Great see a Hobby weaving and diving to catch dragonflies over the marshy bog at Thursley Common. If the Peregrine is the dive bomber of the falcons as it stoops, then the Hobby has to be the Spitfire as it chases dragonflies. Amazing to witness, but most walkers and dog walkers were oblivious to the wildlife spectacle! So grateful I have a naturalist eye to notice such natural wonders from ''birding' in my early teens. Always love going to Thursley Common that always had an exotic wilderness feel to the place, although it is a man made habitat. Realised I saw my first Hobby at Thursley 52 years ago in 1970! How do I know? Went with my class mate Clive Byers. His Dad drove us there and we listened to Mungo Jerry's 'In the Summertime' on the car radio on a hot day! Also saw loads of Stonechats, plus Woodlark, Tree Pipit, and Dartford Warblers. The latter are doing much better now. Also heard Cuckoo, a species far scarcer these days. But one sound was absent. If the Cuckoo heralds the start of spring and the shrill call of the Swift, the end of spring, then the sound of the British countryside 'In the Summertime', was the song of the Turtle Dove, an evocative purring sound. Sadly, it has seen a 98% decline and may become extinct as a breeding bird in the UK. But they are striving to turn things around with conservation success stories. There are far more nature reserves these days, such as the RSPB Farnham Heath reserve where they are encouraging various birds to breed, and the Sand Lizard. Thursley Common is one of the most diverse places in the UK for dragonflies. Why it is a good spot to look for the Hobby (countless birders have sat on the low tumuli overlooking the marsh to witness the aerobatic skills of the Hobby). They have been doing great work to look after the place and vegetation has come back with a vengeance after a fire two years ago. After exploring west Surrey for most of the day I ended up listening to the churring of Nighjars and roding Woodcock at dusk. #thursleycommon #hobbyfalcon #stonechat #dartfordwarbler #cuckoo #turtledove #treepipit #woodlark #nightjar #woodcock #farnhamheath #sundew #mungojerry #inthesummertime #sandlizard (at Thursley Nature Reserve) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd6E2D4jEdL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
