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.
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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.
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Shikra thinking about it! Riaz |
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Nearly got it! Riaz |
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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.
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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.
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Male Blue-capped Rock Thrush Riaz |
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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.
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Often seen perching in daylight an Asian Barred Owlet Riaz |
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Wire-tailed Swallow Riaz |
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Red-vented Bulbul Riaz |
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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!