNED WARBLER that came incredibly close in response to my “pishing”. This technique is used by birders to attract birds doesn’t often work but when it does it is impressive and the warblers gave us stunning views.

Sadly, we managed only fleeting glimpses of a HIMALAYAN WOODPECKER but watching a singing GREEN-BACKED TIT through the scope was outstanding. We heard both EURASIAN CUCKOO and ORIENTAL CUCKOO calling; the latter sounding somewhat like a Hoopoe. Another ‘heard only’ was a BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLER that responded to a whistled imitation of its distinctive call. Surely an early morning visit to the Pipe Line Trek would produce more birds.

Ultramarine Flycatcher Steve & Rachel Tedd

Whilst taking refreshment in the garden of the Hotel Mukshpuri we watched a BAR-TAILED TREECREEPER ascend a tree and we had good views of a superb male ULTRAMARINE FLYCATCHER. On several occasions a BLUE WHISTLING THRUSH visited the garden and several SLATY-HEADED PARAKEET whistled over our heads. RUSSET SPARROWS were nesting in the holes in a perimeter wall. We decided to walk the short distance to the reservoir and many ASIAN HOUSE MARTIN flew over the water. Amongst them were at least two RED-RUMPED SWALLOW. Some in our group watched a pitiful and rare event when two Asian House Martin collided and one unfortunate bird fell into the water where it drowned.

We managed to scope a male BROWN-FRONTED WOODPECKER in a nearby tree and a singing male ROCK BUNTING in another. However, we could not find a White-cheeked Nuthatch that would have been a lifer for some. Following a failed Owl and Nightjar session after dinner we called it a day and another early morning beckoned.

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