Mount Abu’s Winter Wonders

The second week of January witnessed a significant , triggered by the unseasonal winter rains that occurred earlier (known here as the ""). Night temperatures hovered between 10 and -5, turning the hill station into a “” for a few days.

As part of my daily birding stints, because of pressing unforeseen circumstances at home this year, I have not visited our local water bodies to catch glimpses of ’s feathered winter visitors. I’m yet to document the , , , and various . However, I'm hoping the situation turns for the better, and I can once again hit the road, bag some bunting, including the elusive .

Till then, indulge in my capture of some of our exclusive winter visitors.

The , a new entry on our Mount Abu species list

The and the .

Will be back with some more birds snapped during the third week of January.

Bird of the Week.

Himalayan Buzzard - Buteo refectus

- Dicrurus leucophaeus

Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus

- Ptyonoprogne concolor

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

- Centropus sinensis

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus

Long-legged Buzzard Jan 2026 Mount Abu.m4v

- Lanius schach

- Copsychus saularis.

- Vanellus indicus

- Dendrocitta vagabunda

Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda

(Gymnoris xanthocollis)

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Birding in [ September 2021 ]Mount Abu mountabubirds.blogspot.com

Birding in September 2021 Mount Abu.

This year it seems the monsoons have gone on a hike, we had a few early showers in July, and August turned out to be bleak. Guess the Abuites did not appease the rain-gods, no time for the annual havans? Abuites are too busy reaping profits lost during the early pandemic. the influx of tourists during the month of August saw record numbers. This month also is going house full. The first week of September saw a few thundershowers. The birds, the beasts and the Abuites are sitting with fingers and toes crossed for some sign of the monsoon gods to shower this abode and fill our reservoirs.

Ducks a few arrived in the last week of August. We will probably have an early winter. I look forward to September; it is the time of year when winter migrants make their first appearance here in the abode of gods. The Alpine Swift, Barn swallow, Eurasian hobby, Harriers and a host of other raptors make their appearance here. I look forward to seeing the warblers and flycatchers. I have already observed and recorded the Sykes’s Warbler, Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Gadwal, Green-winged Teal, Northern pintail, Northern shoveler, the Pied Cuckoo, and a few raptors. Hopefully, I’ll record the Alpine Swift in September. Enjoy my collection for the first week of September 2021. Click on any photograph to see the expanded view. Happy viewing.