Hobby

Historically, this elegant and long winged falcon with remarkable speed and acrobatic flight, had been recorded regularly in Scotland, but it was mainly regarded as a vagrant. There was a historical breeding record at Ballinluig in Perthshire from 1887, and in 1977 a pair was seen displaying in central Scotland.

In 2001 the first proved breeding occurred in Highland Region in Inverness-shire, although it had been suspected for 2 years previous to this. This pair bred again in 2002, in a new crow nest approximately 100 metres from the previous year’s nest. An adult had first been noted in the general area on 3 May and a pair were seen close to the nest site on 25 May. Thereafter they proved typically elusive, although occasional sightings were reported from elsewhere in Inverness-shire. However, on 3^rd August both adults were seen close to the nest with three fledged young. The young birds were still present around the nest site until at least 13^th August, and the adults until at least 24 August. Sightings suggest that at least one other pair may have been present in Inverness-shire during the summer.

In 2003 at least two pairs bred in Badenoch and Strathspey with birds noted in the vicinity of nest sites from 3 May to 1 September. Also in 2003, two adults, presumed to be a pair were regularly seen at an Easter Ross site in June and early July. Again in 2004 two pairs were thought to have bred in Badenoch and Strathspey although birds appeared to be absent in 2005.

Breeding Hobbies can be secretive and difficult to detect. They will normally use the old nest of a Carrion or Hooded Crow from which an incubating female can be extremely difficult to flush. After fledging, young Hobbies remain in the vicinity of the nest for 2-3 weeks, can be extremely vocal, and this is a good time to detect them. It is strongly suspected that this is a species which may be overlooked and is breeding in several parts of Scotland.