A Remarkable Hobby

Australian Hobbies are my favourite raptor and watching this one gave me shivers of delight.

Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 1600

There is nothing about this species that isn’t beautiful, looks-wise that is. Behaviour-wise they eat smaller birds which is common with many species, not just raptors but birds of prey including swamphens, magpies, kookaburras and other kingfishers. I once saw a kookaburra swallowing an Eastern Yellow Robin, and a swamphen running off with a duckling, and I’ve often seen raptors catching birds on the wing or perched eating some feathery delicacy.

Hobbies are the same length as Nankeen Kestrels, about 34cm, but at about 290g they weigh considerably more (kestrels weigh about 170g).

Peregrin Falcons are a similar species but they are larger, with a full black hood and without the warm colouring of the hobby.

Australian Hobby(Falco longipennis)
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 1600

The scientific name has raised a few smiles; it relates to the length of the Hobby’s wings. In the image above the wings are as long, perhaps a little longer, than the tail. Later in the year I will share other images of this bird that show the wing length even more clearly.

I keep dawdling as I write to look at the images and admire this magnificent bird’s rufous underparts with dark stripes, its bright yellow legs and fierce-looking talons, its blue-grey bill with a dark tip, its dark eyes, light collar that goes part way around its neck, and the subtle shadings of its back and wings. The barring on its tail can just be seen, as can the ruffled white edge to the end of the tail.

I had a feeling that I’d see a raptor on this stretch of road. I hadn’t seen one on my first slow drive along the corrugations so I headed back just as the sun was setting and there it was, waiting patiently. I took these images through the sunroof of my vehicle, which must look a little odd but luckily didn’t spook the hobby into flight. If I knew I’d find this bird in the same place at sunset tomorrow, with the same beautiful lighting and soft background colours, I hop in the car and drive for a couple of hours … maybe I will take a chance.

Happy birding

Kim

PS the lirralirra exhibition has been extended (and will be partly changed) at The Chosen Bean, Mountain Gate, Ferntree Gully until the end of February.

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