UK Spring gatherings of Hobbys. Moving north from Beds/Bucks/Cambs/Suffolk to Yorkshire? (1 Viewer)

[bitterntwisted]

10-15 years ago there were significant gatherings of Hobbys in May at several staging sites in the south where dozens of birds could be seen together hawking insects. This year I've visited Wilstone Reservoir, Linford GPs, Marston Vale, Grovebury Pit etc without seeing a single one. I was going to look further afield to Summer Leys, Stanwick, Paxton Pits, or the Lodge, or even out to Fowlmere or Lakenheath (where I have seen over 60 in the air together) but are these sites still used? I saw that Thorne Moors had a record 71 Hobbies last week. Is climate change and a change to mayfly and dragonfly emergence moving them north? I haven't seen a good gathering for several years and am desperate to watch the spectacle again.

Thanks!
Graham

 

[Himalaya]

71?
Mind blowing! The Hobby population is expanding North so I am not sure if the population in the south has decreased.

 

[bitterntwisted]

71?
Mind blowing! The Hobby population is expanding North so I am not sure if the population in the south has decreased.

So what has happened to the Spring gatherings on the line from the Avon to the Wash?