Team Islbirder Discover a Lifer

December isn’t a bad month for birding in Islamabad but this time of the year can be a terrible time for birds of Margalla hills. The only water source that used to attract all the birds and mammals of the National Park has dried out. I am on the move to put in water drums at the place to keep the birds coming to the same spot.

Having this type of situation on the trials, the Team has decided to move deep in to the Margallas and find new sources of water. This time I was accompanied by friends from diplomatic enclave. They are all keen birders and have enjoyed the trip.

A Winter Wren (aka Northern Wren) a great find in the Margalla Hills
While walking along the fields, Swabi birder found a Wren, a lifer and a very uncommon species in Pakistan. It took me almost 30 minutes following him in the bushes and the stone walls. Very vocal and cheeky bird, very hard to photograph. I remember once, when I was in UK I kept chasing it and couldn’t get a shot of it. I believe islbirder remembers that.

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler
Black-chinned Babbler
Beside that we found a Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler and a Black-chinned Babbler bathing and drinking water from the little water left in one spot in the woodland.

Rose-ringed Parakeet
Wildlife photography and birding is so exciting and you never know what happens the next moment. A Rose-ringed Parakeet, the other day flew from nowhere and sat next to my hide.

Long-legged Buzzard a regular winter visitor to Islamabad
The Long-legged Buzzard of sector D12 Islamabad is busy finding new places as the number of new houses coming up so quickly in that area.

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch
Female Pink-browed Rosefinch
I was lucky to see a Yellow-breasted Greenfinch and a female of Pink-browed Rosefinch in the Rawal Lake area.

With no forecast for rains in the month ahead, my priority at the moment has shifted from watching and photographing the birds to moving two water drums 2km up to the dried stream in Margallas and fill them with water to feed the coming migrants from hundreds of miles. Hopefully, the birds and our Readers will appreciate my efforts and if there are any volunteers in Islamabad, they could assist me in filling those drums during weekends.


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