Showing posts with label #Taiga Flycatcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Taiga Flycatcher. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Embracing November's Avian Spectacle: Mount Abu is a Birder's Paradise

Mount Abu is a birder's paradise, especially in November.

 November brings a spectacular moment for birding enthusiasts as the icy grip of winter falls on Mount Abu. The steady drop in temperature, which begins at the end of October, sets the setting for a stunning bird extravaganza. This time of year, the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled inside the scenic limits of the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, reveals a treasure trove for birds that trek to this heavenly "Abode of Gods."

The sanctuary's lush expanse teems with activity in November when the sky is crisply bright. The thick vegetation, trickling streams, and mild chill in the air create an enticing atmosphere that lifts the spirits of everyone who walks the jungle pathways in search of bird encounters.

Migrating birds is one of the most intriguing parts of this season. The sanctuary serves as a temporary home for a wide variety of flying visitors, including raptors, wild ducks, and a few rare species. Their presence enhances the sanctuary's already thriving resident bird population, bringing an additional layer to the sanctuary's biodiversity.

During the first week of November, I ventured into the forest for short birding excursions in my immediate surroundings. The brilliant colours of visiting species—Eurasian Sparrow-hawks, Red-breasted Flycatchers, Eurasian Crag-Martins, Greenish Warblers, Hume's Warblers, Common Buzzards, and Grey Wagtails—brought the surroundings to life.

I saw a significant rise in the number of migrating birds from my observations made in October.

Around 80 of these exquisite birds decorated the Duck Pond, and with the prospect of lowering water levels and more abundant food supplies, I foresee this number will increase by December.

The changing seasons alter the terrain, resulting in an ever-changing tapestry of bird life. As November approaches, the refuge draws both seasoned birders and beginners, providing a fascinating sight of nature's wonders.

For birders, Mount Abu in November is a monument to the harmony between the shifting seasons and the mesmerising ballet of migratory birds. Nature's canvas is being painted with colourful strokes of life, calling everybody to experience and treasure this transient yet exquisite avian symphony.

Enjoy my collection of birds spotted and recorded on an everyday basis during the first week of November 2023.

1 Nov 2023.

"Black Eagle - Ictinaetus malaiensis, uncommon, rare soaring in the Abu sky."
Black Eagle - Ictinaetus malaiensis

"Black Eagle - Ictinaetus malaiensis, uncommon, rare soaring in the Abu sky."
Black Eagle - Ictinaetus malaiensis

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor gracing Mount Abu sky."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo


Common Buzzard aerial combat Mount Abu 1 Nov 2023.m4v


"Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica, uncommon winter visitor flying above."
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica

"Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea, winter visitor perched on a cable."
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

"Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea, winter visitor perched on a cable."
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

"Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos, calling on a date palm tree resident."
Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos 

"Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus, in action plucking a spider of the cable."
Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

2 Nov 2023.
"Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops , uncommon perched atop a rock."
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops 

"Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops , uncommon perched atop a rock."
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops 

"Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus,winter visitor by no means common scanning for prey."
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

"Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis, peering from a cable resident."
Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus,landing on the tower with prey."
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus with prey

"Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus, feeding on prey on the radio tower."
Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

3 Nov 2023.
"Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata,scanning for prey."
Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor descending."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo 

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, descending atop a tree winter visitor."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo 

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor ready to land on a tree."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo 

"Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea, perched on a rock overlooking the stream winter visitor."
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

"Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus, resident perched on a branch looking upwards."

"Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus, perched on abranch."
Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

"Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus, resident perched on garden fence."
Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

"Taiga Flycatcher - Ficedula albicilla, rare uncommon winter visitor perched on a branch."
Taiga Flycatcher - Ficedula albicilla

4 Nov 2023.
"Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei, winter visitor ready to take off."
Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei 

"Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis, perched on a babul bush."
Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis 

"White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis, perched on a wire cable."
White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

5 Nov 2023.
"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor soaring Abu skies."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo 

"Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo, winter visitor gracing Abu sky."
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo 

"Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea, winter visitor sitting on a cable."
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

|Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea, sitting on an iron cable winter visitor."
Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

I'll upload some of the water migrants tomorrow; in the meantime, enjoy and appreciate the selection I've provided above.

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Birds of Mount Abu [ October 2022 ] mountabubirds.blogspot.com

October birding [2022]Mount Abu.

The Last week of October 2022.

Review of migratory birds, the last week of October 2022. The greenish warblers, Hume’s warblers, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, and the Red-breasted flycatcher are here.

Black-rumped Flameback
Golden-backed Woodpecker/ Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense: Resident

Black-rumped Flameback
Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

Black-rumped Flameback
Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense

Black-rumped Flameback
Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense


Black Redstart
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros: Winter visitor. Common.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros: Winter visitor. Common.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros: Winter visitor. Common.

Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus: Winter and passage migrant. Irregular and uncommon.  Usually seen on Eucalyptus trees. Surprisingly Not recorded by Butler (1875).
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus: Winter and passage migrant. Irregular and uncommon.  Usually seen on eucalyptus trees. Surprisingly, Not recorded by Butler (1875).

Ashy Drongo
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus

Ashy Drongo
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus


Black-winged Kite - mobbing Boote Eagle
Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus mobbing Booted Eagle

Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus/Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus: Local migrant? Butler (1875) did not record it and commented that it does not “ascend the hills”. I observed many of these birds here on Mount Abu last year. 

Booted Eagle
Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus 

Booted Eagle
Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus 

Brown Rock Chat
Brown Rock Chat - Oenanthe fusca 

Brown-headed Barbet
Brown-headed Barbet - Psilopogon zeylanicus

Common House-Martin
Common House-Martin - Delichon urbicum Status ? Probably winter visitor 

Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus  

Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus: Winter visitor.Not very common visitor, but we do have our share of these birds as can be seen by my observation over the last decade.


Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus  


Green Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus 

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus: Winter visitor. Commonly at all water bodies.

Greenish Warbler
Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides

Common winter/passage migrant. Arrives as early post monsoons.

Greenish Warbler
Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides


House Sparrow
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 

Hume's Warbler
Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei

Hume's Warbler
Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei

Indian Pond-Heron
Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii 

Indian Pond-Heron
Indian Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii 

Indian Robin
Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus

Indian Robin
Indian Robin - Copsychus fulicatus

Indian White-eye
Indian White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus

Indian White-eye
Indian White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus

Lesser Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca winter visitor common 

Lesser Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca

Lesser Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca

Long-tailed Shrike
Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Purple Sunbird
Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus 

Purple Sunbird
Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus 

Red-breasted Flycatcher
Red-breasted Flycatcher - Ficedula parva 

Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva: Winter visitor. A common bird in the winter season is found all over Mount Abu.

Red-breasted Flycatcher
Red-breasted Flycatcher - Ficedula parva

Red-whiskered Bulbul
Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus 

Scaly-breasted Munia - juvenile
Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata juvenile

Spot-breasted Fantail
Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

Taiga Flycatcher
Taiga Flycatcher - Ficedula albicilla

Tree Pipit
Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis 

Tree Pipit
Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis 

Tree Pipit
Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis 

White-bellied Drongo
White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens Resident 

White-bellied Drongo
White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens

White-bellied Drongo
White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens

White-breasted Waterhen
White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus 

White-throated Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

White-throated Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

White-throated Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis







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