On a visit to Trefaiddan last evening i counted 134 hirundines (Swallows House and Sand Martins) on the telephone wires with at least another two or three hundred swirling around, hawking low over the wide expanse of the water.
A Short Eared Owl foraged around the lake occasionally pouncing on prey although I didn't see it catch anything. Feeling the visit was well worthwhile we headed off to the Dowrog in the hope of more late Harrier/Short Eared Owl/raptor action.
As the light faded, Fran noticed a small bird of prey sat on a bush a couple of hundred yards away of which I could only just make out a couple of features in the dimming light. I went to put up my scope and the bird flew but was obviously a small falcon, which landed atop another bush even further away. At 30 x it was still not clear in the gloaming. It was obviously not a kestrel and much too small for a peregrine but seemed to have a dark crown with conspicuous white cheeks and a heavily streaked breast. It took a long time until the penny finally dropped , a Hobby!
Given the big influx of hirundines nearby, not so surprising I suppose, but pretty early! Just before we left it took off giving a better idea of its size and shape confirming the shortish tail and small size and definitely taking Peregrine and Kestrel out of the frame. So we left pretty happy for having taking advantage of the growing day length to do a bit of local birding!