Sunday Report
Didn't expect to get the chance to visit the Hobbies today but an expected trip to Gloucestershire wasn't required.
14.20 - 15.50
Leaden skys and light drizzel didn't exactly pose the best invitation to get out of doors today, but I had a spare hour, so off I went.
As I parked the car, a cloud of swallows danced a hundred feet above me -was this to be a good sign ?
Standing in the viewing meadow, the first indications were not too optimistic. A strengthening southerly breeze, low visibility, increasingly heavy rain and and no sign of either adult bird - things seemed a little bleak.
Despite scanning the heavens in all directions for half an hour - using a procedure I now call the Hobby Twirl - basically this entails standing in one small spot in a large field and endlessly revolving around until there's a nice patch of worn muddy turf under your feet ( yes, you do have to be bonkers ! ) nothing was to be seen.
Then, all of a sudden, there was a commotion over the nearby farm buildings. A flock of swallows were mobbing a kestrel which had come too close for comfort. It soon departed with a flea in it's ear.
Forty five minutes and still no sign of the Hobbies, but the Kestrel suddeny reappeared 70 yds to the front and left of the nest tree. During the next five minutes I watched in detail through my straight scope, marvelling at this exquisite bid quartering the meadow and hedgerow. I hadn't noticed but the Kestrel had now moved closer to the nest tree - and I think you know what's coming next - out of the trees from the right a rocket suddenly exploded - the male Hobby ! Pulling up within a few inches from his falcon cousin, the startled Kestrel veered quickley away to safety. The Hobby certainly doesn't stand any nonsense from interlopers and the Kestrel was certainly having a hard time of it, one way and another.
Immediately upon seeing off the Kestrel the male flew to the top of his perch tree, sitting in full view and facing in my direction. I couldn't believe my luck. This was easily the best view that I had had of either bird. I was able to study him in detail, his yellow feet, rufous thighs, heavy streaks and black moustache - perfect. He stayed for several minutes before disappearing back into the trees and I thought that was that.
A few seconds later he suddenly appeared on the nest, the chicks immediately responded, looking for food, mouths open - but the male had nothing to give them. I felt quite sorry for them really, the were obviously hungrey, pecking at the adults chest, and he making almost apologetic nodding motions towards them; as though he was saying, don't worry, mum will be along with some food soon.
And then, almost on cue, I heard a call over my right shoulder - a quick Hobby Twirl - and there she was. Flying maybe 30 feet high, I could clearly see through my binoc's that she was clutching a swift. She headed to her normal rendezvous point to the right of the nest site. And then, in a blurr, the male flashed up from the left, he must have come straight from the nest, and the pair tumbled in mid air - a food pass - and I'd seen it ( I think ! )
Three minutes later, and the female entered the nest and started to feed her ever growing chicks. Their long wait for food was over.
Those Hobbies are some team.
The rain was heavier by now and so it was time for home. But I was well chuffed.
