Birding Islamabad

On 7 May 2021, my good friend Swabi Birder travelled to the Ayubia National Park located in the Abbottabad District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Although the weather was very wet, Swabi Birder managed to obtain some lovely photographs which bears testimony to his fieldcraft and skills as a photographer. I hope you enjoy these his images. Green-backed Tit Black-throated Tit Spot-winged Tit Rufous-bellied Niltava Rufous Sibia Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush Well done Mate! Stay safe Islbirder

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 full breeding colours picking insect

With an apparent lack of birds seen along the Trails of the Margalla Hills National Park above Islamabad, possibly due to the unseasonably warm winter or the sheer number of visitors now using the footpaths; we decided to extend the search criteria for new species.   On 5 February 2021, ZR and I made an early morning start and headed towards Abbottabad along the new CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) and we reached our planned destination, a valley 20km north of Nathia Gali in about 70 minutes.            We started our birding along the stream winding its way through the valley wooded with pine trees. It didn’t take long before we heard the loud call of a Spotted Forktail ( Enicurus maculatus ). Once we located the chorister, I managed to take a photograph of this stunning bird. We noted many Green-backed Tits ( Parus monticolus ) and some Warblers that we didn’t see well enough for specific identification.   Spotted Forktail © Riaz After walking for about 5km along the valley, I

Swabi Birder got lucky in the worst ever migration to Margalla Hills National Park Hello everyone, this is  Swabi Birder  from Islamabad. When I look back at the time it’s about twelve years that I have been photographing birds in Pakistan and my ability to find birds in the Margala Hills is much recognised at every level.    I can’t forget the golden time when  Islbirder  and I would witness birds everywhere in Islamabad. Water points and shrubs, trees and trails, everywhere you could listen to birds calling and see them flying around.   NOW I am terribly upset this year about the seeming lack of winter birdlife. I may not know the exact reason what might have done that. It might be change in migration pattern or the amount of people rushing on to trails in national park with BBQ stands and audio players. Golden Bush Robin female (Swabi Birder) Anyways amid all this, I decided to move to the place called Angoori. This place is famous for birds of prey and robins. Early in morning on