White-breasted Waterhen Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

White-breasted Waterhen

20 October 2018

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus   - Chick 

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus   - Immature

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus   - Adult

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus   - Adult

Appreciate the White-breasted Waterhen photographed over the years 

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White-breasted Waterhen

I have observed the White-breasted Waterhen and her chicks for almost a fortnight taking shelter under my bridge over a small stream. Her two chicks disappeared within the first week of my observation, probably prey to the few Indian Grey mongoose that also shares this area or the stray cats that live off the land in this part of  Abu. 

The single chick and the mother throughout the day feed on insects and larvae from the stream. The chick had grown pretty well and two weeks ago they disappeared, probably moved down the stream as the water in this stem is nearly dry. This year it's gonna be kind of bad for the animals and the birds as most of our minor water bodies will turn dry by mid-summer. The monsoon season this year was poor.

Brown-headed Barbet Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Brown-headed Barbet

19 October 2018.

Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica caniceps   - Adult

Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica caniceps   - Adult

Appreciate the birds photographed over the years 

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Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica caniceps   - Adult

The Brown-headed Barbet is a resident breeder in India and Sri Lanka. It is an arboreal species of gardens and wooded country which eats fruit and insects

The adult has a streaked brown head, neck and breast, with a yellow eye patch. The rest of the plumage is green. More... 

Like all other Asian barbets, they are mainly frugivorous although they may sometimes eat insects and they use their bills to excavate nest cavities in trees. When there is a few of them around and they begin their choir practice it's quite a ruckus. 

Yellow-eyed Babble Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Yellow-eyed Babble

18 October 2018.

Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense hypoleucum   - Adult

Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense hypoleucum   - Adult

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Yellow-eyed Babbler over the years 

Enjoy the selection 

The yellow-eyed Babbler, like most babblers, move around in groups. They flit around from shrub to shrub chirping most of the time. Their call is melodious compared to those of the Jungle babbler(Seven sisters as they are commonly known here). The ones living here are not too shy and can be photographed at close quarters. A beautiful eye-catching bird. Black beak, 'Eyes not the traditional beauty of India with Kajal', but has an outstanding orange-yellow eye enhanced by a small white eyebrow. The chest is white while the wings and back are chestnut brown coloured. Its tail is almost the size of its body.  

The range of the yellow-eyed babbler extends from Pakistan through India, Nepal, Sri Lanka to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam and China.

Prinia Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

 Grey-breasted Prinia | Plain Prinia | Ashy Prinia |

17 October 2017 

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii hodgsonii   - Adult

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii hodgsonii   - Adult

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Grey-breasted Prinia Over the years,

Plain Prinia Prinia inornata inornata   - Adult

Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis brevicauda

Collection over the years Ashy Prinia

1. The Prinias are a genus of small insectivorous birds belonging to the passerine bird family Cisticolidae. They were at one time classed in the Old World warbler family, Sylviidae.

2. The prinias are sometimes referred to as wren-warblers. They are a little-known group of the tropical and subtropical Old World, the roughly thirty species being divided fairly equally between Africa and Asia.

3. They are mainly resident, migration being limited to local cold weather movements. Non-breeding birds may form small flocks.

Prinias have short wings but long tapering tails. They are fairly drab birds, brown or grey above (sometimes with dark streaks) and whitish below. Some species have different breeding and non-breeding plumages. The bill is a typical insectivore's, thin and slightly curved.

References: Wikipedia !. 2. 3.

It's always been a big issue identifying the different types of Prinias. I've put together a list of prinias photographed here at Mount Abu, If there is any discrepancy do point them out I would greatly appreciate your suggestions.

List Photographed by me:

. Ashy prinia - Prinia socialis)

. Grey-breasted prinia, Prinia hodgsonii

. Jungle prinia, Prinia sylvatica

. Plain prinia, Prinia inornata

. Graceful prinia, Prinia gracilis

Short-toed Snake-Eagle Birds of Mount Abu October 2018

Short-toed Snake-Eagle

16 October 2018.

Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus   - In flight from below 

One of my first  records with a canon camera

Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus   - In flight from below 

Caught me by surprise almost missed taking the shot

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Appreciate My slide show on the Short-toed Snake-Eagle

Short-toed Snake Eagles or "Short-toed Eagles", probably named after its talons, are shorter than other birds of prey. I've seen this raptor swoop and pick up a snake once while fishing at the water's edge. I saw it hovering quite a few times over my area in Mount Abu. I easily recognised this raptor while flying the white and grey colour of its wings has a unique pattern. Its grey head and huge wingspan are a marvel to look at.

Apparently, there are two records of sightings of this poorly known raptor in my area. One sighting was reported on 23 March 2001 at a vantage point called Bailey's Walk, and the other sighting was observed on 16 March 2003, with one bird soaring at Kodra. I have recorded this bird with photographs on several occasions: 15 Dec 2014, 15 Jan 2015, 17 Feb 2016, 15 Aug 2015 and 18 Oct 2018.

Ains

Long-tailed Shrike Birds of Mount Abu October 2018

Long-tailed Shrike

14 October 2018

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach erythronotus   - Adult

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach erythronotus   - With Prey

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach bentet   - Squabbling 

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach bentet   -Territorial dispute

Winner takes ALL.

I've put together a slideshow of The Long-tailed Shrike over the years. 

FULL Frame Recommended 

Appreciate my handiwork.

A small video years ago

The long-tailed shrike or the "Butcher" bird as we used to refer to is a member of the bird family Laniidae, the Shrike. 

Even though there are 31 species of shrikes Most Abu can only boast of harbouring The long-tailed shrike or rufous-backed shrike, (in Hindi: Mattiya latora, Kajala latora)There has been mention of the Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus,  by (Butler (1875) found it “(uncommon”)Butler is also credited with recording the Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina melanopteraButler (1875) found it “not common” and “obtained a few specimens”. In all my years of living in Mount Abu and birding here, I have never personally come across the shrikes mentions previously.

The Long-tailed Shrike is very territorial and fights furiously over their territory. I have seen them fight and all hell breaks loose especially if the jungle warblers are around, they kind of act as spectators and hoot for the winner.

Did you know?

They are capable of vocal mimicry and include the calls of many species including lapwings, cuckoos, puppies and squirrels in their calls. (1)

Did you know why are recordings of certain species restricted?

Some species are under extreme pressure due to trapping or harassment. The open availability of high-quality recordings of these species can make the problems even worse. For this reason, streaming and downloading of these recordings is turned off.(2)

References:

(1)This singing ability makes it a popular pet in parts of southeast AsiaReferences: Sodhi, NS; Sekercioğlu, CH; Barlow, J & Robinson, S (2011). Conservation of Tropical Birds. John Wiley & Sons. p. 163.

(2) Shepherd, CR (2006). "The bird trades in Medan, North Sumatra: an overview" (PDF). BirdingASIA. 5: 16–24.

Common Kingfisher Birds of Mount Abu October 2018

Common Kingfisher

13 October 2018 

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis   -  Pair

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis   - Back view

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis  

The common kingfisher is a brightly coloured and fascinating bird. The number of these little blue kingfishers is just a handful in our abode. The reason being most of our small water bodies and local streams runs dry during the summer months. Apart from the few fish found in our water bodies, these kingfishers have to depend on other forms of food such as frogs, small crabs and the occasional dragonfly. 

Common Kingfisher is a resident bird. These birds are normally found at our lake site and dams.

Snaps taken over the Years appreciate the slide show.

View in FULL screen 

Bonelli's Eagle Birds of Mount Abu October 2018

Bonelli's Eagle 

12 October 2018

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

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

I have Observed these bird from 2012. I have also photographed them over the years. October has seen quite a lot of activity regarding this species.  I have seen a pair making sorties over our area very frequently. 

Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus: Not recorded by Butler but Hume observed it twice, “soaring over the upper plateau of Mount Aboo” (Butler 1875). It's our regular winter visitor. 

Appreciate the slideshow of the "Bonelli's Eagle " over the years"

View in FULL screen.

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Blyth's Reed Warbler Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Blyth's Reed Warbler

11 October 2018.

Blyth's Reed WarbleAcrocephalus dumetorum   - Adult 

Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum   - Adult 

Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum   - Adult 

Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum   - Adult ( 28 April 2015)

Blyth’s Reed-Warbler: It is migratory, wintering in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. It is one of the most common winter warblers in these  countries

Passage migrant. I recorded one bird in Torna on the 28 April 2015.

Warblers in Mount Abu are probably not being represented in a properly documented way. I've put together a list of those warblers that have been represented by esteemed ornithologist and naturalist birders like Butler and Salim Ali. Warblers are notoriously difficult to tell apart.( Greenish Leaf-Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Blyth’s Reed-Warbler, Booted Warbler, Streaked Fantail-Warbler, Tickell's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis)

Greenish Leaf-Warbler Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Greenish Leaf-Warbler 

11 October 2018

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

Greenish Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides: Common winter/passage migrant. Arrives as early as the first week of August. 

They travel all the way to India from central and eastern Europe.

Greenish Leaf-Warbler -Snapped over the years,

Eurasian Hobby Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Eurasian Hobby

8 October 2018

Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo subbuteo   - In flight from below

A lifer for me, probably the first photographic record of this species here in Mount Abu.

 I recorded this bird for the first time on 8 October 2018 and subsequently followed up.

Eurasian Hobby I had seen and snapped this bird earlier, but the snaps were not too clear due to cloudy conditions. I have records of these birds on 8/10/18,13/10/18,15/10/18,18/10/18 and 20/10/18, Winter visitors. Recorded at Uttarayan Mt Abu in 1992 and orally at Trevor Tank and Sunset Point in the winter of 2001– 2002 (Shantanu Kumar, verbally.) 

Butler (1875) found it “tolerably common at Mount Abu at the end of rains and during cold weather

Eurasian Hobby Recorded during the month of October 2018.

While going through my photographs looking for records of the Sheshan Falcon I ran across this snap and on examining it carefully realized that I had evidently snapped the Hobby earlier and skipped it thinking it was the falcon. So I guess this species is a regular post-monsoon winter visitor.

Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo  - In flight from below

(26 September 2016 at 17:31 pm )

  

Booted warbler Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Booted Warbler

9 October 2018.

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata  

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata  

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata  

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata  

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata  

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata - Back view

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata  -Tail view

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata  

Booted Warbler itself breeds from central Russia to western China and migrates to winter in the Indian subcontinent as far south as Sri Lanka. They are winter visitors here in Mount Abu. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata: Butler (1875) described it as “common” during winter. 

These are small warblers, especially compared to others in their genus. They are pale brown (weak tea colour) above and whitish below with buff flanks. The outer tail feathers have pale edges. They have a short pale supercilium, and the bill is strong and pointed. Sykes's is larger and greyer than booted, and most resemble an eastern olivaceous warbler.

Reference and extract: Wikipedia

Shaheen Falcon Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Shaheen Falcon

7 October 2018

Shaheen Falcon - Falco peregrinus peregrinator 

Shaheen Falcon - Falco peregrinus peregrinator 

The Shaheen falcon is a non-migratory subspecies of the Peregrine falcon, found mainly in the Indian subcontinent. Shaheen The Indian Peregrine Falcon, also called Shaheen Falcon, is a kind of Peregrine Falcon that doesn't move from its place.we find Shaheen in South Asia from Pakistan across to India and Bangladesh in the east and to Sri Lanka.

I have personally observed a pair of these birds from 13 Feb 2014, on the tower in front of my house in Torna. The pairs have become residents of this place. I have watched their courtship flights aerial acrobatics, and steep dives I've seen prey being passed from one bird to another. This behaviour puzzled me and then realised it was one of the bird's courtship makeovers. I have observed one of them feather its prey almost daily during the breeding period and then fly off towards the Craigs, probably to feed the chicks. 

Over the years, quite a few of its broods have matured here and moved on. This pair of falcons has been here ever since. From records, Shaheen is known to breed in Mount Abu(1948). 

This species is rare and I'm happy to see that one pair has been around now for years.

                                     

Shaheen falcon from the year 2014 onwards.

Spotted Flycatcher Birds of Mount Abu October 2018 .

Spotted Flycatcher

4 October 2018 

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata sarudnyi 

Spotted Flycatcher 4 Oct 2018 Mount Abu Raj,

A great day for me MY First ever glimpse and capture of this species in our area a lifer. It's probably a record shot as no other birder has made mention of spotting this species here.

Had to check the internet for its confirmation probably a vagrant or passage migratory bird.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata sarudnyi 

Another view

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata sarudnyi 

Back view