[John Barber]

A long distance Digi Scope shot of our female Hobby on the nest.

[John Barber]

The male has this year proved to be extremely elusive and difficult to see. Today, however, he seems to be excelling himself. During a total of three hours observing the female on the nest, the male failed to show with any food for her or the chicks. At one point she did leave the nest to fly around the copse, calling noisily but there was no response and she returned to the nest appearing to be in an agitated state before settling down on her brood. I think she and I are beginning to wonder where he’s got to.

[SueO]

Originally Posted by John Barber

The male has this year proved to be extremely elusive and difficult to see. Today, however, he seems to be excelling himself. During a total of three hours observing the female on the nest, the male failed to show with any food for her or the chicks. At one point she did leave the nest to fly around the copse, calling noisily but there was no response and she returned to the nest appearing to be in an agitated state before settling down on her brood. I think she and I are beginning to wonder where he’s got to.

I hope he hasn't flown off with an Harlot Hobby!

From H’s #117 post:
This morning the male set out to hunt with a second female!

She appeared above the copse a few minutes after he slipped away unseen, having been sitting in full view seconds before. When I saw her I assumed it was him, and watched as she flew over my head as Swallows alarmed under her.

But then I picked him up, his relative slim build now in contrast to her. And he was displaying to her, flicking wings rapidly and flying to her, as Lapwings rose and called alarms.

Just for a few seconds the two headed east with the wind, but into the blinding sun where I lost them both.

Turning to the nest I could see the female Hobby on her nest, whether she was aware of the other which had her mate's attention, I cannot say.

Perhaps she was the same that I saw yesterday, hunting together with the male. Is she one of his daughters? We can only speculate, but I don't recall this being documented before.

[SueO]

Hi H,
I have been reading about American Kestrels and gathering what photos I have of them since landing in Saint Lucia till now (Panama). I've found there are 17 ssp and interestingly they are not thought to be 'true' kestrels, but more closely related to Hobbies. Seems strange in that American Kestrels hover and nest in abandoned woodpecker nests. Your hobbies remind me of miniature Peregrines and the American Kestrels seem to behave more like your Eurasian Kestrels.

I hope your male Hobby shows up soon with some food.

[John Barber]

There is still no sign this evening of our aberrant male. Perhaps the lure of the other female has proved too strong and he’s deserted for the Harlot Hobby !

Pure speculation of course. He may well have visited the nest several times during the day and we’ve just been unlucky and missed him.

Tomorrow’s weather forecast is for six hours of light rain during the morning and early afternoon. So I hope for the chicks sake that food arrived today otherwise the female may be forced to go off hunting in the morning, potentially leaving the youngsters exposed to the weather and predators. We will have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

As for the North American Kestrel, H is the international birder, so he’ll know all about those !

[SueO]

Maybe, Hussy Hobby sounds better Harlot Hobby. Seriously, I hope he's ok or she will have a rough time, especially in the weather you guys are describing. I have learned from these Hobby threads that they are masters at not being seen so maybe he has just been missed? Athough John, your description of her leaving the nest and calling for him is a little worrisome, unless she was doing so to draw attention away from the nest or any of several reasons. I hope all turns out ok.

[SueO]

Originally Posted by John Barber

As for the North American Kestrel, H is the international birder, so he’ll know all about those !

I know. I was hoping to get some knowledge the easy way.

[halftwo]

I'm on site now.

Breakfast has been served. Male off hunting again.

Much relief!!!

More later.

[halftwo]

After last evening's gloom following a day without sight of the male, the female looking increasingly hungry and anxious on the nest, and a sleepless night, I was on site by six am.

There was the female on the nest, occasionally calling for her mate. Once she got out to fly around the copse, her cries sounding around the empty trees.

Another grey and cold day, not a hirundine nor Swift in sight. A lone falcon waiting for food...

Two and a half hours later, despair setting in under glowering clouds and suddenly she was off, screaming as she went, to meet the male who I just glimpsed through branches.

Within a minute she was on the nest carrying, probably, a soggy Sparrow. She began to feed her one visible chick, delicately offering tiny morsels to a bobbing, begging head.

Several minutes in and she was helping herself to large chunks of the prey, while still feeding the chick, until it was entirely gone. Then she settled to the nest.

He had apparently flown off again, but now I found him nearby, perching on one of his customary branches. Soon he flew to the top twig of the copse as Swifts began to fill a brightening sky.

At nine he set off south, swerving rapidly towards a Pied wagtail which was diving for cover. Missing his quarry he turned west and disappeared that way.

Fifteen minutes later, as patches of blue tore up the gloom, he was back - his mate getting off the nest to greet him, mingling her shrill cries with his "kip kip"s. She went back to her chick with the prey - which appeared to be a mouse! (Perhaps he had stolen it from a Kestrel, which I've seen done before).

Again the second meal was shared between chick and mother Hobby, the day smiling and the sun breaking. I realised how hungry I was myself and headed home for breakfast as Grey partridges flew noisily across the lane, perhaps disturbed by the presence of a dog Fox which slipped back to the copse.

[SueO]

As usual, great write up, H. I'm so glad nothing has happened to him and that the chances for survival stay as good as possible.

[halftwo]

Originally Posted by SueO

As usual, great write up, H. I'm so glad nothing has happened to him and that the chances for survival stay as good as possible.

Thanks, Sue.

This afternoon at 2:30 lunch came in from the back of the copse, courtesy of the male arriving from an unseen westerly direction. Much noise and movement as before and the chick was fed as before, its mother taking her share.

That was all over in fifteen minutes and, as usual, he had vanished.

[halftwo]

Blue skies greeted me this morn! All quiet at the Hobby copse. Then the male was perching on the top.

After some time, as his mate sat on the nest, he suddenly launched up and north, going full tilt. He began a magnificent show of his flying skills as he made for a female Hobby which he had seen from a kilometre away. Now he began to call as they met high up in the blue, she displaying in appeasement to his frenzied activity, it seemed.

They headed off east, he still zigzagging and she still slow wing-beating, yet keeping up with him. They vanished into bright distance some miles yonder, as the female sat patiently waiting her mate's return.

[John Barber]

Three photo's taken this afternoon. High temperature's ( 18C ! ) caused a bit of a heat haze, so the shots aren't great, but you can just about make out the youngster and also the female standing over it in the third shot.

[Spotter]

Hi John, Some good information and photos of your local Hobby family. I have been watching birds since Sept 2009 and have just started to attempt spotting, as many of the 15 raptors the UK has in my local area. So far I have seen Buzzards, Peregrines, Kestrels, Red Kites, Sparrowhawks, hopefully will get more as I know of areas where there have been Hobby and possible Merlin sightings.

[John Barber]

Hi Spotter

It sounds as though you started birding around the same time as me. Back then I was lucky to come across a local birder ( Halftwo ) familiar with a local Hobby family and we’ve spent each summer since then following their exploits. I think the birds have managed to successfully rear around eleven chicks in that time, although we are not entirely sure if the two current adults are both the same birds we were watching three of four years ago.

Raptors are such great birds to watch and when you see a Hobby catch a Swift or Swallow on the wing for the first time, it’s an experience you will never forget. I hope you eventually track a pair down, if not this year, then next year. I’m sure there will be some in your local area, they are not that uncommon now and I’ve seen several in the Shropshire area on fishing trips to the river Severn.

As for Merlin, we tend to have them down on the Wirral in winter and they are always a delight to see, fast and low flying over the salt marshes.

My own personal raptor count increased by one last weekend when I was fortunate to catch up with a Montagu’s Harrier in Lancashire – what an amazing bird that is. A bird I didn’t really expect to see in this part of the world.

I hope you find your local raptors and it will be interesting to see how many you can tick off.

[Spotter]

John, Many thanks for the reply, I intend to become a member of the Shropshire Peregrine Group as I am interested in finding out more about them as well as the other raptors. However I am still on the look out for any new locations etc. Hopefully will manage to get to the hobby location tomorrow.

Cheers
Tony

[halftwo]

Originally Posted by Spotter

John, Many thanks for the reply, I intend to become a member of the Shropshire Peregrine Group as I am interested in finding out more about them as well as the other raptors. However I am still on the look out for any new locations etc. Hopefully will manage to get to the hobby location tomorrow.

Cheers
Tony

Tony,
Get yourself to Wixhall Moss to see plenty of Hobbies, it's the best place for them in the north England. Near you, just SSW of Whitchurch.


This morning I got to the site just in time. The male was bringing prey in as I arrived and the female making a racket.

Young one fed, male perched for a while before disappearing.

Three Kestrels were breakfasting nearby.

And to add: a Peregrine flew over the copse yesterday.

[Spotter]

Halftwo, Many thanks for info will add it to my list for the next few weeks.

Tony

[Spotter]

Halftwo, further to my last I have been on web and it says you need a permit, can you give me the heads up on how you get one etc. also I understand that it is a peat moss therefore can you tell me how wet it is i.e. do I need wellies or just walking boots.
Cheers
Tony

[halftwo]

This evening the female got off the nest having seen her mate perch up nearby. Whether he had returned or merely moved position I cannot say. But now she sat nearby and called at him, asking for food.

And he responded. Taking off and catching some fuel en route, he headed north.

But she did not return to the nest. Instead she must have been sitting nearby keeping an eye on the chick, a chick which now began to wander.

For the first time the chick exercised its wings and walked around the nest, climbing up onto the rim before settling down again.

Half an hour later and nothing changed, male still away hunting.

[John Barber]

10.15 am Hot and sunny, slight breeze, 23C

My first trip to the nest site for a couple of days was rewarded with an instant view of the female and the single chick.

Noticeably larger and greyer than before, the exuberant youngster shuffled around, periodically raising and strengthening it’s wings. In the meantime the female watched intently, moving around on the left edge of the nest to seemingly position herself between the chick and the increasingly hot sun.

No sign of the male.

[Frost1976]

Anyone on here know of many sitings in Surrey?

I saw one earlier in the year at Staines Reservoir but this is the first summer in four that I've not seen them where I live in Claygate - normally I can sit in my garden and watch them hunting overhead. Always a great sight.

[halftwo]

A brief look this morning: female on the nest with her chick. Male not in sight.

This is chick ringing day - stay tuned for news here!



Later today, and JB & I saw the female sparring with a Kestrel while the male was out hunting high to the east, affording some good views on a hot muggy day.

After forty minutes he delivered a small bird, or part thereof, to his delighted mate who took it to her chick. He went off again to catch insects overhead.

[halftwo]

Mission acomplished: one chick ringed, one egg unhatched to be sent for analysis.

Both adults returned before we left - being very vociferous.

JB is preparing some exciting photos - coming soon.

Many thanks to Mike Price & Paul.

[sid ashton]

Originally Posted by halftwo

Mission acomplished: one chick ringed, one egg unhatched to be sent for analysis.

Both adults returned before we left - being very vociferous.

JB is preparing some exciting photos - coming soon.

Many thanks to Mike Price & Paul.

Just like to add my thanks to Paul and Mike for what was a very interesting evening