Falconry Displays

Well June is here and I hear myself saying do not wish away May – we will have to wait another year for it to return. It is, however,  the best month of the year along with the last two weeks of April. The weather in the last part of May has been very warm and for those that like the heat – just great!

Finally the House Martins have turned up and there are now several pairs in the village – in their usual spots. This is good news because I was lamenting their absence in an earlier blog. I counted 9 swifts the other night flying around the village – which again is good news and a wonderful watch.

Both the falcons are flying well. It looks like we are about to lose another flying ground to development – which is such a shame as it is a loss of a green community space absolutely packed with wildlife. Lets hope the pressure group – that is to be formed – can have some effect on the planning outcome of this valuable space. The thought of football pitches being dug up for an industrial park is unbearable and unacceptable.

In this green space this morning we saw our first Hobby of the year. Frank the lanneret was on the lure and he started calling looking skyward. Initially I could see nothing. I thought it was either a kestrel or a peregrine – more likely the later but I was delighted to see – after a while – the distinctive shape of a hobby. I left Frank on the lure hoping it would draw the hobby in. It came over our heads and suddenly closed up and with great pace stooped at some swallows hawking insects along a high hedge. It was so exciting. Seconds later the hobby appeared empty footed – I have yet to see a hobby catch a swallow – after having seen  several attempts – but they must be able to do it.

The hobby disappeared to continue hunting no doubt – hopefully we will see again it over the summer. A few minutes later a male Sparrowhawk appeared carrying prey – it made its way – straight lining it – to some distant nest to present it to the female.

It reflects a busy time of year. Last night from our front room we saw a peregrine – a male or tiercel – carrying heavy quarry into a stiff breeze – again on a journey to a distant nest site. He was flapping wildly under the burden but still making headway. It may have been a pigeon.

Our own falcons Sprite and Frank are both flying well. Both are featured in my book ‘Falconry – aspects of care of the trained falcon and hawk’ which is available at all good outlets including Waterstones, Amazon and Coch-Y-Bonddu books.  I am honoured by those people who have bought the book and I hope they have found it useful in the daily care, training and housing of their birds.

I sign off with a picture of Frank on the lure on a lovely sloping meadow.