The Last Week of March – Stragglers at the Duck Pond and the Calm Before Summer.
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Introduction.
The last week of March in Mount Abu unfolded with a curious blend of excitement and quiet reflection. Bird activity was not as lively as expected, yet the slow transition toward summer brought its own moments of tranquillity and charm. In the stillness of the changing season, even the smallest bird sighting felt meaningful.
On the 26th of March, I made a rather late visit to what I call our ducks' haven, hoping to catch the last of the lingering winter visitors before they departed for their northern breeding grounds.
Weather and Seasonal Notes
The weather remained overcast, creating pleasant conditions for birding. The daytime forest walks were a delight, and the nights offered a comforting warmth that erased the memory of winter’s chill.
The forests were already showing signs of the approaching summer season. Birdsong was more subdued than earlier in the month, and many migrants had already begun their long journeys northward.
Birding Diary–Day by Day
Here, I have presented a day-to-day photographic diary, highlighting the best bird sighting of each day during the last week of March.
22 March – Bird of the Day
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Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca winter visitor
lively insect hunter, always on the move, darting from one branch to another. |
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| Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri |
23 March - Duck Pond Visit
Bird of the Day.
The White-capped Bunting is a delightful little bird of rocky hillsides and scrubby landscapes, perfectly at home in the rugged terrain of the Aravalli Range. Feeding on the periphery of the pond.
White-capped Bunting Emberiza stewarti March 2026 Mt ABu.mp4
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| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus |
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| Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos |
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| Gadwall Mareca strepera A solitary male yet to depart. |
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| Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea |
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| Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus |
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| Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus |
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| Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger |
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| Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger |
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| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata. Six of them are still lingering on |
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| Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis. Oria is their stronghold. |
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| Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis |
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| Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus |
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| Shikra Accipiter badius |
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| Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus |
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| Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula |
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| Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola |
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| Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola |
24 March – Bird of the Day
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| Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus — a cheerful resident of the Aravalli forests, constantly on the move. |
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| Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis |
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| Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicat |
25 March – Bird of the Day
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| Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus |
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| Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus |
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| Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisu |
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| Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis |
%200F4A1882.jpg "Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)") |
| Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis) |
%200F4A1884.jpg "Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)") |
| Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis) |
26 March – Bird of the Day
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| Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus |
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| Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca |
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| Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea .jpg |
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| The Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) might not have the talons of an eagle, but in the Aravalli Range, it is a master of "intellectual hunting" and tactical aggression. |
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| Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos |
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| Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri |
27–31 March – Highlights of the Week
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| Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus |
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| Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus |
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| Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafe |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri |
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| House Sparrow - Passer domesticus. Dad feeding the little one. |
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| House Sparrow - Passer domesticus Maiden flight with a perfect landing. |
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| Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii |
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| Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii |
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| Jungle Babbler - Turdoides striata |
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| Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus |
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| Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus |
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| Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus |
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| Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus |
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| Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis |
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| Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis |
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| Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus |
Seasonal Reflections: Changing the Guard
As March draws to a close in Mount Abu, the birding landscape quietly changes. Winter migrants that once filled the skies and forests depart for their northern breeding grounds, leaving behind the dependable chorus of resident birds.
The wetlands grow quieter, the warblers thin out, and raptors become less frequent in the skies. Yet nature wastes no time filling the void. The forests awaken with the early stirrings of summer visitors and the renewed activity of resident species.
Conclusion
Even in quieter weeks, Mount Abu continues to offer moments of wonder for those who take the time to observe. Each bird sighting, each call from the forest, and each fleeting flash of colour remind us of the delicate rhythms that govern the natural world.
Through these photographs, I invite you to look through my lens and share in the beauty of these avian encounters.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the colours, forms, and behaviours of the birds that grace the Abode of the Gods.
Happy Birdwatching!
─── About the Author ───
Ains Priestman is a passionate birder, nature observer, and photographer based in Mount Abu in the ancient Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan. Through his
Mount Abu Birding Diary, he documents the changing seasons, bird migrations, and the everyday wonders of wildlife in and around the hill station.
Armed with his trusted
Canon EOS 7D Mark II, he captures moments from the forests, wetlands, and rocky landscapes that make Mount Abu a unique haven for birdlife. His writings combine field observations, photography, and reflections on the natural rhythms of the “Abode of the Gods.”
Through this blog, he hopes to inspire readers and fellow birdwatchers to appreciate and protect the rich biodiversity of the Aravalli Hills.
Another page closes in the Mount Abu Birding Diary, but the hills are always writing the next chapter.
Happy birding from Mount Abu. 🐦
%200F4A1882.jpg "Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)")
%200F4A1884.jpg "Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)")
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