MOUNT ABU BIRDS MY PERSONAL COLLECTION

As a nature lover, bird watching has always fascinated me. I’ve been taking pictures of birds since I was in school in Mount Abu, where I learned about the local birds and their nesting habits. I learned to identify birds chiefly by their calls. I’ve been taking pictures in the wild for several years."Explore the diverse bird life of Mt.Abu with my detailed blog post: See the rare species in their NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. Experience the ecosystem of this INCREDIBLE MONTAINOUS region" Welcome to Abu.

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

Friday, November 21, 2025

Birding in the Last Week of October 2025.

Perfect birding weather… until Mount Abu decided to turn October into a monsoon encore!

The last week of October brought yet another spell of unseasonal rainfall to Mount Abu, spilling over into the first days of November. A Western Disturbance and Cyclone Montha caused this unexpected weather, frustrating many Abuites as it once again disrupted the familiar rhythm of the hill station’s seasonal cycle.

But while the townsfolk grumbled, the forest and its intricate ecosystem thrived in the sudden bounty. The hills remained cloaked in lush green, and the streams flowed with renewed vigour—rare sights for this time of year.

Despite the erratic showers, winter migrants have arrived, signalling the approach of a colder season. A few water migrants have also touched down, though their numbers remain modest. Suitable habitat might temporarily limit the water migrants, perhaps explaining their quieter arrival, as most of Mount Abu’s water bodies are full.

Whenever the rain paused and the skies offered a brief window of clarity, I ventured out for my birding. In those fleeting moments, Abu revealed its magic. I have curated a small collection of the birds I photographed during this period—each image a tiny piece of our sanctuary’s living record.

As always, my efforts remain committed to documenting and celebrating our avian visitors, ensuring their stories continue to be told. I'll be back soon with my observations from November. Until then, may the forests remain green and the birds continue to call.

Bird of the week

Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei, winter visitor

Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus, winter visitor

Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus

Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita, winter visitor

Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita Oct 2025 Mt Abu.

Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor Oct 2025 Mount Abu

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus, winter visitor

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea, winter visitor

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea Oct 2025 Mount Abu ..jpg

Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei

Jungle Babbler - Turdoides striata

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis, resident

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

Red-breasted Flycatcher - Ficedula parva, winter visitor

Red-breasted Flycatcher - Ficedula parva

Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis, resident

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Birds of September 2025 – Mount Abu

Weeks One & Two – Birding & Weather Highlights.

Birds Spotted–Second Week of September 2025 (9th–14th)

The second stretch of September turned out to be a fantastic birding week. The skies still carried the weight of the monsoon, but the bird life more than made up for it. Also, I photographed many of the sightings, and so did my niece, Crescentia, whose sharp eye and steady hand deserve much of the credit for this collection.

The highlights included rarities, uncommon visitors, and a few familiar Abu regulars showing off in style. It was the kind of week that tempts any birder to pack a bag and make a quick trip to our little paradise.

Bird of the Week.

- –a prized record! Second only to our district, .

Highlights of the Week

- – racing across the skies in powerful, looping flights.

Alpine Swift - Apus melba

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

– not so common here, a delicate visitor among the trees.

Asian brown flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica

Asian Cinereous Tit - – energetic, hopping among branches, always a delight.

Asian Cinereous Tit - Parus cinereus

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum – catching the sun, basking in the open.

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

The loud, repetitive, three-note call of the (), with the second note being longer and higher-pitched, sounds like "brain-fever" to many listeners.

- –a burst of bright yellow in the green.

Common Iora - Aegithina tiphia Sept 2025 Mt Abu ..mp4

- – blending into the canopy, easy to miss unless you know its call.

Common Woodshrike ephrodornis pondicerianus, Sept 2025, Mt Abu. jpg

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Gray-breasted Prinia - Prinia hodgsonii Sept 2025 Mt Abu.mp4

- "dust bathing".

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus "dust bathing".

Indian Cuckooshrike - Coracina macei – another important record for Sirohi, a notable find

Indian Cuckooshrike - Coracina macei

Indian Peafowl - Pavo cristatus

Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus

Indian White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus Sept 2025 Mt Abu ..jpg

Jungle Owlet – not common here in Mt Abu, its call gave it away before the sighting.

Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca, winter visitor

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis. – ever present, its song echoing after the showers.

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis.

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus – the thrill of watching it slice through the air.

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus – the thrill of watching it slice through the air. September 2025 Mt Abu

Plum-headed Parakeet - Psittacula cyanocephala

Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus portrait shot.

Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus September 2025 Mt Abu

Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata

Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata September 2025 Mt Abu..mp4

Shikra - Accipiter badius

Small Minivet - Pericrocotus cinnamomeus – flashes of red and yellow darting through the trees.

Small Minivet - Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis

Thick-billed Flowerpecker - Dicaeum agile – tiny but bold, feeding on berries.

Thick-billed Flowerpecker - Dicaeum agile

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher - Cyornis tickelliae – the jewel of the undergrowth, glowing after rain.

Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis – a rare gem for Abu, flitting busily in the foliage

Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis

White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens

Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon - Treron phoenicopterus

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis) Sept 2025 Mt Abu.

Closing Note

Two weeks into September, and Mount Abu has already delivered drama and delight—soaked mornings, foggy trails, sudden bursts of bird activity, and rarities that make the heart race. With records like the Common Cuckoo and Indian Cuckoo-shrike, plus the Peregrine Falcon sweeping the skies, this month has been unforgettable so far.

And the best part? The season has only just begun. More migrants are on their way, and I’ll be here—tracking the skies and the wings that grace them—week after week.