A slightly later than planned arrival at Hatfield Moors Nature Reserve near Doncaster but still we kept hope.  On arrival a Barking Deer was heard giving it's blood-curdling call.  A quick check at the spot where I previously had Woodlark but nothing heard.  Probably too late in the morning and in the season for them to sing regularly.  We walked around the nature trails in the woods and heard Cuckoo quite frequently.  The expected Warblers were out in force all except Lesser Whitethroat of course.  Cuckoos were quite active.  We moved into a more open heathland area and listened for Tree Pipits but no avail.  Where were they?  Cuckoo were very active here too with one giving very close views.  A call was heard.  We couldn't see what made it but it had a familiarity with me.  I knew it was a raptor but which one?  It was above the trees but a no show.  We scanned and scanned but then suddenly a Hooby appeared and then another and another!  3 in the air together.  It was not long before another 3 were seen and it did not end there.   We had a look from the raised viewing points.  The Tree Pipits finally showed and they did very well.  Their classic energetic performances brightened up the the bog.  The cotton grass was in bloom.  Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover graced the wetland along with Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Shelduck and a Kingfisher.  We walked around the bog and not only was it warm but it was a long walk.  More Hobby showed.  A trio of Garden Warblers sang from hedgerows out on the bog. We walked back to the spot where the Woodlark were but sadly none singing.  Maybe we would have had to wait until 7pm but we had run out of steam.  Another Hobby and before our eyes it caught a Swift.  It took time to process what happened but sadly it left empty handed as Corvids started mobbing it and probably forced it to drop it's well earned prey.  We had a  minimum of 15 sightings of Hobby throughout the day and all over the nature reserve.  Not surprising considering 70 plus had been seen possibly even in the air together.  The southern spectacle of triple figure numbers of Hobby in the air together was spreading North now.    Oddly enough the Goat Willow seeds had coated the woodland floor at Hatfield too.  There was a Nightjar walk planned later on at 7pm but that would have been too late for us.  When we visited Leighton Moss, 2 days after a Squacco Heron was photographed by one observer - the first in Lancashire for nearly 100 years.  2 days after our visit to Hatfield, a Broad Billed Sandpiper was seen and spent the day.  Was this a pattern developing?          

-- Edited by sarfraz on Friday 16th of June 2023 07:12:56 PM