Today
Letham hobby by Graham Sparshott
The last morning outing was to Letham, a local area my brother keeps an eye on. Attractive to waders, with ruff, redshank (incluing a chick), common sandpiper and snipe to name but a few being present.
However, the undoubted and unexpected highlight was a falcon that gave us two views. The first was a slightly less than certain did we/didn't we encounter. Initially brought to our attention by the sudden reaction of the sand martins rising high above calling vigorously, Graham clocked what he thought and was sure was a hobby, but it soon disappeared low over the adjacent fields and typically out of sight. Jizz and description would've been enough to say it was one, but still we were left kicking ourselves a little for not getting more of it, plus no record shots. So we went off in its last seen direction to relocate it. With no joy on that front we returned to scan over the pool.
Whilst looking at the ruff and a water rail over the back of the pool, the black headed gulls suddenly became vocal and agitated and took to the air: the falcon was back. This time it gave much more protracted views as it was mobbed by said gulls. No doubting this was a hobby. Graham successfully got some pics too. The context of seeing a hobby in Fife is quite unusual, maybe a couple of records annually but not always. Definitely a species I thought I'd left behind on the island, but always a welcome sight and a good local find for Graham.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.