Birds of Mount Abu Birds in July 2019 mountabubirds.blogspot.com

Birding in July 2019. Mount Abu

From overcast skies, green valleys and dales to Abu’s magnificent jungle trails make a perfect getaway from the scorching summer of the plains. Birding at this time of the year is not as spectacular as in winter but it offers you a fair share of the local birds. Grey jungle fowls, Red spurfowl and Green Avadavat are some birds to include in your collection. Appreciate my collection of photographs taken during July. 

1 July 2019.

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

2 July 2019.

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis - juvenile

4 July 2019.

Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

6 July 2019.

Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata

7 July 2019.

Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus 

Red-wattled Lapwing - Vanellus indices little - immature

8 July 2019.

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica 

White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus 

9 July 2019.

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

Pond-Heron - Ardeola grayii 

10 July 2019.

Little Swift Apus affinis affinis

13 July 2019.

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus 

17 July 2019.

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus- Juvenile

Purple Sunbird - Cinnyris asiaticus

Shaheen Falcon - Falco peregrinus peregrinator 

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

24 July 2019.

Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolo 

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolo 

Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis

Pied Cuckoo - Clamator jacobinus 

Pied Cuckoo - Clamator jacobinus 

Pied Cuckoo - Clamator jacobinus 

Pied Cuckoo - Clamator jacobinus 

Red-vented Bulbul Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Red-vented Bulbul 

21 October 2018

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer   - Pair 

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer   - Allo preening

Appreciate the Red-vented Bulbul photographed over the years 

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Slideshow of Red-vented Bulbul 

The common Red-vented Bulbul lives in Mount Abu. I have observed these birds' behaviour for many a year. I know The Bulbul as the Sentinel of the area because it warns other animals with its calls when predators like Shikra and Raptors are nearby. One warning call and all the other birds make a dash for cover to cover their ass from the oncoming swooping killing machine with claws of Hades.

I love to watch their antics during their mating season. It's fascinating to see their antics of wooing. They have learnt to exist with humans and look forward to titbits offered to them. 

They often hawk for insects, like the fantails around here fluttering beyond the foliage of shrubs and trees. They are known to group together in flocks but out here I have seen very strong territorial traits of the few who have taken up residence here around my house.

White-breasted Waterhen Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

White-breasted Waterhen

20 October 2018

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus   - Chick 

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus   - Immature

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus   - Adult

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus   - Adult

Appreciate the White-breasted Waterhen photographed over the years 

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White-breasted Waterhen

I have observed the White-breasted Waterhen and her chicks for almost a fortnight taking shelter under my bridge over a small stream. Her two chicks disappeared within the first week of my observation, probably prey to the few Indian Grey mongoose that also shares this area or the stray cats that live off the land in this part of  Abu. 

The single chick and the mother throughout the day feed on insects and larvae from the stream. The chick had grown pretty well and two weeks ago they disappeared, probably moved down the stream as the water in this stem is nearly dry. This year it's gonna be kind of bad for the animals and the birds as most of our minor water bodies will turn dry by mid-summer. The monsoon season this year was poor.

Brown-headed Barbet Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Brown-headed Barbet

19 October 2018.

Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica caniceps   - Adult

Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica caniceps   - Adult

Appreciate the birds photographed over the years 

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Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica caniceps   - Adult

The Brown-headed Barbet is a resident breeder in India and Sri Lanka. It is an arboreal species of gardens and wooded country which eats fruit and insects

The adult has a streaked brown head, neck and breast, with a yellow eye patch. The rest of the plumage is green. More... 

Like all other Asian barbets, they are mainly frugivorous although they may sometimes eat insects and they use their bills to excavate nest cavities in trees. When there is a few of them around and they begin their choir practice it's quite a ruckus. 

Yellow-eyed Babble Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

Yellow-eyed Babble

18 October 2018.

Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense hypoleucum   - Adult

Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense hypoleucum   - Adult

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Yellow-eyed Babbler over the years 

Enjoy the selection 

The yellow-eyed Babbler, like most babblers, move around in groups. They flit around from shrub to shrub chirping most of the time. Their call is melodious compared to those of the Jungle babbler(Seven sisters as they are commonly known here). The ones living here are not too shy and can be photographed at close quarters. A beautiful eye-catching bird. Black beak, 'Eyes not the traditional beauty of India with Kajal', but has an outstanding orange-yellow eye enhanced by a small white eyebrow. The chest is white while the wings and back are chestnut brown coloured. Its tail is almost the size of its body.  

The range of the yellow-eyed babbler extends from Pakistan through India, Nepal, Sri Lanka to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam and China.

Prinia Birds of Mount Abu October 2018.

 Grey-breasted Prinia | Plain Prinia | Ashy Prinia |

17 October 2017 

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii hodgsonii   - Adult

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii hodgsonii   - Adult

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Grey-breasted Prinia Over the years,

Plain Prinia Prinia inornata inornata   - Adult

Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis brevicauda

Collection over the years Ashy Prinia

1. The Prinias are a genus of small insectivorous birds belonging to the passerine bird family Cisticolidae. They were at one time classed in the Old World warbler family, Sylviidae.

2. The prinias are sometimes referred to as wren-warblers. They are a little-known group of the tropical and subtropical Old World, the roughly thirty species being divided fairly equally between Africa and Asia.

3. They are mainly resident, migration being limited to local cold weather movements. Non-breeding birds may form small flocks.

Prinias have short wings but long tapering tails. They are fairly drab birds, brown or grey above (sometimes with dark streaks) and whitish below. Some species have different breeding and non-breeding plumages. The bill is a typical insectivore's, thin and slightly curved.

References: Wikipedia !. 2. 3.

It's always been a big issue identifying the different types of Prinias. I've put together a list of prinias photographed here at Mount Abu, If there is any discrepancy do point them out I would greatly appreciate your suggestions.

List Photographed by me:

. Ashy prinia - Prinia socialis)

. Grey-breasted prinia, Prinia hodgsonii

. Jungle prinia, Prinia sylvatica

. Plain prinia, Prinia inornata

. Graceful prinia, Prinia gracilis

Common Kingfisher Birds of Mount Abu October 2018

Common Kingfisher

13 October 2018 

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis   -  Pair

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis   - Back view

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis  

The common kingfisher is a brightly coloured and fascinating bird. The number of these little blue kingfishers is just a handful in our abode. The reason being most of our small water bodies and local streams runs dry during the summer months. Apart from the few fish found in our water bodies, these kingfishers have to depend on other forms of food such as frogs, small crabs and the occasional dragonfly. 

Common Kingfisher is a resident bird. These birds are normally found at our lake site and dams.

Snaps taken over the Years appreciate the slide show.

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Bonelli's Eagle Birds of Mount Abu October 2018

Bonelli's Eagle 

12 October 2018

Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata fasciata   - Adult in flight from below 

Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata fasciata   - Adult in flight from below 

I have Observed these bird from 2012. I have also photographed them over the years. October has seen quite a lot of activity regarding this species.  I have seen a pair making sorties over our area very frequently. 

Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus: Not recorded by Butler but Hume observed it twice, “soaring over the upper plateau of Mount Aboo” (Butler 1875). It's our regular winter visitor. 

Appreciate the slideshow of the "Bonelli's Eagle " over the years"

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