Small Pratincoles at Rawal Lake


Another early start and the dawn of Saturday 8 June 2013 found us again at the eastern shoreline of Rawal Lake on the off chance of a late passage migrant wader. Immediately, we noticed four birds in flight that possessed distinctive black, white and sandy wing patterns and white rumps with a black terminal band that was semi-circular in shape. These birds are a sort of crossover between waders and terns. They were Prantincoles and this particular species was SMALL PRATINCOLE Glareola lactea, a scarce but regular summer visitor and very occasional breeder around Rawal Lake.

Small Pratincole Riaz

Small Pratincole (note distinctive tail pumping) Riaz
Watching these birds one could not fail to marvel at their graceful and buoyant flight as they hawked insects over the water. Such was their aerobatic skills and speed RMK could not obtain a sharp flight photograph. However, when the birds alighted on some shoreline rocks he did manage to obtain these great photographs. Sadly, the illustrations in the Helm Field Guide “Birds of Pakistan”, as with so many illustrations, fail to replicate the actual colours of this species. 

Red-wattled Lapwing Riaz
Other than the Small Pratincoles the lake was fairly quiet. There are still plenty of displaying PADDYFIELD PIPIT, ORIENTAL SKYLARK and ZITTING CISTICOLA in the reeds and grassy areas and a little more concentrated effort will locate some CRESTED LARK. The breeding BLACK-WINGED STILT are still chasing HOUSE CROW away from their nests and young chicks and adult RED-WATTLED LAPWING provide a second phase of aerial defence when the marauding Corvids threaten their offspring.

Black-crowned Night Heron Riaz
There were still four PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA and with two being males and two females one wonders whether they will breed here later. However, falling and rising water levels will be problematic if the promised heavy rain arrives next week. There were still LITTLE RINGED PLOVER present but no obvious signs of breeding was noted. From an earlier maximum of 200 there was only one WHISKERED TERN present and no doubt that individual will move on soon.

At Jinnah Road Marsh there were plenty of BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER but strangely no activity around those few weaver nests that have survived since last breeding season. However, it is still early. A good sign was a pair of ASIAN PIED STARLING building a nest on an electricity pylon and another clear example of the range extension of this species further north into Pakistan.

In the garden the nest and eggs of our pair of PURPLE SUNBIRD have been destroyed by COMMON MYNA activity. HOUSE SPARROW in huge numbers visit the feeders as do HIMALAYAN BULBUL on occasions. COMMON TAILORBIRD, ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE, RED-VENTED BULBUL and ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN all come to the water we supply daily in the sweltering temperatures were are experiencing with daytime highs of up to 46 degrees Celsius.

Indian Golden Oriole Riaz
There will be a bit of a lull during the summer time high temperatures as birds get on with breeding like the INDIAN ORIOLE pictured here. The onset of Monsoon will bring more migratory species into Pakistan and we look forward to that time that will bring higher humidity but slightly lower temperatures. 

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