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)

Discover the Fascinating Avian Migrations in Mount Abu Winged Wonders in January's Third week.

Continuation:

As I embarked on the delightful trek to Mount Abu’s tranquil Duck Pond, I couldn’t help but experience a wave of enthusiasm as the number of aqua-feathered migrants had grown since my previous visit. Nature had given us a lovely display, revealing the many avian wonders that had chosen our peaceful sanctuary as their winter home.

The vivid colours of the Indian roller, an elegant migratory bird perched on a cable at the pond’s entrance, highlighted our arrival. Soon later, the uncommon Taiga flycatcher appeared, adding an element of rarity to our birding experience.

As we engrossed ourselves in the calmness of the surroundings, the Duck Pond came alive with bustle. The graceful Green-winged Teals, the vivid Common Pochards, the notable Northern Shovelers, the exquisite Northern Pintails, the lively Gadwals, the hungry Coots, the amusing Little Grebes, and the secretive Moorhens were all engaged in a lovely symphony of feeding and fluttering.

Capturing these lovely moments on January 17th, 2024, I urge you to experience the beauty of our winter migrants via the lens of my camera. Each photograph shows the vivid tapestry of life that surrounds this Duck Pond, a refuge where nature unveils its marvellous palette for everyone who seeks comfort in the embrace of Mount Abu’s natural treasures. Join me and marvel at the avian wonders who make this lovely dwelling home during the peaceful days of winter.

17 Jan 2024.