Observing birds in late September.

As September drew to a close, the overcast skies and relentless rain seemed unyielding. The mist and fine drizzle persisted, challenging birders like me. Protecting gear from the elements and adjusting camera settings to accommodate the changing light conditions was no easy feat. Despite that, we were fortunate to experience a few days of sunny and clear weather last week, which lifted our mood.

With a brief respite from the rain, I checked the water bodies for early winter guests. A handful of Green-winged Teals and a few other winter migrants appeared, marking the migration season's beginning.

On the 24th of September, Mohan and I ventured to the Achalgarh area. A fellow birder had seen a Black-headed bunting there, and since it was the first sighting in Mount Abu, I was excited to see it too. Even though we didn’t find the bunting, I made an exciting discovery—a new species for Mount Abu called the Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark. This rare sighting is now recorded as a significant addition to the local avifauna.

Throughout the last two weeks, I also kept an eye out for the Alpine Swift, hoping to glimpse these impressive aerial acrobats. Whether I missed them or they skipped their usual visit to Mount Abu this year, they eluded me. However, I captured other notable species through my lens, including the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, a few eagles, and even a harrier.

The beauty of birding lies in the pursuit of new species and the quiet moments spent observing the natural world in all its unpredictable glory. Despite the challenges, these last two weeks offered many memorable moments, and I’m excited to share my favourite bird photographs from September with you. Enjoy a glimpse into the world of monsoon birding in Mount Abu.

Bird of the fortnight.