Jinnah Road Marsh

Following our visit to Rawal Lake we decided to call in at Jinnah Road Marsh. Although wires do not necessarily make aesthetic backdrops for photographs they are magnets for birds in this marshy and cultivated area. In fact our ‘Wire List’ would be pretty impressive. Anyway, following our own advice we looked at what was on the wires. We had already seen the little and large of the heron world and we now witnessed the bee-eater variety. Next to each other on an electrical cable were a BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER and a pair of GREEN BEE-EATER. Both used their perching places from which to launch aerial assaults on flying insects of varying sizes. As the BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER caught its prey we could here its bill snapping shut. The beautiful blue of the plumage shone in the early morning sunshine that was gradually burning away the clouds.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater Lynne Newton

Whilst looking up we noticed a pair of PLAIN MARTIN (also known as BROWN-THROATED SAND MARTIN by some authors) and a single HOUSE SWIFT (also known as LITTLE SWIFT by some taxonomists). I did allow myself a smile thinking about the frenzied twitching activity that must be taking place in New Brighton, Wirral.

Alongside the irrigation channel I noticed movement amongst the reeds and from them came an adult WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN with two juveniles that appeared no more than bundles of black fluff on improbably long legs; the co-ordination of which was not quite yet accomplished. Another pair of parents with juveniles was a couple of RED-WATTLED LAPWING that had six young. Seemingly remarkable as nests I have observed usually have four eggs. When a BLACK KITE came down to drink nearby the parents became apoplectic and buzzed the raptor relentlessly whilst screeching their ‘did-he-do-it’ alarm call. The BLACK KITE simply ignored the onslaught, other than ducking a couple of times, and once replete went on its way leaving the chicks still safe.

Time to check the wires again and on this occasion they held three WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW with their filamentous tail extensions and a number of male BAYA WEAVER that were unashamedly loafing as the females worked hard nearby repairing the nests of the colony. A pair of SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA or NUTMEG MANNIKIN as they are also known made it onto our ‘wire list’ for the day.

A group of STRIATED BABBLER irritated a GREATER COUCAL into flight and it made its way into deep cover over the cultivated fields. Like a jumbo jet I often wonder how this bird is able to remain airborne.

I like Prinias and two species were extremely vocal this morning. GRACEFULL PRINIA numbered about four pairs and the males reeled out their insect-like song with gusto. YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA has a limited distribution in Pakistan so it was rewarding to get great views of two males singing to each other across the irrigation channel. Jinnah Road Marsh is an extremely reliable location for this species.

Two pairs of doves were attracted to a swampy pool from which they drank. One pair was LAUGHING DOVE and the other RED-COLLARED DOVE, sometimes known as RED TURTLE DOVE. It is a breeding visitor to Pakistan and an attractive species with its pinkish body and bluish head. On my way back to Islamabad I had a quick stop at the bridge over the Korang River. Underneath the bridge holds a colony of STREAK-THROATED SWALLOW and about a dozen were buzzing around at eye level.

Later on, in the evening, we witnessed between five and six hundred HOUSE SPARROW coming into roost within the foliage of the tree that is located between Saeed Bookshop and Pizza Hut in the F7 Markaz. All this commotion had attracted the attention of a male SHIKRA on the hunt for an easy meal but was spoilt for choice and subsequently thwarted. Sadly, there were no additions to my Pakistan List that still stands at 303. Have we got the energy to try for Indian Pitta again tomorrow? We shall see!