Falconry

As I've covered the holiday up to our arrival in New York, I thought I'd break off and put up a few photos from our falconry experience a few weeks ago.  I always keep an eye on Amazon Local, and you can pick up some really good discounts through it.  And this one was a £43 2 hour experience, handling the hawks and falcons included, for just £19.  It was at Rufford Abbey, which was a bit further than I had realised - the best part of an hour away.  We were very lucky with the weather and it was a great set up.  They come and use the grounds there.  It's a family firm, with a lot of birds.  I'd taken along picnic chairs for Ma and Mol, and they helped me carry them and made sure we all got to see everything.  There was tea/coffee/hot chocolate half way through (with biscuits).

We started by all trooping off into one of the areas of wood, accompanied by a pair of Harris Hawks.  One of them was a rescue bird - they rescue a lot, both injured in the wild and from owners who find they can't manage them; wild birds are later released if possible.  They clearly become part of the family.  There was an owl that the granddaughter owned; she had it from very young (both of them) and it went everywhere with her - as it was in the pushchair with her this even included Tescos.  Anyway, the Harris Hawks were flown in a woodland ride.  We all got a chance to hold them and get close photos during the walk or in the wood, and I got a chance to fly one of them too.  Just a matter of throwing your arm up and forward and off it went.  Couldn't see what was so hard about that myself, and I was told it was a better throw than most of the men who gave it a go.  They flew the hawks through a "tunnel" of arms and raced one against one of the chaps.  I didn't get fantastic photos because it was too dark to get both a light exposure and a fast shutter speed.

Just about to fly it, honest!

 

Back at their "base" (a large tent where they showed off meerkats, a gazebo to shade the birds, their van and a stall) we had our drinks and on came the rest in turn.  Started with a barn owl.

Only just caught it!  Too close to the edge of the frame for a decent crop

There was a small skops owl (which I think may have been the bird in the pushchair).  This one didn't fly, and we didn't get to hold it.  Very cute.

The eagle owl was rather more magnificent.  This one didn't fly either, but we all got a good look.

Hacking up a pellet all over Mol's foot!

After the barn owl they flew a boobook owl.

 

 

Well if you will stick your finger there....

....you must expect to get it bitten!

And a tawny owl.

On your marks....

Get ready....

(or not)

Go!

Then we had the big show, a cara cara vulture, doing an assault course.  Up steps, through a tunnel, turning over scallop shells, flying on and off and to and fro between a couple of young girls with flower pot protectors on their heads...

Didn't stop screeching the whole time

Forgot to mention it dived in and out of a dustbin too

Bill....

....and Ben

Finally tucking itself away - the only bird they don't leave on a stand in the gazebo, it's too noisy!

After that they got out some lures and had us try spinning them.  Hard work!

And I damn nearly knocked myself out with it

The lure was for the lanner falcon.  Didn't get very good shots here, it was far too fast, and mainly coming towards us out of the sun.

Just missed the lure - it's low behind him

Not very clear....

....but I thought I did pretty well...

....getting 3 of her in the frame catching the lure

That was the ast of the birds they flew.  Then they brought out the giant of the troupe.  They didn't fly the golden eagle as it might easily have taken one of the many dogs in the park!

We had to wear a much tougher glove as he liked nibbling it

Stand offish