Friday, January 28, 2022

Birding in January 2022.Mount Abu.mountabubirds.blogspot.com

 Birds on Mount Abu in January 2022.

Continued.
20 January 2022.

Gray Wagtail
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea 

Gray Wagtail
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Hume's Warbler
Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei  

Hume's Warbler
Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei  

Indian White-eye
Indian White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus 

Indian Yellow Tit
Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Indian Yellow Tit
Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Oriental Magpie-Robin
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

Shikra
Shikra - Accipiter badius 

White-throated Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

Yellow-throated Sparrow
Yellow-throated Sparrow - Gymnoris xanthocollis

21 January 2022.
Bonelli's Eagle
Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata 

Bonelli's Eagle mobbed by Large-billed Crows  Jan 2022 Mt Abu.m4v


Brahminy Starling
Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

Common Rosefinch
Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus

Oriental Magpie-Robin
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis 

Oriental Magpie-Robin
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus


In the early evening on the 21st, we drove to (our Duck pond) to determine if any more winter guests had turned up. It surprised me to see three Indian Spot-billed Ducks. This was our second sighting of these birds in Abu. The numbers of the Gadwall, Tufted Ducks and Northern Pintails had increased considerably as well. We observed and photographed the birds for an hour, then left as clouds gathered in the sky. Several pictures I took that day are posted below. It is a blessing to have them visit our rare hill station in Rajasthan.

Common Pochard
Common Pochard - Aythya ferina

Eurasian Coot
Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra

Gadwall
Gadwall - Mareca strepera

Gadwall
Gadwall - Mareca strepera

Gadwall
Gadwall - Mareca strepera

Green Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus

Indian Spot-billed Duck
Indian Spot-billed Duck - Anas poecilorhyncha 

Indian Spot-billed Duck
Indian Spot-billed Duck - Anas poecilorhyncha 

Little Grebe
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis

Little Grebe
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis

Northern Pintail
Northern Pintail - Anas acuta

Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata

Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula 

Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus

Ducks sp  Mixed bag
Ducks sp  Mixed bag 

Ducks sp  Mixed bag
Ducks sp Mixed bag 
Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Little Grebe, Northern Pintail, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard 











Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Birding in January 2022.Mount Abu.mountabubirds.blogspot.com

 Birds on Mount Abu in January 2022.

Mating of the "majestic Falco" The Shaheen Falcon Mount Abu.


Shaheen has been my constant companion for many years. It’s one of the most splendid birds of prey. Even though I have been observing it for many years, this year is the first I got to see it mating, and the rituals they perform during this courtship have impressed me at how exquisite they are.
Males use their flying skills to court females. The mating calls of both birds are astounding. The female spreads her tail from side to side. She also does a small performance on her whining calls. The male glides in and gradually and nimbly lands on the female’s back. We can see the specular sequence of their mating through the photographs I have posted. Words cannot depict what the pictures show.
Peregrines are lifelong partners.

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 
Female waiting patiently for the male to arrive

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 
Male descending with precise landing

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 
Note how his talons have been drawn in.

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 
What a graceful descent.


Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 
The perfect landing 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 


Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 


Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus 


Enjoy the slide show I've prepared 
Watch in FULL SCREEN 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen)  20 Jan 2022 Mount Abu.m4v




Birding in November: Post-Diwali Departure

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