Had a day at Powdermill on Friday to take advantage of their Mayfly hatch.

When we came out after lunch there was a small hawk catching the mayflies and eating them on the wing. My boat partner said it was a Hobby and I wanted to know if they do catch and eat flies on wing as we sometimes get 1 at my club lake taking the Dragonflies.

Yes it probably is a Hobby. Frequently seen hawking insects above marshes on summer evenings. Often uses it's feet to catch bigger insects such as dragonflies. Partial to Martins and Swallows which it takes in flight.

Chris.

Sounds very likely it was a hobby. There was some cracking slow motion video of a hobby taking dragonflies over the water on one spring/autumn watch last year. Well worth a watch if you can find it.

here it is...

BBC - BBC Two Programmes - Springwatch, 2010, Episode 2, Hobby hunters

With its wings like that it looks like a hobby. Did you get to see its legs? They are a distinct brick red colour.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

No it didn't get that close to us , photo was taken with the zoom right out.