I've just returned from a week on Jersey C.I. on a 'non-birding ' holiday, but still managed to find an Iberian Chiffchaff during the week! With excellent walking weather, the coastal paths soon revealed the Choughs which seem to be doing well, following their introduction. Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier are in good numbers and, Short-toed Treecreeper was an unexpected resident on the island. Hornsea Mere from Kirkholme Point. Before I went away, at least 6 Hobbies possibly more, were being seen regularly over the Mere. Hobby is a falcon I've never seen enough of and certainly not in a feeding area. Previous sightings have usually been of a bird 'passing through' and I've never spent time watching them feeding in the air. My arrival this morning was a little early for the Hobbies and I was greeted by the local Jackdaws, strutting about round the car. A look through all the Canada and Grey Lag Geese in the near vicinity revealed a single Barnacle Goose this morning. I like Barnacle Geese - small and tidy looking! A scan of the Mere didn't reveal any Little Gulls or interesting Grebes. A Common Tern seemed to be the only tern present. Tufted Ducks and a few Pochard accounted for most of the wildfowl at this end of the Mere. Turning around, I found the long-staying 2cy Iceland Gull only yards from my car. It must have come in from the sea, as there were few gulls on the water and it joined a couple of Herring Gulls. Still an amazing sighting for mid-June! With the air temperature warming up, I noticed Buzzards in the distance and a female Marsh Harrier flying over the trees to my right. Soon the first Hobby came into view, followed by a second one. The sky was clear and the Hobbies were not only a long way off, but flying very high too. Those are my excuses for some rubbish photos but hopefully they go some way to demonstrate the amazing skill these Hobbies have, in snatching prey from the air. At one time, I had three in the air together and it was certainly a rewarding experience, watching them twist and turn in the sky over the Mere. Adult Hobby. Awful shot but 'prey' in top left corner. Got it!! Going for another one!
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