Venus Pool - Hobby

A few minutes was spent today watching and trying to follow this hungry Hobby hawking all over Venus pool! Let's start with a swift style full speed entry..

Then taking life easy eating on the wing!

Low passes over the water

A final banking pass...

 and then it was gone...

Venus Pool - Peregrine and Hobby

A bit of action today from two of the most accomplished raptors that visit Venus Pool. Firstly an adult Hobby.  Always over trees across the pool, catching dragonflies..

Soon to be joined by a juvenile male Peregrine (probably a male), living up to his reputation as a speed merchant and pretty acrobatic it was too!

I had to settle for some white cloud pics before it dived and chased a very lucky Lapwing over the pool which became separated from the main group! Spectacular moments which happened at such speed I couldn't lock onto the Peregrine...

At one stage it came in from behind the Memorial hide skimming the roof! Exhilarating stuff!

Venus Pool - Hobby

The first Hobby of the year is always an exhilarating moment and nice to see two in the sky thanks to Simon / Helen... Whilst there were two, the images are of the 'showy one'!

Feeding on small insects, despite the absence of Dragons / Damsels they showed even more amazing dexterity in the feeding routine!!

Circling overhead, this whole visit was less than 2mins...

It's been 'warming up' recently so far, wonder if we will get a mega before May ?

Venus Pool - Hobby

All my Hobby sightings this year have been distant and with two of them hawking over the trees on the far side of the pool, it looked like the same old story... Then one broke ranks and zipped across the pool... 

Three frames before I lost him!

Long Mynd - Birds and Moths

 Almost to the day, in glorious sunshine a trip to Wildmoor Pool with Dave Chapman was in the offing and with Emperor moths being reported everywhere, hopes were high...

First off were some obliging local birds starting with Meadow Pipit...

Then one of at least 5 Wheatears...

A marauding Hobby was also after moths, must be one of the earliest in the county? Breaking the skyline now and then, just one chance for a pic and even that was 100m or so away!!

And yes, Emperor Moths came to the part, all these were taken in flight so unlike the 2018 visit, all four eyes were visible!

Star prize went to a moth I hadn't seen before spotted by Dave! Day flying, it looked like one of the carpet moths but not in the WildGuides day flying book... 

Rob Stokes came up with the ID - Water Carpet now that what I call a start to the moth season and it's an honorary Day Flier added to the list!...

Polemere - Hobby paddling!

One of those 'did that just happen' moments happened today! I was passing Polemere and thought it was worth a quick look with a Garganey in mind? Not a chance, but plenty of swallows and after 5 mins or so, the alarm went up, even the Geese got alarmed! And then the reason became obvious on the far bank! A Hobby...

After flying towards the near bank it was partly hidden behind the hedge. But then it simply strode into view...

Marching down to the waters edge!

Well, it was rather hot...

An proceeded to cool down its feet in the water!!

But not for long, just look at those flies scatter...

Another one for the 'Great Hobby' moments album and I've been lucky enough to have a few :-)