Rawal Lake Provides Lazy Birders A Great Afternoon
The
weather at 0400 hours on Saturday 11 May 2013, General Election Day in Pakistan
was gloomy, windy and overcast. So, rather lazily and following a series of
text messages we decided the best thing was extra sleep. Having been away from
Pakistan for two weeks I was keen to get back in the field. So, following a
conversation with RMK we were off to the Eastern Shoreline of Rawal Lake at
about 1330 hours. Whilst it is important to rise early if birding in woodland
we believed that the lakeside offered us the best opportunity following our
earlier torpor. RMK was trying to reassure me that the Megas that I had missed
whilst being away would still be there. I was grateful for the optimism but I
instinctively knew the Greater Sand Plover was long gone and so too, probably,
the Baillon’s Crake. However, I hoped the Greater Painted Snipe might still be
around. Even though I had seen Greater Painted Snipe in Pakistan one could not
miss the chance of seeing another.
Indian Pond Heron in Breeding Plumage Sams Photography |
Our
arrival at the lakeside was greeted with a cacophony of bird song, mostly
displaying ORIENTAL SKYLARK and ZITTING CISTICOLA. I told RMK that I would scan
the water’s edge with the scope to see what was around as he set up his camera.
I called out the birds as they came into view: LITTLE EGRET, INDIAN POND HERON,
TEMMINCK’S STINT, COMMON SANDPIPER, BLACK STORK, BLACK-WINGED STILT. Hang on a
minute Black Stork! Sure enough there was an immature Black Stork. This was
only my second Black Stork in Pakistan, the first having been seen earlier in
the year at the Chenab River near Sialkot in Punjab.
Immature Black Stork Sams Photography |
Over
the water there were Terns, lots of them. Emulating the behaviour of the Terns
were several BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON that were flying low over the surface of
the water and every so often would swoop down to try and pick up a small fish.
This rather ungainly hunting technique appeared to be paying dividends.
I
mentioned Terns. Both in the air and in amongst the flooded grassland in the
North-eastern corner of the lake there were about 200 WHISKERED TERN. As I
searched through the flying birds for the orange bill of the rare Black-bellied
Tern, of which there were none, I did pick out two WHITE-WINGED TERN in summer
plumage and a single GULL-BILLED TERN. The White-winged (or White-winged Black)
Terns were a new addition to my Pakistan and resplendent they looked in their
full summer apparel. Sadly, neither came into RMK’s lens range. Later the BLACK
STORK took to the air and made for the seemingly more appropriate flooded
grassland in the North-eastern corner.
Immature Black Stork Sams Photography |
We
searched the isolated and vegetation fringed pools that had been created when
the floodwaters had receded to their current levels. A movement amongst the
reeds caught our eye but before we could freeze a male GREATER PAINTED SNIPE
took off only to land 75 yards away having flown a semi-circular route. We
later inadvertently flushed a female of the same species. The following day RMK
managed to capture this shot of a female Greater Painted Snipe on the Northern
Shoreline of the lake.
Adult Female Greater Painted Snipe Sams Photography |
It
wasn’t long before we found the Baillon’s Crake (or another) around the same
temporary pond. Although crepuscular and not photogenic, this super little bird
did provide some good views. Amazingly, another addition to my Pakistan list.
As I
scanned all areas of the lake we found a couple of other welcome additions to
our day’s count: two RUDDY SHELDUCK, a male PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA with its
improbably long tail and a pair of GARGANEY. On one of the small gravelly islands
there were a large number of LITTLE CORMORANT there were also a couple of late
GREAT CORMORANT with them. After adding LITTLE GREBE, GREY HERON, CITRINE
WAGTAIL and PIED KINGFISHER to the mix we decided to move around to the
Northern shoreline of the lake to where a reed-fringed river feeds into Rawal
Lake. This was the area that RMK had taken the photograph of the fabulous
Red-spotted Bluethroat only a week before. Sadly it had gone.
Blyth's Reed Warbler Sams Photography |
BLYTH’S
REED WARBLER is a very common double passage migrant in Pakistan. However, they
do not like to show themselves. Their presence given away only by the “tutt
tutt” contact call, they hide themselves amongst deep cover in bushes. The
literature states they are not normally associated with reeds or water. Mostly
true but in Pakistan due to the numbers that pass through on migration some do use
such habitat as can be seen from RMK’s photograph below. Note the supercilium
in front of and only just behind the eye and the all pale lower mandible.
Wire-tailed Swallow Sams Photography |
As
we waited to see if the Bluethroat would show, RMK took advantage of some photo
opportunities. A couple of beautiful and delicate WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW began to
hawk insects over the water. Anticipating where one might alight this superb
picture was achieved. All three Kingfishers were at this location and a male
INDIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE flew through. The reeds close to where the Bluethroat had
been seen held a pair of YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA. A BLACK-RUMPED FLAMEBACK put in
a brief performance and there was the usual supporting cast of LONG-TAILED
SHRIKE, BLACK DRONGO, PLAIN PRINIA, COMMON TAILORBIRD, GREY FRANCOLIN, and many
others.
Spotted Owlet Sams Photography |
As
we made our way around the perimeter of Lake View Park we stopped to admire this
SPOTTED OWLET on the parapet of a bridge. In total we saw 70 species during our
afternoon’s birding, which goes to prove that you don’t always have to get up
before dawn. Hmmm! I wonder what would have been there at sunrise on this
historic day in Pakistan’s history?