A Lonely and Gloomy Day at Rawal Lake


Today, Saturday 11 January 2014, is the first day that I, RMK,  woke up late as I was tired due to  my last few weeks of hectic and busy work. I did call SVZ, one of our team members, for morning photography and birding but due to the extreme cold he wasn’t feeling well. So, I pick up my gear and started driving towards Rawal lake. The moment I started driving along the Express Way, the absence of the sweet company and memories of ISLBIRDER hit me badly , as he had left for UK permanently.

I visited the marsh area to try and find some new birds, as it had been a while since I had visited the site. Sadly I couldn’t see anything but there was a WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER, some INDIAN SILVERBILL and few RED-VENTED BULBUL.  The reeds, a habitat for the scarce Yellow-bellied Prinia and the White-breasted Waterhen had been cut back by the farmers. Walking by myself in the area , I felt sort of lonely and I decided go to the eastern side Rawal lake.

By the time I had reached the eastern shore of Rawal Lake it was midday. I could see a few LONG-TAILED SHRIKES and a beautiful SIBERIAN STONECHAT along the way. Rawal Lake was still pretty full of water with a few ponds formed by the receding water. All I could see  far in the middle of the lake were a few Gulls and Cattle Egrets; a GREY WAGTAIL and some BLACK KITES were also flying by.

Siberian Stonechat Riaz
For a moment I thought that I am at wrong place, as it used to be full of birds during the winters. Everything looked so empty to me, I picked my camera and started driving the western side of Rawal Lake.

As I reached the western side I parked my truck and started thinking of the lovely time that we had here ISLBIRDER, SVZ and myself.  The thought of loneliness was taking me over again and luckily a PIED KINGFISHER came and perched right next to me. May be he was there to ask me about the missing guys. I took some pictures half heartedly and came back to my truck, as I was too low to enjoy the lonely walk.

Pied Kingfisher Riaz
On the way back I went to a place where I will always see SPOTTED OWLETS. I parked my truck and saw two owlets a mom and a baby enjoying sun on a branch. I immediately set up the camera and got some lovely shots. Before it was getting too dark I packed up and returned home, thinking all the way YES TIME FLIES!

 
Spotted Owlets Riaz
Dear Readers I am sorry for being so emotional , as I am writing blog for the first time for ISLBIRDER , who has left Pakistan for UK permanently. I feel that life will never be the same for me in Islamabad. I would sometimes think that maybe its our images that makes the Blog worth looking at , but today I realised that I  was wrong , it was the beautiful words , sentences and commitment  of ISLBIRDER , who kept the Blog Going…. Well done ISLBIRDER , for bringing awareness to the people of our country to work for nature and wildlife.  WE will always miss you.

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