Hello readers, this is Swabi birder sharing the most unforgettable experience of our
birding day at Rawal lake. During the weekend ending on the 24 February 2018,
Islamabad had a few rain showers. Excited about migration, the team decided to look
for birds at Rawal lake.
Our Team member ZR was out early on Sunday morning scanning the shores of Rawal
lake. I was having a lazy Sunday, when I got a call from him about the presence
of Indian Skimmers in the area. The feeling to find a Lifer is always
fascinating and within no time I was all set to leave for the lake along with
my birding friends.
Walking slowly along the rocky bed of the
lake, which was once filled with water was nervy, but then I spotted the two
beautiful, Indian Skimmers flying towards our side. Their acrobatic flight was
a treat to watch. They would fly in the sun, come back to the lake, flying with
other birds and kept flying the whole time of our stay at the lake. The pair
was absolutely beautiful in their breeding plumage. We had some time with them
and then decided to find some new birds along the way.
Trash on the bank of this amazing lake is
unfortunately a common thing to note now. We saw this beautiful Common Snipe
hiding with this piece of thermopile, which is proof to the fact that people
are throwing garbage into this lake, which is the only source of water for the
inhabitants of the capital.
We also saw a flock of 50 Temminck Stints, Little
Ringed Plovers and wagtails in a variety of plumages. Since it’s the beginning
of the migration season we also saw a group of about ten Small Pratincoles around the lake shoreline.
Islbirder, my Team at www.woodnotefilms.com thank you for the link to the Blog
Dear Readers, well Swabi Birder has pulled it out of the bag and found two Indian Skimmers at Rawal Lake on the outskirts of Islamabad. This species is not only rare in Pakistan but it is a globally threatened species. The few pairs that breed in Pakistan arrive from mid-February where they follow the Indus Valley to locate suitable nesting places. It is their choice of nesting habitat that has contributed to their demise. They prefer to nest on sandbars next to or in the middle of rivers. This leaves them at the mercy of unpredictable water levels and animal and human predators who steal their eggs and kill the young.
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| Indian Skimmers Rynchops albicollis |
Indian Skimmers are fabulous to watch and get their name from their preferred hunting method which consists of flying at speed just above the surface with their extended lower mandible slicing through the water until it feels a fish which it then snaps up to eat. This was a fabulous find by Swabi Birder and his crew and many congratulations are due to them.
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| Indian Skimmers over Rawal Lake |
Also at Rawal Lake the Small Pratincoles have arrived early. Another species only found in small numbers in Pakistan. Almost a cross between a Tern and Wader.
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| Small Pratincoles |
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| Little Ringed Plovers |
Little Ringed Plovers are a summer visitor to Pakistan where they breed in moderate numbers. Again, the environs of Rawal Lake provide a pretty good chance of seeing one or two.
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| Rosy Pipit |
Not yet in its full summer dress, this winter-plumaged Rosy Pipit has probably spent the colder months around Rawal Lake. However, as the snow recedes it will return to the mountains to breed and moult into its breeding plumage from which it gets its name.
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| White Wagtail of the race Motacilla alba alboides |
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| Citrine Wagtail |
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| Common Snipe |
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| Temminck's Stint |
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Barn Swallows Resting Up!
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| Rough-legged Buzzard |
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| Indian Skimmers |
