On Saturday 23 November 2013, RMK and I made our way to
Uchchalali Lake deep into the Salt Range of the Punjab. The lake, in years gone
by, had been famous, from an ornithological perspective, for a wintering
population of the globally threatened White-headed Duck. Although I was lucky
enough to have seen this species in Southern Spain we could not find any
amongst the wildfowl at Uchchali. We had arrived, as planned, before dawn and
as the first hint of light appeared in the eastern sky we were already on a
boat making our way across the water.
 |
| Uchchali Lake Riaz |
 |
| Sunrise at Uchchali |
Uchchali is also known for the GREATER FLAMINGO flock that
frequents the area. We counted 50 birds in total that are a remarkable sight
when they take to the air; which they occasionally did when hassled by one of
the many WESTERN MARSH HARRIER.
 |
| Greater Flamingos Riaz |
On the surface of the lake was a good variety of waterfowl
and these included many of the expected species (with the exception of
White-headed Duck). There were EURASIAN TEAL, COMMON POCHARD, EURASIAN WIGEON,
NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, MALLARD, RUDDY SHELDUCK and GADWALL. The
most exciting for us was an addition to the Islbirder Pakistan List; COMMON
SHELDUCK. That it had taken nearly three years to add this species was a little
surprising.
 |
| Female Common Pochard Riaz |
However, the most numerous bird species on the lake, by far,
was EURASIAN COOT and there were at least 10,000 birds and, we believe, that
was a conservative estimate. The lake is ideally suited to them being shallow
and full of water vegetation.
 |
| Some of the 10,000 Common Coots Riaz |
There were not many wader species around the lake’s
shoreline but COMMON SANDPIPER, GREEN SANDPIPER and TEMMINCK’S STINT were
represented. This WHITE-TAILED LAPWING was a good find.
 |
| White-tailed Lapwing Riaz |
As well as the Western Marsh Harriers we also saw
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE and LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD. We only noted two species of
gull; BLACK-HEADED GULL and CASPIAN GULL. It was nice to see a beautiful
example of BAY-BACKED SHRIKE as it has been our experience that this species is
not as common in Pakistan as the literature makes out. A bird we had only
recorded once before in Pakistan was BLACK-NECKED GREBE. There were good
numbers at Uchchali and we counted at least 40 individualss.
 |
| Green Sandpiper Riaz |
We moved on to Khabbaki Lake and immediately added another
new species to the Islbirder Pakistan List, GREAT CRESTED GREBE. There was only
one pair on the lake even though Khabbaki has a reputation for holding this
species. Around the shoreline we found both PADDYFIELD PIPIT and a couple of
BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT. However, find of the day was the HUME’S SHORT-TOED LARK
which, sadly, avoided all attempts to photograph it. This species was number
366 on the Islbirder Pakistan List.
 |
| Grey Heron Riaz |
We had hoped to find Pied Avocet at Khabbaki but that wasn’t
to be. However, there were at least six LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. Surprisingly, and
frustratingly, we failed to find any Wheatear species even though the habitat
around Khabbaki looked ideal.
 |
| Crested Lark Riaz |
We moved on towards Kalar Kahar, the location of another
Salt Range lake. On the way we stopped at Jaba Mor having failed to find
Grey-necked Bunting along the way. A consolation was the large numbers of ROCK
BUNTING that were seen. At Jaba Mor, the entrance to a valley created by
impressive cliff faces, a chicken farmer dumps his dead chickens over the
precipice. Whilst the smell is none too pleasant it acts as a magnet for
Raptors that are drawn in to feed on the carrion. There were at least sixty
Eagles; we think that they were all STEPPE EAGLE but if an Aquila expert
identifies others in the photographs then please let us know. We were told by a
local that Lammergeier were regularly attracted to this site during winter. My
only sighting of this species in Pakistan was in the Shigar Valley in
Baltistan. We also noted SHIKRA and COMMON KESTREL at Jaba Mor and a large
flock of COMMON STARLING.
 |
| Steppe Eagles Riaz |
Our final stop was Kalar Kahar and whilst we added no more
species to our Pakistan List we did see some nice birds. There was a huge flock
of PALE MARTIN and several PURPLE HERON. PURPLE SWAMPHEN were as abundant as
ever.
 |
| Purple Swamphen Riaz |
 |
| Male Northern Pintail Riaz |
