[seb_seb]

seen chasing swifts and starlnigs over canal.......kestrel size..and long swept back wings almost to tail
anbody?

[cuddy]

Not much to go on Seb any plumage details Hobby is a possability

Cuddy

[pauco]

seb_seb
the only raptor that quick i would say is a possible merlin?
bert.

[jeff]

I'd plump for hobby too.

[Surreybirder]

Sounds like a hobby to me. Can you give any further details?
Date, location, habitat, circumstances, or whatever. These can all provide important clues.

[Michael Frankis]

Assuming its in or near Walsall in early May, I'd go for Hobby too. Merlins will only be present in winter (up to about mid-April) in that sort of habitat, by May they're up on the high moors. There are urban-nesting Merlins in parts of Canada, but this habit hasn't been recorded in Britain.

Michael

[seb_seb]

date: sunday 11th may
location: canal ..near walstead road bridge
habitat: surburbia..but very close to fields with horses and other playing fields
weather: rainy ..swifts were low..
plumage: overall looked greyish-blue
features: most noticeable long swept back wings
it also seemed to dart about if catching insects?

[Paul Rule]

I thinks it was almost certainly a Hobby, lots of them about now, and as well as birds they do feed on larger flying insects especially Dragon Flies

Paul

[Surreybirder]

Sounds 99% prob. of hobby to me. They sometimes take odonata (dragonflies and damselfies) with their feet and then bend their head down to take the prey in a rather distinctive action (all in mid-air of course). At a distance their jizz is not unlike a large swift.

BTW I see that 36 hobbies were counted at Stodmarsh, Kent, today (Sunday)!!

[robinm]

Sounds like hobby to me too.

I was at Stodmarsh today and saw >25 hobbies myself - I'm not very good at counting so not sure of exact number and the d*** things wouldn't stay still while I did it! It was a fantastic sight and they were feasting on insects just as Surrreybirder describes.

[seb_seb]

next time just ask them to stay still..im sure they will

[Edward]

I think you're all showing off with all this talk of 25 Hobbies together etc....... I've yet to see one :'-(

I'm coming to England in August though but it's probably not a great time to find them. Any recommendations?

[Richard Ford]

Hi Edward etc

It all depends which part of the country you are coming to, but August will be an excellent time for Hobby’s. Try to spend some time in some of the surrey or southern heaths, like Thursley common in surrey. At that time of year given good weather there will be plenty of Dragonflies out and so you are more likely to see a hobby if you are in the correct habituate.
Let me know if you want more details.

Incidentally I was planning a little meeting of BF members this weekend at Thursley, see http://www.birdforum.net/forums/show...&threadid=4488
For details, I haven’t had much interest so it may not go ahead. We have a very good chance of seeing Hobby there given the right conditions.

Rich

[Edward]

Thanks Rich

I'll be landing at Stansted and then driving up to Manchester (with a non-birding wife) and I won't really have a chance to get down to Surrey but I hear that Hobbies have spread into Cheshire so I'll keep my eyes open there.

[Surreybirder]

Suggestion: Drive to Manchester via the M11/M25/M40/M42/M5/M6/M56 (I hope I've got the nos. right) if you can persuade your wife to take the 'scenic route' and keep an eye out for red kites along the M40 around Junction 5!
I would suggest that you try and pause by one of the big reservoirs if the weather is decent, then you have at least some chance of a hobby out hunting for odonata.
Good luck.

[Rob Smallwood]

Edward,

Hobbies are still rare in Cheshire but can be seen across the county in suitable habitats. I have seen them at Rostherne Mere, nr Mobberley and Risley Moss.

The best place to try is Risley Moss Nature Reserve which has a tower hide overlooking the remnants of ancient mossland in the area. Up to three have been seen so far this year. Link below to further information.http://www.warrington.gov.uk/enterta...rks/risley.htm

[Edward]

Many thanks Surreybirder and Rob

The route you suggest is indeed the one I took when I last went to England (Dec. 2001) with the firm intention of seeing Red Kite. Indeed I did see them on the M40 but seeing them at 80 mph was not the best way to do it. Luckily I've seen them well since in Spain.

I'll definitely try Risley Moss, Rob and I know a few birders near Mobberley so I can see if they've had any luck. Thanks for the tips.

[MarkHows]

You can see Hobbys regularly at Amwell GP not far from Stansted (heading south), or if you go north they can be seen at Fen Drayton just North of Cambridge on the A14