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 fu...

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 Fork...

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 pre...

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 duri...

Swabi Birder has been out and about around Rawal Lake again this weekend. If you look closely at one of the photographs he took below you will see a clue as to why Rawal Lake has such magnetic properties for migrating wader species. Hatching flies can be found in enormous numbers and they are consumed in huge quantities by hungry birds refuelling during interruptions to their journeys. Common Redshank and a Kentish Plover Common Sandpiper fly catching? Ruddy Shelduck Kentish Plovers in full breeding plumage and a Temminck's Stint

Spring is in the air and so are migrating species of waders and where better to look for them than around the shores of Rawal Lake. On Sunday 11 March 2018 Swabi Birder visited this stretch of water just outside of Islamabad and he wasn't disappointed with the variety of wading birds he managed to photograph. Keep your eyes open as it is a good time for a rarity to drop in! Wood Sandpiper Common Greenshank Kentish Plover Green Sandpiper Left to Right: Wood Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Little Egret A moody photograph of Little Cormorants