October birding: Migrating birds, raptors, and clear skies.

The third week of October brought delightful weather, making it a perfect time for birdwatchers and travellers alike. The hillsides of Mount Abu resounded with birds' melodious songs, and the air had a crisp feel to it.

Excitement filled the air as we happily received a variety of migratory birds, including the charming Greenish Warblers, vibrant Red-breasted Flycatchers, agile Tree Pipits, graceful Gray Wagtails, and the ever-elusive Lesser Whitethroats. Among these seasonal visitors, majestic raptors like the Common Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, and Sparrowhawk graced the skies, captivating birdwatchers with their aerial prowess. Seeing these seasonal visitors in their natural habitat is an indelible memory, highlighting the splendour of nature’s rhythms.

With the influx of tourists expected during Diwali, birders capture winter migrants at Mount Abu.

In honour of this energetic season, I have put together a compilation of bird pictures from the third week of October. Let’s indulge in the captivating beauty of Abu’s bird species together.

Bird of the week

Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus

Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus

Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca Mt Abu Oct 2024

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides

Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafe

Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata Mt Abu Oct 2024.mp4

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

Western House-Martin Delichon urbicum

White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens

White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens Mt Abu Oct 2024

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

Hunters Moon

the full moon clicked from Mount Abu.

The Winter Bunting Count is Back!

Join us for the 3rd edition of the Bunting Count, running from 1st October 2024 to 30th April 2025!

Here's how you can participate:

* look for buntings and add them to your eBird lists while birding.

* Share your complete lists of bunting sightings with eBird User ID: HKBWS Land-bird

* If you've birded between the 1st–23rd of October and spotted any buntings, you can still share those lists with the above User ID!

For more details, visit 👉 bird count.in/event/bunting-count

Hi everyone,

Here is the 2024 eBird taxonomy update! It includes new species splits, lumps and name changes that are important for birders in India.

Click the link to learn more: https://birdcount.in/ebird-india-taxonomy-2024-summary/

Birding in October: Migration, birds of prey, and cloudy skies.

The second week of October this year has been a bit of a letdown for me, with cloudy skies dominating most days. Despite the gloomy weather, the hills of Mount Abu are abuzz with activity, as the much-anticipated winter migrants have arrived. Among the new arrivals, the pipits, Tree Pipits, have turned up in record numbers this season, making it one of the most remarkable migrations I’ve witnessed in Abu. The winter stay has begun for warblers, wagtails, swallows, and martins as they settle in.

Raptors, too, have graced our skies, with sightings of the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Bonelli’s Eagle, and several buzzards adding to the excitement.

I’ve selected a small collection of bird photographs captured in the second week of October. Despite a few shots not meeting the expected standards, it is important to note that it is not because of a lack of effort, but because of the challenging weather. I hope that despite this, you still find joy in this visual journey. It has been an exciting journey capturing these moments, and I hope they bring you as much joy as they brought me.

By December, the crescendo of migratory activity will reach its peak, with even more species expected to arrive. However, this natural spectacle will coincide with the influx of tourists as Diwali approaches in just 15 days. If you’re planning a birding trip to Abu during this time, I advise securing your accommodations early. The mad rush of visitors will make it impossible to enjoy a peaceful retreat amidst the hills, with the next fortnight sure to be choc-a-bloc with tourists.

Enjoy the beauty and sounds of birding in October, and maybe think about planning your next visit before the rush of the holidays!

Bird of the week.