23rd April - Hobby - Fishlake Meadows

So after picking up my lunch I made my way back to the screens path.  As I walked along the canal path I could see at least three, maybe four Hobby around the Poplars, I was just hoping that they would come out across the reeds and the path.

I needn't have worried because they showed incredibly well.  To start with there were two and they would interact and could be seen calling to each other.  A little late they were joined by a third bird, but I have to admit I never saw a fourth, although I had seen four earlier.

Ther path runs north to south, so if the birds were north of me the light wasn't too bad, to the south it was a little harder to get the exposure right.

The word falcon is derived from the Latin falx/falcis meaning sickle referring to either the shape of its talons or their scythe like silhouette when seen in the sky.  There is no finer example of this elegant shape than can be seen in the Hobby.

A fly past in the right light.

Sleek and refined in the air with a dark slate grey back and streaked front and belly, a chequered pattern on the underwing, all contrasting with burnt red feathering around the legs and undertail.

The Hobby is our only migratory falcon and returns from Africa in spring, following the hirundines that they will hunt, although, here at Fishlake they were showing off their aerobatic skills catch insects, some dragonflies and chafers.

The Latin name for the Hobby is Falco Subbuteo, which refers to the bird being a small hawk, "sub buteo".  The inventor of the football game, Subbuteo, Peter Adolph had wanted to call the game "Hobby" but couldn't get the trademark.  He got round this thanks to his keen interest in ornithology – he knew the Latin name for the Hobby was Falco Subbuteo so he used that Latin word, which is now known round the world as the name of a football game.

They would fly around sticking close to the trees and then out over the reed bed. 

Most of the time they would glide with outstretched wings, but once they spotted something, they would speed up, wings flapping as they honed in on an insect and they throw the legs forward to catch it and then eat it all in one action.

Look, flying while not looking!

They are mesmerising to watch as they fly back and forth catching insects.

I never knew I had this but am pleased to have caught this action.  The Hobby is targeting an insect, the legs coming up ready to pounce.

Then in the next frame the target becomes visible, a dragonfly or maybe a damselfly and those talons are ready to catch it in mid air.

Another attack, this time it looks like a chafer.

As they twist and turn as they pick out possible prey they can flip themselves over as they chase whatever they are after.  So the last image i one of the Hobby flipping itself as it turns to dive on to something, incredible flying.

Before i knew it I had spent two hours photographing these delightful falcons, I took many images and only managed to get these from them, but it was all worth it.  Great to have this little falcon back.