Hobby Thread 2013 (4 Viewers)

[idaho john]

and...

just a note from the states...I am so sorry to hear about the habitat destruction. It is so sad, when "progress" means destroying viable habitat for our falcon friends. But please do not stop, I love to hear about your Hobbies.

John

 

[John Barber]

Thanks for the sentiment idaho John. Lets hope things don’t turn out quite as badly as we fear. Wildlife is pretty resilient given half a chance.

A lovely day here today for a change. Sunny skies with little wind and temperatures up to a heady 20c.

A single Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail, plus Two Oystercatchers and Three Grey Partridge spread around the patch this evening and Whitethroats in almost every hedgerow. I may be wrong but this years Swallows seem thin on the ground.

 

[greenbunion]

Nine hobbies over Shapwick in Somerset yesterday (along with a pair of cuckoos, bittern fly-past too close to photograph! Great views of a pair of marsh harriers and lots more!)

 

[John Barber]

Nine hobbies over Shapwick in Somerset yesterday (along with a pair of cuckoos, bittern fly-past too close to photograph! Great views of a pair of marsh harriers and lots more!)

Lets hope at least two of the nine are destined for North Cheshire :t:

 

[John Barber]

Swallow

I was met with strengthening southerly winds and increasingly leaden skies on patch this morning. I wasn’t expecting to have fun out there today ! However, as is often the case, things turn up when least expect them.

The strong wing was blowing across the copse holding last seasons Hobby nest. To the lee of the trees several dozen House Martins and Swallows appeared to be in a feeding frenzy, catching insects blown from the safety of cover. Finding shelter behind a large hedge I trained my binoculars on this swirling mass of Hirundines at three hundred yards. Within a few seconds a strong bright flash of rusty-red caught my eye as one of the birds braked and turned in front of the trees. What was that ? I quickly set up my scope for a better view and twice more caught momentary glimpses of this ufo. My first thought was a possible Red-rumped Swallow but this bird was red underneath. After consulting Collins a short while later I’ve come to the conclusion it must have been a savignii ( Egypt ) variation of the Barn Swallow. It’s the only bird that seems to fit.

Not sure how often this variation is observed in the Uk ( if that’s what it was ) Anyone any ideas ?

Incidentally, still no Hobbies around yet but two Red-legged Partridge on site yesterday evening.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

I was met with strengthening southerly winds and increasingly leaden skies on patch this morning. I wasn’t expecting to have fun out there today ! However, as is often the case, things turn up when least expect them.

The strong wing was blowing across the copse holding last seasons Hobby nest. To the lee of the trees several dozen House Martins and Swallows appeared to be in a feeding frenzy, catching insects blown from the safety of cover. Finding shelter behind a large hedge I trained my binoculars on this swirling mass of Hirundines at three hundred yards. Within a few seconds a strong bright flash of rusty-red caught my eye as one of the birds braked and turned in front of the trees. What was that ? I quickly set up my scope for a better view and twice more caught momentary glimpses of this ufo. My first thought was a possible Red-rumped Swallow but this bird was red underneath. After consulting Collins a short while later I’ve come to the conclusion it must have been a savignii ( Egypt ) variation of the Barn Swallow. It’s the only bird that seems to fit.

Not sure how often this variation is observed in the Uk ( if that’s what it was ) Anyone any ideas ?

I've seen several birds which show characteristics similar to the Egyptian/eastern races of Swallow this spring. The consensus seemed to be in other discussions on here was that they are intergrades or even fresh plumaged birds showing more red than normal.

CB

 

[halftwo]

May 1st 2013, near my home, in Bucharest.

Looks like your Hobbies are just as tame as in previous years, Cristian!

I had a possible Hobby from my house yesterday, but too brief to be sure, and nothing on patch again this morning.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

On May 9th I saw again one or two birds (in the same place as on May 1st). It was during the evening (around 8 p.m.), so I didn't take pictures.

 

[perebrine]

Hi, I'm new to the forum & I live in Hampshire.
A friend told of some Hobbies over a local pond to me (15 min drive) I took a drive there & within 5 minutes of getting out the car a Hobby came from nowhere & I couldn't believe my luck. It circled the pond a couple of times then flicked over the trees & away, later another one (Could of been the same one?) came over & buzzed the pond. I got a couple of pictures but there not the best but you can see it's a Hobby.
I was talking to someone there & they said there were 6 present on Saturday.
John

 

[halftwo]

Hi, I'm new to the forum & I live in Hampshire.
A friend told of some Hobbies over a local pond to me (15 min drive) I took a drive there & within 5 minutes of getting out the car a Hobby came from nowhere & I couldn't believe my luck. It circled the pond a couple of times then flicked over the trees & away, later another one (Could of been the same one?) came over & buzzed the pond. I got a couple of pictures but there not the best but you can see it's a Hobby.
I was talking to someone there & they said there were 6 present on Saturday.
John

Welcome to BF & the Hobby thread, John.
I'm sure you'll see several more in your neck of the woods over the summer.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Hobby just gone over the garden, Goldfinch alarm calls alerted me to look up... cracking views as it passed over.

 

[Mike Price]

I've seen several birds which show characteristics similar to the Egyptian/eastern races of Swallow this spring. The consensus seemed to be in other discussions on here was that they are intergrades or even fresh plumaged birds showing more red than normal.

CB

I read an article that suggests that Chernobyl could be in part to blame for these odd plumages http://www.barbetbirding.co.za/umzumbe/umzumbe-roost

 

[perebrine]

Thank you,
The area I'm looking at is Ideal for Hobbies, it's a live Army range & when the Red Flags are up, you can't go on. But most days you're free to walk around. There are 2 large ponds & the rest is heathland dotted with a couple of fir tree forests, around the perimeter is a gravel path, in total around 6 miles long, so it's quite a large area of heathland. I'm fortunate enough to have taken early retirement & will spend a lot of time there shortly, watching the Hobbies. Hopefully I will find the nesting area & I'll be in heaven.
Any tips in looking for nests (I would imagine noise will be a give away later) or is this a subject not to be discussed?

Welcome to BF & the Hobby thread, John.
I'm sure you'll see several more in your neck of the woods over the summer.

 

[halftwo]

Any tips in looking for nests ... or is this a subject not to be discussed?

This is a subject best left well alone, unless the person is known to you & trusted.

 

[John Barber]

Guess What ?

At last, some good news !!

Numbers of Hirundines appear to have increased in the last few days, with even a few Swifts putting in an appearance ( despite the horrible weather ) Consequently our expectations were beginning to rise - surely the hobbies won’t be far behind now ?

At 4.55pm this evening Sid and myself had moved to the East end of the site to view a ploughed field ( these kids on computer games don’t know what they are missing ) after observing the usual tenants of the West side. Perhaps a couple of dozen Wood Pigeon were feasting amongst the shallow furrows, with a Buzzard on the ground maintaining a discreet distance. Suddenly, a raptor caught our eye, lazily flying almost straight towards us, perhaps 50 feet above the ground – Hobby !!!!! No doubt about it, Falco subbuteo was back over this small part of North Cheshire – our part of North Cheshire ! An exciting moment.

The bird didn’t give us long to savour the moment as she ( judging by the size, possibly a female ) flew to our right and disappeared over a copse in which our Hobbies nested a few years back. And that was the last we saw of her – for today at least. But the new sighting will galvanise us to look even harder now and it looks like Hobby Thread 2013 is at last, truly up and running.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Great news John. Will have to make a visit this weekend.

CB

 

[halftwo]

It was cold & damp this morning, but no Hobby was visible.

 

[perebrine]

Spent a couple of hours at the Pond yesterday, managed to see 3 Hobbies hunting the pond for a good hour, then the heavens opened.

 

[Strandman]

Here's an early entry for crappest digipic of the year- but an atmospheric first view of one of my pair back on station late last Thursday evening.

 

[stevo]

Thank you,
The area I'm looking at is Ideal for Hobbies, it's a live Army range & when the Red Flags are up, you can't go on. But most days you're free to walk around. There are 2 large ponds & the rest is heathland dotted with a couple of fir tree forests, around the perimeter is a gravel path, in total around 6 miles long, so it's quite a large area of heathland. I'm fortunate enough to have taken early retirement & will spend a lot of time there shortly, watching the Hobbies. Hopefully I will find the nesting area & I'll be in heaven.
Any tips in looking for nests (I would imagine noise will be a give away later) or is this a subject not to be discussed?

Without a schedule 1 license I wouldn`t recommend it.

Steve.B