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Hobby Thread 2009 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter halftwo
- Start date
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Midsummer's Day: Red Kite!
08:00 - 09:00
Cloudless, sunny, warming rapidly.
As I approached the male Hobby was at his usual perch - but took off straight away - calling at something.
Obviously I was half asleep, so the "meew" and the "Buzzard" lifting off took a couple off seconds to register as a Red Kite!
Now - this is Cheshire - Red Kites are not two a penny - this is my second ever patch record (the other being over my house years ago) and my third for the county.
Having woken up I made sure it wasn't Black! It drifted off north-west with the wind, turned north and continued to gain height.
At one point, in the 'scope, a Buzzard hovered nearby, the Red kite soared and a Kestrel dive-bombed it.
Hobby was back on his perch tree, a silhouette in the early sun; the female a dark head on the nest.
I left to report the Red kite to the local pager service, reflecting on the sighting so soon after watching kites in Wales!
08:00 - 09:00
Cloudless, sunny, warming rapidly.
As I approached the male Hobby was at his usual perch - but took off straight away - calling at something.
Obviously I was half asleep, so the "meew" and the "Buzzard" lifting off took a couple off seconds to register as a Red Kite!
Now - this is Cheshire - Red Kites are not two a penny - this is my second ever patch record (the other being over my house years ago) and my third for the county.
Having woken up I made sure it wasn't Black! It drifted off north-west with the wind, turned north and continued to gain height.
At one point, in the 'scope, a Buzzard hovered nearby, the Red kite soared and a Kestrel dive-bombed it.
Hobby was back on his perch tree, a silhouette in the early sun; the female a dark head on the nest.
I left to report the Red kite to the local pager service, reflecting on the sighting so soon after watching kites in Wales!
no idea
Well-known member
Thank you very much.I think its more to do with the camera and lens than yours truly.Glad you enjoyed them.........PF.
Well done on your Red Kite H2 had them a few times in recent years, and those shots of Lond Eared are excellent NI well done, as they are a difficult bird. Nil on the Hobby front but found yellow wagtail and quail so I will keep plodding on as ever. Wonder if U has tracked down his birds yet?
Regards Andrew R
Regards Andrew R
I am popping out shortly to have a look for my birds Andrew...am not holding my breath tho..! Fully expect complete silence from them...but you never know. I'd be happy to just catch a glimpse of a hobby at 'the site'...just to reassure myself that they are in fact..still there! [was the same last year tho...always a bit nerve racking]. I just have to hold my nerve as i will not approach where i think they are nesting....
ps....should be good for dragons this afternoon.....small red eyed damsels might be out...[maybe a tad early]...but will look!
pps...nice pix 'no-idea'...best o luck on flight shots!
Having 'popped out'...and now 'popped back in'...i can confirm that my expectations were fulfilled..! Nada...zip...nowt...not a whisper! Spent a couple of hours in 'the' area watching buzzards and kestrels lifting high and hovering on stiffening summer breezes. Resplendent male Reed Buntings sang high atop hedgerows in the mid-afternoon heat, whilst i found more sheltered locations, hidden in the cooling shade of a nearby wood.
Checking my notes for last year, it was not until the 4th of July that my hobbies became vocal...and i'm assuming that this was because they had very recently hatched young. So, perhaps? not too long to wait until my birds reappear! I suppose my 'negative' sightings at least emphasize how 'positively' difficult this species can be to locate during this period of they're breeding cycle! I'll leave all the 'good stuff' to H2 for now!
Checking my notes for last year, it was not until the 4th of July that my hobbies became vocal...and i'm assuming that this was because they had very recently hatched young. So, perhaps? not too long to wait until my birds reappear! I suppose my 'negative' sightings at least emphasize how 'positively' difficult this species can be to locate during this period of they're breeding cycle! I'll leave all the 'good stuff' to H2 for now!
halftwo
Wird Batcher
ed keeble
Well-known member
Had a rather special Hobby encounter today- dropped into Lakenheath early morning and whilst meandering out to the marsh had a male Golden Oriole speeding towards me at belt-buckle height across the field with our scythe-winged friend about 50 metres behind and gaining, wingtips practically brushing the ground. The oriole reached the last plantation, shot up vertically and disappeared into poplar tops with Hobby by then about 2 metres behind- but unsuccessful I suspect, as I doubt it would crash through the foliage after it. The rest of my morning has been a bit of an anticlimax..
halftwo
Wird Batcher
June 25th: He Incubates, She Hunts
11:00 - 12:20
Cloud disappearing to warm sunshine, slight winds easing to still.
As I arrived, having just admired nearby juvenile Swallows, said Swallows were alarming sofltly. Turned to see a Hobby off hunting not far away. It had passed unseen, overhead.
From her "bulk" I could see it was the female: she flew leisurely, riding the air and circling, accelerating on swept-back wings, gliding and swerving.
She gained height as the Swallows, and now Swifts, marked her position, even when below hedges or trees, as she gradually made progress south-west.
Suddenly, like a dart falling, she was stooping near-vertically - perhaps at finches or sparrows on a hedge. But a minute later she was back up and continued away - until I lost her over my house!
From the nest's viewpoint I could see the male sitting. The first time I've knowingly seen him on the eggs.
And as the sun came out that's how things remained for another forty-five minutes.
As I packed up to go - inevitably - this signalled the female's return. She was low and approaching slowly, saw me beyond the hedge and curved unpanicked further east. Fantastic close views as she eyed me back.
Thinking she was going back to her nest I backed up to the viewpoint, but, before I got there she continued north over the tree and caught a large insect and ate on the wing, drifting out of of sight as she did so.
11:00 - 12:20
Cloud disappearing to warm sunshine, slight winds easing to still.
As I arrived, having just admired nearby juvenile Swallows, said Swallows were alarming sofltly. Turned to see a Hobby off hunting not far away. It had passed unseen, overhead.
From her "bulk" I could see it was the female: she flew leisurely, riding the air and circling, accelerating on swept-back wings, gliding and swerving.
She gained height as the Swallows, and now Swifts, marked her position, even when below hedges or trees, as she gradually made progress south-west.
Suddenly, like a dart falling, she was stooping near-vertically - perhaps at finches or sparrows on a hedge. But a minute later she was back up and continued away - until I lost her over my house!
From the nest's viewpoint I could see the male sitting. The first time I've knowingly seen him on the eggs.
And as the sun came out that's how things remained for another forty-five minutes.
As I packed up to go - inevitably - this signalled the female's return. She was low and approaching slowly, saw me beyond the hedge and curved unpanicked further east. Fantastic close views as she eyed me back.
Thinking she was going back to her nest I backed up to the viewpoint, but, before I got there she continued north over the tree and caught a large insect and ate on the wing, drifting out of of sight as she did so.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Great stuff Ed, BFer Fred Fearn had excellent views of several Hobbies there abouts not long ago.
Am quite gripped by 'that' sighting Ed...just a bit special....you'll never forget it i'm sure! Funny you should mention hobby and oriole. When out yesterday i noticed an oriole yellow 'shape' in a distant tree.....on closer inspection it proved to be an inanimate object...probably a balloon or something...dam! Would have sure livened up my birding day had it been an oriole...never mind!
H2....yeah....July 4th would be too early for young to hatch i guess. Last year, July 20th was when 'activity' really kicked off. Perhaps my birds just get a bit 'edgy' towards the end of incubation as they never alarm at this 'present' time...no matter what potential threat is nearby!
H2....yeah....July 4th would be too early for young to hatch i guess. Last year, July 20th was when 'activity' really kicked off. Perhaps my birds just get a bit 'edgy' towards the end of incubation as they never alarm at this 'present' time...no matter what potential threat is nearby!
halftwo
Wird Batcher
June 26th. Both Hunting!
09:45 - 10:45
Warm & sunny, fitful heat-driven breeze.
Arrived to find the female on the perch tree (small-headed looking and not-quite-gleaming cheeks), preening and, once, going for some small, low, prey. A bit out of the ordinary.
Quarter of an hour later and a swirl of softly alarming Swallows gave the heads-up (literally). In sliced the male at a steep curve, down towards his mate.
Neither on the nest then: incubation is now about half complete - perhaps the warmth had persuaded her to break from incubating.
They exchanged a few clipped calls as he flew around the trees. He didn't land: instead they both set off on a hunt - whipping away at awesome speeds as they continuously accelerated to the west.
He was zig-zagging above her, showing off his sheer mastery of the elements; she more sedately at around a hundred miles an hour.
They became specks, I swung the 'scope around and re-found them - specks again! A minute or so had passed - they were two miles distant.
One of them tilted at the earth and stooped, increasing speed again. A blur that disappeared below the far horizon.
The mundane world returned: Buzzards wheeled and two young Herons soared on warm currents high above. Half an hour passed.
A single Swallow alarmed twice and the female Hobby slipped low towards the trees. She landed briefly on the perch and was soon off again.
I focused on the nest. A series of excited calls and both were there: she slipped into the nest and he slid away to the perch tree, where he sat handsomely in the wobbling warm air, bobbing his head to range-find prey.
A few minutes later and a dog-walker put him up to another unseen perch - but well satisfied with the morning's show I left him to his watch.
09:45 - 10:45
Warm & sunny, fitful heat-driven breeze.
Arrived to find the female on the perch tree (small-headed looking and not-quite-gleaming cheeks), preening and, once, going for some small, low, prey. A bit out of the ordinary.
Quarter of an hour later and a swirl of softly alarming Swallows gave the heads-up (literally). In sliced the male at a steep curve, down towards his mate.
Neither on the nest then: incubation is now about half complete - perhaps the warmth had persuaded her to break from incubating.
They exchanged a few clipped calls as he flew around the trees. He didn't land: instead they both set off on a hunt - whipping away at awesome speeds as they continuously accelerated to the west.
He was zig-zagging above her, showing off his sheer mastery of the elements; she more sedately at around a hundred miles an hour.
They became specks, I swung the 'scope around and re-found them - specks again! A minute or so had passed - they were two miles distant.
One of them tilted at the earth and stooped, increasing speed again. A blur that disappeared below the far horizon.
The mundane world returned: Buzzards wheeled and two young Herons soared on warm currents high above. Half an hour passed.
A single Swallow alarmed twice and the female Hobby slipped low towards the trees. She landed briefly on the perch and was soon off again.
I focused on the nest. A series of excited calls and both were there: she slipped into the nest and he slid away to the perch tree, where he sat handsomely in the wobbling warm air, bobbing his head to range-find prey.
A few minutes later and a dog-walker put him up to another unseen perch - but well satisfied with the morning's show I left him to his watch.
FireShrike
Member
Wow, I've never even heard of a hobby, I just looked it up on google and seen how beautiful they are. Does anyone know if they are in my area (Southern Ontario)
I think I learn about a new bird every day, or atleast another common name
I think I learn about a new bird every day, or atleast another common name
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Hi FireShrike,
I'm sorry to tell you that Hobbies are Old World birds - those that summer in the UK winter in Africa.
There is no equivalent in the Americas.
H
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Hi Sue,
You know where to book your next trip!
Glad to see you're still dipping in. Hope all goes well.
H
halftwo
Wird Batcher
June 27th.
08:00 - 10:15
Dull, warm & heavy cloud.
Took local birder Sid to the site this morning. As we arrived the Swallows began alarming and the male Hobby swept swiftly by, low, quickly disappearing, but leaving hirundines and Starlings swirling.
At the site itself ten minutes later, the male was back on the perch, having got there unseen (again!). And there he remained for a long time, giving good 'scope views.
She was on the nest - but only visible when he, having spotted an intruder near the nest, went to the nest tree, calling loudly.
She sat up and had a good luck at whatever the fuss was about - then resettled.
08:00 - 10:15
Dull, warm & heavy cloud.
Took local birder Sid to the site this morning. As we arrived the Swallows began alarming and the male Hobby swept swiftly by, low, quickly disappearing, but leaving hirundines and Starlings swirling.
At the site itself ten minutes later, the male was back on the perch, having got there unseen (again!). And there he remained for a long time, giving good 'scope views.
She was on the nest - but only visible when he, having spotted an intruder near the nest, went to the nest tree, calling loudly.
She sat up and had a good luck at whatever the fuss was about - then resettled.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
June 28th
07:30 - 08:30
Very warm & sunny. Almost still.
Male obliging on his perch tree, splendid in the sun.
He watched a Grey wagtail pass overhead. And, for a few minutes, a Jay sat very close - much the bigger and bulkier bird beside his rakish frame. They pretended to ignore each other.
A pleasant hour as a starter to a couple of day's birding in North Wales.
07:30 - 08:30
Very warm & sunny. Almost still.
Male obliging on his perch tree, splendid in the sun.
He watched a Grey wagtail pass overhead. And, for a few minutes, a Jay sat very close - much the bigger and bulkier bird beside his rakish frame. They pretended to ignore each other.
A pleasant hour as a starter to a couple of day's birding in North Wales.
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
With Half-two away I thought that I would keep an eye on his charges.
On arrival was treated to the male flying up to see off a careless Buzzard that had strayed too close to the nest.
He then perched up, where I got these shots (heavily cropped as I was a long way from the site).
On arrival was treated to the male flying up to see off a careless Buzzard that had strayed too close to the nest.
He then perched up, where I got these shots (heavily cropped as I was a long way from the site).
