Hobby Thread 2010 (1 Viewer)

[username]

Not much happening this morning from the Leicestershire hobbies H2....[i think that my birds are obviously a little behind in their breeding activities].

My photographer mate had been on site since 9.30 and when i eventually strolled up at 11 o clock he had only just seen one! Perched in a distant tree sunning itself out of the stronger winds. As my friend had brought his scope i had a quick look and before a minute was up the bird took to flight in hunting mode and soon whipped out of sight. And that was it...no second bird...or third come to that!

All about luck and timing with my birds at present...not even heard them calling yet...[i expect if all is well activity will increase by the end of the week].

Knowing my birds tho...they will probably disappear and i will have to search for them all over again....

 

[sid ashton]

Patience !!

H, from 12.15 - 13.45 both birds in the same tree as we saw them in yesterday with no movement today, but just when I was starting to feel hungry they must have felt the same as they fired of to the North East scattering Swallows on the way. I don't know who had been most patient.

 

[JCLynn]

Our local Hobby gang vanished for two days! I thought,'that's it, not going to get as much of a Hobby fix as I did last year', but then, they came back on the scene,so all is well.
A couple of mates of mine from derbyshire, have just been watching a Hobby catching bats in the evening. That's been recorded before but still spectacular to see I bet!

 

[halftwo]

Not much happening this morning from the Leicestershire hobbies H2....[i think that my birds are obviously a little behind in their breeding activities].

I think mine might start earlier this year - time will tell.

A couple of mates of mine from derbyshire, have just been watching a Hobby catching bats in the evening. That's been recorded before but still spectacular to see I bet!

Yes, mine have caught bats, but I've not seen them do it - just found the evidence (see 2008's thread).

 

[halftwo]

Hunting The Void

3pm - 4pm. Sunny, almost warm.

The air thick with flies this afternoon - the large black type that I associate with Swifts. No sign of any Hobbies at first, but the Lapwings have hatched their chicks - how vulnerable they look: tiny fluff balls on stilts.

Then way, way up, hidden amongst the swarming flies and flocks of Swifts, a shape tattooed on my visual cortex had my attention like doom. One of the Hobbies was circling the void thousands of feet up, and as I watched, it simply entered the cloud and vanished.

Ten minutes stretched in the breeze. Trees bent to the winds. Skies full of swirling Swallows, Swifts and House martins. Buzzards crimped in the rushing air.

Suddenly the Hobby pair were slicing low across the meadow, rising at a terrific pace, wings a blur, using the westerlies to rocket east. For the next hour they rose and fell, circled and headed first one way and then the other, always in sight. Once or twice a half-hearted attempt to out-manouvre a Swift took them to new heights, but they never made a full-on attack, content to sail the gale at hundreds of metres, swerving and looping around each other, tearing at speed across the hemisphere of their world, as I stood earthbound and with them all the way.

Leading his mate the male started a dive - accelerating on whipping half-closed wings almost vertically, flipping twice to swap direction, letting the earth pull him ever-quicker downward. She followed more directly but as fast - turning with him until twice treetop height was gained, then both levelled out in a blurry streak across the horizon, sun on them both; then they made a final dive at distant trees, and in an arc disappeared.

The rushing wind continued to blow through my head a few seconds more, then I too landed.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Strike 2!!

Just been out to another cheshire site looking for warblers & flycatchers. I looked up, as the Swifts went quiet, just in time to see a Hobby zip over me!!

They really are awesome birds!

CB

 

[Dark Knight]

Hi , i saw 20+ Hobbies at Grove ferry in Kent today , have posted some photos on my blog :t:

http://robs-birding.blogspot.com/

 

[halftwo]

Close Encounters

There was some warmth in the air this morning, with a light breeze, but heavy clouds soon building and intermittant showers.

For over an hour of searching with no Hobby to show, other wildlife kept JB and I entertained. In particular the resident Little owl actually moved from its perch to take a House sparrow from under its tree. We didn't see the catch, but the sparrow was still just alive as the owl sat with its prize on a little post, then off to the nest. The Tree sparrows (c. four pairs) continued to feed all around!

The Lapwing chicks had shown well - three striding about the field with watchful parents nearby.

So, later, it was nearly ninety minutes in when we heard the pair approaching. There they were, flying together, he leading and carrying what looked like the remains of a bird, she crying out to be given the morsel. It looked like he'd had a successful hunt and had eaten most of the prey, leaving a scag-end for her.

They kept on getting nearer, giving excellent views in the morning sun, eventually landing in a tree not a hundred yards away. The noise continued - he answering her "khee hee hee"s with "klip klip" calls. They shifted position several times - and I think she retrieved the meal from her mate - as we crept up to view their position.

A few minutes and they were off - landing not far away, where we left them, well pleased with our encounter.

 

[John Barber]

My first encounter of 2010 ! ( better late than never )

 

[username]

Managed a couple of hours on site this afternoon...and managed to see absolutely nothing....[flippin elusive critters these hobbies]...

ps...ah well...maybe tomorrow..!

 

[halftwo]

BIG Fight

Summer finally arrived to the site today - and after a lazy morning sitting the pair finally started fly-catching in the insect-thick air, circling slowly in the thermals and taking tiny prey directly, or with some talon involvement.

Warmth permeated everywhere, insects hummed all around. The Hobby pair carried on - until suddenly they vanished.

Then the sound of conflict: "tlip tlip tlip"s reached me and two shapes flashed into a tree, cries continued as two birds, talons locked, tumbled to the ground. After a minute first one, then the other were up - but the intruder female wouldn't leave.

Again and again the female stooped at her rival - full-on attacks which had the intruder roll to present talons in a flash - then the female would gain height, working hard, and stoop again. Once more they grappled and fell, screaming, to the ground, where they sat locked together until a pair of Crows approached - and the dog fight went on.

Twice more the intruder was forced away, and each time chose to return: surely this was a deliberate attempt to usurp the territory-holding female.
But, untiring she wouldn't let her rival remain - pushing her from perches and attacking her fleeing form. Both were showing signs of the fight - feathers dislodged on both.

The male seemed confused, and kept pace with the fight, but not involved - and once seemed to attack his mate.

The rival female looked bulkier and her tail ever-so slightly longer, but in full adult plumage. The fight continued as they flew towards last year's nest - talons locked again, and again they spun to the ground - this time a passing Buzzard taking a look at the din from the field.

Again they were up and now the intruder went further - but perhaps landed not far off - and the female then settled to a prolonged soar before going back to another copse.

The male had disappeared in the meantime.

I left with the grave doubt that this particular invasion might not yet be over. What its conclusion will be is not yet written.

 

[username]

Will be very interesting to see what develops with your trio H2..!

At least you are knee deep in 'action'...!!

I will get over to my site later this afternoon...and hopefully...i will see something..!
When 'things' are so quiet i keep thinking that maybe they've changed site...maybe even gone back to an old nesting area...but i guess it's still pretty early yet.

Very few swifts locally...things a tad 'late'..?

ps...on a brighter note...i did see the buff breast sand at rutty water earlier on today...one of my favorite waders...!

 

[John Barber]

Blimmy ! Sounds like I missed a right battle. If it hadn't been for the Abram Osprey I would have been there to see all the action. It's a bit worrying though, we don't want another Hobby to spoil things. Hope to be there in the morning to see if anything else develops.

PS The Osprey sat in the same bush without moving until 10.15. It then rose, flew around the pool twice and then headed off to the East - and didn't even wave goodbye ! Apparently, it's since returned but I doubt that it will remain much longer.

 

[Jhanlon]

50+ hobbies today reported from Lakenheath. I've never heard of so many in one place! My personal best is just 20+ but even that would have been difficult when I started birding in the eighties when they seemed to be quite a scarce bird. Nice to see they're doing so well.B

 

[halftwo]

Blimmy ! Sounds like I missed a right battle. If it hadn't been for the Abram Osprey I would have been there to see all the action. Apparently, it's since returned but I doubt that it will remain much longer.

I almost joined you at Abram, too - but had too much to do later.

50+ hobbies today reported from Lakenheath. when I started birding in the eighties when they seemed to be quite a scarce bird. Nice to see they're doing so well.B

Quite, JH, I remember them being rare & confined to southern heathlands, why they have exploded into most of England since is a mystery.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Summer finally arrived to the site today - and after a lazy morning sitting the pair finally started fly-catching in the insect-thick air, circling slowly in the thermals and taking tiny prey directly, or with some talon involvement.

Warmth permeated everywhere, insects hummed all around. The Hobby pair carried on - until suddenly they vanished.

Then the sound of conflict: "tlip tlip tlip"s reached me and two shapes flashed into a tree, cries continued as two birds, talons locked, tumbled to the ground. After a minute first one, then the other were up - but the intruder female wouldn't leave.

Again and again the female stooped at her rival - full-on attacks which had the intruder roll to present talons in a flash - then the female would gain height, working hard, and stoop again. Once more they grappled and fell, screaming, to the ground, where they sat locked together until a pair of Crows approached - and the dog fight went on.

Twice more the intruder was forced away, and each time chose to return: surely this was a deliberate attempt to usurp the territory-holding female.
But, untiring she wouldn't let her rival remain - pushing her from perches and attacking her fleeing form. Both were showing signs of the fight - feathers dislodged on both.

The male seemed confused, and kept pace with the fight, but not involved - and once seemed to attack his mate.

The rival female looked bulkier and her tail ever-so slightly longer, but in full adult plumage. The fight continued as they flew towards last year's nest - talons locked again, and again they spun to the ground - this time a passing Buzzard taking a look at the din from the field.

Again they were up and now the intruder went further - but perhaps landed not far off - and the female then settled to a prolonged soar before going back to another copse.

The male had disappeared in the meantime.

I left with the grave doubt that this particular invasion might not yet be over. What its conclusion will be is not yet written.

Not very often two ladies go fighting over a man. Its usually the other way around.

The Osprey sat in the same bush without moving until 10.15. It then rose, flew around the pool twice and then headed off to the East - and didn't even wave goodbye ! Apparently, it's since returned but I doubt that it will remain much longer.

I suspect the Osprey (which hads been present since Saturday) is a young bird and if it takes a liking to the area it may well stay a good while.

CB

 

[username]

Well....as usual...my hobbies are playing hard to get...again!1

Not a sight nor sound....:smoke: have they moved? Is it just bad timing on my part with visits?

Who knows..time will tell...sneaky flippin things...

 

[John Barber]

I suspect the Osprey (which hads been present since Saturday) is a young bird and if it takes a liking to the area it may well stay a good while.

CB

Do you know if it's male or female CB ?

 

[sid ashton]

I suspect the Osprey (which hads been present since Saturday) is a young bird and if it takes a liking to the area it may well stay a good while.
CB

CB although the bird was first reported on Saturday apparently it has been around the area for 6 or 7 days. It is also reported to be a Scottish bird, born in 2007 so not that young.

Note: Don't know how we strayed from Hobbys to Ospreys but my excuse for going along with it was that I missed the Osprey on the first day it was reported when looking for our Hobbys - no problem however, caught up with the Osprey as well yesterday evening - terrific bird in the area.

 

[JCLynn]

Am I correct in thinking that the lakenheath hobby count has peaked at 85 this spring? I could be muddled with another site.

I didn't go to see 'my' Hobbies today, but went to another patch to watch cuckoo's (females have finaly arrived), when, out of nowhere, 5 Hobbies showed up, hunting the plefora of insect life swallowed upwards by the thermals.

Blooming marvelous that we can go out and see Hobbies, almost to the extent of getting blase about them. Like many others, I'm of the age that can remember a single Hobby sighting as being a real red letter day out.