Thursday, November 16, 2023

Mount Abu's Avian Symphony: A November Continuation

 This November, enjoy the ongoing Avian Symphony on Mount Abu.

Birding in the second week of November 2023.

Mount Abu's captivating environment continues to attract birds in the second week of November. During Diwali, hundreds of tourists visited the hill station, creating a lively atmosphere filled with laughter and celebration. The mid-week festivities caused an increase in visitor traffic, so birders had to make changes to their excursions. Despite the rush and bustle, the refuge maintained its attraction, revealing glimpses of feathery beauties amid the Diwali craziness.

As the holiday season winds down, the last week of November provides a peaceful reprieve for anyone wanting a more calm sanctuary experience. The upcoming Rajasthan state elections on November 25 add an intriguing element to the story, with the conclusion cloaked in political uncertainty. The ebb and flow of visitor traffic against the backdrop of election expectations creates a one-of-a-kind environment that adds an element of unpredictability to this birding paradise. 

This winter season presents an encouraging surprise in the bird realm: an increase in the presence of uncommon raptors. I accomplished a personal record by observing and photographing three Common Buzzards at the same time, an impressive effort for Mount Abu. The lens also recorded the majestic Bonelli's Eagle, the royal Eurasian Sparrow-hawk, and the awe-inspiring Steppe Eagle flying across the heavens. But the avian show doesn't stop there. The camera lens was trained on the secretive Eurasian Hoopoe, a rare encounter, while the rare Oriental Turtle-Dove graced the picture, adding to the thrill. The Shaheen Falcon, Rufus Tree Pie, and the harmonising duos of Laughing and Spotted Doves were among the resident species, providing a symphony of diverse avian life.

As November comes to a close, plans are being made for local area birding trips to capitalise on the quiet that follows the departure of visitors. Stay tuned for further updates on Mount Abu's avian story, and enjoy the chosen collection of birds photographed during the bright second week of November. Each frame offers a tale about nature's rich tapestry, reminding us that Mount Abu is more than simply a hill station; it's a sanctuary where every winged guest adds to the continuous drama of life in the wild.

8 Nov 2023.

"Bonelli's Eagle , amongst the pigeons."
Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata 


Bonelli's Eagle Mount Abu November 2023.mp4

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor soaring Mount Abu sky."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo winter visitor

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor soaring Mount Abu sky."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor 

"Eurasian Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris ,not uncommon winter visitor gracing Mt Abu sky."
Eurasian Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris winter visitor

"Eurasian Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris ,not uncommon winter visitor gracing Mt Abu sky."
Eurasian Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris winter visitor


"Little Swift - Apus affinis, common resident. Flying above."
Little Swift - Apus affinis resident.

"Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea, winter visitor one of the first migrants to arrive in Mount Abu."
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea winter visitor

"Spot-breasted Fantail , resident on garden fence."
Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis resident

"White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis, resident in flight."
White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis resident

9 Nov 2023.
"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor , uncommon scanning for prey."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo winter visitor

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor , uncommon scanning for prey."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo winter visitor

"Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea winter visitor perched on a wire cable."
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea winter visitor.

"House Sparrow - Passer domesticus, perched on a stump."
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

"Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus Eclipse male, perched on a bamboo offshoot."
Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus Eclipse male

"Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabund, resident potrait snap."
Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabund

"Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabund, resident perched on a branch."
Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabund

"Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata , perched atop mulberry tree."
Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata 

9 Nov 2023.
"Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops,uncommon collage."
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops

"Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops, uncommon taking off."
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops

"Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops, uncommon taking off."
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops

"Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops,uncommon in flight."
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops

"Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops, uncommon perched atop a rock."
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops

11 Nov 2023.
"Eurasian Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris, winter visitor gracing Mt Abu sky."
Eurasian Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris

"Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach, preening on a wire."
Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

"Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach, perched on a wire."
Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus, taking off from a tower."
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus resident

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus, taking off from a tower."
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus resident

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus, taking off from a tower."
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

12 Nov 2023.
"Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus, perched on a post."
Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus 

"Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis , resident perched on a cable."
Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis 

13 Nov 2023.
"Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis, perched on a wire, common resident."
Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis

"Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis,common, resident perched on a wire."
Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis

"Oriental Turtle-Dove - Streptopelia orientalis, uncommon perched on a wire."
Oriental Turtle-Dove - Streptopelia orientalis

"Oriental Turtle-Dove - Streptopelia orientalis, uncommon perched on a wire Mount Abu."
Oriental Turtle-Dove - Streptopelia orientalis

"Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros, winter visitor, with prey on a rock."
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

"Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros, winter visitor female perched on a wire."
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

"Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros, winter visitor taking off."
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

"Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum, resident perched on a stump."
Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

"Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus, winter visitor, in flight."
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus 

14 Nov 2023.
"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor, in flight."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

"Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor, resident, in flight."
Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach, perched atop a bamboo shoot."
Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

"Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata, perched on a wire."
Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata

15 Nov 2023.
"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor in flightAbu's sky."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo winter visitor

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo,taking a dive."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, soaring above."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

"Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufin,winter visitor in flight above."
Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufin

"Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufin,winter visitor in flight above."
Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufin

"Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufin,winter visitor in flight above."
Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufin

"Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufin,winter visitor in flight above."
Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufin

"Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis, winter visitor in flight above Mt Abu."
Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis

"Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis, winter visitor in flight above Mt Abu."
Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis

"Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis, winter visitor in flight above Mt Abu."
Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis

"Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis, winter visitor in flight above Mt Abu."
Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis

"Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus, winter visitor soaring above."
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

"Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus, winter visitor soaring above."
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

"Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus, winter visitor soaring above."
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus









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