Monday, July 25, 2022

Birds of Mount Abu [ July 2022 ] mountabubirds.blogspot.com.

Backyard and hillside birding in Mount Abu

Here in Mount Abu, the third week of July has been continuously overcast and misty. It is a depressing time for most Abuites, a season when mildew embraces everything and the smell has a nauseating effect. It’s a time when clothes don’t dry, the streets are murky, and it’s a hassle to protect one’s equipment. Birders have to cope with the incessant fine drizzle, making it challenging to detect rare birds. Lighting conditions frustrate most birders, especially when they perceive some rare birds.

The following is a small assemblage of birds that I photographed during this period. I appreciate your understanding that I try to maintain this list updated as regularly as possible.

Shikra - Accipiter badius

Shikra - Accipiter badius Mount Abu July 2022 Slideshow

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

"Ashy Prinia, In this snap the prinia is feeding its chick."

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

"Black-rumped Flameback, flying from tree to tree"

Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

"Brahminy Starling,pecrhed on the wire."

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

"Green Avadavat, sitting on thr garden floor."

Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

"Green Avadavat, looking for grain in the garden."

Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

"This petite bird with red eyes, red beak green and yellow barred flanks of white and black, make it a target for poachers"

Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

"House Sparrow,juvenile sitting on the wall."

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

'"Indian Silverbill, sitting on a dry twig of a mulberry tree."

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

"Indian Silverbil, a pair perched on high tension wire."

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

|Indian Silverbill, coutship behaviour."

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

Zosterops palpebrosus, or the Indian White-eye

"Oriental Magpie-Robin immature,perched on a branch."

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis immature

"Oriental Magpie-Robin immature,perched on a cable."

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

"Purple Sunbird, collecting building materail."

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

'"Red Spurfowl, resident ,sheltering in tall grass."

Red Spurfowl - Galloperdix spadicea

"Red-vented Bulbul, sitting atop a bougainvillea plant, with a berry in iys beak."

Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer

"Red-vented Bulbul, perched on a dry twig with a prey."

Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer

"Red-whiskered Bulbul, perched on a wire."

Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus

"White-breasted Waterhen, stretching its wings."

White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus

"White-breasted Waterhen, on a wall full of moss."

White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus

"White-breasted Waterhen, courtship display."

White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus

"White-throated Kingfisher, sitting on a wire."

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis.

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Birds of Mount Abu [ July 2022 ] mountabubirds.blogspot.com.

Backyard and hillside birding in Mount Abu.

Despite being less spectacular than in winter, birding at this time of year still offers you a good assortment of local species, especially the Green Avadavat (Munia) that can be seen all over Abu,

"Green Avadavat, with red eyes, red beak green and yellow barred flanks of white and black, perched on a dry twig."

Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus slide show

To know more about the Green Munia or Haria click the link below

Green Avadavat VULNERABLE by the IUCH

"Ashy Prinia immature, displaying a fntail like tail."

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialist immature

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialist immature

"Black-rumped Flameback, on a date palm tree."

Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

"Black-winged Kite, local migrant in flight."

Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus

Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

"Indian Silverbill, residend sitting with a lovely green background."

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

"Laughing Dove, crenched perched on a cable."

Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen), in flight."

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen), landing on the tower."

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen), with prey atop the radio tower, Mount Abu."

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

"Purple Sunbird, basking with its wings and tail spread out."

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

"Rock Pigeon, feeding in a field covered in grass."

Rock Pigeon - Columba livia

"Spot-breasted Fantail, perched atop a mulberry tree."

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

"Spotted Dove, Displaying courtship behavior sitting on a cable."

Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis

"Sykes's Warbler, Early visitor to Mount Abu."

Sykes's Warbler - Iduna rama
It's a very early Sykes's Warbler

Sykes's Warbler - Iduna rama

"White-breasted Waterhen, on the lookout, on a rock."

White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus

Friday, July 22, 2022

Birds of Mount Abu [ July 2022 ] mountabubirds.blogspot.com.

Backyard and hillside birding in Mount Abu.

We are currently in the last week of July 2022, and the rain gods have been benevolent this year, in the abode of the gods. The monsoon season started on July 1, 2022. During this monsoon season, Abu has received 25 inches of rain, with overcast skies, misty drizzle and heavy downpours accompanied by thunder and lightning.

During this period, I look forward to photographing the Pied Cuckoo, the Indian Blackbird, the Indian Golden Oriole, the Brain-Fever Bird, and the Indian Paradise Flycatcher.

In the first week of July, I was fortunate to observe the Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) and its brood. After landing on the tower, the young, immature birds struggled to master the balancing act. They made umpteen attempts at prey, but since they were inexperienced, many failed. However, once they caught prey, they began to fine-tune their attempts at preying. Parent falcons would descend with prey to feed their young in the beginning.

This is a time of year when the munia, the Silver Bill, and the Scaly breasted mania build their nests. Also, the Green munia can be seen foraging in many parts of Abu.