Birds of Pakistan

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns. There are 141 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Pakistan. Red avadavat,  Amandava amandava Red avadavat (Male) - Rawal Dam Red avadavat (Female & Male) - Rawal Dam White-throated munia,  Euodice malabarica Indian Silver bill - Rawal Lake Nutmeg mannikin,  Lonchura punctulata Scaly-breasted Munia - Rawal Lake Scaly-Breasted Munia (Immature)

In evening I was invited in a get together of Islamabad bird photographers and bird watchers on trail 5. It was a first ever get together of Islamabad birders in which we discussed many issues regarding birdlife.  Birders of Islamabad Objectives of this get together are, to:- - Discuss immediate challenges faced by birdlife of Margallas and Rawal Lake in particular. - Steps that we can take, as a group, and in individual capacity, to address these challenges. - Design a code of conduct for ourselves, so that our own presence is not detriment to birdlife while photographing. - Provide an opportunity to group members to connect with each other. - Make our voice heard “better” and “more” – for conservation of birdlife.

 Last week we observed that migratery birds had not yet arrived so we decided to visit in end of October. Because of hot weather birding is very difficult after 9 a.m. So this weekend I went for quick birding early morning. As I was going alone so I went Lakeview side which is quite safe place. I was expecting to watch some old friends like kingfishers but not had high hopes. But on this trip too I was able to find some new entries in my bird's list. Common Kingfisher --- Rawal Lake Add caption White-Throated Kingfisher - Rawal Lake Pied Kingfisher - Rawal Lake Asian Koel (Female) - Rawal Lake (New Entry) Ashy Prinia - Rawal Lake (New Entry) Common Rosefinch (Female) - Rawal Lake (New Entry) Alexander Parakeet --- Rawal Lake (Lifer for Me)

As birding season is about to start in October and November in Islamabad so I have decided to arrange a get together and birding on weekend. Vajahat, Kahsif, Irshad and I decided to visit Rawal Lake and Margalla to see bird's condition. During this Birding I had some target in my mind like I wanted to photograph Great Barbet. First we went Rawal Lake where I found some birds like  Bluethroat --- Rawal Lake Plain Prinia - Rawal Lake Blyth's reed warbler - Rawal Lake (New Entry) As we were not able to find much birds so we decided to go Margalla to watch birds there. In Margalla we found some birds but I was not able to capture Great Barbet although I could hear his voice on the top of trees.  Long-Tailed Minivet (Female) - Margalla Blue-throated barbet - Margalla Yellow-billed blue magpie - Margalla Scaly-bellied Woodpecker (Female) - Margalla Blue-capped Rock-thrush --- Margalla (Lifer fo Me)   

In mid august I planned a six day trip to Hunza and Khunjrab. Mainly this trip was to collect data for my upcoming book on "Truck art in Pakistan". During this trip it was impossible to ignore birds. For me it was very good opportunity to observe some different kinds of birds which mostly I am not able to see in Margalla hills. As I was traveling with group so it was not possible to stop every where and photograph the birds but I got some opportunities in Gulmit to do some sort of birding and found some new birds and some lifer also.   Cinerous Tit - Hunza Pied Wheatear --- Gojal Hunza Tickell's Thrush --- Gilgit Siberian Stonechat --- Gojal Hunza Eurasian Cuckoo --- Gojal Hunza Common Cuckoo ---- Gojal Hunza Black-billed magpie --- Gulmit Gojal Hunza Black Redstart (Male) --- Khunjerab Black Redstart (Female) --- Khunjerab  Common Sandpiper - Gojal Hunza Common Chiffchaff - Gojal Hunza Hoopee -- Gojal Hunza ...