Falconry Displays

Well it is not ‘nose’ pressed up against the window time waiting for the rain to stop because this morning it is set in. Pretty miserable for June. I think of those late nesting birds like Sparrowhawks with recently hatched chicks getting wet.

So today for us I have fed the two falcons in the hawk room – it allows me to have some contact with them – feed  enough to keep them in flying condition which is more like a winter ration at the moment because it is so cold and then hope for better weather tomorrow.

Sadly my latest flying field is under threat of imminent development – now in train with trenching. I am going to have restricted access to the ground in the short term and no access in the medium to long term. It is such a shame that a sports field used by the community far and wide is going to be ripped up for development – how is that possible? it follows a long line of development in our area and I have lost several places where I fly the birds to development and so now again I must find somewhere new.

I have continued to fly birds – which I still enjoy – and of course I have my book ‘Falconry – aspects of care of the trained falcon and hawk’ which because I continue to have birds I often think about. One is always learning and I ask myself if I would make any changes to the book.. Of course the answer is yes but only small ones. I am  very proud of the book as it reflects my working knowledge and life as a professional falconer – which I hope others find valuable.

At some point this morning the rain will ease and I can take the dog out.

I will sign off with a picture of me I think with Sprite our peregrine taken down at the Knoll some years ago – which was a beautiful strip of grassland – and only 200 yards from home! sadly it has now gone with the building of 460 houses.