Monsoon Birding: The Last Two Weeks of September, Mount Abu

Birding & Weather Highlights Mount Abu.

As the monsoon wound down, I spent the last weeks of September exploring Mount Abu’s rain-drenched trails and forest edges — a time when the hills are still lush, the skies moody, and bird life stirring beneath the mist.

 Observing Birds in Late September

As September drew to a close, Mount Abu remained under overcast skies and steady rain. The mist and fine drizzle persisted, making birding a test of patience and adaptability. Adjusting camera settings to cope with low light and changing conditions became a routine task.

Despite the damp and grey weather, a few clear days appeared toward the end of the month, offering much-needed relief. The forest awakened in those short bursts — sounds, wings, and a renewed feeling.

Monsoon birding in September is about more than just sightings. It’s about persistence, observation, and quiet appreciation of the natural world in transition. As the rains subside, we notice slight changes in bird behaviour; some prepare to leave, while others remain for a while.

Below are the highlights from the last two weeks of September — a rewarding mix of residents and early migrants that added colour to an otherwise subdued landscape.

Highlights of the Fortnight

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)

Jungle Bush-Quail (Perdicula asiatica)

Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides)

Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius)

Asian Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus)

Dusky Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)

Indian Yellow Tit (Machlolophus aplonotus)

Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

Spot-breasted Fantail (Rhipidura albogularis)

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

 Each sighting brought its own reward — from the restless energy of the wagtails by the streams to the brief, shy appearances of the Jungle Bush-Quail along forest trails. Late September in Mount Abu may be damp and unpredictable, but it remains one of the most fascinating periods for observing bird life in its natural rhythm.

As the clouds lift and the skies clear, October promises new arrivals and fresh excitement — a time when the first winter visitors return to the hills. Stay tuned for my October birding notes, where migration takes centre stage and Mount Abu’s landscape shifts from monsoon mist to crystal-blue mornings.

Bird of the Fortnight.

Common Hawk-Cuckoo - Hierococcyx varius

Common Hawk-Cuckoo - Hierococcyx varius Sept 2025 MT Abu ..mp4

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

Asian Green Bee-eater - Merops orientalis 

Asian Green Bee-eater - Merops orientalis  Sept 2025 Mt Abu

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Brown-headed Barbet - Psilopogon zeylanicus

Brown-headed Barbet - Psilopogon zeylanicus Sept 2025 Mt Abu.mp4

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides

Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica 

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica 

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus 

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus Sept 2025 Mt Abu .mp4.

Jungle Babbler - Turdoides striata 

Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica

Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica Sept 2025 Mt Abu ..mp4.

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca

Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach.

Oriental Honey-buzzard - Pernis ptilorhynchus 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus.

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus.

Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus

Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata 

Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata 

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis. 

Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis 

White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis 

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

Birds of August 2025–Mount Abu

 A monsoon diary of wings, rain, and resilience.

When Abu wears its cloak of mist, the birds sing louder to remind us they are still here.

The last week of August in Mount Abu is the very heart of the monsoon—steady showers, cool breezes, and a thick veil of mist and fog that make this place live up to its name as the “Abode of the Gods.” But times are changing. With shifting weather patterns, the rains now seem to arrive later, often stretching into September. I’ll share more on that in my early-September update.

 Through it all, I continued my daily birding. Even in this misty, grey monsoon backdrop, the birds never fail to bring colour, sound, and joy to Abu. This post documents the species in my hometown on an annual basis.

Bird of the week.

Oriental Turtle-Dove - Streptopelia orientalis
Oriental Turtle Dove – Quiet and graceful, often seen perched on large trees or feeding near damp fields.

Oriental Turtle-Dove Aug 2025 Mt Abu.m4v

August’s Bird Collection

The path, groves, and thickets presented a new sound, colour, or call with every step. The last week of August was unforgettable because of these birds:

Black Kite - Milvus migrans

Black Kite mobbed by Large-billed Crow Aug 2025 Mt. Abu.m4v.

Black Kite – Not welcomed in this town, mobbed by Large-billed Crow.

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca

Brown-headed Barbet - Psilopogon zeylanicus

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica – sweeping low across the hillsides, chasing insects stirred by the rains, feed their young.

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow  Aug 2025 Mt Abu..m4v

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea  – Fresh migrant arrivals, dancing along the streams and puddles.

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Grey-breasted Prinia - Prinia hodgsonii

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus – A cheerful burst of yellow and black, flitting busily through the monsoon-green trees.

Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica – A family party darting across the trail, vanishing quickly into the dripping undergrowth.

Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica

Jungle Bush-Quail - Perdicula asiatica

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis perched atop a stump with its tail like an antenna.

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis 

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus, an ace hunter with remains of prey atop the radio tower.

Red Spurfowl - Galloperdix spadicea 

Red Spurfowl - Galloperdix spadicea  – Skulking through the undergrowth, their calls echoing through the damp hillside.

Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus

Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda 

Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata – Small flocks busy foraging and building nests, their soft chatter carrying through the drizzle.

Spotted Owlet - Athene brama

Spotted Owlet - Athene brama

Spotted Owlet - Athene brama

Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis, a rare observation for Mount Abu.

Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis Not common for Mt Abu

Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis

White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens

White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

Help in identifying this bird?

August may feel muted under endless rains and fog, but the birds remind us that life carries on in the most beautiful ways. Each sighting adds to Abu’s timeless story of resilience and natural wonder.

I’ll return soon with updates on September’s weather and birding highlights—where the monsoon often reveals a new rhythm of life