Hobby Update: 2nd day visit without any sign. I think they have gone.
Perhaps the glimpse, two days ago, of one disappearing south-east, was actually its departure for sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite the skeins of geese these woods & fields will seem so much emptier now.
#RazorInTheWind
Hobby Update: last week? Certainly last two.
All three up above their usual haunt of late. Still plenty of dragonflies to hunt & eat.
And: I found another Greenish Warbler there!! (One yesterday in Holmfirth!)
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Hobby Update: 2 juvs & ad m. mobbed a Peregrine (juv m.) & interacted with it. Also confirmed presence of adjacent territory birds - 2 insecting distanceward. 30 raptors of 7 sps, inc Hen Harrier, Marsh Harriers. Raptor heaven! & Stonechat.
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Hobby Update: after 4 days of seeing 1 juv at a time, it was good to see both in the air together today.
25 raptors of 7 species this am, with a Peregrine sparring with Buzzards, Marsh Harriers & Kestrels, then going for a passing Merlin!
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Hobby Update: 30 raptors of 6 species, inc the the Hen Harrier for its 4th day. All 3 Hobbies active this am., the juvs doing their own mobbing of Buzzards
@spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
#RazorInTheWind #birds #birding
Hobby Update: ad m. feeding the young on dragonflies.
Better views of the juvs show there is a m. & f.
V poor photo of ad & juv m. together.
Also: Clouded Yellow!
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Hobby Update: couldn't find them at 1st, then, high up & 1-2kms away, both juvs & the ad. m., catching insects & playing. Juvs appear to be f. (larger than their father).
No sign of the f. - has she gone already?)
Later one of the juvs had a bird, though I didn't see the food pass.
#RazorInTheWind
Hobby Update:
Having been away for 8 weeks it was great to catch up with my Hobby family. Almost non stop action as both adults brought food to two youngsters; aerial squabbles for items proffered from dangling talons. Migrant Hawkers made up much of the prey.
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Final Hobby Update for 8 weeks. I'll be in the South Pacific for some time.
M. on a telegraph pole & away, low & very fast - perhaps reaching 100mph within 2 seconds. & that was it. But a Roe Deer fawn did approach me to within 2mtrs!
Red Kite drifted E.
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2/2 & went for him. An aerial tussle at speed ensued, she taking the hawk to ground. But after a few seconds he flew off, clutching the prey, while she went to perch empty clawed.
She was still off the nest after 75 minutes of brooding absence.
@spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
#RazorInTheWind #bird
Hobby Update: f. sitting a short distance away, when I arrived this morning. She returned to the nest & the m. got up from it & off to perch. Later he tried to shift a Crow nearby, gave up & settled down. M. Marsh Harrier went by, yg Sedge Warblers about.
@spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
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Hobby Update.
Still not incubating, but must be imminent now. F. sitting below the nest - identifiable by her buff nape patches; his are white. M. out of sight, until he got up, calling loudly, to mob a passing Red Kite! (scarce here). She never moved.
@spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
#RazorInTheWind
My local Hobby pair have finally settled on a nest. I actually saw the female on it today, so incubation has started. The male was up, hunting, & met with another m. & f. (presumably his last brood). So, 4 Hobbies today! And a Red Kite.
@spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
#RazorInTheWind
#falcosubbuteo
Just got HOBBY on my garden year list!
#RazorInTheWind
MY HOBBIES ARE BACK ON SITE!!! YAY!!
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@spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
And, while I'm on a rant, here's the annual reminder that the PLURAL OF HOBBY IS HOBBIES.
NOT Hobby's, Hobbys, nor any other iteration.
HOBBIES.
#Falcosubbuteo
#RazorInTheWind
#RazorInTheWind
The best bird.
Had my eyes peeled. Won't be long!
#RazorInTheWind
