Sunday, January 4, 2026

December 2025: The Last Three Weeks of Birdwatching in Mount Abu.

A Winter Birding Journey in the Abode of the Gods.

The final three weeks of December 2025 unfolded on the birding trails of Mount Abu. As winter tightened its grip on the Aravalli range, the forests and open skies echoed with the calls of moving raptors and winter visitors, reminding us why this hill station remains a seasonal haven for birds.

One of the most striking observations this winter has been the noticeable increase in buzzard activity. In previous years, I only recorded the Common Buzzard and the Long-legged Buzzard. This season, however, brought an exciting addition—the Himalayan Buzzard, an observation that adds further depth to Mount Abu’s growing raptor list.

The Eurasian Sparrowhawk has been another regular presence, patrolling the skies with its swift, purposeful flight. Its frequent appearances suggest a healthy winter hunting ground, reinforcing the ecological richness of the region during this season.

Because of pressing responsibilities on the home front, my birding outings have been fewer than usual. As a result, several winter migrants are still absent from my December records. I have also not visited one of my favourite winter haunts—the Duck Pond—where migrant activity is at its peak.

Despite these limitations, winter wings are very much in full flight. The avian spectacle is still unfolding, and the season has much more to offer. As and when opportunities arise, I will return to the field to reconnect with the wetlands, forest edges, and quiet trails where Mount Abu’s winter migrants gather.

This journey continues, and I will update my birding exploits as the season progresses—so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the slideshows and photographs I've put together, depicting these brief winter moments from the Abode of the Gods.

Bird of the Month.

Himalayan Buzzard - Buteo refectus

Himalayan Buzzard DECEMBER 2025 MOUNT ABU.m4v

Himalayan Buzzard in Action, December 2025, Mount Abu. m4v

Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica

Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatu

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius

Eurasian Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

Eurasian Sparrowhawk December 2025 Mount Abu.mp4

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea DEC 2025 MOUNT ABU

Great Egret - Ardea alba

Greater Coucal - Centropus sinensis

Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides

Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii

Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Jungle Babbler - Turdoides striata

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca

Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

Red-breasted Flycatcher - Ficedula parva winter visitor

Red-breasted Flycatcher December 2025 Mount Abu.mp4

Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer

Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Birding in December — Mount Abu (December 31, 2025

Birds in the first week of December

The Cold Moon photographed from Mt Abu.

On the last day of the year—December 31, 2025—I walked the familiar trails of Mount Abu, camera in hand, and let the hills close the year with the soft music of wings. The Aravali rang with cheerful calls, and for a few golden hours, I watched, listened, and felt the world slow down.

Let the echoes of “tweet-tweet” ring out as the year ends. From rocky ridges to shadypine groves, “Happy New Year” seemed to come not only from friends and family but from the birds themselves — a small, hopeful chorus rising above the hill station.

Beyond the joy of sightings, my genuine wish for the coming year remains the same: more peace across the globe, and urgent action to soften the blows of climate change on the places and creatures we love. May the beauty we find in nature inspire each of us to protect it and to live more gently on this shared planet.

I’ve put together a small collection of Mount Abu birds photographed in the first week of December 2025 — a handpicked gallery from December of this year. Enjoy the images, and may each morning of 2026 begin with a tweet and a smile.

Wishing you a 2026 filled with:

Peace and clarity as steady as the Aravali hills

New adventures and doors opening.

Joy, good health, and many gentle mornings with birdsong.

I’ll be back in the New Year with more stories and a few new species added to our Aravali list. Until then, keep your binoculars ready, and your heart tuned to the small, insistent songs of the wild.

Bird of the week