Spotting Hobbies in Herts?

[Ringo1968]

I was told that Hobbies can be spotted in the late summer evenings around gravel pits. There is one close to me in Arlesey. Or do you have to travel further south of London to see them?

[htcdude]

Nearest I've seen them to you is Stocker's Lake, you can keep an eye here for sightings of them around Herts though Herts Bird Club

Others on here more local to you will probably know of regular spots for them though.

Nige

[Jim Ford]

I've heard that there are to be seen at College Lake in Bulbourne, near Tring. It may be a bit nearer than Stockers for you.

Jim

[Cassillis]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I've heard that there are to be seen at College Lake in Bulbourne, near Tring. It may be a bit nearer than Stockers for you.

Jim

Your quite right Jim. Stunning views of a pair of hobbies were to be had last year.
The layout at college lake is such that whilst the birds are chasing dragonflies in the summer they are at eye level from right outside the visitors centre and the first new hide.

I spent hours watching them

Details of College Lake here

Graeme

[RobinP]

They also appear at Tring reservoirs in June when the swifts arrive, Wilstone is the best place to see them, up to nine at a time have been recorded there.

Robin

[aeshna5]

I've watched them at Wilstone too. They are quite widespread around the outer boroughs of London- I see them regularly near me. In fact I see them more over my Greenford garden than I do Kestrels!

[actionfinch]

And i was just saying to htcdude the other day how i would love to see one...thank you Ringo1968 for starting this thread.. i now have a few places to look out for them now. Those places are my regular haunts now..

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I've watched them at Wilstone too. They are quite widespread around the outer boroughs of London- I see them regularly near me. In fact I see them more over my Greenford garden than I do Kestrels!

They've done remarkably well over the last few decades, haven't they - I can remember when they were genuinely rare, confined to places like the New Forest and Salisbury Plain. They're one of my favourite birds, and I get to see them every summer now .
T2

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

They've done remarkably well over the last few decades, haven't they - I can remember when they were genuinely rare, confined to places like the New Forest and Salisbury Plain. They're one of my favourite birds, and I get to see them every summer now .
T2

Yes when I started birding many moons ago I had to go to select heathland sites to see them- places like Thursley, New Forest, Arne + the closest to London probably Amwell at the time. Now in May I see them regularly around London. Given the sad decline of the Kestrel, it's great to see this migratory falcon doing so well.

I always love going to Stodmarsh in May + maybe seeing up to 20 of these birds hunting over the water.

[nightowl57]

I saw four Hobbies at College lakes last year, and in the castle hide I sat watching one that had perched on a nearby tree, also the nesting kingfisher pair, brilliant, went there today and watched 5 snipe, can't recommend it highly enough