Hobby Thread 2013 (1 Viewer)

[John Barber]

Half Two had a brief sighting of a Hobby this morning over our local village ( the bird was probably lost !! ) otherwise nothing doing. As far as I can tell we don't have any Hobbies nesting in the local area this year. It's a shame but I guess it was going to happen sooner or later. Let us hope our birds are still out there somewhere enjoying the freedom of the skies and continuing to raise future generations which may themselves one day return and enrich our lives again. Until the next time......

 

[Strandman]

Just a friendly post to keep the thread up and to let you folks know that there are some of us on the other side of the pond that follow the ups and downs of this beautiful little falcon through your posts.

John

I did have one lovely encounter last week with a first-summer catching dragonflies, so low over the dark water that each time it swooped to grab there would be sparkling flurry of fish leaping to avoid an imagined predator. Here's a messy pic, but you get the idea..

 

[halftwo]

I did have one lovely encounter last week with a first-summer catching dragonflies, so low over the dark water that each time it swooped to grab there would be sparkling flurry of fish leaping to avoid an imagined predator. Here's a messy pic, but you get the idea..

We do indeed get the idea, Ken. Nice.

I'm currently sitting out in Barnsley, hoping for a fly by...

 

[Gretchen]

I did have one lovely encounter last week with a first-summer catching dragonflies, so low over the dark water that each time it swooped to grab there would be sparkling flurry of fish leaping to avoid an imagined predator. Here's a messy pic, but you get the idea..

Love this Ed! All the little fishes jumping - fabulous detailed observation!

 

[A jones]

Pair of hobbies seen catching dragonflies also chasing sandmartins this eve

 

[idaho john]

and...

thank you Ken and all of you. I look forward to your posts. Nice to know you are still on watch.

John

 

[stevo]

Hobby nest cam now up & running in the new forest.

http://www.carnyx.tv/CarnyxWild/WildlifeCameras/NewForest.aspx

Cheers.

Steve.

 

[A jones]

Only one adult hobby seen today,(n/w lancashire)

 

[Risoleano]

The eggs are hatching @ http://www.mavir.hu/web/mavir-en/mon...y-with-cameras

 

[astley]

saw my first on Sunday, driving along and one shot across the road in front of me, diving after some swallows, a great sight

 

[Mike Price]

This might interest some of you http://pdrmg.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/recovery-el61939-eurasian-hobby/

 

[Cheshire Birder]

still not seen a Hobby this year

CB

 

[username]

You may remember that some time ago i thought that my Hobbies had settled down in an ash tree and had laid eggs.....they hadn't...!

Once again this marvelous species had tricked me....:smoke:

To cut a long story short my pair relocated half a kilometre away and i have been with them almost every day since.

The past week or so i had feared they had gone being so quiet and unobtrusive there was not a sight nor sound...but as always i persist and wait...unitl the other day i had my first glimpse of the male in 'the' area....[much to my relief]...B

This morning i watched the male almost catch a hirundine in close proximity to the new nest site and shortly afterwards heard calling between the pair.

The male eventually soared high in wind swept towering cumulus sky and then dived at breath taking speed to disappear out of view in typical dramatic Hobby fashion.

So the bottom line from the Shires is that all seems well....and like a nervous expectant father i am awaiting new Hobbies to be born into this world...:cat:

Hopefully more updates to come....!



http://username-beast.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[Himalaya]

@Cheshire birder - saw one at Risley Moss yesterday, it was a juvenile. So brown I thought it was a Kestrel at first. Thank god a regular was there to point out the difference.

@Halftwo - How common is the Hobby around Barnsely as compared to your previous area of Cheshire?

 

[halftwo]

Hi Himalaya.
I'm in Holmfirth now & have had no time due to the move. No sign yet from the house.

 

[halftwo]

Spoke too soon!

9pm.: looking out for Little owls when I saw a perched bird across the valley that looked interesting.
It then took off across the valley still fairly distant. But unmistakably a Hobby !!

 

[halftwo]

Wednesday and a Hobby comes down and across the valley opposite.

 

[idaho john]

and...

just keeping this thread alive. Have your Hobbies already left for a winter of licentous behavior and partying in Africa?

 

[dalat]

Yesterday evening we had dinner on the balcony and enjoyed watching a big and noisy flock of Alpines Swifts overhead, when they were suddly joined by 3 or 4 hobbies chasing dragonflies or whatever big insects flying high up there. Nice!

 

[halftwo]

just keeping this thread alive. Have your Hobbies already left for a winter of licentous behavior and partying in Africa?

No, John, they usually stay right through September - and right now will still be feeding young.

Yesterday evening we had dinner on the balcony and enjoyed watching a big and noisy flock of Alpines Swifts overhead, when they were suddly joined by 3 or 4 hobbies chasing dragonflies or whatever big insects flying high up there. Nice!

As you say: nice!

Here the early sightings when I first moved in have not been repeated unfortunately.