Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Birding in November: Post-Diwali Departure

Birding in November: Post-Diwali Delights

The second week of November brought a delightful variety of migratory birds to Mount Abu, despite the town still buzzing with Diwali holiday crowds. While the popular tourist spots remained lively, the hillside offered some rewarding birding moments for those willing to brave the rush.

Among the notable sightings this week were the Common Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Drongos, and a charming array of warblers, pipits, and wagtails. These avian visitors added vibrant life to the cooling landscape, offering glimpses of the winter spectacle unfolding.

For birders planning a visit to Mount Abu this winter, be prepared for frosty mornings and biting cold. The temperature has been dropping, inching closer to the zero-degree mark—a hallmark of Abu’s winter charm.

As the week progressed, the festive crowds thinned out, making way for quieter trails and less congested viewpoints. However, weekends remain busy, as the hill station continues to draw its share of visitors escaping the plains.

By the end of the second week, migratory ducks became more apparent, though their numbers are still growing. It’s always a joy to witness these seasonal visitors gracing our waters, a testament to nature’s rhythms in the face of changing climates.

I’ve curated select bird photographs captured during this period to showcase the beauty of November birding in Mount Abu. Stay tuned as we delve into the birding highlights of the third week of November!

Bird of the week

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita

Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius

Eurasian Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides

Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei

Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii

Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda

Western House-Martin Delichon urbicum

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

Friday, February 24, 2023

Birds Mount Abu in January 2023.

Greetings from our small hill station in the new year. This is my initial post for the year 2023.

It is a fascinating place to visit. Visitors admire this Abode of the Gods. Bird watching is also good here. There are only a few notable species here, such as the Green Muni, the Spur Fowl, and the Indian Scimitar-Babbler, not neglect our Tawny-bellied Babbler. Abu, in comparison, is not a birding paradise comparable to other places.

Before I rant on, let me wish all my viewers “A joyful overdue NEW YEAR”

On Christmas Eve, I visited Abu Road, a small town in Rajasthan, India, renowned for its picturesque landscapes and rich wildlife. Given the limited number of birders in the region, I used the chance to examine and document a wide range of bird species, particularly those residing in the foothills of Mount Abu, and investigate the reasons behind certain species not venturing higher up the hill. I noticed that the House Crow, Pied Bush-chat, Bay-backed shrike, Common Babbler, and Large Grey Babbler are rarely observed in Mount Abu. My interest in nature and wildlife dates back to my teenage years, and I hope that my bird species documentation in both Mount Abu and Abu Road will assist future birders who visit these regions in Rajasthan. As I compile my collection, I will post bird species photographs taken during the last week of December 2022.

1 Jan 2023.

Birds of Abu Road