Showing posts with label #Bird of the month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Bird of the month. Show all posts

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Mount Abu Birding: 14th to 24th February 2025

 Raptors, Warblers, and a Lull in Migration


The second half of February in Mount Abu presented low birding activity among migratory species. After several action-packed birding adventures in the foothills of Mount Abu, the birding scene here seemed to quiet down. I was disappointed that many of our usual winter visitors were absent.

Winter migrants are in a quiet phase.

From the 14th to the 24th of February, the winter migrant activity in Mount Abu was minimal. I only saw a few raptors and fewer warblers then. I missed the vibrant bird migration this year, a noticeable absence compared to the busy earlier season.

A Renewed Urge to Explore

Disappointed by the birding in Mount Abu, I headed back to the plains between February 25th and 28th. These areas, including Abu Road and its surrounding regions, often host a variety of migratory birds that may bypass the higher altitudes of Mount Abu. I will share more about my sightings from this trip in an upcoming post.

A Snapshot of Late February Bird life

Despite the low activity, I’ve put together a small collection of birds observed in Mount Abu during the last ten days of February. Despite the limited diversity, the landscape’s serenity and the occasional appearance of raptors still made it worthwhile.

An Invitation to Birding in Rajasthan

Mount Abu, Abu Road, and the adjoining areas offer a wealth of opportunities for bird enthusiasts. Even during quieter periods, the charm of Rajasthan’s birding spots remains undeniable. I hope this post inspires fellow birders to explore the natural beauty and avian diversity of this region.
Stay tuned for my next post, where I will share sightings from the plains and foothills of Mount Abu.

Bird of the month.
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros


Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros  Feb 2025 Mt Abu..mp4

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica  Winter visitor

Black Kite - Milvus migrans   Local migrant

Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata 

Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata 

Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum 

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita

Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus 

Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus Feb 2025 Mt Abu

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca 

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca 

Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus 

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis. 

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis. 

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

I wish all my viewers a fabulous weekend! Wish me luck I'm headed for Plains. Cheers to Life!
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Location: Mount Abu, Rajasthan 307501, India

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Birding in June 2024

Birding in June 2024: A Memorable Adventure

While less awe-inspiring than winter birding, June birding has an enchanting appeal. Witness an exceptional birdwatching opportunity with cloudy skies, stormy winds, and summer and monsoon migrants such as the Indian Blackbird, Indian Golden Oriole, Green Avadavat, and Indian Bird of Paradise.

Young Birds: A Joyful Observation

June is a great month to see a lot of young birds. It’s exciting to witness the diverse range of behaviours displayed by these tiny creatures’ parents to care for and safeguard them. These nosy little creatures endure harsh thunderstorms and heavy rain throughout the Monsoon season, employing various strategies to evade constant predators.

Seizing the Moments

This is a tiny assortment of birds that I photographed in June. I hope my work is agreeable to you. June is a great month to shoot the Green Avadavat (Munia), an endangered bird species. This is a highlighted species for the season; lucky watchers can also see Brown-headed Barbet, Indian Yellow Tit, Large-billed Crows, Shikra, Rose-ringed Parakeets, Blackbirds, and a variety of Prinias.

In summary

Despite the difficulties, birding in June is satisfying. It’s a fulfilling experience because of the combination of summer and monsoon migration, the sight of young birds, and the opportunity to take pictures of endangered species. Cheers to more bird-watching adventures!

Bird of the month

"Jungle Bush Quail - Perdicula asiatica Adult males have a dull brown mantle, back, scapulars, and wings with buff streaks and blackish-brown patches. The breasts, sides, and upper belly are whitish with short black bars, whilst the lower belly and undertail coverts are reddish-buff. The forehead, lores, and supercilium are dark reddish-brown, with the supercilium becoming buffy-white behind the eye and towards the back of the neck. Resident to Abu, uncommon rare."
Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica  

Butler’s 1876 description of the jungle bush quail, a member of the Phasianidae family, referred to it as “very common.” I encountered these quails in various regions of Abu during the early 1980s. Observing them darting along jungle paths always fills me with joy. Nevertheless, they are now regarded as uncommon or rare.

"Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica, a pair perched atop a rock calling to its companions."
Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica

"Jungle Bush Quail - Perdicula asiatica Adult males have a dull brown mantle, back, scapulars, and wings with buff streaks and blackish-brown patches. The breasts, sides, and upper belly are whitish with short black bars, whilst the lower belly and undertail coverts are reddish-buff. The forehead, lores, and supercilium are dark reddish-brown, with the supercilium becoming buffy-white behind the eye and towards the back of the neck. Resident to Abu, uncommon rare."
Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica

"Three Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica, seen in the snap calling to the others in unison."
Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica

"Image of a Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), a graceful raptor with predominantly white plumage and striking black wingtips, Flying overhead against a misty sky."
Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus 
The Black-winged Kite-Elanus caeruleus status in Abu is probably that of a local migrant.

"Image of a Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), a graceful raptor with predominantly white plumage and striking black wingtips, Flying overhead against a misty sky."
Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus 

"The Brahminy Starling boasts a stunning appearance. With its lustrous blue-black head, neck, and upper body, complemented by a unique white patch on its wings, this bird truly stands out. Its underparts are a soft buff hue, and it features a bill that tapers to a fine point.Perched on a cable."
Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

"The Brahminy Starling boasts a stunning appearance. With its lustrous blue-black head, neck, and upper body, complemented by a unique white patch on its wings, this bird truly stands out. Its underparts are a soft buff hue, and it features a bill that tapers to a fine point.In flight."
Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

"Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius, parched atop a large rock, with nesting material in its beak."
Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius

"Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo,flying overhead heading for its roosting spot."
Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo

"House Sparrow - Passer domesticus juvenile.perched on a cable waiting to be fed by the parents."
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus juvenile

"The green avadavat, known as the green munia (Amandava formosa), is an Estrildid finch with a green and yellow body, a vivid red beak, and black "zebra stripes" on its sides. They are indigenous to Mount Abu.The photograph depicts a bird on a large rock."
Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

"The green avadavat, known as the green munia (Amandava formosa), is an Estrildid finch with a green and yellow body, a vivid red beak, and black "zebra stripes" on its sides. They are indigenous to Mount Abu.The photograph depicts a bird on a large rock."
Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

Birders from around the world come to Abu to try to bag this beauty.

To read more on this fabulous species, click the link below.

Help Save The Green Avadavat Mount Abu


"Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus , female with a large caterpilla in its beak perched on the garden floot."
Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus female

"Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus), a small passerine bird. The male displays striking black and white plumage with a distinctive red vent. Perched on a cable, the bird exhibits characteristic tail-cocking behavior."
Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus male

"Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus), a small passerine bird. The male displays striking black and white plumage with a distinctive red vent. Taking off from a cable, ."
Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus taking off.

"Indian White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus), a small and lively songbird. Distinctive yellow-green plumage with a white eye-ring. Perched on a branch."
Indian White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus

"Indian White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus), a small and lively songbird. Distinctive yellow-green plumage with a white eye-ring. Perched on a stump."
Indian White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus

"Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus, perched on an Amaltash tree with a flowere in its beak."
Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

"Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensisSmall,Small, comparable in size to the European Turtle-Dove. The tail is notably long, with white edges and a grey centre, yet it is completely white below. Its body is in pastel brown and pink, with a dotted black collar. It is also known as the Little Brown Dove or Mourning DoveIn this snap perched on a large rock."
Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis

"Little Egret - Egretta garzetta, gracing the Abu sky, uncommon."
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta

"Oriental Honey-buzzard - Pernis ptilorhynchu, This bird of prey in this snap is seen soaring overhead. It is easy to identify, even in flight, on account of its long pigeon like head and neck, and broader black-and-white bands on its tail. The bird is also called the crested honey buzzard, but its stunted crest is hardly ever visible, a resident Abu."
Oriental Honey-buzzard - Pernis ptilorhynchus 

"Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis: Females are greyish black above and greyish white under.are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests.Perched on a cable"
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

"Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis,perched on a cable, as can be seen the male has black upperparts, head and throat apart from a white shoulder patch."
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

"Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis.in flight displaying its black and white attire."
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus,resident late evening flyover the radio tower."
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus,resident late evening flyover the radio tower."
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

"Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus., a collage."
Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus.

""Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica), a medium-sized passerine bird. Distinguished by its steel-blue upperparts and a rusty-red rump. Perched on a cable displaying its feathers."
Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica.

""Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica), a medium-sized passerine bird. Distinguished by its steel-blue upperparts and a rusty-red rump. With wings outstretched landing on a cable."
Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica.

""Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica), a medium-sized passerine bird. Distinguished by its steel-blue upperparts and a rusty-red rump. Landing on a cable."
Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica.

"Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer, doing a typical gig on a branch."
Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer

"Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri , clinging onto dried date palm leaves gazing into my camera."
Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri 

"Shikra: Accipiter badius.The shikra is a tiny raptor with short rounded wings and a slender, fairly long tail. Adults have a whitish underside with tiny rufous streaks, and grey upperparts. The lower tummy is less barred, and the thighs are white. The bird in the snap is heading towards a prey."
Shikra - Accipiter badius 

"Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis, perches on a branch."
Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

"Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensi. Brown overall with a rosy breast and a unique white-spotted black nape patch. Found commonly in fields, parks and gardens. The one in the snap is in flight."
Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis 

""Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensi. Brown overall with a rosy breast and a unique white-spotted black nape patch. Found commonly in fields, parks and gardens. The one in the snap is carrying building material."
Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensi. 

"White-breasted Waterhens, Amaurornis phoenicurus, have mostly dark grey upperparts and sides, with a white face, throat, and breast. The lower abdomen and undertail are cinnamon or white-colored. The photo shows a bird with outstretched wings on a big rock."
White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus




 

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Location: Mount Abu, Rajasthan 307501, India
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Birds of August 2025–Mount Abu

 August Birding in Mount Abu: A Tale of Skies, Rain, and Wings.  The third week of August in Mount Abu felt like stepping into a blast from ...