The Hobby

May · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:21 PM

Early last week at about half past seven in the evening, my husband spotted a bird perched at the end of our garden on the fence, hardly any distance at all really. He grabbed the binoculars to get a really good view and saw it was what appeared to be a young Hobby.

Buzzards aside, who were last seen when the crows had their chicks, this is the only bird of prey we have ever seen, this one solitary Hobby and haven't seen it since. We've been here almost a year, actually we moved here last October.

I read that they, and I quote, like to harrass Swallows and Housemartins so is this the time of year they will appear? When these birds are looking to leave the UK?

Since moving here I've taken much delight in seeing what happens with nature and when .. the disappearance of certain birds (and the polo ponies!), nesting time, feeding the young, the arrival of the Swifts, Swallows and Housemartins, the disappearance of the robins, the field being harvested for hay, the fact that the crane flies are later this year than where we used to live, though this might be weather based and now I've seen a Hobby! So, is this the usual this time of year behaviour? Or was this bird passing through? Would it have to move from the parents patch to its own territory?

Imaginos · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:29 PM

Hobbies arrive in the UK in late spring/early summer with the rest of our breeding migrants. They feed chiefly on large aerial insects such as dragonflies, but have been known to snack on the odd hirundine. They head south for the winter, the bird you saw was possibly on his way south. Many birds-especially youngsters tend to dawdle a bit more on their autumn migrations than in spring and are seen more often at this time of year.
Just to check-you did rule out Kestrel, Merlin & (vagrant) Red-footed Falcon didn't you?

pheonix · #3 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:37 PM

I wander if the occasional taking of a hirundine is bacause they need more fuel??

May · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:50 PM

We only had a couple of bird books to hand but it had yellow legs, no trousers and the distinct black facial markings. It didn't have the red under-feathers either so we plumped for the Hobby. Its wings were darker than the chest which was pale with dark flecks.

SteveA · #5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 04:34 PM

Most of the year, as far as I am aware, Hobby usually feed on insects with a few birds and sometimes, bats; during the breeding season however, they take many more small, aerial birds - hirundines, Swifts, Skyarks even.

One House Martin has a higher calorific content than several dragonflies and is easier to carry back to the nest?

John · #6 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 04:51 PM

It could well be a Hobby, especially a youngster. They don't always conform to what is expected from these birds. I managed to get a bit of a hazy image of one in Lithuania last year (heat haze spoilt it) and here it is. Does it look like the bird you saw?

John

colincurry · #7 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 07:56 PM

Hallo John

I got one today but it so blurred that I would not grace WAB website with it. I followed the same identification reasoning as May but had the advantage of my long distance snap. I just had my monopod set up in the hope of getting a clearer picture when off he/she flew.

Hobby's law, I believe they call it.

Still, quite a thrill.

Colin

May · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

It could well be a Hobby, especially a youngster. They don't always conform to what is expected from these birds. I managed to get a bit of a hazy image of one in Lithuania last year (heat haze spoilt it) and here it is. Does it look like the bird you saw?

John

It does indeed John, yes. It was perched so close to the house for about ten minutes before it flew away that we got a really good look.
I then cursed the fact the lense on my SLR wasn't good enough to get a good shot, as for the sheer amount of time they were perched, it would have been like taking candy from a baby!

John · #9 (**permalink**) 07-09-2006, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by May

It does indeed John, yes. It was perched so close to the house for about ten minutes before it flew away that we got a really good look.
I then cursed the fact the lense on my SLR wasn't good enough to get a good shot, as for the sheer amount of time they were perched, it would have been like taking candy from a baby!

That's a shame as my image is the only one of a Hobby in the Gallery, and it isn't really a good one. We could do with a good, clear image of one in there.

You will have to buy yourself a super dooper camera for its next visit.

John

May · #10 (**permalink**) 08-09-2006, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

That's a shame as my image is the only one of a Hobby in the Gallery, and it isn't really a good one. We could do with a good, clear image of one in there.

You will have to buy yourself a super dooper camera for its next visit.

John

A good lense for my SLR is on my wish list!