Bee-eaters Ready to Head Off


Early on Saturday 29 September 2012 we were again back at Lake View Park looking for migrants. Water levels were higher, which is good news for the boatmen but are still far from normal at Rawal Lake. Waders were not in evidence so we concentrated on passerines. BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER numbers were high with about 40 birds being present. There were less GREEN BEE-EATER, only about 10 in number but it cannot be long before they depart on their migratory journey that will take them south. However, there was only one INDIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE and that was an adult male.

Yellow Wagtail Grimmo
There had been a huge fall of YELLOW WAGTAIL with at least 100 birds covering the arboretum area. Amongst them were some first-winter CITRINE WAGTAIL and a pair of WHITE-BROWED WAGTAIL graced the paved area. Amongst the trees we counted 6 COMMON CHIFFCHAFF. We could not find any Eurasian Teal, the only duck species were saw was EURASIAN WIGEON and there were only three.

Long-legged Buzzard Grimmo
Bird of the day was a LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD, which provided excellent views perched in a tree being mobbed by two BLACK DRONGO.

Long-legged Buzzard Grimmo
The birding session ended with us seeing blaze of colour in the form of a WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER, a pair of PIED KINGFISHER and a LESSER GOLDENBACK or BLACK-RUMPED GOLDENBACK as this woodpecker is known in Pakistan.

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