Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Mount Abu Birds: A January Delight 2025

Join me on my January birding exploits.

The third week of January 2025 has flown by, leaving behind a treasure trove of delightful memories for us Abuites. The weather has been a gift, with warm days and just the right touch of sunshine, while the nights have danced between a crisp 0 to 10 degrees Celsius. Perfect conditions for birdwatching, wouldn’t you agree?

As part of my daily birding stints, I explored our local water bodies to catch glimpses of Mount Abu’s feathered winter visitors. Among the week’s stars were the Black Redstart, White-capped Bunting, Common Buzzard, Green-winged Teal, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and various pipits. However, the buntings, including the elusive Crested Bunting, remain on my wishlist. Perhaps the upcoming weeks will bring better luck!

I'd love to hear your thoughts if you plan your birding adventures in Mount Abu. What would make your experience even more memorable? Share your comments and suggestions on enhancing the joy of birdwatching here in our serene paradise.

Meanwhile, my birding escapades from the second week of January hang in suspense. A hard disk crash has left my precious birding data from the foothills of Mount Abu in limbo. I’ve sent it to an expert for recovery and await the verdict. If the expert retrieves the data, I promise to share a spectacular collection of photographs showcasing the avian wonders from the foothills of Abu. Fingers crossed!

Happy birdwatching, and may the wings of discovery lead you to extraordinary sights in Mount Abu’s natural haven!

Bird of the week.

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo winter visitor

Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus

Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Common Pochard - Aythya ferina

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Eurasian Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

Gadwall - Mareca strepera

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca

Indian Scimitar-Babbler - Pomatorhinus horsfieldii

Indian Peafowl - Pavo cristatus 0F

Northern Pintail - Anas acuta

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saulari

Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda

Siberian Stonechat - Saxicola maurus

Tree Pipit - Anthus trivia

Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula

White-capped Bunting - Emberiza stewarti

Indian White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus.

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Birding in November: A Quiet Start Amid the Diwali Rush

A Challenging Start to the Season: Birding in November

The first week of November brought a rather muted start to birding this year. With Diwali in full swing, Mount Abu was teeming with tourists. The bustling holiday crowds, while beneficial to local businesses, made it challenging to reach my favourite birding areas. This chaotic holiday rush stretches for about two weeks, so my birding efforts must be restrained.

One thing I look forward to each November is migratory ducks. Sadly, their numbers seem lower than in previous years. While there are a few early birds, the large numbers from ten years ago are gone, showing a worrying shift. I’m optimistic that their numbers will increase throughout the season.

Raptors, another highlight of winter birding, have also been harder to spot this year. I’ve photographed and documented a handful, though they too seem fewer. Although I haven’t had many chances to see them, I’ve gathered my observations of our winter guests and can’t wait to update my list in the coming weeks.

As for the climate, winter has set in with a sharp drop in temperatures—last night, the mercury dipped to 5 degrees. The crisp winter air stirs anticipation for the plentiful birdwatching opportunities ahead. I’ll be following the arrivals and updating you as the season progresses, including what I discover in the second week of November.

Bird of the Week.