Menno Hornman's Northern and Central Pakistan 2007 Trip Bird List
By Menno Hornman
SYSTEMATIC LIST OF OBSERVATIONS
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 5 Jhang to Faisalabad (Multan to
Rawalpindi) 1/11
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 4 Chenab
River, M2 Faisalabad to Rawalpindi 1/11; 2 Lake View
Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Great Egret Casmerodius albus 2
Motorway Rawalpindi to Lahore 27/10; 4 Multan to Uch
31/10
Little Egret Egretta garzetta 1 Panjnad
Head 31/10; 30 Multan to Rawalpindi 1/11; 30 Chenab
River, M2 Faisalabad to Rawalpindi 1/11; 25 Jhelum River,
M2 Faisalabad to Rawalpindi 1/11; 8 Lake View Park, Rawal
Lake 2/11
Indian Pond‐Heron Ardeola grayii 5 Lahore
to Multan 30/10; >55 Multan to Uch 31/10; 5 at a
roadside pool near Panjnad Head, 31/10; 3 Uch Charif to
Multan 31/10; 1 Multan to Rawalpindi 1/11; 1 Jhang to
Faisalabad (Multan to Rawalpindi) 1/11; 2 Lake View Park,
Rawal Lake 2/11
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Common in
the lowlands
Black‐crowned Night‐Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 1
adult perched in dense overhanging tree, Lake View Park,
Rawal Lake 2/11
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 3 Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 40 Panjnad Head 31/10; 7 Chenab
River, M2 Faisalabad to Rawalpindi 1/11; 3 Rawal Lake
2/11
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 23 Panjnad
Head, 31/10
Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptylorhinchus 1 Uch
Charif 31/10
Black‐shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Regularly
observed in the Punjab lowlands
Black Kite Milvus migrans Abundant in the lowlands of
Punjab
Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus 1
soaring at 4934m, Khunjerab Pass (also on the Chinese
side), 20/10; 2 soaring, Bumboret valley, 25/10
Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis 1 soaring, Khunjerab National
Park, 20/10
Western Marsh‐Harrier Circus aeruginosus 5 over
reed beds Panjnad Head 31/10
Shikra Accipiter badius 1 hunting Satpara Valley, 18/10;
1 hunting, gardens of Lahore Fort 28/10; 1 adult Lahore
to Multan 30/10; 1 Uch Charif 31/10; 1 Uch Charif to
Multan 31/10; 1 hunting Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11;
1 trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla Hills 3/11
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 female/immature hunting, garden
Shigar Fort, 16/10; 1 male hunting, Chaghbini Chitral Gol
NP 26/10
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 1 adult hunting and perched,
Khunjerab National Park, 20/10; 1 hunting Laspur Valley,
Chitral 24/10
White‐eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa 1 adult
soaring, Nathiagali, 14/10
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 2 in a field, Lahore to Multan
30/10
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 1 adult perchedon rock Khunjerab
NP, 20/10; 1 adult hunting, Chitral Gol NP, 26/10
Booted Eagle Aquila pennata 1 dark phase circling, Shigar
Fort, 17/10 ; 1 light phase, Skardu, 18/10; 1 light
phase Uch Charif 31/10
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 male hunting just before Murree
14/10; 1 at c4050m Deosai Plain, 18/10; 1 Chaghbini
Chitral Gol NP 26/10
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 ad and 2 ads & 1 juvenile
hunting along ridge Margalla Hills, 13/10; 1 with prey,
high rock Shigar 17/10; 1 hunting Karimabad, 19/10
Chukar Alectoris chukar 1 KKH Sultanabad‐Rahimabad, 19/10
White‐breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 1
foraging on overgrown path, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake
2/11
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 6 at a
roadside pool near Panjnad Head, 31/10; 11
Jhang to Faisalabad (Multan to Rawalpindi) 1/11; 1 call
Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 50 Satpara Lake, 18/10; 20 Teru
lake, Ghizar Valley 24/10; 200 Shandur Lake (at pass at
3810m), 24/10
Pheasant‐tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus 1 at a
roadside pool near Panjnad Head, 31/10
Black‐winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Locally
common in the Punjab lowlands: 40 Lahore to Multan
30/10; 4 in pool near river crossing Multan to Uch
31/10; 180, 30, 30 and 4 in pools Multan to Rawalpindi
1/11; 1 Jhang to Faisalabad (Multan to Rawalpindi) 1/11
Red‐wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Fairly common on fields in the
Punjab lowlands
White‐tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus 1 ad in submerged arable field,
Multan to Uch Charif, 31/10
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 1 Gilgit River, Gilgit 23/10; 1 Ghizar
Valley 23/10; 2 at large bridge Panjnad Head 31/10
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 1 in a river side pool Uch Charif
to Multan 31/10; 8 Jhang to Faisalabad (Multan to
Rawalpindi) 1/11
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 in pool near a river crossing
Multan to Uch 31/10
Common Redshank Tringa totanus 3 Multan to Jhang (Multan –
Rawalpindi) 1/11
Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini An amazing observation of 3
adults migrating Sheosar Lake 4180m on 18/10
Indian River Tern Sterna aurantia 1 ad on sandflat at large bridge
and 2 further on foraging, Panjnad Head 31/10; 11 Jhelum
River, M2 Faisalabad to Rawalpindi 1/11
Rock Pigeon Columba livia Feral Pigeon was common in cities
in the lowlands. However, wild birds were only seen on
a few occasions: 1 Lower Astor Valley, 19/10; 1 along
the KKH from Indus – Astor crossing to Gilgit, 19/10; 5
Salt Range, M2 Rawalpindi to Lahore 27/10; 1 Salt Range,
M2 Faisalabad to Rawalpindi 1/11
Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota 4 flying down in the valley, Chaghbini
Chitral Gol NP 26/10
Common Wood‐Pigeon Columba palumbus >150 in a restless large flock
of the casiotis subspecies Chaghbini Chitral Gol NP
26/10
Oriental Turtle‐Dove Streptopelia orientalis 2 meena
perched, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Eurasian Collared‐Dove Streptopelia decaocto Common
in Islamabad and the lowlands of Punjab
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 1
garden Islamabad 16/10; 1 garden of Lahore Fort 28/10; 1
Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11; 1 trail 2 (E7 to
Daman‐e Koh), Margalla Hills 3/11
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Common
to fairly common in Punjab cities but not observed in
Islamabad/Rawalpindi
Yellow‐footed Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus chlorigaster
To my surprise, a flock of 20 in the garden of Lahore
Fort 28/10
Rose‐ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Common in the Punjab lowlands
including Islamabad, where, for example, a flock of >50
was present in Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea 1
calling Uch Charif 31/10; 1 Lake View Park, Rawal Lake
2/11
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 1 Multan to Uch 31/10; 1 Lake
View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Little Owl Athene noctua 1 in rocky , uninhabited terrain
between Sust and Passu, KKH, 20/10
Spotted Owlet Athene brama
1
calling at night, Islamabad 13/10
House Swift Apus nipalensis 2 Islamabad 12/10; 10 Islamabad
14/10; 40 Islamabad 16/10; 30 Old City Lahore 28/10; 20
National Stadium Lahore 29/10 ; 25 Multan to Uch 31/10;
3 Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1 Panjnad
Head 31/10; 2 (1 perched) Lake View Park, Rawal Lake
2/11
White‐throated Kingfisher Halcyon
smyrnensis Regularly observed in the Punjab lowlands
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 6 perched and fishing Lake View
Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Green Bee‐eater Merops orientalis 2 Multan to Uch 31/10
Blue‐cheeked Bee‐eater Merops persicus 7
perched, Lahore to Multan 30/10
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Common
in lowlands
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 1 Islamabad 12/10; 1 surprisingly
high up near Khyber, KKH at 2658m 20/10; 1 Uch Charif
31/10; 1 Panjnad Head 31/10; 6 Uch Charif to Multan
31/10; 1 Multan to Rawalpindi 1/11
Blue‐throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica 4 birds, ridge hike, Margalla
Hills 13/10; 5 ad calling and seen, Lake View Park, Rawal
Lake 2/11; 3 trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla
Hills 3/11
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala 1 Margalla
Hills to Murree 14/10; 2 adults Lake View Park, Rawal
Lake 2/11
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europeus 1
calling (‘kwoink’ call) at 4.30h Shigar Fort, 16/10
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla 1 foraging on the ground and
shortly perched in a bush, Rawal Lake 2/11
Brown‐fronted Woodpecker Dendrocopos auriceps 1 male
and 1 female showing well in a mature pine forest, Nathiaghali,
14/10
Yellow‐crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos
mahrattensis 1 bird in a tree along the channel Panjnad Head to Uch Charif
Himalayan Woodpecker Dendrocopos himalayensis 1 male
along the road just before Murree 14/10; 2 birds in
mature Pine Forest Nathiaghali, 14/10; 2 Chaghbini Chitral
Gol NP 26/10
Scaly‐bellied Woodpecker Picus squamatus 1 bird, 1 male and 1 female in
mature pine forest Nathiaghali, 14/10; 1 Gulmit, 20/10; 1
Passu 20/10; 1‐2 Karimabad 20/10, 21/10, 22/10 and 23/10;
1 Altit 22/10; 1 Chaghbini Chitral Gol NP 26/10
Hume's Lark Calandrella acutirostris 3 well
observed at Shandur Pass (3800m) in a flock of 50
Horned Larks, 24/10
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris 2, Deosai
NP, 18/10; Large flocks at and near (all >3000m) Shandur
Pass (3800m), 24/10: 40 Teru – Shandur Pass (3285m), 25
Shandur Pass (3810m), 80 Shandur – Laspur (3600m)
Crested Lark Galerida cristata 1 Multan to Jhang (Multan –
Rawalpindi) 1/11
Grey‐throated Sand‐martin Riparia chinensis 30 at
the Jhelum river crossing, Motorway Rawalpindi to Lahore
27/10; 4 Lahore to Multan 30/10; >100 Panjnad Head 31/10
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 3 birds Margalla Hills, 13/10; 10
Margalla Hills, 14/10; 10 Islamabad, 16/10; >150 Multan
to Uch 31/10; 1 Multan to Rawalpindi 1/11
Wire‐tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 1 adult Uch Charif, 31/10
Eurasian Crag‐Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 20, Shigar
Fort, 16/10; 3 high rock, Shigar 17/10; 30 Lower Astor
Valley 19/10; 8 foraging Gilgit River, Gilgit 23/10; 30 Ghizar
Valley 23/10; 15 road to Chitral Gol NP 26/10; 3
Airport Chitral town 27/10
Streak‐throated Swallow Petrochelidon fluvicola 3 Uch Charif,
31/10
Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus 2 foraging Khunjerab Pass (4934m),
20/10
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 1 migrating Islamabad 15/10; 1
migrating Karimabad 21/10; 2 pale haringtoni
foraging, well seen, Altit 22/10
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta 8 foraging at the extensive
alpine meadow at Birmogh Lasht, Chitral Gol NP 26/10
White Wagtail Motacilla alba Fairly
common to scarce in Islamabad area, mountain valleys of
NA and NWFP and also Punjab. Almost all checked birds
belonged to personata race. personata: 1 ad
male Shigar 16/10 and 2 males 17/10; 2 males Skardu
18/10; 1 male Lower Astor Valley 19/10; 4 Passu 20/10;
1 Sust 20/10; 4 (2 males) Sust – Passu 20/10; 4 Gilgit
River, Gilgit 23/10; 1 Teru lake, Ghizar Valley 24/10;
28 (sleep flock) Chitral town 24/10; 1 Bumboret Valley
25/10; 8 Multan to Uch 31/10; 2 Uch Charif to Multan
31/10; 4 Multan to Rawalpindi 1/11; 1 Lake View Park, Rawal
Lake 2/11 alba/dukhunensis: 1 stream Deosai Plain
4100m, 18/10; 1 male Jhang to Faisalabad (Multan to
Rawalpindi) 1/11
White‐browed Wagtail Motacilla madaraspatensis 3 Panjnad
Head, 31/10; 2 Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola 1 Bumboret Valley 25/10
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 1 Bauma Lungma Shigar 16/10 and
17/10; 3 Gilgit River, Gilgit 23/10; 2 Bumboret Valley
25/10; 1 Multan to Rawalpindi 1/11
Long‐tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus 1 male
and 2 females Margalla Hills 13/10; 4 males (how red!),
Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11; 4 overhead, trail near
Pirsohawa, Margalla Hills 3/11
White‐eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis 5
Lahore to Multan 30/10; at least 8, some with crest
(hybrid with Himalayan or subspecies with crest?), Lake
View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys Common
in Margalla Hills; 2 Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Red‐vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Very common in the Islamabad area
Goldcrest Regulus regulus 2 near view point, Chaghbini, Chitral
Gol NP, 26/10
White‐throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus 1 cashmirensis (brown belly)
at 3800m in a stream with ice, Satpara Valley, 18/10
and 1 cashmirensis (brown belly) at 4175m in a
half‐frozen stream, Deosai NP, 18/10
Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii 1 adult in Bauma Lungma river, Shigar,
16/10
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 2
(dark) around low rocks, Shigar, 17/10; 1 Hunza, 19/10;
2 Ultar Nala, Karimabad 22/10
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris 2 on rocks near the alpine
meadow at Birmogh Lasht, Chitral Gol NP 26/10
Himalayan Accentor Prunella himalayana 1
perched on a rock, Lower Astor Valley, 19/10
Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides 4 in
juniper at 3150m Satpara Valley, 18/10; 3 in rocky
juniper (at c 3520m) and 5 in comparable rocky juniper
habitat at c3450m, Upper Astor Valley, 18/10
Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens 1 ad. Hippophae
bushes along Bauma Lungma (2430m), 17/10; 1, Satpara
Valley (3100m), 18/10; 1 Passu, KKH, 20/10; 2 Khunjerab
National Park, 20/10; 4 Teru – Shandur pass in bushes
and rocks, 24/10
Black‐throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis at
least 8 individuals seen well, though briefly in low
dense Hazel bushes near a saddle at the Ishperudeh Nala,
Chitral Gol NP 26/10
Blue Rock‐Thrush Monticola solitarius 1 male
at 3950m near pass Satpara Valley/Deosai plain 18/10; 1
male Ghizar Valley 23/10; 1 male Laspur Valley 24/10
Blue Whistling‐Thrush Myophonus caeruleus 3 Skardu
16/10; 5 Shigar 16/10; 6 singing (only early mornings
and evening) and foraging, Shigar, 17/10; 1 Skardu 18/10;
1 Satpara village 18/10; 3 (1 singing) Astor 19/10; 2
(1 singing) Karimabad 21/10 and 22/10; 2 Ultar Nala, Karimabad
22/10; 4 Altit 22/10; 2 singing Karimabad 23/10; 1 Karimabad
– Gilgit 23/10; 3 Ghizar Valley 23/10; 1 singing Phandar
(2915m), Ghizar Valley 24/10; 1 Teru, Ghizar Valley
24/10; 2 Bumboret Valley 25/10; 2 probably wintering
individuals, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Tickell's Thrush Turdus unicolor 1 fine male foraging close by in
a hawthorn, garden Shigar Fort, 16/10
Dark‐throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis 23 (one flock of 20 birds on
the Ridge trail, including some males), Chitral Gol NP
26/10
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 2 Chaghbini Chitral Gol NP 26/10
Rufous‐vented Prinia Prinia burnesii >2 Panjnad Head 31/10
Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera 2 in dense bush at the top of
the ridge Margalla Hills 13/10.
Grey‐breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii 2 foraging close by, Lake View
Park, Rawal Lake 2/11; 2 trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla
Hills 3/11
Plain Prinia Prinia inorata 8 Panjnad Head 31/10; 3 at a
roadside pool near Panjnad Head, 31/10
Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis 1 Panjnad Head 31/10
Yellow‐bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris 1 Panjnad
Head 31/10; 2 foraging, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis 6 in one flock foraging in low
bushes and dead branches, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake
2/11
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 4 singing Islamabad 15/10; 3
foraging, mostly on the ground close to bushes, Lake
View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11; 3 trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh),
Margalla Hills 3/11
Clamorous Reed‐Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus 4
singing Panjnad Head 31/10
White‐browed Tit‐Warbler Leptopoecile sophiae 1
male and 1 female, Hippophae bushes along Bauma Lungma,
Shigar (2430m), 17/10; 2 males and 2 females, Hippophae
bushes, Satpara Valley, Skardu (3100m), 18/10
Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus (collybita) tristis 3 along
Bauma Lungma, Shigar 16/10 and 4 on 17/10; 7 foraging Sor
Laspur (2800m) 24/10; 1 Rehol, Chitral 24/10; 4 Krakal
Graveyard, Bumboret Valley 25/10; 2 Chaghbini Chitral Gol
NP 26/10; 10+ foraging mostly close to the ground in
herbs and bushes, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11; trail
2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla Hills 3/11; 5 trail
near Pirsohawa, Margalla Hills 3/11
Mountain Chiffchaff Phylloscopus sindianus 2 well
seen in trees along Bauma Lungma, Shigar 17/10
Brooks' Leaf‐Warbler Phylloscopus subviridis 1 ‐2
in a flock of 30 Hume’s Warbler at, Bumboret Valley,
25/10: one to two green tinged, pale colored birds with
a yellow supercilium and creamy white underparts, 2
whitish wingbars from which the 1 was clearly accentuated
and with an equal posture as Hume’s Warbler.
Lemon‐rumped Warbler Phylloscopus chloronotus 1
foraging, in bird wave, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei Observed almost daily in Islamabad
area, Northern Areas and NWFP from 16/10 onwards: 2
along Bauma Lungma, Shigar, 16/10 and 17/10; 1 Ultar Nala,
Karimabad (c2500m) 22/10; 2 Karimabad 23/10; 1 Gilgit
River, Gilgit 23/10; 3 Phandar (2915m), Ghizar Valley
24/10; 2 foraging Sor Laspur (2800m) 24/10; 1 Rehol, Chitral
24/10; 1 Chitral town 25/10; >20 in Holly Oaks, Krakal
graveyard, Bumboret Valley 25/10; 4 Chaghbini Chitral Gol
NP 26/10; 2 E7 Islamabad 2/11; 2 F7 Islamabad 2/11; 2
Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11; 9 trail 2 (E7 to
Daman‐e Koh), Margalla Hills 3/11; 7 trail near Pirsohawa,
Margalla Hills 3/11; 1 Monal Restaurant, Margalla Hills
3/11
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides 1 Sor Laspur
(2800m) 24/10; 2 Chaghbini (2925m) Chitral Gol NP 26/10;
2 trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla Hills 3/11
Grey‐hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos 7
birds, most of them in mixed species flocks, Ridge, Margalla
Hills, 13/10; 1 garden Islamabad, 16/10; 3 in bird wave,
Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11; 6 trail 2 (E7 to
Daman‐e Koh), Margalla Hills 3/11; 3 trail near Pirsohawa,
Margalla Hills 3/11
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 4 trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla
Hills 3/11; 1 trail near Pirsohawa, Margalla Hills 3/11
Red‐breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva 2 first winter plumage, well
observed, along Bauma Lungma, 17/10
Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris 3
females/first winters foraging in bushes, trail near Pirsohawa,
Margalla Hills 3/11
Himalayan Red‐flanked Bluetail Tarsiger
rutilans 3 of which 1 beautiful male briefly seen,
flicking with tail and alarming, in tiny dry river
valleys with dense cover, trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla
Hills 3/11; 1 calling, trail near Pirsohawa, Margalla
Hills 3/11
Oriental Magpie‐Robin Copsychus saularis 2 males, Lake View Park, Rawal
Lake 2/11; 2 trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla
Hills 3/11
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus 1 male,
Uch Charif 31/10
Blue‐capped Redstart Phoenicurus caeruleocephala 1 male,
Satpara Valley (3200m), 18/10; 1 winter plumaged male, Ultar
Nala (c2600m), Karimabad 22/10; 1 winter plumaged male
and 1 female, Chaghbini Chitral Gol NP 26/10; 1 male
trail near Pirsohawa, Margalla Hills 3/11
White‐winged Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogastrus Almost
all birds were present in Hippophae bushes: at
least 6 males at 3100m, Satpara valley, 18/10; 2 males
at 2500m, Gulmit, 20/10; 6 males at c 2490m, near Passu,
20/10; 3 males at c 2465m, beyond Passu, 20/10; 4
females at 2500m, Passu, Northern Areas 20/10; 3 males
at 2947m, Ghizar river, Teru, 24/10; 2 males and 2
females at 3281m Teru to Shandur pass, 24/10; 2 males
at 3300m, Teru to Shandur pass 24/10; 2 females together
with two
Brown Accentors at 3357m near Shandur pass, 24/10; 5 males
and 4 females c 3600m, Upper‐Laspur, 24/10; 4 males at
3300m, Lower‐Laspur, 24/10
White‐capped Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus 1 ad.
foraging in Bauma Lungma (at 2430m), Shigar 17/10; 1 ad
Ultar Nala (2500m), Karimabad 22/10; 2 Ghizar Valley
23/10; 1 alarming at our hotel balcony Chitral town
25/10 and 27/10; 2 Bumboret Valley 25/10
Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa 1 male,
Gilgit River, Gilgit 23/10
White‐bellied Redstart Hodgsonius phaenicuroides Surprisingly,
1 skulking male at the ridge Margalla Hills 13/10
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata 1 male near Mazarfghad, Uch Charif
to Multan 31/10
Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus 1 male & 1 female foraging in
low bushes and dead branches, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake
2/11; 1 female near the ZOO, trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh),
Margalla Hills 3/11
Hume's Wheatear Oenanthe albonigra 2 adults in rocky, gently sloping
terrain c10 km past Sultanabad, just before Jutal, (Karimabad
– Gilgit) 23/10
Variable Wheatear Oenanthe picata 1 male capistrata Uch Charif
to Multan 31/10; 1 male capistrata Multan to Jhang
(Multan to Rawalpindi) 1/11; 2 opistholeuca Jhang
to Faisalabad (Multan to Rawalpindi) 1/11; 1 male capistrata
Jhang to Faisalabad (Multan to Rawalpindi) 1/11
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti 1 female foraging at 4180m near Sheosar
Lake, Deosai NP, 18/10
Brown Rock Chat Cercomela fusca >10 in and around villages Uch Charif
to Multan 31/10; 1 Multan to Jhang (Multan to
Rawalpindi) 1/11; 1 E7 Islamabad 2/11
White‐throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis 1
individual in our friend’s garden, Islamabad, 16/10
Streaked Laughingthrush Garrulax lineatus Common in and around villages
Northern areas and NWFP, subspecies gilgit: 25 Shigar,
16/10; 15 Shigar 17/10; 2 Satpara village 18/10; 2
Upper Astor Valley 18/10; 1 Lower Astor Valley (far away
from habitation), 1 singing male Karimabad 21/10 and
22/10; 15 (of which at least 5 singing males from
17.30u to dark) Altit 22/10; 4 (2 singing) Karimabad –
Gilgit 23/10; 3 Ghizar Valley 23/10; 1 singing Phandar, Ghizar
Valley 24/10; 1 singing Sor Laspur (2800m) 24/10
Rusty‐cheeked Scimitar‐Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenys 7
(with a little patience well observed!) trail 2 (E7 to
Daman‐e Koh), Margalla Hills 3/11; 2 trail near Pirsohawa,
Margalla Hills 3/11
Black‐chinned Babbler Stachyris pyrrhops 1 bird, Ridge trail, Margalla
Hills, 13/10
Common Babbler Turdoides caudate 2 Multan to Rawalpindi 1/11; 3
M3 (Faisalabad – M2) 1/11
Striated Babbler Turdoides earlei a flock of at least 7 skulking
birds in dense bushes and reed at Panjnad Head, 31/10
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata 20+ (4 families), Ridge, Margalla
Hills, 13/10; 1 Margalla Hills, 14/10; 3 F7 Islamabad
2/11; 30 (c4 family groups), Lake View Park, Rawal Lake
2/11; 1 Monal Restaurant, Margalla Hills 3/11
White‐cheeked Tit Aegithalos leucogenys 2 birds
observed in a large mixed species flock at some fruiting
trees at the ridge MargallaHills, 13/10; At least 5
birds were present in a mixed species flock (with Great
Tit) between Batrik and Brun, Bumboret Valley, 25/10; 3 ind.
trail near Pirsohawa, Margalla Hills 3/11
Rufous‐naped Tit Periparus rufonuchalis 3, Fir
forest, Nathiaghali, 14/10; >15 in Cedar‐Pine‐Fir
zone along the ridge trail, Chaghbini Chitral Gol NP
26/10
Spot‐winged Tit Periparus melanolophus 4
birds, ridge Margalla Hills, 13/10; >50 along the road
and at Nathiaghali, 14/10; >40 in Cedar‐Pine‐Fir zone
along the ridge trail, Chaghbini Chitral Gol NP 26/10
Great Tit Parus major Common in the Islamabad area and
valleys and villages in Northern Areas and NWFP. Probably
all belonged to the cashmirensis subspecies
Green‐backed Tit Parus monticolus 1 bird, ridge Margalla Hills,
13/10; 2, Ayubia, 14/10
Kashmir Nuthatch Sitta cashmirensis 4 at the ridge trail, Chaghbini Chitral
Gol NP 26/10
White‐cheeked Nuthatch Sitta leucopsis 20 birds in firs and pines along
the road and at Nathiaghali, 14/10; 6 birds, ridge
trail, Chaghbini Chitral Gol NP 26/10
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria 1 on a rock wall next to KKH,
just before Jutal (Karimabad to Gilgit) 23/10; 2 on rock
wall Laspur Valley to Buni 24/10
Bar‐tailed Treecreeper Certhia himalayana 4 well observed, forest above Nathiagali,
14/10; 1 in Walnut tree, Bumboret Valley 25/10; 3
foraging on tree bark, Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11;
7 again good views, trail 2 (E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla
Hills 3/11; 2 trail near Pirsohawa, Margalla Hills 3/11
Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 1 in hotel garden, Lahore 28/10;
1 winter plumaged male garden of Lahore Fort 28/10
Oriental White‐eye Zosterops palpebrosus 40+,
most of them in a large flock, Ridge, Margalla Hills,
13/10; 20+, in a large flock with tits and warblers,
Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11; 50+ (3 flocks) trail 2
(E7 to Daman‐e Koh), Margalla Hills 3/11; 10 trail near
Pirsohawa, Margalla Hills 3/11
Long‐tailed Shrike Lanius schach 1 erythronotus on top of a
bush, Teru, Ghizar Valley 24/10; 1 caniceps near
the National Stadium Lahore 29/10; 1 Multan to Uch Charif
31/10; 1 adult Panjnad Head 31/10; 2 Multan to
Rawalpindi 1/11; 1 M3 (Faisalabad – M2) 1/11; 1 E7
Islamabad 2/11; 1 Lake View Park, Rawal Lake 2/11
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Regularly
observed in Punjab lowlands including around Islamabad: 1
(tailless individual) Margalla Hills 14/10; 13 Multan to Uch
31/10; 4 Uch Charif to Multan 31/10; 2 at a roadside
pool near Panjnad Head, 31/10; 21 Uch Charif to Multan
31/10; 5 Multan 31/10; 7 Multan to Jhang (Multan –
Rawalpindi) 1/11; 15 Jhang to Faisalabad (Multan to
Rawalpindi) 1/11; 3 M3 (Faisalabad – M2) 1/11; 1 M2
Faisalabad to Rawalpindi 1/11; 1 Islamabad Airport 4/11
Black‐headed Jay Garrulus lanceolatus Two
flocks (2 and 4 birds) along the dirt road in the
“Holly” Oaks zone (probably Quercus balloot), Chitral
Gol NP, 26/10
Yellow‐billed Magpie Urocissa flavirostris 20
birds (in 4‐5 flocks), Fir forest, Nathiaghali, 14/10
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Fairly
common in Islamabad, Margalla Hills and Punjab
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Common in valleys and villages in
Northern Areas and NWFP e.g. Shigar, Skardu, Astor, Gilgit,
Karimabad, Gulmit and Chitral. All of the white rumped bactriana
subspecies.
Larger‐spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga
multipunctata 1 in Pine‐Juniper zone, Upper Astor Valley, 18/10; 6 in
Pine‐Cedars zone, Chitral Gol NP, 26/10
Red‐billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax a flock
of at least 100, Shigar Fort, 16/10 and 200 on 17/10;
5 c4050m Deosai Plain 18/10; 18 Upper Astor Valley,
18/10; 12 Khunjerab NP (2 on China part of the border);
>10 (far outnumbered by Yellow‐billed), Karimabad 21/10
and 22/10; 5 Teru to Shandur Pass 24/10
Yellow‐billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus at
least 2 in a large flock with Chough, Shigar Fort,
16/10 and 17/10; 2 at 3950m near pass Satpara Valley/Deosai
plain 18/10; 1 KKH to Gilgit, 19/10; 50 Karimabad on
20/10 and >500 in large flocks on 21/10 and 22/10; 30 Teru
to Shandur Pass 24/10; 5 Chitral Gol NP 26/10
House Crow Corvus splendens Abundant in lowlands; 1 Chitral
town 27/10
Carrion Crow Corvus corone Common in Hunza , especially on
fields in Karimabad, and in Chitral town
Large‐billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos >200 en
route to Nathiaghali, 14/10; 15 in Pine‐juniper zone
and 10 around villages, Upper Astor Valley, 18/10; 15
Astor, 19/10; 2 KKH to Gilgit, 19/10; 5 along KKH Gilgit
to Hunza, 19/10; 4 Karimabad to Gilgit 23/10; >50
probably this species here, Bumboret Valley 25/10; >40 Chitral
Gol NP 26/10; >50 Chitral town 27/10; 2 trail near Pirsohawa,
Margalla Hills 3/11
Common Raven Corvus corax 5 birds en route to Nathiaghali,
14/10; 4 Khunjerab National Park, 20/10
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus Locally
fairly common in Punjab, but always in lower numbers
than Common Myna
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Abundant
in Punjab lowlands and Chitral
Rosy Starling Pastor roseus 6 winter plumaged birds in the
garden of Lahore Fort 28/10; 9 Lahore to Multan 30/10; 1
Multan to Uch 31/10
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris 30 in a well known compact
flock, Ghizar Valley 23/10; 1 and a flock of 30 Uch Charif
to Multan 31/10
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Common in lowlands and in valleys
in Northern Areas
Sind Sparrow Passer pyrrhonotus 2 birds in bushes at a roadside
pool near Panjnad Head, 31/10
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer
montanus Common in and around Chitral and in Bumboret Valley with
flocks of tens of birds, totaling >150.
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 2, willow trees at KSF HQ, Dhee,
KKH, 20/10; 2 migrating, Chaghbini, Chitral Gol 26/10
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla 2
migrating, Chaghbini, Chitral Gol NP, 26/10
Eurasian Goldfinch Carduelis (carduelis) caniceps 4,
garden Shigar Fort, 16/10; 4, Karimabad 23/10
Plain Mountain‐Finch Leucosticte nemoricola 20 in
Pine‐juniper zone, Upper Astor Valley (3200m), 18/10; 2 Teru
– Shandur (c3300m), 24/10; >300 in one huge, shy flock,
Ridge trail, Chitral Gol NP, 26/10
Brandt's Mountain‐Finch Leucosticte brandti 3
winter plumaged birds were well seen and a flock of 30
more briefly both between Dhee and Khunjera Pass at c 3900m
on the KKH, 20/10
Blyth’s Rosefinch Carpodacus grandis 1 male and 2 females in
Pine‐Cedar zone Chitral Gol, 26/10
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 2 Chaghbini, Chitral Gol NP,
26‐10
Twite Carduelis flavirostris 50 in
a compact flock at a streamside meadow at 3600m near Shandur
Pass, Teru – Shandur pass 24/10
Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina 4 Chaghbini,
Chitral Gol 26/10
Fire‐fronted Serin Serinus pusillus 4 foraging in Hippophae
bush, Satpara Valley (3100m), 18/10; 2 in bushes KSF
headquarters, Dhee, 20/10; 2 in low willows and rosa bushes
along a mountain stream (3450m), Teru – Shandur pass, Ghizar
24/10
Orange Bullfinch Pyrrhula aurantiaca 1
calling along the ridge trail Chitral Gol, 26/10
White‐winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes 4 birds (at least 2 males) along
the ridge trail Chitral Gol, 26/10
Spectacled Finch Callacanthis burtoni 3
female birds along the road in the Mountain Oak zone Chitral
Gol NP, 26/10
Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica 1 Multan to Uch 31/10
Meadow Bunting Emberiza stewarti 1 female close by on the ground
in a grassy patch at the Ridge, Margalla Hills, 13/10
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia Small to larger flocks were
fairly common in Margalla Hills, Northern Areas and NWFP
<<
Back to trip reports
