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)

Observing birds on Mount Abu in Jan 2022.

Greetings from our small hill station in the new year. This is my initial post for the year 2022.

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 exceptional species here, such as the Green Munia, 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 NEW YEAR” may the ongoing pandemic be a matter of the past and may we see merrier and less stress-free days.

The initial week of January 2022 has been gloomy for birders. The weather has been dreary with overcast skies and an intermittent shower or two of drizzle.

1 January 2022.