Monday, January 8, 2024

Birds on Mount Abu in January 2024.

 Chilled Feathers and Avian Wonders Await in Mount Abu: January 2024 Birds.

Greetings to all nature lovers from the peaceful hillsides of Mount Abu as we enter the hopeful year of 2024! This is my first article of the year, and I’m excited to share the wonders of this delightful residence known as the “Abode of the Gods.”

A Birdwatcher’s Paradise:

While Mount Abu does not have a vast birding paradise like some other sites, it is a wonderful spot to explore, captivating tourists’ hearts with its quiet appeal. The brilliant Green Muni, the elusive Spur Fowl, the musical Indian Scimitar-Babbler, and the lovely Tawny-bellied Babbler are among the prominent bird inhabitants.

Greetings for the New Year:

Before we get into the feathered beauties, please accept my warmest New Year’s greetings to all of my readers. May this year bring you joy, exploration, and exceptional moments.

Winter’s Hold:

The first week of January has flown by, engulfing Mount Abu in the grip of winter. On January 5, 2024, nighttime temperatures dropped to a bone-chilling -3°C, foreshadowing an icy wave across the region. We expect rain and hail in the next week, creating a wintry canvas over this hill town.

Unexpected Birding Pleasures:

The gorgeous raptors that frequent the skies were absent during this cold period. The birding experience has been nothing short of delightful, with a wide range of species making appearances against the backdrop of winter’s chilly elegance.

Photographic Archives:

Allow me to show you a few of the feathery beauties I came across during the first week of January 2024. Each shot captures a single instant in time, a witness to the unique bird life that flourishes in Mount Abu’s clean air.

As we continue our survey of Mount Abu’s natural treasures, I welcome you to join me in admiring the beauty of the avian occupants that provide life to this peaceful hill station. Stay tuned for further updates and discoveries from this new year’s hidden gem. Enjoy your birdwatching!

1Jan 2024.

"Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) perched in the garden, displaying dark plumage with contrasting orange-red tail feathers. Winter common migrant to Mount Abu."
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

"Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) perched on a cable, displaying dark plumage with contrasting orange-red tail feathers. Winter common migrant to Mount Abu."
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros winter visitor

"Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus winter visitor, perched on high tension cable with its wings spread out."
Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus winter visitor

"A female Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus) with brown plumage perched on a rock, displaying its distinctive features."
Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus, female resident

"Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos Indian Jungle Crow, common resident of Mount ABu, perched on a cable."
Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos 

"A Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen), scientifically known as Falco peregrinus, perched on a radio tower, characterised by its sleek, grayish-brown feathers and powerful wings."
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus, resident, not common.

"Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis), perched on a stump showcasing its yellow patch on its throat,resident common."
Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

2 Jan 2024.
“The Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus) is a sleek, medium-sized bird with mostly black plumage that is distinguished by its forked tail and white vent feathers. This Ashy Drongo, perched on a branch against a lush background, illustrates its nimble and acrobatic character in its native habitat.”
Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus

"Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis resident common, displaying traits of territorial ownership with its tail raised hight over it's back resident common."
Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

"Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) perched in the garden, displaying dark plumage with contrasting orange-red tail feathers. Winter common migrant to Mount Abu."
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

"Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor  resident, gracing the clear blue sky."
Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor 

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca

"Great Egret - Ardea alba, winter visitor not common, flying overhead headfing for a water body,"
Great Egret - Ardea alba 

"Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis, resident common, female perched on a tree stump."
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

"Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri, resident common, perched on a cable."
Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri 

3 Jan 2024.
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros  

Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros  

Great Egret - Ardea alba

Great Egret - Ardea alba

Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos 

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

4 Jan 2024.
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

"Black Stork - Ciconia nigra, rare winter isitor gracing the Mt Abu Sky."
Black Stork - Ciconia nigra

Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

5 Jan 2024.
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros 

Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii 

Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii 

Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii 

6 Jan 2024.
Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus

Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

Brown-headed Barbet - Psilopogon zeylanicus 

Great Egret - Ardea alba

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

7 Jan 2024.
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros winter visitor common

Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita  winter visitor common

Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita  Mt Abu Jan 2024

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca winter visitor common

Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri



No comments:

Post a Comment

Exploring Birds in the Last Week of October Mount Abu.

 Diwali Celebrations and Bird Observations Greetings from Mount Abu! Before I dive in, let me wish you all a very Happy Diwali! May this fes...