On Saturday 13 July 2013 we made our way to the Kalar Kahar
area, Punjab to look for new species for our Pakistan List. We had decided to
arrive early to give ourselves the chance of locating one, or more, of the
famous population of Indian Peafowl. Whilst some would consider that these
particular Indian Peafowl something of a plastic tick; they are countable and
appear as number 353 on my list of species recorded in Pakistan. The first
INDIAN PEAFOWL we saw was a stunning male perched on a fence. Not the best
evidence of “wild” status. The local community looks after the birds so they
show little fear. However, we saw about a dozen or so and some acted more like
wild birds, those that stalked the woodland area. Whether these birds comprise
a feral population, like the Monk Parakeets in Miami, Florida, or not these
beautiful photographs portray this amazing species so dramatically. Once again
the photographers have done a fantastic job.
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| Male Indian Peafowl Sarel van Zyl |
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| Two Males and a Female Indian Peafowl Riaz |
In only a few hours we recorded 62 species around Kalar Kahar
Lake and the surrounding countryside. We watched many EASTERN CATTLE EGRET fly
from the edges of the lake up to the adjacent plateau from which one can obtain
amazing views of Kalar Kahar Lake. Amongst them was a single BLACK-SHOULDERED
KITE. Other birds around the tops of the cliffs were LITTLE SWIFT and ASIAN
HOUSE MARTIN. The birdlife around the lake was prolific; special were the
single GLOSSY IBIS and the juvenile EURASIAN SPOONBILL. On the lake itself were
two NORTHERN SHOVELER, a few LITTLE GREBE and some EURASIAN COOT. Over the
reeds were numerous BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER and fewer GREEN BEE-EATER. A single
INDIAN ROLLER was noted flying through the Bee-eater flock and several GREATER
COUCAL searched for food on the ground.
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| Adult Black-winged Stilt Sarel van Zyl |
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| Adult Black-winged Stilt and chick "come on son, keep up!" Riaz |
Within the marsh were more than 200 PURPLE SWAMPHEN, a
couple of GREAT EGRET, several INTERMEDIATE EGRET and plenty of LITTLE EGRET.
The GREY HERON looked cumbersome compared to the more delicate PURPLE HERON. A
small flock of seven GREEN SANDPIPER flew in and disturbed some of the many
BACK-WINGED STILT chicks. They were at varying stages some tiny as portrayed in
the below photograph and others more developed. It had clearly been a very
successful breeding species for this species. The adult Black-winged Stilts
have incredibly long legs and what must they look like to their tiny offspring?
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| Almost Fledged Asian Paradise Flycatchers Sarel van Zyl |
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| Adult female and young Asian Paradise Flycatchers Riaz |
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| Adult Male (Brown-phase) Male Asian Paradise Flycatcher and Chicks Riaz |
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| Adult Female Asian Paradise Flycatcher and Young Sarel van Zyl |
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| Adult Female Asian Paradise Flycatcher Sarel van Zyl |
We returned to a patch of woodland where a local man told
us the location of a nesting pair of ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER. The nest had well
developed chicks squashed into the ridiculously small cup shape. The guys
discreetly setup their hide and began photographing the parents coming to feed
their young a variety of creepy-crawlies. This pair was unusual in that the
male was the much scarcer brown colour-phase. The usual colour for male Asian
Paradise Flycatchers is white. Within the wood there were several white males, and
one that was blue and white, the first one I have ever seen. There were an
equal number of females that are much shorter tailed and always, seemingly,
brown as in the photos. The photographers took around one thousand shots of the
nesting pair and their chicks. Whilst they were doing so I was checking out the
several pairs of INDIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE and a few COMMON TAILORBIRD. Also, within
the woodland, was a pair of COMMON WOODPIGEON, strangely, a scarce bird in
Pakistan and only the third time I had seen them here. By the activity that we
witnessed these two birds were definitely a pair. Again the photographers
worked wonders in the dappled light of the predominantly, Eucalyptus woodland;
a species of tree not normally associated with prolific birdlife.
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| Common Woodpigeon Riaz |
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| Common Woodpigeon Sarel van Zyl |
As the mercury began to rise we began our return journey
back along the M2 to Islamabad, content with our birding and in the hope of
some great shots in the can! There follows the list of 62 species we observed at Kalar Kahar:
| Ashy Drongo |
| Asian House Martin |
| Asian Paradise Flycatcher |
| Barn Swallow |
| Black Drongo |
| Black Kite |
| Black-crowned Night Heron |
| Black-shouldered Kite |
| Black-winged Stilt |
| Blue-tailed Bee-eater |
| Brown Rock Chat |
| Common Babbler |
| Common Myna |
| Common Tailorbird |
| Common Wood Pigeon |
| Eastern Cattle Egret |
| Eurasian Collared Dove |
| Eurasian Coot |
| Eurasian Spoonbill |
| Glossy Ibis |
| Great Egret |
| Greater Coucal |
| Green Bee-eater |
| Green Sandpiper |
| Grey Francolin |
| Grey Heron |
| House Crow |
| House Sparrow |
| Indian Golden Oriole |
| Indian Peafowl |
| Indian Pond Heron |
| Indian Robin |
| Indian Roller |
| Intermediate Egret |
| Jacobin Cuckoo |
| Jungle Babbler |
| Laughing Dove |
| Little Cormorant |
| Little Egret |
| Little Grebe |
| Little Swift |
| Long-tailed Shrike |
| Northern Shoveler |
| Oriental Magpie-Robin |
| Oriental White-eye |
| Paddyfield Pipit |
| Pied Bush Chat |
| Plain Prinia |
| Purple Heron |
| Purple Sunbird |
| Purple Swamphen |
| Red-rumped Swallow |
| Red-vented Bulbul |
| Rock Dove |
| Rufous Treepie |
| Spotted Dove |
| Streak-throated Swallow |
| White-eared Bulbul |
| White-eyed Buzzard |
| White-throated Kingfisher |
| Wire-tailed Swallow |
| Zitting Cisticola |
