[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by halftwo

Game over I think.

Hopefully not!

CB

[Mike Price]

I hope not as well, visited another site last night, another failure that appears to be predation, this site has been successful for the previous four years (that we know of) but had moved about 500 metres into a new tree which didn't have as much cover as usual.

[John Barber]

Looks like the young Hobby has definitely been predated. No sign of the chick but many feathers draped around the edge of the nest.

It can only be conjecture as to what happened. A Buzzard would be the main suspect, but we were speculating as to whether a mink might have climbed the tree. Anyone know if that’s likely ?

[Rob Smallwood]

I asssume that there is no prospect that it had fledged?

[John Barber]

Originally Posted by Rob Smallwood

I asssume that there is no prospect that it had fledged?

I last saw the chick on Friday afternoon and it appeared to be some way from fledging, perhaps another 10 days or so. We'll keep checking for a day or two but don't hold out much hope.

[John Barber]

To illustrate just how quickly a young raptor can disappear from a nest, take a look at the following link – kindly provided by Mike Price.

Quite astonishing really !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18611742

[John Barber]

You may just be able to make out the empty nest and an arrary of grey downy feathers on the periphery ( clearer in the normal scope view )

[ed keeble]

commiserations to you watchers if your fears are rightly placed

I'm one [of many I am sure] who tune in here for a glimpse of an idyllic world where hirundines flock and Hobbies prosper

so even if the predation is not such an unusual turn of events for Hobbies at large, its a sad thing to read it/see it through this window

[Rob Smallwood]

I do wonder if the behaviour I saw Sunday morning was as a result...if so it takes the gloss off a super two hours :(

[John Barber]

Originally Posted by Rob Smallwood

I do wonder if the behaviour I saw Sunday morning was as a result...if so it takes the gloss off a super two hours :(

Quite possibly Rob. You may have arrived shortly after the "incident"

[John Barber]

Originally Posted by ed keeble

commiserations to you watchers if your fears are rightly placed

I'm one [of many I am sure] who tune in here for a glimpse of an idyllic world where hirundines flock and Hobbies prosper

so even if the predation is not such an unusual turn of events for Hobbies at large, its a sad thing to read it/see it through this window

Thanks Ed. At least our Hobbies had at least four good seasons. So within that context things haven't been too bad really. Lets hope for better things again next year.

[SueO]

Poor little thing. Sorry, H.

H, you said you saw no hobbies at all. Do the adults leave a place when this happens? Will they come back?--This year or next year?

Sorry if this has been explained already, but, was this pair a different pair from last year? Maybe one of the pair was from last year's clutch and maybe this was their first attempt? It seemed like the male was inexperienced? Was he less attententive than last year's male?
Sue

[halftwo]

Originally Posted by SueO

Poor little thing. Sorry, H.

H, you said you saw no hobbies at all. Do the adults leave a place when this happens? Will they come back?--This year or next year?

Sorry if this has been explained already, but, was this pair a different pair from last year? Maybe one of the pair was from last year's clutch and maybe this was their first attempt? It seemed like the male was inexperienced? Was he less attententive than last year's male?
Sue

Hi Sue.
I saw two Hobbies nearby today, flying together - probably my pair. I think they'll stay on territory for a while.
We have no way of knowing what the turnover of adults on the territory is, and can't tell them apart, usually.

I was looking forward to the most active part of the season, and am bereft. As JB says this is the first failed season we know of, so they have done very well all in all.

[SueO]

Originally Posted by halftwo

I was looking forward to the most active part of the season, and am bereft.

Yes, I would be too.

[sid ashton]

Originally Posted by halftwo

Game over I think..........

H, JB remember August 2010? - don't give up yet. I haven't and will try to go for another look later in the week.

[sid ashton]

Had a really good look around the area this afternoon and the only raptors to be seen were the resident Buzzard and pair of Kestrels. The latter making the most of the crop harvesting going on.

There was a good number of Swallows still around but alas no Hobbies.

[username]

Nature eh...?

Sympathies H.....i know how much Hobbies mean to you....as they do me...!

The fields i scour have been hobbyless all season until two sightings the other week...and i'm not sure if they weren't just 'passing' birds....

I still hope to stumble across a breeding pair and hear that wonderful alarm call....but hey..what will be will be...

So many UK breeding birds this year have been scuppered one way or another.....the appalling weather being the main culprit....

All the best....maybe see you at the Birdfair....

http://username-beast.blogspot.co.uk/

[Himalaya]

An interesting sighting from Leighton Moss.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guid...sightings.aspx


9 August 2012

Summery sightings and hide updates

Elsewhere on the reserve, a hobby has been seen several times at Lower hide. One visitor even saw it chasing a lapwing which managed to out-flly it!

[Himalaya]

The Hobby pair nesting in our area should fledge 3 young this weekend. If that is the case then when would the eggs have been laid and when would they be on the territory? A pair have nested in the same valley for 5-6 years - could it be the same pair? They have been successful every year.

[Himalaya]

I did read in a bird book that Crows could be a huge problem for Hobby and many nests failed because of them. Although in Britain the Hobby is doing very well overall so predation is not hindering the spread.

Originally Posted by John Barber

Looks like the young Hobby has definitely been predated. No sign of the chick but many feathers draped around the edge of the nest.

It can only be conjecture as to what happened. A Buzzard would be the main suspect, but we were speculating as to whether a mink might have climbed the tree. Anyone know if that’s likely ?

[stevo]

I think part of the problem this year has been a dearth of dragonflies due to the weather.
Some hobbies were found dead this year due to starvation.

Steve.

[halftwo]

Originally Posted by username

Nature eh...?

Sympathies H.....i know how much Hobbies mean to you....as they do me...!

The fields i scour have been hobbyless all season until two sightings the other week...and i'm not sure if they weren't just 'passing' birds....

I still hope to stumble across a breeding pair and hear that wonderful alarm call....but hey..what will be will be...

So many UK breeding birds this year have been scuppered one way or another.....the appalling weather being the main culprit....

All the best....maybe see you at the Birdfair....

http://username-beast.blogspot.co.uk/

Hi, U, is Bird fair still on? Heard there were waterlogging problems: is that sorted?

I hope you still find Hobbies, greater chance once fledged.

H

[Cheshire Birder]

Nothing on the Birdfair website H. Probably dried out in the last few days.

CB

[username]

Originally Posted by halftwo

Hi, U, is Bird fair still on? Heard there were waterlogging problems: is that sorted?

I hope you still find Hobbies, greater chance once fledged.

H

Birdfair still on H....the staff and volunteers have been working hard to get things sorted...

Marquees all up and ready to be filled....! Fingers crossed now re the fickle weather gods....

As we all know this season the jet stream has really had a deep impact on our breeding birds and i have witnessed this on a local level...

Have heard many horror stories of young birds expiring due to cool wet weather conditions. Adults returning to nests with muddy feet to incubate and their eggs getting chilled and rotting....

Far more losers than winners this year....but nature always throws these curve-balls now and again.

I suspect that many Hobbies may not have even reached the British isles in peak breeding condition this year and it will make interesting, if not disturbing, reading when 'results come through...

As the fields are ploughed with autumn in the air i still hope to detect a pair of Hobbies with young in my area....i would be overjoyed and very surprised if this were to happen...but you never know...they are extremely sneaky elusive breeding birds.....!

And if its not to be this year..then so be it....

All the best...

http://username-beast.blogspot.co.uk/

[idaho john]

have been following Halftwo Hobby thread and just read that it appears to be over for the year. How I wish that was not the case!

Regardless, I follow this thread from the states and just want to express my appreciation for the effort made to keep the forum up to date on your Hobbies and it is my hope that this pair come back next season and attempt to raise a family again.

I am sorry!

John