Birding Islamabad

From the outset I ( Islbirder ) will hold my hand up and admit a mistake and lapse. And, if you are going to make a gaffe, it might as well be a big one. I only overlooked a First Record for Pakistan. For a non-birder that may seem no big deal; however, for a birder it is a serious howler. The argument for the defence is that I received a number of fantastic (as always) photographs from RMK in Pakistan. Looking at them on my desktop in the UK, I identified each one and posted them onto our Islamabad Birding Blog. Two did puzzle me for a while and taking into account the time of year and location I identified them as a rather odd looking first-winter Himalayan (White-tailed) Rubythroat Luscinia pectoralis . We have received about 20,000 or so hits on our Blog and we sometimes receive comments. I do not publish these because whilst some are complimentary, others involve advertisements and others are clearly from disturbed people. So, it’s easier not to publish ...

I may not like the hot summers in Pakistan too much with temperatures already in excess of 40 degrees Centigrade. However, on 24 May 2014, I couldn’t help myself and grabbed my gear in the hope of photographing Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. I had been told of a reliable site for this breeding summer visitor to Pakistan. But before I visited this place I travelled to Kalar Kahar to check on the progress of the ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER nesting site. It was good to see that there were four healthy-looking chicks and the female was busy feeding them.   Asian Paradise Flycatchers at Riaz After about an hour, I drove back along the M2 Motorway towards Islamabad but exited at the Balkasar interchange.   A friend had told me that we had to drive about 10 kms from interchange on main Talagang Road. After about 15 minutes or so, we turned right and stopped at what looked good Bee-eater habitat. This place was full of exotic BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATERs. It was...

On 11 May 2014, I ( RMK ) had to go to Sargodha on a business trip and had an early 0600 hours start. Later in the day I decided to visit Kalar Kahar Lake to photograph the elegant ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER. Last year Islbirder and SVZ were with me to photograph this amazing bird. Islbirder was always against disturbing nesting birds to photograph them so we needed to use a hide so we did not upset them. I went to an area of Eucalyptus Trees and carried out a careful search. I was lucky enough to find two nests. Female Asian Paradise Flycatcher Riaz Male (white Phase) Asian Paradise Flycatcher Riaz I took few shorts of a female Asian Paradise Flycatcher sitting in the nest and left quietly so that she wasn’t disturbed. I then found a beautiful white male of Asian Paradise Flycatcher in a lovely green field nearby. I started walking around the Kalar Kahar Lake and found GLOSSY IBIS, PURPLE HERON, a BLACK-WINGED STILT and a REDSHANK.  Glossy I...

Occasionally, Birding Islamabad is proud to display the photographic skills of some of our friends in Pakistan. During last weekend Naveed travelled to Nathia Gali with RMK . We have already featured the great photos taken by RMK below. This lovely portrait of an adult SPOTTED FORKTAIL is fantastic and this species is difficult to find in Pakistan. Unfortunately for Islbirder it was not a species he was able to find during three years in Pakistan even though he did record 366 species in the country during that period and some considerable time was spent searching for SPOTTED FORKTAIL. So, thanks to Naveed for allowing us to publish his study of this somewhat elusive species. Spotted Forktail Naveed Baig

It was during April 2013, when Islbirder and me ( RMK) made a visit to Nathia Gali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to try to find and photograph the enigmatic Orange Bullfinch ( Islbider had found four Orange Bullfinches there in April 2011 feeding amongst the patches of remaining snow). Although we spent a lovely day there, we failed to relocate these stunning birds. Snow-clad Mountains of Kashmir Riaz Islbirder had requested that I try to photograph an Orange Bullfinch during April 2014 after he had left Pakistan. I have a good habit of keeping important things in mind and when it comes to birds, I simply can’t forget. I left Islamabad at 0600 hours and followed the old Murree road to make it a relatively quick drive up to the rarified atmosphere of Nathia gali. The Kashmir Mountains were still covered in snow and presented a beautiful view. I stopped to photograph this incredible vista and saw a local Pashtun guy with a captive Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk is a rare v...

Hello, it’s RMK here. I had been thinking that it wouldn’t be very difficult for me to keep updating the blog regularly, after ISLBIRDER left for UK. Now I realise that it is in fact very difficult to do so.   With a smile Mrs. RMK said, that it was him   (ISLBIRDER) who kept pushing you guys to update the blog. With a smile I replied YES it was him. Red-wattled Lapwing Riaz Anyway, I am very busy with business these days and SVZ is in South Africa. However, the thing is that this winter was terrible for birders and photographers in Pakistan. Hardly could I get the right sunlight during the weekends and I couldn’t find as many birds compared to 2013.  Zitting Cisticola Riaz Today, Sunday 13 April 14 I decided to pay visit to Rawal Lake and check for spring birds in the area. There were beautiful flowers on the eastern side and I managed to obtain a few shots. Plain Prinia Riaz I think I will be doing much of my photography in the mountains...

The weather forecast for Saturday 1 March 2014 was clear and sunny. I decided that I would travel deep in to the Margalla Hills to check for new species of birds, as Islamabad’s weather is warming up and migration to north and Siberia would be underway.  Juvenile Dusky Eagle Owl Riaz It was late in the night that a friend and fellow photographer from WWF Pakistan called me and said that a young Eagle Owl had fallen from its nest during a first attempt at flight. I immediately changed my plans! Rarely does one get such an opportunity with wildlife photography so I made the trip to see this beauty as I had never seen one before. Juvenile Dusky Eagle Owl Riaz I left Islamabad for Bilawal near Sargodha early in the morning at 0530 hours and was on the spot exactly three hours of driving on the motorway. The juvenile DUSKY EAGLE OWL was lost and confused and was looking at us very sadly. A few BLACK KITE were in the area were attacking the poor chick from a...