Great News! We are Back.

Great news! Following an enforced, extended  layoff I can reveal that Swabi Birder is back in the field with his camera, photographing the outstanding birds that can be seen in and around Islamabad during the winter months. I have uploaded the latest shots below and Swabi Birder  describes his exploits below.

In these difficult times for everyone we hope that you can enjoy the holiday period in whatever way you are allowed to do so. Happy Christmas!

Hello Friends, Swabi Birder is back with you after long time. Hoping you are all well. Many other years have been associated with disease but 2020 is considered possibly the worst. I was already struggling with my businesses in Pakistan and COVID-19 brought us all to our knees. Hope is something that will keep us alive and ready for better times ahead.

 

So I decided to pick up my gear and keep myself isolated in the forests, besides my strict working area. As always the Margalla Hills, come first for me, so during the weekend of 19 & 20 December, I drove  into the area and found some lovely birds. 

 

The woodland didn’t offer much, so I traveled further and found a Blue-throated Barbet feeding on tree. I also found a Steppe Eagle enjoying a rest on a branch.

 

I travelled to Talhar village, which is to the north of Islamabad. There, I found two outstanding birds: Wallcreeper and a male Plumbeous Water Redstart. I remember the first time that Islbirder found a Wallcreeper, he was happy like a child getting new toy  and so was I.. lolz.

 

Unfortunately, the stream has deteriorated at Talhar and pollution was very evident when I saw the Plumbeous Water Redstart on the discarded shoes, someone had left there.

 

I wish you all very warm Christmas wishes and enjoyment with more caution and care.
 





Popular posts from this blog

Rare Birds Found in Pakistan

Image
Islbirder was birding on the muddy perimeter of a West Midlands Industrial Estate in the centre of the England looking for a Hume’s Warbler, the first record for the Region and a British Tick. It was freezing cold with squally and heavy showers. He was thinking what on earth am I doing here? It was only a few short weeks ago that Hume’s Warbler was a regular visitor to his Islamabad garden. At the same time RMK had taken a week away from his office to undertake an expedition to photograph some of the resident species and exciting winter visitors to Pakistan. RMK takes up the story of his memorable birding holiday. It’s been a strange winter and I am very sorry to inform you that this year the numbers of birds visiting Islamabad and Punjab appear to be reduced. On Saturday 25 January 2014 I visited Trail 5 within the Margalla Hills National Park. This was the famous Trail 5 that we had visited on many occasions and seen such wonderful species. However, birds were few. The C...
Read more

The Breeding Season in the Margalla Hills & a Trip to Shogran

Image
The changing season in Islamabad has pushed the overwintering visitors to higher altitudes and the breeding season is in full swing within the Margalla Hills National Park. Verditer Flycatcher   During weekend of 27 & 28 March 2021, I excitedly anticipated two full days of birding. On 27 March me,  SWABI BIRDER  along with  Mrs.  SWABI BIRDER   visited an area of woodland within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, to check on how the birds are preparing for their breeding season. The dry branches have their leaves and birds were extremely active. Speckled Piculet (Male) We sat quietly near to a water source and after few moments birds started coming to drink. Firstly, a Verditer Flycatcher that was quickly followed by a superb Speckled Piculet. Also in branches was a Grey-hooded Warbler in full breeding plumage. Grey-hooded Warbler   A female Common Rosefinch alighted nearby on a branch. On the edge of the stream area was a beautiful Grey Wagtail, in fu...
Read more

Kalar Kahar 62 Species

Image
On Saturday 13 July 2013 we made our way to the Kalar Kahar area, Punjab to look for new species for our Pakistan List. We had decided to arrive early to give ourselves the chance of locating one, or more, of the famous population of Indian Peafowl. Whilst some would consider that these particular Indian Peafowl something of a plastic tick; they are countable and appear as number 353 on my list of species recorded in Pakistan. The first INDIAN PEAFOWL we saw was a stunning male perched on a fence. Not the best evidence of “wild” status. The local community looks after the birds so they show little fear. However, we saw about a dozen or so and some acted more like wild birds, those that stalked the woodland area. Whether these birds comprise a feral population, like the Monk Parakeets in Miami, Florida, or not these beautiful photographs portray this amazing species so dramatically. Once again the photographers have done a fantastic job.   Male Indian Peafowl Sarel van Zyl ...
Read more