A surprising Hobby in the Dales

Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group

What a delightful surprise to see this beautiful Hobby (Falco subbuteo) here in the Yorkshire Dales today. This chance encounter was captured by one of the team today whilst engaged in curlew conservation work. The Hobby is uncommon in the Dales mainly due to their dietary needs which primarily consists of hirundines (swallows and martins) and large insects like dragonflies.

They are larger than a merlin and marginally smaller than a kestrel although they have a heavier wing load which makes them appear slightly larger than they really are. Yet more diversity visible on our moors!