The hobby, a small, elegant falcon, is a frequent summer visitor to the south and east of England and South Wales but less common further north. However, two of our volunteers recently reported what is believed to be the first confirmed sighting of a pair of nesting hobbies here in Cumbria. 

Matthew Cookson and David Thexton are regular volunteers at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve. The site is no stranger to birds of prey, with a pair of breeding ospreys spending every summer here, and peregrine and marsh harrier are regularly spotted.

This summer, for the first time, they confirmed that a pair of hobbies were nesting here. Matthew takes up the story:

“On 24 June, I saw that two hobbies (an adult male and a female in her second year) which had been active in the area since April, had taken possession of a carrion crow nest. Ninety per cent of hobbies nest in old crow nests.

“Over the next few weeks we observed the male bringing food to the female, while she occasionally made forays to catch dragonflies. The male was also busy seeing off other raptors and corvids who were threats to the nest. Oddly, he seemed less fearful of the ospreys!

“Our first indication of young being fed was on 17 July. The nest is very distant, half a kilometre away, so it was difficult to discern the number of chicks in the nest. There were possible sightings of three, but certainly two. Probably due the poor weather, only one survived to fledging on 23 August, having endured three storms.

“We’ve seen the fledgling three times and it’s becoming more active, seen recently taking prey from the female, after she was passed it by the male. We’ve also seen it exploring its locality.”

Matthew has volunteered at Foulshaw Moss since 2019. He says: “It’s a real pleasure to have found this nest and seen it through to a chick fledging. Hobbies are spectacular birds, very feisty for their size and acrobatic. It’s good to have them now proven to have nested so far north in England for the first time. It’s a privilege volunteering at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, being able to share enjoyment of this particular environment, its wildlife and its beauty with visitors.”

Keziah Taylor, Assistant Reserves Officer at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, said: “It’s fantastic to hear of hobbies breeding and could be a first for the county, though this needs some more research. But nonetheless, it’s rare to hear of known breeding sites here in Cumbria. We’re delighted that our brilliant volunteers Matthew and David were the first to discover the nest – we’re lucky to have so many amazing volunteers working alongside us, helping to monitor and protect Cumbria’s wildlife and wild places.”

The hobby is a small falcon, smaller than a kestrel. With their long wings and streamlined shape, they’re perfectly evolved for catching dragonflies and small birds, such as house martins and swifts, on the wing, often transferring their quarry from talon to mouth in mid-air. They’re a migratory species, coming to the UK in summer to breed and wintering in Africa. Hobbies can be seen hunting over heathlands, flooded gravel pits and woodland edges.

The hobby is slate-grey above and pale below, with black streaks on the belly and brick-red 'trousers'. It has a white throat and cheeks, dark moustache and mask. With pointed wings, it looks like an over-sized swift in the air.

Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve is open daily, free of charge. It’s located off the A590 near Witherslack.