Saturday, August 9, 2025

Birding in the First Week of August 2025–Mount Abu

Birding Between the Raindrops

From Green Avadavats to flitting flycatchers, August in Mount Abu is alive, rain or shine.

Following the misty, rain-soaked charm of July, August in Mount Abu has opened with a refreshing twist. This week brought a welcome break in my 2025 birding schedule, as the monsoon took a pause, clearing the air.

The first week of August 2025 brought clearer skies and more comfortable weather, a rare and welcome gift in the heart of the monsoon season. The heavy fog lifted, sunlight spilt through the clouds, and the air took on that clean, rain-washed scent that makes every step outdoors feel rejuvenating. For birders, this meant better visibility, gentler breezes, and endless opportunities to spot and photograph the rich diversity of species that call Abu home.

Movement filled the hills, with flashes, songs, and fledglings. The forest rewards your patience tenfold when the weather breaks, even though the monsoon may hide birds in misty veils.

As we step into the second week of August, the forecast suggests a return to form: thick clouds, frequent rain, and thunderstorms. Temperatures will remain in the pleasant low-to-high 20s, though the humidity will rise. For birders, this means shifting strategies: keeping equipment dry, working with softer light, and letting the forest’s rhythm guide you.

And there is much to look forward to. The monsoon is a time of renewal — fledglings finding their voice, juveniles exploring their surroundings, and the forest thick with life. Keep your eyes peeled for Mount Abu’s iconic Green Avadavat, as well as busy munias, calling barbets, and graceful flycatchers. These damp days might demand patience, but they also deliver moments of magic — the kind that keep us coming back, season after season.

August has only just begun, and if the first week is any sign, the rest of the month promises a captivating mix of challenges and rewards. Stay tuned for my second-half-of-August notes, when the monsoon reaches its full, dramatic glory — and the hills of Mount Abu hum with life

Bird of the Week.

Tawny-bellied Babbler - Dumetia hyperythra

Tawny-bellied Babbler Mt Abu, August 2025.m4v

Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

Black-rumped Flameback. Mt Abu Aug 2025.m4v

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Brown-headed Barbet - Psilopogon zeylanicus

Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

Little Cormorant - Microcarbo niger

Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica

Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica Mt Abu Aug 2025.mp4

Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis

Laughing Dove Mt Abu August 2025.m4v

I recently observed a fascinating mating ritual between a pair of laughing doves. The male initiated the display with a series of soft, rhythmic cooing sounds while puffing out his chest and strutting around the female. The female's response was what I found most interesting. She began what looked like a "kissing" motion, gently touching her beak to his. Following this display of affection, she crouched low, a clear signal that she was ready to mate

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis Mt Abu Aug 2025

Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafe

Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus

Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata

Shikra - Accipiter badius

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis Mt Abu Aug 2025.mp4

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Birding in July 2025: Mist, Monsoon, and Juvenile Delights.

Mount Abu Birding: Last Two Weeks of July.

The last fortnight of July 2025 has breezed past in a flurry of misty mornings, cool breezes, and brooding grey skies. This monsoon season, the weather gods have smiled upon our beloved hill station. All our reservoirs are brimming to the top, the waterfalls are in full spate, and the forest canopy wears a lush emerald coat. Here’s the good news. The water table has risen, offering much-needed relief after previous years of parched summers.

For birders, this time of year is a mixed bag. The dense mist and intermittent rain make photography a challenge, but not an impossibility. When the skies clear, there’s magic to be found. These brief windows of light are enough to capture some of the season’s most heartening sights: fledglings taking their first flights, juvenile birds learning the ways of the wild, and the occasional surprise visitor making a short monsoon stopover.

It’s also a time for quiet observation—of parent birds still tending to their young, of new calls and uncertain wingbeats. Monsoon birding in Mount Abu is less about ticking off rare species and more about celebrating life in its tender, growing stages.

Enjoy this small selection I’ve put together from my recent outings. These images are not just about birds—they’re about the mood of Mount Abu in July, the atmosphere that makes this place so special during the rains.

Bird of the fortnight.