Saturday, December 20, 2025

Birdwatching during the third week of November.

Winter Arrives Early—and Fierce—in the Abode of the Gods

Abuites will remember November 2025 as a month that rewrote Mount Abu’s weather script. For the first time in over a decade, temperatures plunged well below freezing. On November 18, the mercury dipped to –2°C, only to fall further to a biting –6°C the very next day. After a harrowing and erratic monsoon season, this sudden, severe winter felt almost surreal—yet refreshing. The forests seemed to exhale, relieved by the cold’s crisp certainty.

As always, the weather sets the stage for what draws me outdoors: the birds.

With winter tightening its grip, Mount Abu’s avian world came alive. Raptors ruled the skies, warblers whispered from the undergrowth, and the hills echoed with the quiet promise of a season in full swing. While I didn’t photograph as many individuals as I’d hoped—frozen fingers and fleeting light had their say—the sightings themselves were rewarding.

Highlights of the Week

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus

Common Buzzard — a reassuring winter presence, soaring above the ridgelines.

Long-legged Buzzard — elegant and imposing, a true monarch of open skies.

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) — a thrilling encounter with speed and precision incarnate.

Hume’s Warbler — subtle, secretive, and always a delight to pick out.

Sulphur-bellied Warbler — a lively splash of colour amid the winter browns.

These few captures may not reflect the full scale of what the week offered, but they represent the essence of November birding in Mount Abu: raw cold, clear light, and birds at home in it. Winter has announced itself early this year—and for birders, it has done so with unforgettable flair.

Bird of the Week.

Sulphur-bellied Warbler - Phylloscopus griseolus winter visitor.

Sulphur-bellied Warbler - Phylloscopus griseolus winter visitor. .mp4

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo winter visitor

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea winter visitor

Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei Winter visitor

Jungle Babbler - Turdoides striata

Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus winter visitor

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri

Shikra - Accipiter badius

Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis

Swallows sp mixed bag

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Abu Road and Environs: Birding in the Second Week of November 2025

“Watching a Birder Take Wing: Abu Road with Crescentia”

In the second week of November, I stepped away from my familiar birding trails of and headed down to the plains of . Accompanied by my niece, , the visit doubled as both a short family break and an opportunity to explore the bird-life in and around Abu Road—a region that offers a refreshing contrast to the forests and elevations of the hills.

The plan was simple: a few days of relaxed birding, unhurried mornings, and discovering what the had brought into the wetlands, fields, and scrublands of the area. Mostly, everything went as planned. Unfortunately, a sudden emergency back home meant that I had to cut my stay short and return to Mount Abu midweek. Still, the days we managed, from 10th to 13th November 2025, proved to be rewarding.

This blog showcases a curated selection of birds observed during that brief window. A significant number of the sightings and photographs are Crescentia’s work. She has come a long way in her birding journey and now shows the confidence and instinct of a seasoned observer. Watching her scan habitats, pick out subtle movements, and identify species has been satisfying. She’ll start a blog focused on the birds around Abu Road.

Highlights from the Trip:

Some of the standout sightings from our birding sessions included:

–active and camouflaged along the water’s edge

–a reliable winter visitor.

–elegant and unmistakable, active after a successful dive

–subtle, restless, and an accurate test of patience

–tail bobbing along the banks

–a striking presence in the wetland landscape

–always impressive, especially when seen well

Each encounter added depth to our short outing and reaffirmed just how rich Abu Road becomes during the winter and passage migration period.

Though my stay was shorter than planned, these few days were enough to remind me that stepping away from familiar ground often brings fresh perspective—and new birds. I will be posting about the rest of November as soon as I complete editing the remaining photographs.

Until then, I hope you enjoy this glimpse into birding the plains below Mount Abu, and a small chapter in Crescentia’s growing story as a birder.

Bird of the week.