Hobby... - a photo on Flickriver

Hobby...

            FEATURED PIC IN FLICKRS TOP 25 PHOTOS OF 2019.

Hobby - Falco subbuteo

The Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), or just simply hobby, is a small slim falcon. It belongs to a rather close-knit group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus Hypotriorchis.

About the size of a kestrel with long pointed wings, reminiscent of a giant swift. It has a dashing flight and will chase large insects and small birds like swallows and martins. Prey is often caught in its talons and transferred to its beak in flight. Can accelerate rapidly in flight and is capable of high-speed aerial manoeuvres.

Hobbies are listed as a Schedule 1 bird on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

It is a bird of open country such as farmland, marshes, taiga and savannah. They are widespread in lowlands with scattered small woods. It is an elegant bird of prey, appearing sickle-like in flight with its long pointed wings and square tail, often resembling a swift when gliding with folded wings. It is fast and powerful in flight and will take large insects, such as dragonflies, which it transfers from talons to beak and eats while soaring slowly in circles. It also captures small bats and small birds in flight. Its speed and aerobatic skills enable it to take swallows and even swifts on the wing, and barn swallows or house martins have a characteristic "hobby" alarm call. It is known to harass swallows while they are roosting and dispersing from roosts. When not breeding, it is crepuscular, hawking principally in the mornings and evenings. While on migration, they may move in small groups.

Hobbies nest in old nests of crows and other birds. The tree selected is most often one in a hedge or on the extreme edge of a spinney, whence the bird can observe intruders from a considerable distance. It lays 2–4 eggs. Incubation is said to take 28 days and both parents share in this duty, though the female does the greater part.

It is a very bold and courageous bird and was used in falconry, trained to hawk birds like quails, larks, hoopoes, drongos, etc. 

Population:

UK breeding:
    2,800 pairs

Taken on: May 21, 2018

Tags:

Hobby

Hobbies

Avian

Animal

Animals

Wildlife.

Wildbirds

Wetlands

Waterways

Raptors

Reservoirs

Heathland

Heathlands

Hawk

Hawks

Heaths

Marshland

Marshes

Grasslands

Birds of Prey

Summer Migrant

Lakes

Wildlife Photography

Jeff Lack Photography

Reeds

Reed Beds

Countryside

Falcon

Falcons

NGC

hank

NPC « less

Sets appears in: • Explore • Hobby

Groups appears in: • Birds • British Wildlife more » • UK Nature • Bird Lovers • Flickr Nature • Birds , Birds Birds • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) • Unlimited Birds • Bird Images • BIRDPIX (3/day) • *I Love Birds* • "Bird Brained" • ***The Wildlife Photography • ***Raptors/Owls in Great Britain***.....wild or captive • A Guide To The Birds Of Europe • Bird and Nature Photography • Wings Of The World • *Flickr Photo Award* • Bird Watching Group (BWG): Post 1 : Award 2 • NATURE'S BEST • Beautiful Birds • * Birds of Britain * • BIRDS - OISEAUX - AVES (POST 1 / COMMENT 1) • Bird Watchers • **Simply Superb (P 1- A 2)** • Birds Photos - Check out the new discussions! • Feathers+Beaks=Birds (P2 / C2) • All birds all the time • Official National Geographic Group • Birding In The Wild • Capture Nature / No human elements / No Zoo shots or people in y • Nikon Nature Photography • Birds birds birds birds! • NatureLovers • MARIPOSAS&BIRDS&FLORA&FAUNA&BUTTERFLY • Avian Photography • NATURE'S - CREATIONS • Best Wildlife Photos -Animals,Insects!(NO PEOPLE/PET/BUILDINGS) • !*Flickr Award Group*! (GIVE 5 AWARDS) • Birds and Wildlife Only!!! • Wales Birders • ***ANIMALS INTERNATIONAL*** New Title/Awards (NO PEOPLE) • BirdWatching Magazine • #4 PLATINUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 1 (P2-A2) with CODE • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Photographing Birds • Wildlife of the British Isles • Birds Worldwide ! • *Nature's Beautiful Photography- (P1~A1)NO PEOPLE/NO BUILDINGS • BirdTrack • Nature's Golden Carousel ~ Closed! • RSPB Love Nature • World of Birds • *Specialist Nature & Wildlife Photographers* (P1 - A2) • Flickr Global (Your Best Photographs). • Amazing Birds ***No Rules, No Banning, No Sweepers*** • !* The Beauty of Nature/ NO people! NO single buildings! P1/C2 • Outstanding Bird Photography - P1 - A3 (Admin Invite Only) • ! * Fantastic Nature Group *Moderated* » Post 1 and Award 1 « • dreams I'll dream.. by invitation ~ P1/C3 • AWESOME BIRDS ! (Award 2 Please) • ***Naturally Wonderful***[100% NATURE]NO PEOPLE/BUILDINGS/BOATS • 4 Birds only • The Galaxy & Stars 1 (P1/C5 - No Art Images • :: | Bird Photography |:: • Photo Infos • #3 PALLADIUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 5 (P2-A10) with CODE • [][][]Nature.. Light and Color[][][] • BOKEH PAINTING • Wild Bird Photography • NATURE by Flickr - Invitation Only • Best Bird Photographers • BBC Wildlife aspirations • Spectacular Bird Photos • European Birds and Wildlife • FIELD GUIDE OF BIRDS • *Feathers & Beaks* P1 - A3 • Audubon magazine • #2 18K Gold wildlife/ Post 1 - Award 3 (P2-A6) with CODE • arbor square ~ A Nature Group ~ P1/C2 • Avian Wonders • Incredible Bird Photography • DM's Lair • -- AMORE PER LA NATURA - P1/C2 • World of Wildlife • Best Nature Shot Of The Day • Best Friends Photographer - INVITATION ONLY - • "Watch The Birdie" P2 C2***Only birds*** NO OTHER IMAGES • Birding World • ! !^Opera Premiere Gallery of Honour • AVES DEL MUNDO -- BIRDS OF THE WORLD -- OISEAUX DU MONDE • Level 1, The Wonders of Nature / Post 1 Award 4 • flickr (unofficial) • Fotografías más visitadas • NATURE'S SPIRIT (by invitation) (post 1/award 1) • Soar in Nature’s Spirit (invitation only) • Frame It! ~Level 01~ (P1/A5) • Rainbow of Nature Level 2 : ORANGE (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 3 : YELLOW (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 6 : PINK (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 4 : GREEN (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 5 : BLUE (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 7 : PURPLE (Post1-Award4) • EXPLORE *** NATURE THE WILD NATURE *** • CREATURES IN THEIR HABITATS • **FLORA & FAUNA INTERNATIONAL** 100%Nature~NO People/Buildings • Treasures of the World • Birding for everyone! (Field Guide of the World) • * Wonderful World of Wildlife * • Birds with 50+ Faves or Comments • in explore • Best Birds Worldwide • Illuminations in the Wild • Wildlife: 100 views 10 favourites (Strictly enforced) • "Birds Flock Together" (one bird a day ♥ only birds) • Amateur Photographer Magazine • ONLY "999+" FAVORITE -Invitation only- • 1000 faves & more (Excellence group) - (No Group Limit) • Nature and Animals (Wild Only) • Natural variety / fauna - flora - sceneries • Birds Feeding • NATURE'S KALEIDOSCOPE P1 X A1 • Aardvark To Zyzzyva • (W.A.S.P) Wildlife Appreciation Society of Photography • Birds And Nature Of Britian • Exquisite Imagery.... Submit your BEST for invite • *Birds Photography* • Nature watch photography. • Birdwatching in the World • GALERIE best of the best ★✩★✩★ • Birds of Britain and the Western Palearctic • Life Through A Hole • ηαтυяє • Favorites: 1750 • Birdier • Specialists' Choice Nature & Wildlife (P1 - A2) • The Specialists' Hall of Fame • Photo-Phactory • Views: 10,000,000 « less

Stats: 16,082,718 views / 700 comments