[Bananafishbones]

Sorry to steal your thunder H2 but just had a Hobby fly directly over this Poynton Garden - could it be heading to your patch.... I wait over the next 24hrs with baited breath

Good luck

[halftwo]

I'm on nights this week, so birding is going to be v diff.!

[alan_rymer]

A Hobby was seen from Lea Farm Hide near Hurst(Wokingham ) in Berkshire on the the 14th April heading North. Poor thing!

[Seatallen]

One flew over our garden last week. I think its one of our regular birds (there's a breeding pair nearby most years) but it seems to have sensibly gone to ground for the time being.

[halftwo]

Brief look on patch this pm. - no sign.

[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by halftwo

Brief look on patch this pm. - no sign.

Still a bit early?

CB

[Himalaya]

I have always wanted to know when did the Hobby start to expand their range in the UK? What was their original breeding range in the UK before they started to push north?

[halftwo]

Originally Posted by Cheshire Birder

Still a bit early?

CB

Yes, earliest date for the patch is the 24th. - that was last
year. But I suppose a few days earlier is possible.

[halftwo]

Originally Posted by Himalaya

I have always wanted to know when did the Hobby start to expand their range in the UK? What was their original breeding range in the UK before they started to push north?

They used to be largely restricted to south of the Thames, from Dorset to Kent, mainly concentrated around Hampshire - but a few pairs beyond - even to S Wales. Then, for no known reason, around 15 years ago they exploded through central and eastern England & on to the north.

[Himalaya]

Originally Posted by halftwo

They used to be largely restricted to south of the Thames, from Dorset to Kent, mainly concentrated around Hampshire - but a few pairs beyond - even to S Wales. Then, for no known reason, around 15 years ago they exploded through central and eastern England & on to the north.

Thanks for that bit of info. In the old bird books they used to be shown as a southern species but they have spread quite rapidly in the last 10-20 years. They could become one of our most commonest birds of prey soon. One day you might get 30-40 in the air together in the north-west as you do in the south.

[Andy Hall]

Kind of hoping to get one this weekend. I'm doing a patch list this year and bagged a Oystercatcher over my garden yesterday at 05:50. Now back to Hobbys...

[Cristian Mihai]

April 23rd - No sign here too. But a friend photographer took pics with one hobby (somewhere in Romania) about two weeks ago... I will check again this evening.

[Cristian Mihai]

Your opinion?
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=228421

[halftwo]

No sign again today, but a pair of Kestrels are feeding young in the hollow of last years Hobby nest tree!
If the Hobbies were to reuse the tree then there could be two falcon species in it simultaneously!

[halftwo]

Much to JB & Sid's annoyance, after they had left the patch today I returned to see a Peregrine spook the gulls, then the Hobby pair appeared and flew eat, after Swifts.

JB returned just as they were fading to distance.

We're in business again, it seems!

Four Lapwing chicks were also in a field, dodging the plough.

[John Barber]

Sid and I may have missed the first sighting but it's great to see Hobbies back on patch - lets hope they are 'ours' and here to stay.

Also nice to see half a dozen Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail this morning.

[sid ashton]

Originally Posted by halftwo

Much to JB & Sid's annoyance, after they had left the patch today I returned to see a Peregrine spook the gulls, then the Hobby pair appeared and flew eat, after Swifts.

I wasn't annoyed at all H, just glad you found them .

[John Barber]

No sign of the Hobbies during a brief afternoon visit but yesterday's four lapwing chicks in a field being ploughed now appear to have been reduced to two. Sad.

On a brighter note two Grey Partridge present in the ploughed field today - and still a few Wheatears.

[halftwo]

Frosty morning but bright enough, hirundines in good numbers swooping low, Swifts coming through and lingering: prey enough.

Out of nowhere a Hobby arrived and settled near last year's nest, morning light pale on its underside. Within the minute it was away at full power, accelerating to the east, rising. Suddenly there were two.

Now the male in front began to display - flicking wings and rising and falling in rapid ziggzaggs, as his mate kept pace below. Into the distance.

Then, instantly from show to hunt: he dived headlong at prey, from eighty to a hundred and fifty in a two seconds, and gone.

[halftwo]

Hobby perched near the old nest tree: the male looking wet and bedraggled after torrential overnight rains, sunning himself atop an ash.
A stunning male Whinchat in the next field along with nine Wheatears, a single Red-legged partridge, Skylarks and Pied & Yellow wagtails. Whitethroats were singing in the hedgerows larksong filled the sky.
After an hour the Hobby was up, circling among Swifts, trying for the advantage and gradually drifting north on the wind.
Swifts kept their distance as he was reduced to a dot, then a barely discernable speck, still hunting.

Back in the field the Whinchat continued to show well, insect catching with the Wheatears.

[Bananafishbones]

Glad your back in Hobby business H2

[sid ashton]

On site from about 08.30, I think I just missed you H, spoke to JB when I got home - one of your Hobbies had a spin around the 2010 nest tree and went down around that area but I could not locate. Also present female Kestrel and Peregrine both on pylons, 10 Wheatear in the ploughed field and a pair of amorous Whitethroat chasing around the hedgerows - but best of all a calling Cuckoo from behind the area of the farm towards the NT park. Only the second one I have heard this year as well as the one I saw elsewhere

[cwpbirder]

Hobbies have returned to Cotswold Water Park - 6 attempting to feed on insects on cool conditions over one of the lakes at the w/e.

[halftwo]

Originally Posted by Bananafishbones

Glad your back in Hobby business H2

Originally Posted by sid ashton

On site from about 08.30, I think I just missed you H, spoke to JB when I got home - one of your Hobbies had a spin around the 2010 nest tree and went down around that area but I could not locate. Also present female Kestrel and Peregrine both on pylons, 10 Wheatear in the ploughed field and a pair of amorous Whitethroat chasing around the hedgerows - but best of all a calling Cuckcoo from behind the area of the farm towards the NT park. Only the second one I have heard this year as well as the one I saw elsewhere

Dave: thanks.
Sid, you missed the Whinchat & the Corn bunting then, as well as me!
Funnily enough I was almost certain I heard a distant Cuckoo this morning.

[sid ashton]

Originally Posted by halftwo

Dave: thanks.
Sid, you missed the Whinchat & the Corn bunting then, as well as me!

Wasn't really looking for them and didn't have much time anyway