Birds of Mount Abu September to October 2016

The monsoon season begins to peter off by mid-September. Days are clearer and birding here is pleasant. October is one of the best months in Mt Abu. The place is beautiful and green and the weather is pleasant. At this time of year, the migratory bird shows their appearance. I’m posting photographs of birds taken in the course of these two months. Enjoy the birds of Abu.

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba - In flight from below

Alpine Swift:

Butler (1875) noted this species arriving in “large numbers”, at about the beginning of September, and remaining in the “cold weather”, This is the first time I have recorded 8 to 10 here in Abu. They must be birds on passage.

Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis stewarti

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - Male

Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata fasciata - Adult in flight from below

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus - In flight

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

Common Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius varius

Eurasian Sparrow-hawk Accipiter nisus - In flight from below

Green Avadavat Amandava formosa - Adult

Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis ferrugeiceps - Adult

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii hodgsonii - Adult non-breeding

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea cinerea

Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus - Male

Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica - Courtship

Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica - Adult

Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica - In flight

Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus - Adult

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca

Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis andamanensis - Female

Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis andamanensis - Male

Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus -Adult

Recorded history of Peregrine Falcon

Rather uncommon / rare. Butler (1875)“shot a fine specimen (female) at Mount Aboo on the 10th April 1875,” of the latter, “and met with it on one or two occasions at the same place”. The Shaheen is known to breed at Mount Abu (Editors 1948).

I have been observing and recording the Peregrine Falco for the last 3 years. A pair has become a resident of this place.