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Hobby Thread 2009 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter halftwo
- Start date
Photos of 'harrier' now on Leicester and Rutland Ornithological Society website!
Images a bit dark....make of them what you will....[at present i keep thinking it looks like it has a 'neck-boa']!! Must be the lighting...?
ps...i hate trying to id birds from photos...not always easy...or even possible!
John Barber
Well-known member
Bad Timing
15.30 - 16.30
Wet and windy. 19c
As I left the car to walk to site a slight drizzle set in. By the time I arrived at the viewing area four minutes later, I was shaking hands with the tail end of hurricane Bill ! Good job I had some water proof clothing.
Despite the weather, pigeons and swallows seemed to be about their usual business, but there was no sign of the hobbies.
I searched the trees and skys for an hour but saw nothing. Have they moved away, or were they just keeping their heads down ?
I guess we'll know in the next day or so.
15.30 - 16.30
Wet and windy. 19c
As I left the car to walk to site a slight drizzle set in. By the time I arrived at the viewing area four minutes later, I was shaking hands with the tail end of hurricane Bill ! Good job I had some water proof clothing.
Despite the weather, pigeons and swallows seemed to be about their usual business, but there was no sign of the hobbies.
I searched the trees and skys for an hour but saw nothing. Have they moved away, or were they just keeping their heads down ?
I guess we'll know in the next day or so.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Thanks for the report, even if negative, John.
I was unable to get there today, as on top of my re-infected foot I've got a stinking cold, so even if the rain had ever stopped I couldn't have made it.
Got to get the foot better before I go away or I'll be in trouble in the tropics. Second course of anti-biotics now being taken, another £20 spent at the chemist!
At least I had a bird-wave through the front garden I could watch from the couch - including a Willow warbler & two Blackcaps amongst a dozen species.
I was unable to get there today, as on top of my re-infected foot I've got a stinking cold, so even if the rain had ever stopped I couldn't have made it.
Got to get the foot better before I go away or I'll be in trouble in the tropics. Second course of anti-biotics now being taken, another £20 spent at the chemist!
At least I had a bird-wave through the front garden I could watch from the couch - including a Willow warbler & two Blackcaps amongst a dozen species.
John Barber
Well-known member
Get Well H
Sorry to hear that you are under the weather H.
Hopefully, you will be over the worst of your cold before you go on holiday.
You just need to make sure that foot is ok before you arrive in Borneo - so no going out to site for you !!!!
I'll check in the morning to see if the hobbies have flown out before you, or if they are still waiting in the departure lounge !
Sorry to hear that you are under the weather H.
Hopefully, you will be over the worst of your cold before you go on holiday.
You just need to make sure that foot is ok before you arrive in Borneo - so no going out to site for you !!!!
I'll check in the morning to see if the hobbies have flown out before you, or if they are still waiting in the departure lounge !
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sid ashton
Well-known member
Three in a Row
07.15 - 10.00 Warm and sunny with some cloud to start
Arrived at the site to hear immediate Hobby calls and a bit of a flurry of birds - all over before I could get my bins sorted - two of the young settled in what has been called the "holding" tree but I subsequently found it was just a different angle on the "plucking tree".
Watched these two for a while then decided to explore the site from behind the "plucking tree" nearer to the nest tree - what a view I was greeted with the three young ones sitting side-by-side on the branch in the sunshine where the male used to sit between hunting trips before the young fledged. Wish that I had had a camera to record the event but unfortunately I am not a camera person so the picture will have to remain locked in my memory. One of the young is distinctly smaller than it's siblings and is possibly a young male.
Returned to the main path to find H/2 and John arriving and we watched amongst other things two Green Sands flying over. As I got back to my car the male Hobby flew over causing a bit of concern to the Swallows but not bothering them unduly. I subsequently checked out Dunham Massey - no way of telling of course but there were indeed two Green Sands on the meadow.
07.15 - 10.00 Warm and sunny with some cloud to start
Arrived at the site to hear immediate Hobby calls and a bit of a flurry of birds - all over before I could get my bins sorted - two of the young settled in what has been called the "holding" tree but I subsequently found it was just a different angle on the "plucking tree".
Watched these two for a while then decided to explore the site from behind the "plucking tree" nearer to the nest tree - what a view I was greeted with the three young ones sitting side-by-side on the branch in the sunshine where the male used to sit between hunting trips before the young fledged. Wish that I had had a camera to record the event but unfortunately I am not a camera person so the picture will have to remain locked in my memory. One of the young is distinctly smaller than it's siblings and is possibly a young male.
Returned to the main path to find H/2 and John arriving and we watched amongst other things two Green Sands flying over. As I got back to my car the male Hobby flew over causing a bit of concern to the Swallows but not bothering them unduly. I subsequently checked out Dunham Massey - no way of telling of course but there were indeed two Green Sands on the meadow.
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halftwo
Wird Batcher
Just to add on to Sid's post:
08:45 - 10:00ish.
A lovely day after yesterday's dire weather.
During my short spell the male came in three times with prey - fifteen minutes apart - and aerial passed to the youngsters in turn, a short flurry each time and a continuing crying from those that didn't get their meal that time - they're a hungry bunch this lot.
Each time he just bombed them with the food and carried on to go for more. His hard season's work must be almost over now - two weeks perhaps.
08:45 - 10:00ish.
A lovely day after yesterday's dire weather.
During my short spell the male came in three times with prey - fifteen minutes apart - and aerial passed to the youngsters in turn, a short flurry each time and a continuing crying from those that didn't get their meal that time - they're a hungry bunch this lot.
Each time he just bombed them with the food and carried on to go for more. His hard season's work must be almost over now - two weeks perhaps.
Having gorged myself on views of 'the' Leicestershire montagu's harrier, which was itself, gorging away most the day on a rabbit...[not a 'happy bunny' one presumes]...i eventually returned to 'my' hobbies. It was nice to get away on my own after socializing so much at the harrier site...[i am a gregarious person ....and it is always good to have a natter with birdy folk..but you can't beat a bit of 'one to one' with the natural world]!
Before i even got to my hobby site i was greeted by 'that' familiar call, as i looked up to a bare branch...only 20 feet away...and observed a juvenile peering down at me! I moved into full view and it almost seemed to think 'oh..its only 'U' again..'....and it immediately ceased its alarm calling. We watched each other for quite a while as i just smiled and thought how lucky i've been this year with the hobbies. He, or she, eventually took flight leaving a trail of ki ki ki calls in its wake. Very soon, the adult female and all three juveniles, were scudding high on the summer breeze like a preying pack of swifts...marvelous to watch...i never seem to tire of them...i guess i never will!
Before i even got to my hobby site i was greeted by 'that' familiar call, as i looked up to a bare branch...only 20 feet away...and observed a juvenile peering down at me! I moved into full view and it almost seemed to think 'oh..its only 'U' again..'....and it immediately ceased its alarm calling. We watched each other for quite a while as i just smiled and thought how lucky i've been this year with the hobbies. He, or she, eventually took flight leaving a trail of ki ki ki calls in its wake. Very soon, the adult female and all three juveniles, were scudding high on the summer breeze like a preying pack of swifts...marvelous to watch...i never seem to tire of them...i guess i never will!
John Barber
Well-known member
Hobby Photo
There's a very nice photo in the gallery taken today by Chalky W of what looks like a male in flight.
Over to you NoIdea.
There's a very nice photo in the gallery taken today by Chalky W of what looks like a male in flight.
Over to you NoIdea.
Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
John Barber
Well-known member
Photo's
Cristian, I was expecting some photo's to be posted by NoIdea this morning of the English hobbies. So it was a nice surprise to have some posted from Romania. More photo's for the library, well done.
PS A sparrowhawk just flew into the lounge window as I typed this message. It really made me jump, I thought someone had kicked a football against the window. I ran outside just in time to see it fly off, but it must have been stunned, it was a right bang. Probably a young inexperienced bird ?
Cristian, I was expecting some photo's to be posted by NoIdea this morning of the English hobbies. So it was a nice surprise to have some posted from Romania. More photo's for the library, well done.
PS A sparrowhawk just flew into the lounge window as I typed this message. It really made me jump, I thought someone had kicked a football against the window. I ran outside just in time to see it fly off, but it must have been stunned, it was a right bang. Probably a young inexperienced bird ?
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no idea
Well-known member
Attachments
John Barber
Well-known member
Success
Well NI, Congratulations. Given the degree of difficulty involved in getting those shots you've hit the jackpot this time.
Really nice photo's of the youngsters both resting and flying. Definately worth you getting up early and putting up with the bad weather, and we can all now enjoy the results. Top marks.
PS I think the picture of the youngster in flight with it's wings almost in the six o'clock position is my favourite - superb !
PPS In the first picture of the second sequence, is that one bird puffed out or two birds together ? I can't quite work it out .
Well NI, Congratulations. Given the degree of difficulty involved in getting those shots you've hit the jackpot this time.
Really nice photo's of the youngsters both resting and flying. Definately worth you getting up early and putting up with the bad weather, and we can all now enjoy the results. Top marks.
PS I think the picture of the youngster in flight with it's wings almost in the six o'clock position is my favourite - superb !
PPS In the first picture of the second sequence, is that one bird puffed out or two birds together ? I can't quite work it out .
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Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
Great shots No Idea!
no idea
Well-known member
Definately only one bird John.Can`t for the life of me work out whats happening here.It may even be a plucked prey item!!
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halftwo
Wird Batcher
Aug.28th: More Stuff
Great stuff NoIdea!! Brilliant photos.
13:30 - 14:40
Sunny, showers, very windy.
Got down there and all was quiet - had to really search for the young.
Found them - one in the tree to the left of the pluck tree - crop bulging from a recent meal. The other two together in the pluck tree - low down out of the gale.
The male came through and carried on. I followed his progress. He went low and sneaked up on the farm Swallows, but he was spotted.
He disappeared and I had to go - but he was in the air again. Suddenly I could see three Hobbies in the air together - and they weren't the young - so three adult/sub-adults and three young!
As I left the Swallows were alarming again and there the pair were - treating me to a spectacular show virtually overhead. Imagine a circle fifty feet high and a falcon rotating around it at incredible speed. Now add another and as it got to the apex and was about to become upside down it flipped to remain right-side up.
This went on for a while until the kill - by which time they were out of sight. But I could hear the cry of the female!
Great stuff NoIdea!! Brilliant photos.
13:30 - 14:40
Sunny, showers, very windy.
Got down there and all was quiet - had to really search for the young.
Found them - one in the tree to the left of the pluck tree - crop bulging from a recent meal. The other two together in the pluck tree - low down out of the gale.
The male came through and carried on. I followed his progress. He went low and sneaked up on the farm Swallows, but he was spotted.
He disappeared and I had to go - but he was in the air again. Suddenly I could see three Hobbies in the air together - and they weren't the young - so three adult/sub-adults and three young!
As I left the Swallows were alarming again and there the pair were - treating me to a spectacular show virtually overhead. Imagine a circle fifty feet high and a falcon rotating around it at incredible speed. Now add another and as it got to the apex and was about to become upside down it flipped to remain right-side up.
This went on for a while until the kill - by which time they were out of sight. But I could hear the cry of the female!
John Barber
Well-known member
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
John Barber
Well-known member
Hobbies On Camera
Blimey, the whole of Europe seems to be full of young hobbies ( all having their photo taken ) !!!!!! Isn't it great.
Blimey, the whole of Europe seems to be full of young hobbies ( all having their photo taken ) !!!!!! Isn't it great.
