Birds of Pakistan

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 30 species which have been recorded in Pakistan. Eurasian woodcock,  Scolopax rusticola Greater Painted-Snipe, Rostratula benghalensis Greater Painted-Snipe - Kallar Kahar Jack snipe,  Lymnocryptes minimus Solitary snipe,  Gallinago solitaria Wood snipe,  Gallinago nemoricola Pintail snipe,  Gallinago stenura Common snipe,  Gallinago gallinago Common Snipe --- Mangla, AJK (Nov) Black-tailed godwit,  Limosa limosa Bar-tailed godwit,  Limosa lappo...

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Pakistan. Black-winged stilt,  Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt - Uchali Lake & Rawal Lake Pied avocet,  Recurvirostra avosetta

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. Sand martin,  Riparia riparia Pale martin,  Riparia diluta Grey-throated martin,  Riparia chinensis Plain Martin --- D-12, Islamabad Eurasian crag martin,  Ptyonoprogne rupestris Pale crag martin,  Ptyonoprogne obsoleta Dusky crag martin,  Ptyonoprogne concolor Barn swallow,  Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow - Rawalpindi Barn Swallow - Rawalpindi Wire-tailed swallow,  Hirundo smithii Red-rumped swallow,  Cecropis daurica Red-Rumped Swallow - D-12, Islamabad  Streak-throated swallow,  Petrochelidon fluvicola Common house martin,  Delichon urbica Asian house martin,  Delichon dasypus

Some friends planned a day trip to Ayubia. It was a fun trip and I had no plan to do birding in this trip. But fortunately my birding lense was with me. As we stayed there for lunch I had some time to look around. I was very glad to find some birds and I hope to see them soon in Islamabad too. Cinereous Tit --- Ayubia Yellow Breasted Green Finch - Ayubia Hume's leaf warbler - Ayubia (New Entry) Bar Tailed TreeCreeper - Ayubia

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)