Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Birding In April Mount Abu

Birding Delights in the first week of April 

An overview of Abu’s birding pleasures in April.


April in Abu greets birders with open arms, offering a pleasant transition into the impending summer. In the mornings and evenings, especially during the warming days, the tranquil area becomes an ideal spot for birdwatchers.
 The initial days of the month brought a surprising cold spell, breaking the typical April heat. Clouds dominated the sky, as gentle winds created a tranquil atmosphere for birds and birdwatchers.
 For those familiar with Abu’s bird life, this period marks the departure of most winter migrants, who bid farewell until the next season. However, the scenery is not devoid of avian attractiveness. The Green Avadavat, Cinereous Tit, Common Rosefinch, Indian White-eye, and the last sightings of returning Buzzards and Eurasian Sparrowhawk adorn the sky and forests.
 April is also a busy month for birds, with nesting activities underway and young ones being cared for around the area. It’s an emotional reminder of nature’s cycles, with life flourishing in every nook.
Avoid weekends if you plan to go birdwatching in Mount Abu around this time. The tourist influx hits its zenith, causing hotel and lodging prices to skyrocket. Without previous reservations, be prepared to loosen your purse strings for accommodations.
 Enjoy my collection of bird photos from the first six days of April. Each photograph conveys a story about nature’s splendour and the colourful bird life that calls Abu home. So take your binoculars, bring your camera, and prepare to be wowed by Abu’s avifauna display in April.

Bird of the week
"Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus,endemic to Mt Abu, taking off displaying it's underbelly and outstretched wings."
Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

1 April 2024.
"Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus, perched atop a rock ."
Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

"Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus,endemic to Mt Abu, taking off displaying it's underbelly and outstretched wings."
Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

"Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus, resident female landing on a babul branch."
Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

2 April 2024.


"Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis, resident perched on a cable singing a song."
Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis


"Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica, winter visitor gliding above."
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica

"Soaring in the azure sky comes the winter visitor, the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). Huge raptor with large wings, fan-shaped tail, and brown plumage. The buzzard soars overhead, showcasing its remarkable wingspan against the pristine winter sky."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo 

"The black-rumped flameback (Dinopium benghalense), also known as the lesser golden-backed woodpecker or lesser goldenback, is a woodpecker found widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent, in the snap is seen flying with its wings outstretched."
Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

"A Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) perches on a cable above a running stream,scratchin itself and displaying its unique grey plumage and graceful posture."
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

"A raptor with unusual plumage is the Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus). Adults have a combination of brown and rufous colours, whilst youngsters are more mottled. Soaring over the air, with big wings and a hooked beak."
Oriental Honey-buzzard - Pernis ptilorhynchus

3 April 2024.

"Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense, a pair perched on a date palm tree."
Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

"Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense, one perched on the date palm tree and the other taking off."
Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

'Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor flying above saying adeo to Mount Abu ready to leave for home."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, soaring above chased by a swallow."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

4 April 2024.

"Indian Yellow Tit (Machlolophus aplonotus) is a tiny but colourful songbird. Bright yellow plumage with contrasting black markings distinguishes this species. Perched atop a  brach, displaying its bright plumage and energetic personality."
Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

"Oriental Honey-buzzard - Pernis ptilorhynchus, resident zooming through the sky."
Oriental Honey-buzzard - Pernis ptilorhynchus

"Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis,perched on a branch,as can be seen the male has black upperparts, head and throat apart from a white shoulder patch."
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

"Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer,perched on a cable doing a gig."
Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer

"Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri,Vibrantly bright green parakeet,Note the very long slender tail and bright red bill, taking off from a slender twig displaying its outstretched wings."
Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri 

"White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis.The plumage is a striking blue and white, with a noticeable white neck.Sitting on a cable above a stream."
White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

5 April 2024.

"Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense  April 2024 Mt Abu. Picture collage birdn searching for grub on a date palm trunk."
Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

"Female Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) perched on a cable,showcasing subtle plumage with earthy tones. The bird has a distinctive beak, and the background features a natural setting with foliage and branches of mulberry trees, indicating its habitat."
Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus

"Female Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) perched on a cable,showcasing subtle plumage with earthy tones. The bird has a distinctive beak, and the background features a natural setting with foliage and branches of mulberry trees, indicating its habitat."
Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus

"Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus. April 2024 Mt Abu. A collage of an vulture flying in the Abu sky."
Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus.


"Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) in flight. Compact raptor with short wings and a long tail, displaying distinctive gray-brown plumage. Yellow eyes and sharp, hooked beak are prominent features."
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus 

"Cute juvenile House Sparrow - Passer domesticus. perched on a cable with all its feathers ruffled."
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus


Indian White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus April 2024 Mt Abu.mp4


"Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer April 2024 Mt Abu.jpg. Picturecollage of bird with nesting mterial."
Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer 

"Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer.perched on dry branch doing the gig."
Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer

6 April 2024.
"Brown Rock Chat (Oenanthe fusca) perched on an electric cable. Small, brown bird with a pale throat and distinctive markings on its wings dressed in its mating plumage."
Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

"Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus) A plain grey, black, and off-white tit of light forests. Males and females have a white cheek patch, a grey back, and a white wingbar. A wide black centre line goes from the throat to the lower belly."
Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus)

"Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus) A plain grey, black, and off-white tit of light forests. Males and females have a white cheek patch, a grey back, and a white wingbar. A wide black centre line goes from the throat to the lower belly."
Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus)Resident uncommon 

"Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus, passage migrant female perched on a thin branch."
Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus passage migrant

"Common Woodshrike (Ephrodornis pondicerianus) This medium-sized woodshrike has grayish-brown upperparts, a black facial mask, a white rump, and a grey tail with white outer tail feathers. Bill is sharply hooked and dark greyish brown in colour. Underparts are whitish.Mount Abu is a unique place for these residents."
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus resident uncommon

"Common Woodshrike (Ephrodornis pondicerianus) This medium-sized woodshrike has grayish-brown upperparts, a black facial mask, a white rump, and a grey tail with white outer tail feathers. Bill is sharply hooked and dark greyish brown in colour. Underparts are whitish.Mount Abu is a unique place for these residents."
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus 

"Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus, winter visitor soring through the Abu sky bidding bye till next season."
Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus

"Shikra: Accipiter badius.The shikra is a tiny raptor with short rounded wings and a slender, fairly long tail. Adults have a whitish underside with tiny rufous streaks, and grey upperparts. The lower tummy is less barred, and the thighs are white. The bird in the snap is gliding overhead."
Shikra - Accipiter badius 

Will post Birds of Abu Road in my next blog, enjoy the selection I've just posted.
Cheers to Life! and Birding.

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