Rare Cotton Pygmy Goose Sighting in Lahore

( All pictures are taken by me, kindly respect copyrights) 

27th October 2024 (date of sighting)

The past two weeks of birdwatching had been unusually quiet. The smaller birds that normally flit around were nowhere to be seen, replaced by just a few scattered waders and ducks. It felt as though the seasonal changes had driven most of my feathered friends into hiding, and I found myself wondering if today would be just as uneventful.

The afternoon started calmly, with a soft breeze rustling the reeds and distant calls from a few waterfowl. I kept scanning the water’s edge, hoping for something special. Then, suddenly, a Cotton Pygmy Goose appeared! This tiny bird, with its beautiful plumage, stood out brightly against the calm reeds. It was a rare sight in Lahore, a delightful surprise that brought back all the thrill of birdwatching.

As I watched this little gem, memories of past sightings at this same spot came to mind. I remembered my excitement at seeing a Great Bittern here a few weeks back—another bird that rarely shows up around Lahore. I also recalled glimpses of other beautiful birds like the Garganey, the shy Barred Buttonquail, and the graceful Glossy Ibis. Each of those encounters had felt like a gift, and today’s sighting was no different. 

Today's sighting of the Cotton Pygmy Goose rekindled my passion for birdwatching, highlighting the unexpected wonders of nature. This experience emphasizes the value of patience and perseverance, encouraging birdwatchers to explore Lahore's avian history and observe changes in habitats and bird populations.

Rare Sighting of the Oriental Turtle Dove in Lahore

( All pictures are taken by me, kindly respect copyrights) 

05th October 2024 (date of sighting)

On October 5, 2024, while visiting Lahore Safari Park, I was met with an unexpected sight: a flock of six Oriental Turtle Doves, elegantly perched within the Giraffe enclave. This was a rewarding experience and a remarkable occurrence given the limited sightings of these doves in the Lahore region.

Oriental Turtle Dove: A Rare Guest in Lahore:-

The Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) is generally found in the northern regions of Pakistan—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the northern parts of Punjab. Among the five commonly seen dove species in Pakistan—the Eurasian Collared Dove, Red-Collared Dove, Laughing Dove, Spotted Dove, and Oriental Turtle Dove—the latter is arguably the rarest in the Lahore area. 

Historically, the Oriental Turtle Dove was documented in Lahore’s vicinity by A.J. Currie in 1916 in *The Birds of Lahore and Its Vicinity*. His account covers various bird sightings in Lahore’s outskirts, including Attari and Mureedka. Currie’s documentation, including Oriental Turtle Doves, has shaped our understanding of avian species distribution in the region. Since then, there have been few, if any, confirmed records of this species from Lahore, particularly in the age of digital photography, making this recent sighting a true milestone.

Dove Species in Pakistan:-

Each dove species in Pakistan has a particular range, adding layers of diversity to the avian ecosystem:

1. Eurasian Collared Dove and Laughing Dove are the most common doves in Pakistan, seen nearly everywhere except in Gilgit-Baltistan.

2. Red-Collared Dove is more localized, with a stronghold in Punjab and some areas of Sindh.

3. Spotted Dove is found primarily in northern Punjab and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

4. Oriental Turtle Dove typically frequents Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and northern Punjab, making my sighting in Lahore highly unexpected.

A Brief History of Vagrant Doves in Pakistan:- 

Pakistan has seen occasional vagrant sightings of European dove species in select areas like Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, though these have been rare and largely undocumented since the early 20th century. Given the prevalence of digital cameras, recent vagrants are likely to be documented, yet sightings remain scarce. This rarity adds to the intrigue surrounding my encounter with Oriental Turtle Doves in Lahore, possibly indicating a shift in range or migratory habits.

Observing the Flock:-

The doves appeared settled, resting peacefully among the trees, their plumage blending beautifully with the surrounding greenery. Each had a mix of soft browns and subtle grays, with a characteristic black and white neck pattern distinguishing them from other doves. The flock remained undisturbed, offering ample time for observation and photography.

Significance of the Sighting:- 

This sighting reconnects us with Lahore’s ornithological past, highlighting the unexpected return of the Oriental Turtle Dove to the city. It encourages birdwatchers to continue exploring and observing changes in habitats and the dynamics of bird populations. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to reflect on Lahore's avian history. Whether this is a unique occurrence or indicative of a broader trend will be a topic of interest for future research and observation.

Sighting of a Great Bittern in Lahore Suburbs: A Rare Encounter

( All pictures are taken by me, kindly respect copyrights) 

06th October 2024 (date of sighting

Every Sunday, I ventured into the suburbs of Lahore with my camera, exploring ponds and marshes that serve as bird sanctuaries. On one such day, during a quiet stretch of birdwatching, I caught a glimpse of movement in the tall grasses near a marshy wetland. Initially, I thought it was a common resident like a Purple Heron, but something about its posture made my heart race. Raising my camera, I realized I had spotted a Great Bittern.

The Great Bittern (*Botaurus stellaris*), a large heron-like bird, is known for its exceptional camouflage, blending seamlessly with reeds in wetlands. This elusive bird often remains hidden, its presence betrayed only by its deep, booming call, which resonates through marshes during breeding season. Spotting it in Lahore, where wetland habitats are shrinking due to urbanization, felt extraordinary.

The bird stood motionless in its signature "bittern stance," neck extended upward, mimicking the vertical lines of the reeds. For several moments, it remained still, and I felt a profound connection to this rare creature. This species is notoriously difficult to observe due to its secretive nature, freezing in place when alarmed. Seeing it so clearly was a rare privilege.

Great Bittern sightings in Lahore and its suburbs are extremely rare, and I haven’t seen any recent records on eBird. Their preferred habitats—undisturbed wetlands—are rapidly disappearing due to urban expansion, leaving fewer places for these birds to thrive. This sighting, however, suggests that small pockets of suitable habitat may still remain.

As a birdwatcher, it reinforced my passion for conserving the remaining natural habitats around Lahore. Such rare sightings show that there is still much to discover in the wildlife around us, and it’s crucial to protect what remains.

𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱: 𝗔 𝗥𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲

( All pictures are taken by me, kindly respect copyrights) 

08th September 2024

Male & Female

Urbanization often disrupts wildlife habitats, yet occasionally it produces unexpected benefits. A prime example is the Lahore-Sialkot motorway, where human development has unintentionally fostered a thriving microhabitat. The elevated road and its sloping embankments have become a refuge for various bird species. On these grassy slopes, Prinias flit through the undergrowth, bee-eaters dazzle with their swift flights, and bitterns stalk quietly around the wet patches. Ponds formed by runoff have further enriched the area, creating a bustling ecosystem amid the modern infrastructure.

Not long ago, I was fortunate to spot a pair of Barred Buttonquails along these embankments. They were quietly foraging on the ground, nearly invisible due to their remarkable camouflage. Their barred brown and gray plumage blended perfectly with the dry earth, making them easy to miss unless observed closely. It was a rare and thrilling encounter with these elusive ground-dwelling birds, experts at remaining hidden.

The Barred Buttonquail (*Turnix suscitator*), often mistaken for a true quail, belongs to the unique *Turnicidae* family. Unlike most birds, these buttonquails follow an unusual reproductive strategy. In a fascinating role reversal, the larger, more colorful female leads the courtship, while the smaller male takes on the responsibility of incubating the eggs and raising the chicks. This rare behavior is just one example of nature’s remarkable adaptations.

Male smaller in size

Female larger in size

Pair

Barred Buttonquails thrive in areas that offer plenty of cover and food, favoring grasslands, scrub, and forest edges. They are often drawn to agricultural fields, where the quiet environment provides ideal foraging grounds. The motorway’s embankments have inadvertently created such a habitat, giving these birds a safe space to search for seeds, insects, and small invertebrates.

Despite the busy traffic nearby, this new habitat highlights nature's resilience. The construction, designed to elevate the road, has unexpectedly formed grassy slopes that now provide shelter for species like the Barred Buttonquail. Observing this pair reminded me how wildlife adapts and thrives in even the most unexpected places, coexisting with human development.

Birds of Lahore: A Century Apart - A Comparative Study from Currie's Chronicles of 1916 to transformations in 2024

AJ Currie included the Yellow Lapwing in his checklist in 2016, but the first photographic record of the bird in the city dates back to 2019, photographed by me and this record later being published in 'Bird Asia.'

Abstract:-

In 1916, A. J. Currie published a comprehensive account titled 'The Birds of Lahore' and its Vicinity,' documenting avian sightings in the outskirts, including Attari and Mureedka. His detailed bird sightings were compiled into a checklist of 200 species, and this valuable contribution was featured in 'The Journal of the Bombay Natural History.'

Engaging in bird photography within the Lahore area from 2010 to 2024, this article aims to assess the current avian landscape and compare it to Currie's observations made 108 years ago. In categorizing the birds encountered, those commonly seen are termed as "Common," while species with records less than Five in recent years are labeled as "Uncommon." Birds that have become rare, with no recent sightings, are classified as having "No recent records."Additionally, I specifically considered birds for which photographic records are available.

To ensure a thorough examination, I cross-referenced my observations with data from other Lahore-based photographers in the "Birds of Pakistan" group and monitored eBird sightings. This multi-faceted approach enhances the reliability and comprehensiveness of the findings, providing a nuanced perspective on the avian population in Lahore over the past century. I also consulted the works of several other researchers besides Currie (1916), including Mirza (1965, 2005), Ali and Ripley (1983), Roberts (1991, 1992), Chaudhry et al. (1992), Mahmood (2000), Hussain and Afzal (2005), as well as Grimmett and Inskipp (2006).

Categories and Counts:-

Category	Count
A. Total Birds found in Lahore (In 1916, A. J. Currie)	200
B. Status of Birds documented in Lahore by A.J. Currie  in 2024
- "Common"	101
- "Uncommon"	59
- "No recent Records"	40
C. Impact Factor due to habitat loss	50% decline in birding population in 108 years

Common Birds Encountered:- 

1. The Indian House-Crow

2. The Indian Treepie

3. The Common Babbler

4. The Jungle Babbler

5. The Yellow-eyed Babbler

6. The Indian White-Eye

7. The Punjab Red-vented Bulbul

8. The Black Drongo

9. Clamorous Reed-warbler

10. Blyth's Reed-warbler

11. The Indian Tailorbird

12. Zitting Cisticola

13. The Rufous-fronted Prinia

14. The Indian Lesser White-throated Warbler

15. Chiff Chaff

16. The Ashy Prinia

17. The Plain Prinia

18. The Bay-backed Shrike

19. The Rufous-backed Shrike

20. The Indian Oriole

21. The Rose-coloured Starling

22. The Central-Asian Starling

23. The Common Myna

24. The Bank Myna

25. The Red-breasted Flycatcher

26. The White-browed Fantail Flycatcher

27. A common Pied Bushchat

28. The Isabelline Chat

29. The Brown Rock Chat

30. The Indian Redstart

31. The Indian Blue-throat

32. The Indian Robin

33. The Magpie Robin

34. The Baya – Ploceus baya

35. The White-throated Munia Indian silverbill

36. The Yellow-throated Sparrow

37. The House Sparrow

38. The Indian Sand Martin

39. The Swallow

40. The Wire-tailed Swallow

41. Sykes's Striated Warbler

42. The White Wagtail

43. The Masked Wagtail

44. The Large Pied Wagtail

45. The Grey Wagtail

46. The Yellow Wagtail

47. The Citrine Wagtail

48. The Indian Tree Pipit

49. The Paddyfiled Pipit

50. The Indian Sand Lark

51. The Singing Bush-Lark

52. The Crested Lark

53. The Ashy-crowned Lark

54. The Purple Sunbird

55. The Golden-backed Woodpecker

56. The Common Wryneck

57. The Indian Roller

58. The European Roller

59. The common Bee-eater

60. The Blue-tailed Bee-eater

61. The Indian Pied Kingfisher

62. The Common Kingfisher

63. The White-breasted Kingfisher

64. The Common Grey Hornbill

65. The Indian Hoopoo

66. The Common Indian Swift

67. The Cuckoo

68. The Pied Crested Cuckoo

69. The Asian Koel

70. The Common Coucal

71. The Rose-ringed Parakeet

72. The Barn Owl

73. The Spotted Owlet

74. The White-eyed Buzzard

75. The Black Kite

76. The Black-winged Kite

77. The Long-legged Buzzard

78. The Shikra

79. The Sparrow-Hawk

80. The Kestrel

81. The Indian Blue Rock Pigeon

82. The Spotted Dove

83. Collared Dove

84. The Grey Quail

85. The Grey Partridge

86. The Red-wattled Lapwing

87. The White-tailed Lapwing

88. The Black-winged Stilt

89. The Green Sandpiper

90. The Spotted Redshank

91. The Greenshank

92. The Common Snipe

93. The Black-bellied Tern

94. The Grey Heron

95. The Little Egret

96. The Indian Pond Heron

97. The Night Heron

98. The Gadwall

99. The Common Teal

100. The Pochard

101. The Indian Little Grebe

Uncommon Birds Encountered:-

1. Cinereous Tit

2. The Long-tailed Grass warbler

3. The Bristled Grass-warbler

4. The Brown Willow-warbler

5. The Green warbler

6. The Pale Brown shrike

7. The Common Wood-shrike

8. The Short-billed Minivet

9. The small Minivet

10. The Brahminy Myna

11. The Grey-headed Flycatcher

12. The Indian Paradise Flycatcher

13. The Indian Bushchat

14. The Desert Chat

15. The Red-tailed Wheatear

16. The Indian Red Munia

17. The common Rose-Finch

18. The Spanish Sparrow  

19. The Eastern Meadow Bunting  

20. The Grey-necked Bunting

21. The Red-headed Bunting

22. The long-billed Pipit

23. The Indian Sky-larks

24. The Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker

25. Syke's Nightjar

26. The Alexendrine Parakeet

27. Plum-headed Parakeet

28. The collared Scope Owl

29. Egyptian Vulture

30. Steppe Eagle

31. The Indian Tawny Eagle

32. Bonelli's Eagle

33. The Brahminy Kite

34. The Crested Honey-Buzzard

35. The Red-headed Merlin

36. The Southern Green Pigeon

37. The Little Brown Dove

38. The Red Turtle Dove

39. The Black-breasted Quail

40. The Black Partridge

41. The Little Button-Quail

42. The Common Crane

43. The Lapwing

44. The Curlew

45. The Black-tailed Godwit

46. The Black Ibis

47. The Spoonbill

48. The Woolly-necked stork

49. The Black Stork

50. The Bar-headed Goose

51. The Ruddy Shelduck

52. The Mallard

53. The Spot-billed Duck

54. The Wigeon

55. The Pintail

56. The Garganey

57. The Shoveler

58. The Red-crested Pochard

59. The White-eyed Duck

"No recent records" Birds Encountered:- 

1. The Raven

2. The Rook

3. The Jackdaw

4. The Himalayan Black Bulbul

5. The White-eared Bulbul

6. The Himalayan Treecreeper

7. Western crowned warbler

8. The Streaked Wren-warbler

9. The Indian Grey-shrike

10. The White-headed Chat

11. Strickland's Chat

12. The Grey-winged Blackbird

13. The Black-throated Blackbird

14. The Green Munia

15. The Eastern Linnet

16. The Rufous-backed Sparrow

17. The Drongo Cuckoo

18. The Long-eared Owl

19. The Short-eared Owl

20. The Mottled Wood-Owl

21. The Dusky Horned Owl

22. The Black Vulture

23. The Eurasian Griffon Vulture

24. White Rumped Vulture

25. The Short-toed Eagle

26. The Crested Serpent-Eagle

27. Pallas's Fishing Eagle

28. The Pied Harrier

29. The Peregrine Falcon

30. The Shaheen Falcon

31. The Laggar Falcon

32. The Cherrug Falcon

33. Yellow Eyed Pigeon

34. The Black-bellied Sandgrouse

35. The Common Sandgrouse

36. The Houbara Bustard

37. The Sociable Lapwing

38. The Jack Snipe

39. The White Stork

40. The Smew

My Birdwatching Journey and diverse Birding hotspots in Lahore:- 

From 2010 to 2024, I immersed myself in the enchanting world of bird photography in Lahore. Our home, the first in the colony, with a spacious garden and abundant fruit trees, became a frequent haven for many bird species. Nurturing my lifelong hobby of bird identification, our surroundings, surrounded by fields, attracted a diverse array of birds year-round. Every day began with the sweet call of a tailor bird on my window. After 2010, I transitioned from being a birdwatcher to a bird photographer. Armed with my trusted companions – the Nikon D500 and D7100, along with Nikkor lenses 70-300 and 200-500 – I had the honor of capturing and documenting the vibrant avian life in and around Lahore. I documented and photographed 200 birds in the Lahore region, presenting a checklist distinct from A. J. Currie's, which I plan to publish in a separate journal.

Here are some of the locations where I dedicated numerous hours to observing and capturing the enchanting world of birds. It is pertinent to mention that from 2018 to the present day, I have spent more than 140 days each year, mostly on weekends, engaging in bird watching and bird photography in the hotspots in Lahore mentioned below.

- Pakistan Kidney Liver Hospital Site in Phase 7 of DHA Lahore

- Various Sites of DHA

- Bedian Road Outskirts

- Shalimar Garden

- Lawrence Garden

- Race Course

- Lahore Safari Park

- Shahdara Reserve Forest

- Sialkot Ring Road

- Jallo Park Lahore

- BRB Canal Batapur

- Punjab University Botanical Garden

- River Ravi

- My Home in Lawan (Behind Shalimar Garden)

- Safari Park

Conclusion:- 

To understand the changes in Lahore's biodiversity over the past century, we need to examine various factors such as alterations in the environment, habitats, weather patterns, and human activities. These factors encompass deforestation, urbanization, pollution, climate change, and conservation efforts. Despite Lahore's historical title as the 'City of Gardens,' it has evolved into more of a concrete jungle. In the past, Lahore was confined to the Walled City and a few small areas outside. However, urbanization has sprawled beyond the old city boundaries, with new colonies stretching to the Indo-Pak border. This expansion has contributed to a decline in avian biodiversity. More than 50 percent of the birds documented by A. J. Currie in 1916 are now categorized as uncommon, and some have no recent records. This transformation underscores the substantial impact on Lahore's biodiversity witnessed over the years.