A Collection of May’s Avian Wonders from the Hills of Rajasthan.

The first week of May in Mount Abu has always carried an air of unpredictability. Looking back to May last year, when showers drenched the hill station almost continuously for days, this season arrived with a far more familiar face: warm afternoons, dry winds, shimmering skies, and the steady march toward summer.

From May 1st to May 7th, 2026, Mount Abu experienced what many locals would call a “classic Abu summer.” While the plains of Rajasthan baked under brutal heatwave conditions, our beloved hill station remained forgiving. The afternoons were warm, but the mornings and evenings still carried that touch of mountain relief that continues to make Abu a sanctuary amidst the furnace below.

The winds were strong, sweeping through the valleys and rocky slopes, but we escaped the savage dust storms that tormented the plains. Nature, however, always keeps us guessing. Weather forecasts insist there are no signs of an early monsoon, though in these changing times, one has learned never to challenge the moods of the skies.

For us “Abuties,” the first week of May also brought another reminder — even in the harshness of summer, Mount Abu’s bird-life continues to thrive. The forests, scrublands, gardens, and rocky escarpments echoed with calls, courtship displays, territorial disputes, and the silent glide of predators overhead.

During my outings this week, I encountered a delightful mix of species, each adding its own charm to the season.

Highlights from the Week

Tawny-bellied Babbler: Restless as ever, these lively little birds moved through the undergrowth in small parties, chattering and disappearing into the scrub before the camera could settle upon them.

Indian Blackbird: Always a personal favourite. The rich, dark plumage of the male contrasted against the dry summer landscape, while its melodious calls carried through the cooler hours of dawn.

Spotted Dove — Courtship Display: One of the gentler spectacles of the week was observing a Spotted Dove engaged in its delicate wooing ritual — puffed feathers, graceful movements, and soft cooing under the shade of roadside trees and overhead power cables.

Shikra: Sharp-eyed and stealthy, the Shikra remained ever watchful. One individual perched above the forest edge before darting through the canopy in pursuit of unsuspecting prey.

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen): Perhaps the most thrilling sighting of the week came as the magnificent Shaheen Falcon. Powerful, fast, and commanding the skies with absolute authority, its presence is always enough to stop any birder in their tracks.

Mount Abu in May may not possess the lush freshness of the monsoon months. Still, it offers something rewarding — raw light, dramatic skies, quiet forests, and resilient wildlife enduring another Aravalli summer.

No more ranting from my side.

Sit back and enjoy this small collection of birds photographed during the first week of May 2026 here in the hills of Mount Abu — Rajasthan’s timeless green refuge above the burning plains.

Bird of the Week.