Crested Kingfisher Made Our Day


During each monsoon, amid all the humid and warm weather ZR and I continue to visit the southern slopes of the Margalla Hills in the hope of finding the gorgeous Indian Pitta. Islbirder did the same when he was in Islamabad but none one of us has succeeded so far. I am sure one day we will find this elusive species.

In Islamabad these days you will see juvenile Green and blue-tailed Bee-eaters, Brown Rock Chat, Indian Robins and Asian Paradise Flycatchers along with many other local birds.

A bird of the Monsoon Grey-bellied Cuckoo Riaz
The birds of prey have plenty to eat and I spent 40 minutes with a female Shikra that was determined to and succeeded in extracting a Common Myna chick from the nest in a pine tree.

Shikra thinking about it! Riaz
Nearly got it! Riaz
Lunch! Riaz

However, the most surprising of all the birds that we are following recently was the Crested Kingfisher. This bird is rare but usually seen around Islamabad during winter moths. Whilst photographing Wire-tailed Swallows, our eyes were not deceiving us and we saw a Crested Kingfisher on a branch overhanging one of the streams flowing into Rawal Lake. We returned for three consecutive days to that stream in search of Indian Pitta; no joy! Anyway we marked the place in the hope of a better image of kingfisher next time.


Crested Kingfisher Riaz
We have been traveling deeper into the Margalla Hills and found birds like Asian Barred Owl, and a first-year male Crested Bunting (despite our efforts we couldn’t find an adult), some Chestnut-bellied Nuthatches and a male Blue-capped Rock Thrush in the pine trees.

Male Blue-capped Rock Thrush Riaz

Immature Crested Bunting Riaz
I must say, when writing his book the Birds of Pakistan Tom Roberts was lucky to see so many species in the country. It often takes us hours and days to find a specific bird now both in preparation and in the field.  Maybe it’s a problem my colleagues and me face today but tomorrow it will be better and more people will talk about and protect these birds so they can be shared with future generations.

Often seen perching in daylight an Asian Barred Owlet Riaz
 
Wire-tailed Swallow Riaz
Red-vented Bulbul Riaz

Male Pied Chat Riaz

From Islbirder: Well done gentlemen, getting out in the heat and humidity is paying off. Far too many people avoid the summer and monsoon when birding but, as you have discovered, there are rewards and discoveries to be had. Keep up the good work!

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