Dorset Raptor Study Group
Aims to further knowledge and protection of birds of prey and owls in the county of Dorset, with a special interest in Hobby. Support us at drsg.co.uk
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- The adult female, VTR. Nice.
- There has been much peregrine activity in the Poole high-rise wooden nest box over Xmas. The adult pair have been bonding, displaying and both scraping. The juvenile male (HG) from this year's brood remains and has been scraping himself!! Hopefully, if he stays, he is a help and not a hinderance.
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- Unfortunately not 2026. Ownership of the building is in a state of flux. We should be able to get short video clips through the season though.
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- ? Can't say, don't know....yet! They do eat smaller stuff but might be programmed to bring bigger items to the nest. Having said that one nest bringing in a lot of Oak Eggars moths. Might be an equation of eàse of catching Vs reward
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- Short answer is it depends on what is predominant in the locale BUT the interesting thing is they are selective, just hawker types/sizes...no darters/chasers or smaller.
- I'm deep in dragonfly ID presently as am going through video data of prey delivery to hobby nests.
- What!?!
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- Wear them round the other way! 😀
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- Wow, that's a spectacle. Did the peregrine succeed?
- We've managed to read the BTO ring number of the adult female from this years' live hobby nest camera. EZ92156. Ringed by DRSG in 2019 as a chick at another F.E. site 8.5 miles away. To think she will have travelled at least 50,000 miles migrating alone!
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- Yes, both adults evaded the goshawk. We visited the site a few times in the weeks after.
- Poole (Dorset) peregrines have been very active in the higher nest box recently. Adult male and female spending considerable time at the box and the male recorded scraping. This year's juvenile male (HG) is still present. If he is still around in Mar/April will he help or hinder?...we'll see.
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- Hopefully. They have been spending a lot of time in this box and doing the right things
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- These will almost certainly be some racing pigeons. I did once find the ring of a med gull at this site, originally ringed in Poland as a chick.
- Any keen guest bloggers out there? See September's feature on peregrines. Maybe you too have a story or experience of wild owls, hawks or harriers in Dorset? Drop us a DM, we look forward to hearing from you, thanks @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social
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- Thanks Ian, Lovely bird to see and thanks. We appreciate all comments, concerns and feedback. Thanks
- Hi @iand777.bsky.social All is well - this fine young buzzard simply has fine leg feathering - see at 27s. Note that all @btobirds.bsky.social rings are fitted under license and would also be clear to see on the lower leg. Thanks! p.s. maybe ask Santa nicely for a tripod for your Xmas...
- Support DRSG with our gorgeous organic cotton t-shirts, hoodies and more. Free UK shipping all this weekend! www.drsg.co.uk/organic-cott...
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- Looks like a shrew to me.
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- Interesting how these two perch close to each other often. I saw the female this morning (10am east side ASDA highrise) with a very full crop. She was in the exact same spot 2.5 hours later.
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- Juvenile (this year's bird).
- The resident adult Poole peregrines were displaying to each other in the high nest box a couple of days ago. Day length is approx. the same as pre-breeding/Spring. The juvenile male (HG) from this year's brood continues to be a 'stay-at-home' bird.
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- Not yet, might be for 2026.
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- Yes. Vertical bars in juvs to horizontal in adults is common with quite a few raptors.
- A juvenile, nice.
- Peregrine Falcons are go! See Hellie's fabulous guest blog on our shiny new website! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @uptonpictures.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
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- Nice to see Hellie's enthusiasm shine through, and fabulous to hear how she shared some of that falcon magic with passers by!
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- A fresh feathered juvenile. Nice.
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- Yeah, does look like HG the juv male. I reckon he may well stay all winter....we'll see.
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- Female in heavy moult and male on glass balcony.
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- With closed wings you will see the little white comma mark on underwing
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- The juvenile is probably HG, the one male. He has been lingering, may even stay around all winter and possibly into the next breeding season, does happen with young males....we'll see.
- Was out yesterday checking on some fledged hobby chicks from a brood we ringed on an urban fringe heathland site. All three chicks doing well. Won't be long before they head off on migration. The latest I have seen a family still at this site is 6th Oct. but most will be gone 2 weeks before this.
- The trials of life in a Hobby nest! As the last to fledge, there's always a battle at mealtimes. Today, an older chick wrestled the food off its sibling, 'mantling' to keep it for itself. Ever resourceful, the youngest snuck in underneath - can you spot him? Read on at: drsg.co.uk/f/life-in-a-...
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- Thanks @martinwood60.bsky.social, great questions! Noctules fly in a very predictable linear way so though big, they'd be easy to spot. Noctures weigh 18-40g. Yes the young still have food provided after fledging, though 'insecting' is how the young hone their hunting skills, plenty insects about.
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- Likely a common shrew. You were by water so could have been a water shrew but they tend to be very dark, towards black on the back.
- First wild White-tailed eagle to fledge in Dorset for 240 years Watching eagles has been amazing. With such a complex habitat mosaic, the forests in Dorset are able to support a whole range of specialist and rare species. See link more eagle info & congratulations to @forestryengland.bsky.social.
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- I remember it well!
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- Great map considering 70 years ago there were none!
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- Dreamy!!!
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- Wow!
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- Hi Ed. Did you get a wing and weight for this bird? Interested. Thanks.
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- Fantastic and amazing, a long way from any heath!
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- Thanks for your support. Yes it was hard to see and so close to fledging. Given Hobby are also predated by peregrine, sparrowhawk, tawny owl, buzzard, kite and pine marten, we should think of the parents as doing a great job despite the sad outcome. It is indeed a tough world out there.
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- Hi @martinwood60.bsky.social, yes they will be back we hope in 2026. Remember that goshawk are across the whole county and Hobby can also be predated by sparrowhawk, tawny owl, buzzard, kite and peregrine so it is a tough world out there. Thanks for your question.
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- Thanks!
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- Fantastic thanks
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- Thanks!
- Hi, we have been using white colour rings for hobby but if you send me some high res images of the colour ring I should be able to help id it. There is a contact on www.drsg.co.uk and www.wildlifewindows.co.uk either is fine. Thanks.
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- Resident male, nice.
