Changla Gali Part Two


We were up at 5.30am on Monday 4 June 2012 and birding shortly afterwards, again in the vicinity of Le Grande Hotel Changla Gali. There were certainly more birds around than we had seen during the previous day. The sky seemed full of ASIAN HOUSE MARTIN and numerous RUSSET SPARROW surrounded the hotel and nearby buildings. An impressive sight was a group of three VARIEGATED LAUGHINGTHRUSH as they chased each other around the trunk of a large pine before reaching the top and moving on. The pairs of SPOT-WINGED TIT were busy feeding their young and a pair of GREEN-BACKED TIT foraged in a low bush. The singing ROCK BUNTING was occupying the same tree top venue from which to perform and at least three pairs of VERDITER FLYCATCHER were seen.

As we moved along the track we came across a party of four WESTERN CROWNED WARBLER uttering their rather Tit-like calls. A small party of the diminutive FIRE-CAPPED TIT moved through and the yellow of their plumage shone in the early morning sunlight.

I must admit that I thought I would be stuck on 300 species on my Pakistan list for some time. However, those thoughts were soon dismissed. A quick scan of the treetops with the ‘bins stopped abruptly at the something black and yellow. The birding (not bird) brain kicked in and I spoke to myself “Golden Oriole, no you halfwit, it’s got a black head and a zonking great bill.” I beckoned to my companions and exclaimed Grosbeak! When I had a scope-full of this superb bird I identified it as a male BLACK-AND-YELLOW GROSBEAK. After this considerate bird had allowed us all to marvel at it through the scope it flew closer to us into a tree where the female was perched and no, the Helm Field Guide to the Birds of Pakistan just does not do the bird justice. To say I was excited was an understatement. It was one of those perfect light everything is right moments and it will be cherished for a long time. On 23 April 2011, we had climbed to the summit of the nearby Mukshpuri at 9,425 feet and we had found a pair of SPOT-WINGED GROSBEAK. Now we had two Grosbeaks on our list.

Black-and-Yellow Grosbeak Changla Gali Grimmo
As if that had not been enough excitement for one morning there was more to follow. I had been expecting to see this species for some time but had not connected with it. That was about to change. Being very familiar with Eurasian Goldfinch I immediately identified two in flight before they had landed in a tree nearby. A look through the scope had both birds in view. They were indeed a pair of EURASIAN GOLDFINCH but of the race Carduelis carduelis caniceps. Some authorities have already split the species and have named the race found in the Himalayas GREY-HEADED GOLDFINCH. Anyway it is UTB and Pakistan bird 302 as I sit in my armchair awaiting an extra Life Tick! (Birders will get it).

On the way back to a well-earned breakfast we watched a EUROPEAN HOBBY buzz the Asian House Martin flock but with no real malevolent intent.

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