Mesmorising Marala Part Deux

After a surprisingly good breakfast at 0330 hours we were again at the Marsh and in position before light. Unsurprisingly, things were pretty much similar to the previous day as far as avian activity was concerned. Although it was great to watch the birds we had seen before I was on the lookout for more new species for my Pakistan List. The GLOSSY IBIS again arrived on cue and as the Marsh once more came to life the cacophony of bird calls intensified.

Little Egret Sarel van Zyl

On the far margin of the lake where there was a dense tangle of vegetation and I had spotted movement amongst it on a couple of occasions. I was pretty sure what it was so I focused the scope on the area. It wasn't too long before a secretive WATER RAIL appeared for a few minutes. Although a familiar bird in Europe, this was the first time I had seen it in Pakistan.

Displaying Pied Bushchat Sams Photography

We decided to concentrate on other birds located on the elevated bund on the perimeter of the Marsh. We passed by a singing STRIATED BABBLER but the guys were very excited when we realised that Bee-eaters were all around and we recorded by GREEN BEE-EATER and BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER. These Green Bee-eaters were particularly photogenic.

Green Bee-eaters Sams Photography

Green Bee-eaters Sarel van Zyl

Athough we did see HOUSE SPARROW, I was particularly pleased to find some SIND SPARROW, a species with a restricted worldwide distribution. Once seen, there is no mistaking them.

 

A Pair of Sind Sparrows Sarel van Zyl

Male Sind Sparrows Sams Photography

Hidden amongst the foliage of a nearby tree was a male SHIKRA that was particularly interested in what the Sind Sparrows were doing. A typical Accipiter and particularly adept hunter of small birds.

A Male Shikra Sarel van Zyl

Other raptors seen were these very accommodating BLACK KITE and a more distant GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE. I'm not quite sure what the scavenging Black Kite is holding in its bill and I don't really want to know.

Black Kites Sarel van Zyl

 During the couple of days we spent in this most superb birding habitat in the Punjab we had the most wonderful time courtesy of of our good friend Kamran who, even after twisting his ankle on early on Day 1 insisted on being with us throughout. It is Kamran's intimate knowledge of the area that helped us find and photograph some outstanding birds. His dedication to the wildlife of the Marala Marshes along the Chenab River ought to be recognised officially. So Kamran, we Imran, Riaz, Sarel and Islbirder salute you and wish you all the very best in your efforts to maintain this very special place for the wildlife of Pakistan.

Indian Roller Sarel van Zyl

I would also like to thank, once again, RMK and SvZ for allowing me to publish their breathtaking photographs within this Blog. Thank you. For those that may be interested I have included below the list of 101 different species of birds we saw during our couple of days at Marala.

Brahminy Starling Sams Photography

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus
Bar-headed Goose Anser indicusBay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum
Brown Rock Chat Oenanthe fusca
Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Common Pigeon Colomba livia
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Gadwall Anas strepera
Garganey Anas querquedula
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Great Egret Ardea alba
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Greylag Goose Anser anser
House Crow Corvus splendens
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata
Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Little Swift Apus affinis
Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulusPainted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Pied Bush Chat Saxicola caprata
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Pied Myna Gracupica contra
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Red Turtle Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
River Tern Sterna aurantia
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Shikra Accipiter badius
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus
Sind Sparrow Passer pyrrhonotus
Solitary Snipe Gallinago solitaria
Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
Streak-throated Swallow Petrochelidon fluvicola
Striated Babbler Turdoides earlei
Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris
Yellow-throated Sparrow Gymnoris xanthocollis