Cheers for that, learnt something there.

Hi northern loon where was the bird shot, and have you a link, to the story,
how anyone can do this is beyon me.

Ken,I reckon we can all fill in those expletives for you.Nidderdale area where we do most of our watching cetainly does not seem to have a great record

EG,I think the story is showing on the Raptor Politics site along with other horror stories.

The beeb reported the news http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-13429000

Redhouse and surrounds
 

Barn Owl now showing well most evenings.One or two cuckoos about.qBest ever numbers whitethroat/blackcap/willow warbler/chiffchaff.2 singing garden warblers.Had patch tick yesterday ,GC Grebe on res....surprising how this water attracts very little, 2 Tufted ducks were 'unusual too.,'

Came close to seeing my first Woodpecker today, heard the distinctive squeaking noise that they make (thanks to the forum members who pointed this out to me earlier in the year) but unfortunately didn't catch sight of the bird. This was at Tophill Low. On the way down to Watton I saw a Buzzard near Leconfield. Didn't see much I could identify at Tophill apart from a Yellowhammer on the way near the railway line, and what I think were Pochards, which when I was there I mistook for Teal, but the Collins Bird Guide indicates are Pochards.

Oh, I saw a Hobby on the way out also, it was being mobbed by a couple of crows. A lot of action for me, usually only see a few Swifts and a Song Thrush out of my window!

Nickynak, you are bound to get a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Tophill eventually - especially on the feeders in winter. They are very common there. Hobby is a great spot.

Theres been a fair few "northern" hobbies this year, 2 were hunting at fairburn earlier this month.

Never been sure where the northern limit of Hobbies is but it always a thrill to see them in Yorkshire

Yes,I feel a bit like that myself.It does not seem long ago that a report of Hobby would have gone round the locals like wildfire but nowadays some take them as commonplace.Me I cannot get enough of them,maybe I should get out more

you'd have to be a hard hearted and jaded old curmudgeon if the sight of a hobby didn't give you a bit of a thrill, specially if it's hunting

The 2008 Yorks report sez: "the number of sightings each year increases". Birds seen all over the county but less so in the north and west. Only two pairs proven but more possibles. Hatfield/Thorne had up to 10 birds in May.

I believe you get the occasional hobby at Wykeham but I can't think of any birds from further North.

EG,I will be passing all notes on to him including members sightings as I did last year.Have you checked the wood upstream of Fountains,birds there seem to be a bit close to the pheasant pens to me.

They nest in Scotland on a regular basis so yorks isn't anywhere near the northern limit but always a great bird, especially when unexpected

Hello
I saw a hobby at Piercebridge on the N. Yorks / County Durham border last summer and had one over my garden in Darlington four or five years ago. I lived in Colchester for a few years before coming back north and we used to get hobbies over our house in town pretty much daily in summer, so I was confident of my northern hobby ID, even though it was a relatively unusual record. I heard of a pair breeding in Northumberland too about four years ago.

I had a Hobby recently at Lingham Lake (Nosterfield Quarry). Always great to see. Just need the dragonfly numbers to pick up a bit.

I had 2 adult and 2 juvenile Spoonbills at Coatham Marsh, Redcar today. They headed north, possibly towards Saltholme at 18h19. Photos on my flickr.

When I lived at Long Marston, had Hobby annually on garden list, but always assumed migrants/dispersing youngsters....always absent through midsummer...but I agree....could never tire watching them!!!!!

My experience of them in this location has that they have been after hirundines...fast fly throughs etc

Thanks, it was unmistakeable really, there was somebody with me and he agreed that was what we saw. I enjoy reading what you all write on this thread and learn a lot from it so please keep posting, I'm sure there are a few like me who don't get involved but are learning a lot from what you all write,
Nick

a good morning in n.yorks, rustic bunt at filey and a spoonbill at wheldrake from swantail (via birdnet)

Had a Yellow Wagtail at Fairburnings this afty. Wandering around with a pied wagtail in farmers fields above Fairburn village - take path to Ledsham Village from the Cut area of Fairburn. Not too much else to report from there -heard Cuckoo, sprinkling of your common warblers etc.

Great find (Frank XM) ace views this aftey, good to see Andy H & Steve (Stick;)) & others. Ps - Ta Dave M. for info!!