I saw a bird a couple of times in the spring of 2008, looking at my photo dates it was 26th April. Watch them alot better in 2007, very active, watched from cherry tree lane just north of the mere. Bird was hunting over farm fields before dashing back in and out of woods. Down side is you are looking south into the sun from cherry tree lane and some cars think its a 70mph zone. Steve www.sjwildlife.com
I visited Rostherne a couple of times last year Tony and there weren't any Hobbies during my visits. It seems the pair had relocated not too far away but off site to the west. Thanks. Henry.
3 today including perched views of a juvenile calling loudly from the top of the tallest pine at the back of Mere Covert viewable from the double metal gates along Cherry Tree Lane just past Mere covert Cottage.
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:25, 2007-10-03
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Two Hobby today (09.55 - 12.15) certainly one adult. A bird (presumably the juv) was calling from the wood around 10.00, though went quiet when the church bells started ringing, this happend on two occasions. The sun came out at 11.20, Buzzards were vocal and on the wing and two Hobbies were picked out high and distant until out of sight. Buzzard numbers increased to at least 19. At about 12.00 two Hobbies then flew low over the wood and flew across the road, lost sight of one, the other hunting over fields before returning to the wood, then the calls started again.
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 21:00, 2007-09-30
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wish i could get over there again tomorrow but working sadly, may be able to get over there wednesday morning, if you get chance for an update before then, i'd appreciate it.
good news about the adult confirmation, i felt they were 2 adults with one young after seeing the food pass a few weeks back. it is impossible to tell from any of my pics as the only clear one is of the youngster...
Finally confirmed an adult this morning - taking prey in to the wood from where an imm called. Brief views of a second bird flying in on the same line may have been a second adult.
These birds are almost certainly visible from Greater Manchester - they are only just over the border in Cheshire and I'd be prepared to bet that they'd be 'scopeable from the Manchester side of the Boillin somewhere - might be a dilemma for County listers?!
I've only just caught onto this thread. Interesting stuff all this Hobby activity. The dates tie in nicely with the one I had at Chorlton Ees last Wednesday 19th, which was my 2nd record in Chorlton this year and I've only recorded them twice before in the Mersey Valley over the last 31 years. Fantastic birds, lets hope for more next year.
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thank you very much for the tip and directions, spent a thrilling couple of hours there over lunchtime, even popped back for half an hour in between city centre meetings this afternoon!
saw 3 all together at once, some fabulously exciting hunting and displays going on even managed to snap what appeared to be a food pass. could also make out one eating a dragonfly on the wing, also some interaction with 3 buzzards circling in the same area.
depending on work i'm hoping to go back friday and saturday with a longer lens, although they are so fast it'll be more than tricky to get anything in mid air i think...
thanks again, it's been a long awaited first for me, bloody typical that you wait all this time and three come along at once! :D
cheers
paul.
edit for a quick update: looked at my snaps and it is a food pass, looks like a small rodent...
forgot to mention early some cracking, ear piercing calling going on too!
They've been showing all day today - I was there from about 9:30 to 3:30 - max 4.
Best views from Cherry Tree Lane (?) , to the north of the Mere, stop at the gate after the "Cow" warning sign but before the farm, adjacent with the east end of Dog Wood.
Very active, lots of hawking and a few test chases of Jackdaw and each other, plus occasional perching in the obvious dead tree in the wood.
Fairly territorial in behaviour, suggesting more local than the Lymm birds perhaps, there have been reports from Ashley Village earlier in the year - Hobby are easily overlooked when nesting - so perhaps expanding in this part of Cheshire (he says hopefully!)?
I've been lured out by the reports several times over the summer and missed them so far. Apart from the observatory, are there any decent view points over the mere for a good look at the hobbies? Thanks. Henerz.
Still present this morning.