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Hobby Thread 2009 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter halftwo
- Start date
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Hi Joanne,
Was it fully feathered last time you saw it?
We are trying to estimate the differences in ages in my three - reckon that older two are a day (or at most two) apart, but the youngest is at least two days behind the next. It is now mostly grey, with still some down poking through - seems a bit behind even given the natural order of things.
Chapman says that incubation starts once the second egg has been laid, and incubation lenght increases with clutch size - 3 eggs = 31 days. So maybe the third wasn't laid until 3 days after incubation started.
H
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halftwo
Wird Batcher
Reading Chapman some more - "chicks generally hatch during one or two days....fledging after 28-34 days". So if one of the three is 2-3 days behind even the younger of its siblings, this would be a little unusual.
I reckoned egg-laying started on June 11th. Hatching July 11th. (or 11th, 12th & ?14/15th) (3 days before New Forest chick for the first) First one flying August 12th.(=c.32 days).
Chapman also says that individual female often lay the same number of eggs each year (some variation). If this is the same female she laid two eggs last year (or one didn't hatch) - perhaps the third this year was an "afterthought"(?) Maybe she was young last year(?)
So much more to learn!
I was saying to JB today that last year the young were a lot more voiciferous; and they did not perch high until they were several days out of the nest - these first two seem quite happy up high.
Well - the sun's shining - time to mosey on out there...
I reckoned egg-laying started on June 11th. Hatching July 11th. (or 11th, 12th & ?14/15th) (3 days before New Forest chick for the first) First one flying August 12th.(=c.32 days).
Chapman also says that individual female often lay the same number of eggs each year (some variation). If this is the same female she laid two eggs last year (or one didn't hatch) - perhaps the third this year was an "afterthought"(?) Maybe she was young last year(?)
So much more to learn!
I was saying to JB today that last year the young were a lot more voiciferous; and they did not perch high until they were several days out of the nest - these first two seem quite happy up high.
Well - the sun's shining - time to mosey on out there...
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Haven't been regularly looking at this thread H2....[since my birds decided to do a 'bunk']...it just reminds me of what i'm missing! Pleased your hobbies are doing so well now...after all that..[very natural]..'fretting' over the shooters...thank goodness things turned out okay. As i meandered from one of my local dragonfly pools this afternoon my thoughts...as they often do...began to lament the lack of breeding hobbies this year. As these negative thoughts entered my brain, i looked up from my path which coursed it's way uphill...and guess what? Yep.....a flippin hobby...exciting and simultaneously frustrating! It cruised almost overhead....blown even faster, it seemed, by strengthening gusts of wind. I watched it's attempts to hunt against the gale like elements before finally, it disappeared behind a distant wood. My quest resumes....perhaps!
All the best.....U
All the best.....U
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Aug.15th.: Lovely Afternoon
14:30 - 17:15
Very windy but warm and sunny.
Nothing in sight as the wind tried to turn the trees inside out - not surprising.
Walked to the leeward - nothing. One youngster on the nest - looking out and looking more adult.
Saw the female leaning against the gale on a limb, horizontal and clinging on. Made my way that way.
The sky was superb: cirro-stratus ripped into nebulae with little cumuli scudding beneath, all backed by a duck-egg sky. The sun poured down the wind.
The female took off, sliced directly to me, passed overhead before stooping at Swallows in the next field - lost beyond the hedge.
Time passed pleasantly. Suddenly in comes the male - dangling a tantalising morsel - and up goes a noisy youngster to intercept. But he didn't get there in time. His mother, who had got back unseen, took it and the prey went first to the pluck tree, where she might have had a piece of it, then elsewhere. The male never stopped - carrying on over the trees, where he skimmed the tops like a shearwater over waves, turned around and went off west.
JB arrived and shortly said, "I've not seen a Sparrowhawk for a couple of days." One minute later: we heard a Hobby calling out through the wind - and a female Sparrowhawk slid across the field at knee height - closely pursued by the female Hobby.
Both went right by us, hedge-hopped to the next field, where the Hobby, satisfied the seeing off was done, turned tail and went back to the trees, passing close for the second time.
We saw a distant falcon - possibly Hobby - way out east, and a Kestrel or two hovered from time to time, gulls poured through, Buzzards passed.
All around us black clouds were banked on the horizon, but the sun shone on. We decided to leave. But as usual the show went on.
As we got to the cars the female once again flew virtually over our heads, lovely colours picked out in the bright sunlight, and against a slaty sky. She went away south and west - for several minutes in view - until we lost her for the last time.
14:30 - 17:15
Very windy but warm and sunny.
Nothing in sight as the wind tried to turn the trees inside out - not surprising.
Walked to the leeward - nothing. One youngster on the nest - looking out and looking more adult.
Saw the female leaning against the gale on a limb, horizontal and clinging on. Made my way that way.
The sky was superb: cirro-stratus ripped into nebulae with little cumuli scudding beneath, all backed by a duck-egg sky. The sun poured down the wind.
The female took off, sliced directly to me, passed overhead before stooping at Swallows in the next field - lost beyond the hedge.
Time passed pleasantly. Suddenly in comes the male - dangling a tantalising morsel - and up goes a noisy youngster to intercept. But he didn't get there in time. His mother, who had got back unseen, took it and the prey went first to the pluck tree, where she might have had a piece of it, then elsewhere. The male never stopped - carrying on over the trees, where he skimmed the tops like a shearwater over waves, turned around and went off west.
JB arrived and shortly said, "I've not seen a Sparrowhawk for a couple of days." One minute later: we heard a Hobby calling out through the wind - and a female Sparrowhawk slid across the field at knee height - closely pursued by the female Hobby.
Both went right by us, hedge-hopped to the next field, where the Hobby, satisfied the seeing off was done, turned tail and went back to the trees, passing close for the second time.
We saw a distant falcon - possibly Hobby - way out east, and a Kestrel or two hovered from time to time, gulls poured through, Buzzards passed.
All around us black clouds were banked on the horizon, but the sun shone on. We decided to leave. But as usual the show went on.
As we got to the cars the female once again flew virtually over our heads, lovely colours picked out in the bright sunlight, and against a slaty sky. She went away south and west - for several minutes in view - until we lost her for the last time.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Hi U, it's got to have a family somewhere close-ish. Better luck next year.
sid ashton
Well-known member
Today in Cornwall
H/2 and JB - you guys seem to be having a good time in my absence but not to be outdone we went on a boat trip today from Truro to Falmouth. Half way there we spotted a falcon on a leafless tree on the banks of the river - it was only a young Hobby of all things - just about the only bird of note we saw all day but to be fair it wasn't a birding trip, we had our grandson with us - lucky that I just happened to have my bins with me!!!!!
H/2 and JB - you guys seem to be having a good time in my absence but not to be outdone we went on a boat trip today from Truro to Falmouth. Half way there we spotted a falcon on a leafless tree on the banks of the river - it was only a young Hobby of all things - just about the only bird of note we saw all day but to be fair it wasn't a birding trip, we had our grandson with us - lucky that I just happened to have my bins with me!!!!!
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Aug.16th. (& 15th update)
07:45 - 09:15
Warm & sunny
Before I got to the site the male, with Swallow fanfare, flew over me and circled back to the north.
He had just delivered a bird to the family - when I got there one of the young was busy feeding itself on a low limb of the pluck tree, tearing off pieces and plucking the prey.
Her brother (yes, they are now discernable) was crying out to her and walking along another branch, back and forth, rather pathetic-looking. The youngster with the meal ate the lot - a half an hour of a meal - before cleaning her feet and bill.
Only then did her brother dare approach - sitting beside her on the same branch.
Mother was on the perch tree, shining in the morning sun, watching out for the male's next visit. She went out to feed herself for twenty minutes, returning to the top of the pluck tree.
I went along to the nest view: there was the third chick - looking out from the rim of the nest. I think it might be out of it today to join its siblings.
The female was up again briefly before returning: the male had come back and now was settled beside his mate, both to their favourite perch. It was an ideal chance to compare them as they sat side by side in good light.
But young still needed feeding and both were up together - though the female resumed watch duties shortly, leaving him to catch another victim.
Two Sand martins meandered through - watched by the female - but they didn't tempt her.
The farmer was along and told me that, at six p.m. yesterday, he had seen a food pass while he was doing his rounds.
07:45 - 09:15
Warm & sunny
Before I got to the site the male, with Swallow fanfare, flew over me and circled back to the north.
He had just delivered a bird to the family - when I got there one of the young was busy feeding itself on a low limb of the pluck tree, tearing off pieces and plucking the prey.
Her brother (yes, they are now discernable) was crying out to her and walking along another branch, back and forth, rather pathetic-looking. The youngster with the meal ate the lot - a half an hour of a meal - before cleaning her feet and bill.
Only then did her brother dare approach - sitting beside her on the same branch.
Mother was on the perch tree, shining in the morning sun, watching out for the male's next visit. She went out to feed herself for twenty minutes, returning to the top of the pluck tree.
I went along to the nest view: there was the third chick - looking out from the rim of the nest. I think it might be out of it today to join its siblings.
The female was up again briefly before returning: the male had come back and now was settled beside his mate, both to their favourite perch. It was an ideal chance to compare them as they sat side by side in good light.
But young still needed feeding and both were up together - though the female resumed watch duties shortly, leaving him to catch another victim.
Two Sand martins meandered through - watched by the female - but they didn't tempt her.
The farmer was along and told me that, at six p.m. yesterday, he had seen a food pass while he was doing his rounds.
John Barber
Well-known member
John Barber
Well-known member
Another Interesting Morning
Plenty happening again this morning H by the sound of it.
Hopefully, I'll be out later to check on the third chick. I'll keep you posted.
Plenty happening again this morning H by the sound of it.
Hopefully, I'll be out later to check on the third chick. I'll keep you posted.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Following my single sighting yesterday, i decided to venture out again in the early evening. Using logic, i tried 'working back' along the line that the hobby may have flown from and this took me, inevitably, back to the 'old area'. I searched in vain, trying new vantage points, all to no avail, and i began to wonder...'was my sighting just of an unsuccessful bird'? As the sun began to sink against a dramatic cloudscape i, by chance, decided to stop on my way home at 'the scene' of my sighting..[which, by the way, was the first since June 9th]!
Over a distant wood a pair of falcons looked increasingly suspicious until, by the end of my observations, i was pretty much convinced that they were hobbies. As usual i didn't have my scope, preferring to 'travel light', so relied on my gut instinct and the birds behaviour.
This morning, feeling sort of optimistic, i ventured out again; i had already planned my 'attack' and it was just a matter of what direction i approached the 'area'. My chosen path, after only ten minutes walk, lead me straight into the alarm calls of a hobby, so distinctive, that even a passing kestrel did not make me doubt it! And there she was...[hurrah]..perched in a tree, plucking away at some unidentified prey....[was i ever overjoyed]! It soon became clear that the male was still present as they both attacked a passing corvid and it wasn't long before they circled skywards together. Eventually the female plummeted at high speed and took a lump of feathers from the underbelly of a startled woodpigeon!
As i sat concealed in long grasses, i couldn't quite believe my luck, after all this time....there 'they' were! The male, after about twenty minutes, eventually departed leaving the female to generally call and scare off passing intruders that came too close. An hour or so later he flew in low with what appeared to be a swallow. The female leapt from it's perch in the males direction and a head on collision was narrowly avoided when she rolled over, snatched the prey, and went back to the tree....!
Will have to stop writing now...am eager to get back in field...this time with scope....
Over a distant wood a pair of falcons looked increasingly suspicious until, by the end of my observations, i was pretty much convinced that they were hobbies. As usual i didn't have my scope, preferring to 'travel light', so relied on my gut instinct and the birds behaviour.
This morning, feeling sort of optimistic, i ventured out again; i had already planned my 'attack' and it was just a matter of what direction i approached the 'area'. My chosen path, after only ten minutes walk, lead me straight into the alarm calls of a hobby, so distinctive, that even a passing kestrel did not make me doubt it! And there she was...[hurrah]..perched in a tree, plucking away at some unidentified prey....[was i ever overjoyed]! It soon became clear that the male was still present as they both attacked a passing corvid and it wasn't long before they circled skywards together. Eventually the female plummeted at high speed and took a lump of feathers from the underbelly of a startled woodpigeon!
As i sat concealed in long grasses, i couldn't quite believe my luck, after all this time....there 'they' were! The male, after about twenty minutes, eventually departed leaving the female to generally call and scare off passing intruders that came too close. An hour or so later he flew in low with what appeared to be a swallow. The female leapt from it's perch in the males direction and a head on collision was narrowly avoided when she rolled over, snatched the prey, and went back to the tree....!
Will have to stop writing now...am eager to get back in field...this time with scope....
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no idea
Well-known member
Hi,just catching up on whats goin on while im away;Unfortunately a lot of the pictures of the chicks on the nest are of a poor quality due to the distance,however i`ll sort through some tomorrow when I get back! Just glad I was allowed to take some shots in the first place. Maybe when the chicks are out and fledged they`ll give better sightings.I`ll have to discuss with Halftwo next week.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
... after only ten minutes walk, lead me straight into the alarm calls of a hobby, so distinctive, that even a passing kestrel did not make me doubt it! And there she was...[hurrah]..perched in a tree, plucking away at some unidentified prey....[was i ever overjoyed]! It soon became clear that the male was still present as they both attacked a passing corvid and it wasn't long before they circled skywards together. Eventually the female plummeted at high speed and took a lump of feathers from the underbelly of a startled woodpigeon!
As i sat concealed in long grasses, i couldn't quite believe my luck, after all this time....there 'they' were! The male, after about twenty minutes, eventually departed leaving the female to generally call and scare off passing intruders that came too close. An hour or so later he flew in low with what appeared to be a swallow. The female leapt from it's perch in the males direction and a head on collision was narrowly avoided when she rolled over, snatched the prey, and went back to the tree....!
Will have to stop writing now...am eager to get back in field...this time with scope....
Hey up, U.
What fantastic news - we await to hear how many young, etc, etc!!
H
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Hi NI,
Hope the holiday's going well.
We don't mind "poor quality" photos - I bet they're OK!
The young are a little more approachable and the place we are now viewing the pluck tree from is a little closer than the old viewpoint, so opportunities for more photos.
However I'm going to be away from Tues-Fri this coming week (will prob. get there Tues am.) but I'm sure JB could show you where.
H
John Barber
Well-known member
Buzzard Trouble
16.30 - 17.45
Overcast, breezy and cooler than of late.
Went straight to the viewing position for the nest.
Chick number three is still on the nest. My guess is for a Tuesday departure. All quiet for a few minutes and then one of the adults suddenly appears above the nest tree circling and calling as she flew round, almost as though she was trying to entice the chick to leave the nest. However, the chick stays put !!
I then proceed to the right side of the site to look for the chicks that have already departed the nest. I scope the trees where the youngters were seen yesterday and immediately see to my consternation a buzzard sitting in almost exactly the same position as the young hobby was yesterday. The adults are not alarming and there is no sign of them at all. The buzzard sits quietly on his perch until two walkers disturb him and he flies off out of veiw.
Back to the nest viewing position and suddenly I can hear what sounds like the young hobbies calling, a slighter more feeble, almost begging call. Shortly afterwards hobbies appear above the nest site circling and calling. The male lands on the perch tree immediately followed by a juvenile which lands right next to him and knocks him off his perch !
Alarm calls started to become louder and more persistant from the adults and I began to wonder if the buzzard was back in the area. Within seconds, the buzzard appeared in front of the plucking tree closely followed by the female hobby. He seemed unperturbed however and flew back into the plucking tree area.
A final viewing from the right of the site produced the last view of the buzzard being ignominiously chased out of the area by both adults. He appeared not to have any victim in his talons.
Hopefully all the chicks are safe and we will check again tomorrow.
16.30 - 17.45
Overcast, breezy and cooler than of late.
Went straight to the viewing position for the nest.
Chick number three is still on the nest. My guess is for a Tuesday departure. All quiet for a few minutes and then one of the adults suddenly appears above the nest tree circling and calling as she flew round, almost as though she was trying to entice the chick to leave the nest. However, the chick stays put !!
I then proceed to the right side of the site to look for the chicks that have already departed the nest. I scope the trees where the youngters were seen yesterday and immediately see to my consternation a buzzard sitting in almost exactly the same position as the young hobby was yesterday. The adults are not alarming and there is no sign of them at all. The buzzard sits quietly on his perch until two walkers disturb him and he flies off out of veiw.
Back to the nest viewing position and suddenly I can hear what sounds like the young hobbies calling, a slighter more feeble, almost begging call. Shortly afterwards hobbies appear above the nest site circling and calling. The male lands on the perch tree immediately followed by a juvenile which lands right next to him and knocks him off his perch !
Alarm calls started to become louder and more persistant from the adults and I began to wonder if the buzzard was back in the area. Within seconds, the buzzard appeared in front of the plucking tree closely followed by the female hobby. He seemed unperturbed however and flew back into the plucking tree area.
A final viewing from the right of the site produced the last view of the buzzard being ignominiously chased out of the area by both adults. He appeared not to have any victim in his talons.
Hopefully all the chicks are safe and we will check again tomorrow.
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halftwo
Wird Batcher
Had to laugh at that first bit, John.
I'm sure all will be well - I'll be down there in the am.
H
Well H2 and all thread followers...its been a funny old hobby season for me. Frustrations, despair, disappointment etc. All of these feelings are now left far behind; this afternoon myself and a friend observed, at 250yards distant, 'our' pair of hobbies...and at least one well fledged youngster!..maybe two?! Yet again these 'sneaky' birds have been successful and have remained undiscovered,despite all my hunting, all this time.
To quote Victor Meldrew..'i don't bellievve it'!
Do you remember H that i said a while back in July, that i had found a new grasshopper warbler site locally? Well, an ash tree that i walked within 20yards of by the groppers...now holds the hobbies!! This afternoon we watched the male bring in a swift which was soon passed on to the female, who then proceeded to pluck primaries off...one at a time! Soon in our scopes was a youngster feeding himself, just made out amongst swaying leaves, half concealed on a bough. A second? youngster, we think, flew to another nearby ash but i would like to see the family altogether to be sure. Several times 'she' visited one particular 'spot' in tree where i presume there might be..[hopefully]..a third youngster. It is very difficult to say for sure as a nest is not visible, the leaves are in thick clumps and obscure certain areas. I do not think that is just a plucking tree..but who knows? I stomped this area on a few occasions and not a 'peep'...just goes to show they're elusive nature. Anyway, all that aside, aren't hobbies brilliant?....[and don't forget sneaky too]
Will keep you up-dated...i am a happy hobby man....:t:
To quote Victor Meldrew..'i don't bellievve it'!
Do you remember H that i said a while back in July, that i had found a new grasshopper warbler site locally? Well, an ash tree that i walked within 20yards of by the groppers...now holds the hobbies!! This afternoon we watched the male bring in a swift which was soon passed on to the female, who then proceeded to pluck primaries off...one at a time! Soon in our scopes was a youngster feeding himself, just made out amongst swaying leaves, half concealed on a bough. A second? youngster, we think, flew to another nearby ash but i would like to see the family altogether to be sure. Several times 'she' visited one particular 'spot' in tree where i presume there might be..[hopefully]..a third youngster. It is very difficult to say for sure as a nest is not visible, the leaves are in thick clumps and obscure certain areas. I do not think that is just a plucking tree..but who knows? I stomped this area on a few occasions and not a 'peep'...just goes to show they're elusive nature. Anyway, all that aside, aren't hobbies brilliant?....[and don't forget sneaky too]
Will keep you up-dated...i am a happy hobby man....:t:
