Rare Woodpecker Spices Up Our Day
On Saturday 12 January 2013 dawn arrived with an
accompaniment of heavy rain that persisted well into the afternoon. This
curtailed our birding activity until the late afternoon when there was only time
for a short visit to the Margalla Hills Trail 5. We remained in the vicinity of
the spring opposite the interpretive centre to see what may be attracted to the
area. A fine male GREY BUSHCHAT was the first bird as it showed off on top of
small nearby bushes.
There were a few Warblers including three GREENISH WARBLER,
three COMMON CHIFFCHAFF and a several vociferous GREY-HOODED WARBLER. A couple
of ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE added some more colour. At this time of year we are
always on the lookout for Buntings and we were not disappointed with a pair of
ROCK BUNTING and a lone WHITE-CAPPED BUNTING (also known as CHESTNUT-BREASTED
BUNTING). Both are, predominantly, winter visitors to the Islamabad area.
Himalayan Bulbul Sarel van Zyl |
Other visitors to the streamside were some RUFOUS TREEPIE, a
BLUE WHISTLING THRUSH and a group of eight JUNGLE BABBLER. The cause of a commotion
amongst the HIMALAYAN BULBUL, WHITE-EARED BULBUL and RED-VENTED BULBUL flock
was identified as a male EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK that flew through the valley.
Early on Sunday 13 January 2013 we met up with the photographers
and we headed into the Margalla Hills. Our first stop was the Margalla Hills
Ridge over which a cool breeze blew under a cloudless sky. The area was
surprisingly quiet and only RED-VENTED BULBUL and HIMALAYAN BULBUL were seen.
We decided to descend into the valley to find an area unaffected by the wind.
Fortunately, Islbirder’s reputation remained intact (just), as Woodpeckers had
been promised at this site. Not only did we find a Woodpecker but two of one of
the rarest birds in Pakistan. A pair of GREY-CAPPED PYGMY WOODPECKER; superb
and confiding birds that offered SvZ the chance to take these amazing
photographs. Quoted by Grimmett et al
as breeding summer visitor; our discovery suggests this species is a year-round
resident that moves to lower altitudes during winter. Our sighting was made at
3,800 feet above sea level.
Male Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Sarel van Zyl |
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Sarel van Zyl |
The red on the side of the male’s head was only visible
occasionally. The pair of GREY-CAPPED PYGMY WOODPECKER was amongst a group
different species moving around this small area that included ORIENTAL
WHITE-EYE, CINEREOUS TIT, two STRIATED PRINIA and a single RUFOUS-BREASTED
ACCENTOR.
After the Woodpeckers moved on so did we and we headed
further into the Margallas and to Khyber Paktunkhwa. We headed for the trek at
Makhnial Village but on the way we stopped at various locations. We saw several
BROWN-FRONTED WOODPECKER, a BAR-TAILED (or HIMALAYAN) TREECREEPER, a party of
LONG-TAILED MINIVET and a female BLUE-CAPPED REDSTART.
On reaching the village STREAKED LAUGHINGTHRUSH were
abundant in the small agricultural fields. There were ROCK BUNTING around the
houses and along the trail both BLACK-THROATED ACCENTOR and RUFOUS-BREASTED
ACCENTOR, in good numbers, maintained a distance in front of us; much to the
frustration of the photographers.
Rufous-breasted Accentor Sarel van Zyl |
We walked along the trail until reaching a small stream with
a marshy area within a clearing that contained a small pond. There were birds
around us and eventually some came down to drink. Most numerous were
LEMON-RUMPED WARBLER with a few GREENISH WARBLER and a large group of ORIENTAL
WHITE-EYE. We found a single PLAIN LEAF
WARBLER and an ORANGE-FLANKED BUSH ROBIN (also known as ORANGE-FLANKED
BLUETAIL). As we were in a clearing within the forest we had great views as a
group of four GRIFFON VULTURES sailed overhead. Always exciting to see Vultures
in Pakistan as they are becoming a scarce sight due to the drug diclofenac that is used to treat
livestock but if ingested by Vultures scavenging on carcasses causes renal
failure.
On the way back we looked for Owls but without success.
However, whilst sitting on the roof of our favourite restaurant, the Isloo BBQ, an immature
male STEPPE EAGLE circled over our heads; a great way to have concluded our
latest birding trip. Again, many thanks to the photographers for allowing me to
use the photographs taken during our latest expedition.
The Isloo Restaurant Cat does well on titbits fed to it by customers Sarel van Zyl |
Monday 14 January 2013, being confined to home due to the “Long
March” gave me the chance to study the HOUSE SPARROW flock that has been
growing steadily in our garden since we started filling feeders with seed. We
had hoped to attract a wintering Rosefinch but to no avail. However, today I
checked through feeding birds and, as I suspected there might be, there is at
least one male SIND SPARROW amongst them. HOUSE SPARROW is not represented
everywhere in Islamabad and other than our garden there are only a couple of
other places I see large numbers of them regularly. As I write this blog a LAUGHING
DOVE, two SPOTTED DOVE and a pair of COLLARED DOVE have just descended to pick at the seed dropped from the feeders.