Hobby hunting again

Today, a Gatekeeper was seen in the garden and the female Brown Hawker was again hunting in the garden briefly settling on the wall above the garage door. The Hobby was seen again hunting over Fallowfields 8.49 to 9.06pm after going AWOL last night. The Hobby even soared right over the roof of our house.

Hobby & Helleborines

Yesterday, Thursday 2nd August evening the Hobby was back hunting from 8.51 to 9.06pm, this evening, Friday 3rd August, it was hunting from 8.49 to 9.10pm often hunting right over the garden. earlier in the evening, 2 medium sized Frogs seen by the Fish pond and earlier still I managed to find 11 Broad- leafed Helleborines checking part (but not all of a local wood, (it was disconcerting to see they had mown the south side of the classic spot for this plant- which had 2 plants on show, I've had around 8 plants here in the past) some plants were real monsters especially the one by the bird table and 3 near the start of the walk. A Chiff- Chaff was very vocal in the evening sunlight. Bullfinches were also heard calling from the northern hedge with shapes flutting about deep in the hedge.

Hobby back

Early morning, before work, on Monday 30th July, from Breydon water south wall, I saw at least one distant Whimbrel by some bright green grass, near the Lumps further along there may have been another but it was just too far away to make out with my 30X scope. Back at the car park, a pair of Whitethroats flew to a nearby bush and then both darted into cover. After an absence of at least one evening, at 9.10 this evening (Wednesday 1st August), I looked out and saw the Hobby again hunting over the north end of Fallowfields and watched it until 9.17pm.

Bronzed Beauty in the Garden!

The female Brown Hawker was again fling around the garden at midday, a Meadow Brown also showed well. A Large White Butterfly put in an all too brief appearance too. On the roof of the Bungalow opposite 2 Green Woodpeckers perched, an adult male (sexed when it flew down to their front garden) and on the eastern edge of the roof an immature Green Woodpecker too. Finally the Hobby was again hunting Cockchafers this evening making regular sorties over the garden in particular tonight and also the north end of Fallowfields. It appeared from 8.43 to 9.15pm, being constantly in view for the last 18 minutes of the duration of its stay. Finally, a Pipistrelle Bat flew south down the east side of the house past our House Martin nests at around 9.10pm.

Hobby hunting lower tonight

With darker skies tonight and a work commitment yesterday night I was anxious to see if the Hobby/ies were still hunting over fallowfields. I was not to be disappointed as a Hobby started hunting over Fallowfields from 8.49pm onwards, this time hunting low just over the height of the trees and bushes as the cooler air were causing the insects to fly lower. On one occasion I saw the Hobby deftly catch a Cockchafer with one talon and promptly lean down to eat it! Around 2 Black- headed Gulls were also catching insects too.

Single Hobby again

This evening, the single Hobby made its first appearance at 8.53pm flying north by Parkhill Hotel grounds, it was next seen at 8.56 flying due east over Fallowfields and then flew due west over Fallowfields at 8.58pm. The excellent Hobby wasn't seen again until 9.14 to 9.29 when it was constantly in view hunting over Fallowfields. It was joined by up to 10 Gulls, 1 Black- headed Gull, Herring and Lesser Black- backed Gulls. A Jay even joined in on the act swooping up high and catching something. It finally disappeared west at 9.29pm. The Pipistrelle Bat was also seen flying over Fallowfields on the west side. Earlier in the garden, a Brown Hawker was seen on the wooden Pagoda and perched on the middle tree too. Whilst, a Ringlet flew onto the Buddlea Globosa and posed nicely for the camera. I am somewhat surprised that the hunting Hobbies haven't drawn an admiring crowd. The last ones I found hunting regularly for Cockchafers at the top of Fisher Row in the 1990s drew regular crowds of up to 30 people, for that reason I will not tweet out any further news on these bird/s. Regular updates can be found on this blog though.

Lone Hobby hunting

This evening watching from our bedroom window, I initially saw a Hobby hunting west of the Fallowfields area just north of Parkhill Hotel grounds. I thought they may have been two birds, but when minutes later just one started hunting over Fallowfields, I think there was just one bird involved this evening. It put on a fantastic display catching Cockchafers. Although they were fewer July bugs flying tonight. perhaps the Hobbies have taken a considerable toll of them already? The single Hobby flew up and down, occasionally including spurts of speed and when they caught the Cockchafer it would sore whilst the head was down eating the insect grasped in its talons below, then past of the body of the insect would drop to the ground. A Pipistrelle Bat was also seen preying no doubt on smaller insects, plus a Lesser- black backed Gull tried to copy the feeeding technique of the Hobby. The Hobby finally flew strongly west at 9.15pm. A Common Frog was also seen in the garden by the runner beans. Incredibly, I walked out to the back garden and 3 Brown Hawkers took to the air.