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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dantheman" data-source="post: 1248093" data-attributes="member: 32998">Out today here near Swanley doing a bit of birding, a few House Martins actively flying about feeding, I was standing still scrutinising some bushes when suddenly I noticed 2 or 3 House Martins go over (or around) me at about head height in a northerly direction. Instead of 40,80 feet up as they were before (and going a bit higher at times). Thought nothing of it until about a minute later I suddenly noticed a Hobby (possibly male, seemed quite small, but hey . . ) coming from the direction they'd gone, about a hundred feet up. That's when I remembered I'd read this thread a couple of days earlier. Whilst I'd forgotten to look out for a raptor, and I was perhaps lucky (although actively birding), I totally relate the two events, as you point out. I presume this time the Hobby had caught them 'on the hop' as you say, but the time lag to reach me could have been because he wasn't in any rush, just drifting my way, or maybe gave up on the Martins (but I didn't see them so don't know).  Next time hopefully it''ll sink in to start observing a little earlier <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> Doesn't compare to flyover Ospreys or food passing I know, but at least it's on my Swanley area list now (and yes I know they should be around . .  plenty of suitable woods etc I'd guess).Nice one, and congrats on the nest site :t:</blockquote>

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