Eagles - Last Day of Season

[Berkut]

Decided today to call it a day for the season.Both my male Golden Eagles seem a bit hormonal,behaving rather oddly.I put it down to the extended days and spring being in the air.
Ended on a good note,the young male ( Taggart ) took 2 hares off the fist.Both were good long slips and were taken in style.
The older male ( Bentley ) took one from the fist and we ended the day with him taking his second from the waiting on position.He was only about 250-300ft up, so it wasn,t his highest pitch but it was a decent stoop and a satisfactory end to the season. Both birds got a decent crop of warm hare and took a bath when we got home.
That made a total of 111 hares,2 pheasants,1 rabbit and a rather unfortunate buzzard for the season.I,ll now be glad of some rest and will endeavour to post some photographs.
All the best.

[Joey]

nice tally mate bet you cant wait till next season i know i cant and how long does it take for goldies to moult?

cheers joe

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Well played mate.

[Kentish Falconry]

nice tally mate bet you cant wait till next season i know i cant and how long does it take for goldies to moult?

cheers joe

4 years for a full moult M8:lol:

[Berkut]

nice tally mate bet you cant wait till next season i know i cant and how long does it take for goldies to moult?

cheers joe
Joe ,
They start to moult quite quickly after being fattened up and as long as they are content and fed on good quality grub they will moult well.I should start bringing the weight down mid August.
Their diet through the moult will be much the same as last year ...... I tend to give them hare during the week and at the weekend they get hare ( I,ve got a chest freezer full ).
As for next season I suppose when it gets nearer I,ll be raring to go but at the moment I,m worn oot.
Regards.

[Joey]

4 years for a full moult M8:lol:

****kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk i got told it was around two but the gob***** that told me that sed he flew a gos and when i seen it it was pere total ********

cheers joe

[SSL]

****kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk i got told it was around two but the gob***** that told me that sed he flew a gos and when i seen it it was pere total ********

cheers joe

For real?

Steve.

[Joey]

Joe ,
They start to moult quite quickly after being fattened up and as long as they are content and fed on good quality grub they will moult well.I should start bringing the weight down mid August.
Their diet through the moult will be much the same as last year ...... I tend to give them hare during the week and at the weekend they get hare ( I,ve got a chest freezer full ).
As for next season I suppose when it gets nearer I,ll be raring to go but at the moment I,m worn oot.
Regards.cool mate keep up the top hunting mate and being worn out is worth it though lol but not to the missus sex wise lol:yawinkle: please could you post some pic of your eagle i have only seen before but she wernt a hunter like ur crew she was just a muppet and the lad who had her seen her fly like but not chase.

cheers joe

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

There are pictures of Cinabar Berkut's female Golden eagle on my thread "imprint Golden Eagle"

[Berkut]

4 years for a full moult M8:lol:
Valid point Terry.
My female Goldie never breaks a feather,yet she has not far off a full moult every year.
The four year old male ,he has never had any feather damage that has really affected his flying capabilities,but he did take the tips of 3 pairs of primaries (all on kills which I can tolerate) this season and they are the only ones he has never moulted and I guess ( and hope) they are the 1st ones he will spit out. His tail is perfect so I hope he looks like a new pin come August/September.
My 2005 male has ended the season feather perfect so I am quite chuffed with that.
All the best.

[Falcon]

Nice to hear you had a good final day to the season, look forward to seeing the photos!

[Joey]

Valid point Terry.
My female Goldie never breaks a feather,yet she has not far off a full moult every year.
The four year old male ,he has never had any feather damage that has really affected his flying capabilities,but he did take the tips of 3 pairs of primaries (all on kills which I can tolerate) this season and they are the only ones he has never moulted and I guess ( and hope) they are the 1st ones he will spit out. His tail is perfect so I hope he looks like a new pin come August/September.
My 2005 male has ended the season feather perfect so I am quite chuffed with that.
All the best. i would be maore than chuufed keep it up

cheers joe

[MickeyDredd]

Well done mate, enjoy the rest :lol:

A recent days hawking with berkut!

[Joey]

Well done mate, enjoy the rest :lol:

A recent days hawking with berkut! brilliant pics top birds

cheers joe

[HawkMan]

Well done mate, enjoy the rest :lol:

A recent days hawking with berkut!
Are they eagles m8 ,sorry for asking a silly question but the pictures crop ,lol
Jb

[Berkut]

Are they eagles m8 ,sorry for asking a silly question but the pictures crop ,lol
Jb
JB,
They are the 2 male goldies mentioned on the thread,it was nearly dark when we managed to take the photos.
All the best.

[MickeyDredd]

Are they eagles m8 ,sorry for asking a silly question but the pictures crop ,lol
Jb

johnny

I had to reduce the pic to get it to load.

The size of the birds comparative to the hare is also a clue ;-)

MD

[Joey]

For real?

Steve.ye for real total barm pot lol

[SSL]

ye for real total barm pot lol

I didnt think people like that actually existed!! Lol.

Like the Pere x Gos guy just thought it was an urban (falconer) myth...

Steve.

[Joey]

well now you no its not there one just outside of liverpool what a joke he is to he couldnt get ot goin lol

[AndyYounger]

Well Done Berkut!
i Have quite a few photos of taggart and bently on my other pc which isnt working at the moment.
As soon as i gat it up and running i will post as many as l can.

Mike
Do You have any more of the day?

[MickeyDredd]

Well Done Berkut!
i Have quite a few photos of taggart and bently on my other pc which isnt working at the moment.
As soon as i gat it up and running i will post as many as l can.

Mike
Do You have any more of the day?

Andy

Yes but unfortunately I did not have the telephoto lens at the time (just got it yesterday) so I think if I posted them up on here they would be cr*p, especially with having to reduce them to upload them.

Mike

ps have you got any photos of a black shogun sport up to its t*ts in a spate river? ;)

[TiercelJim]

Great season berkut!
do you moult your eagles loose,and do they take long to get back into condition?is there much variation of wieght between the two males?
great end of day photo!
regards,jim.

[TiercelJim]

Andy

Yes but unfortunately I did not have the telephoto lens at the time (just got it yesterday) so I think if I posted them up on here they would be cr*p, especially with having to reduce them to upload them.

Mike

ps have you got any photos of a black shogun sport up to its t*ts in a spate river? ;)
Would still like to see them even if the qualitys not great!
jim.

[SakerYZF]

Nice count man , bring on the pics:D

[Berkut]

Great season berkut!
do you moult your eagles loose,and do they take long to get back into condition?is there much variation of wieght between the two males?
great end of day photo!
regards,jim.
Jim,
At the moment I moult them on the block but I am trying to organise free lofting to compare both options.I find I can keep a close eye on them on the block and retain the tameness.As soon as they stop dropping primaries and tail feathers (Septemberish) I start to reduce food supplies and at that point they will respond at a high weight on appetite and fly long distances to food on the ground.At high weight with this excercise they really build up the muscle and show signs of approaching fitness after 2 weeks or so.Chasing quarry takes over in October with multiple off the fist flights really improving fitness. In between hunting days I fly them on a thick,heavy creance(20 x 150yds) which again improves fitness.
Not that much difference in weight.4 yr old - 6lb 15oz,Juvenile 7lb 1oz.
You would think the hunting weight may creep up every year,but with a Goldie the opposite is the case, as you have to reduce weight to curb their independance which is brought on by their enthusiasm to kill.
Sorry for going on a bit but I could ( and often do ) talk all day.
Regards

[TiercelJim]

Jim,
At the moment I moult them on the block but I am trying to organise free lofting to compare both options.I find I can keep a close eye on them on the block and retain the tameness.As soon as they stop dropping primaries and tail feathers (Septemberish) I start to reduce food supplies and at that point they will respond at a high weight on appetite and fly long distances to food on the ground.At high weight with this excercise they really build up the muscle and show signs of approaching fitness after 2 weeks or so.Chasing quarry takes over in October with multiple off the fist flights really improving fitness. In between hunting days I fly them on a thick,heavy creance(20 x 150yds) which again improves fitness.
Not that much difference in weight.4 yr old - 6lb 15oz,Juvenile 7lb 1oz.
You would think the hunting weight may creep up every year,but with a Goldie the opposite is the case, as you have to reduce weight to curb their independance which is brought on by their enthusiasm to kill.
Sorry for going on a bit but I could ( and often do ) talk all day.
Regards
what was the your most memorable flight of the season?you must see some pretty impressive stuff with an eagle.
jim.

[LongVVing]

Decided today to call it a day for the season.Both my male Golden Eagles seem a bit hormonal,behaving rather oddly.I put it down to the extended days and spring being in the air.
Ended on a good note,the young male ( Taggart ) took 2 hares off the fist.Both were good long slips and were taken in style.
The older male ( Bentley ) took one from the fist and we ended the day with him taking his second from the waiting on position.He was only about 250-300ft up, so it wasn,t his highest pitch but it was a decent stoop and a satisfactory end to the season. Both birds got a decent crop of warm hare and took a bath when we got home.
That made a total of 111 hares,2 pheasants,1 rabbit and a rather unfortunate buzzard for the season.I,ll now be glad of some rest and will endeavour to post some photographs.
All the best.

Would be interested to see the pics if you manage to get them posted.
All the best,
Mark

[Berkut]

what was the your most memorable flight of the season?you must see some pretty impressive stuff with an eagle.
jim.
Jim,
The most memorable flight was the 2nd week my young male flew loose.There was a stiff breeze and I was trying him waiting on for the first time.He was up around 500ft and was drifting half a mile either side of me,but was very responsive.One blast of the whistle and he would be back over me.
He had stooped unsuccessfully at 3 or 4 rabbits and had again drifted far to my left.I looked down hill and my GWP was rock solid on point about 200yds below.I blew the whistle and the eagle turned heading straight towards me without losing height.I was expecting a rabbit or a hare,but as the eagle came over me and I was making my way towards the dog, a fox bumped in front of her nose.The eagle folded without hesitation,the fox jinked,the eagle threw up and slammed into the back end of the fox.I ran towards them as the struggle continued and could see the fox turning on the eagle.As I got there the fox broke loose and I dived for it and missed. The fox ran up the hill and the eagle pushed off the side of the hill for another go but the fox made it to some rocks.
I called him in and he had 3 puncture wounds on his foot.I took him to the vet and he was on anti-biotics,ani-imflammatories and painkillers for a week.
For weeks afterwards he was stinking of fox,especially if he was damp.
Although he never held the fox I reckon he had done pretty well,considering he only had 1 hare under his belt at the time.
All the best.

[TiercelJim]

great account berkut!shame the bird got bit but i suppose grabbing a fox's arse your asking for trouble!lucky fox!wish my falcon had been like your eagle on its first wiating on excersize, 500ft straight off insted of 5ft!!lol
jim.

[MickeyDredd]

A successful day!

[MickeyDredd]

more pics. Sorry didnt have my telephoto lens for the in-flight shots!

[Falcon]

Nice pics!

[Dave G]

great pics the goldie looks like its going to strike when its crest is up ;) and what a brave chap going in without his gloves on lol must know his bird very well good stuff

[TiercelJim]

great pics,very impressive bird!
regards,jim.

[MickeyDredd]

great pics the goldie looks like its going to strike when its crest is up ;) and what a brave chap going in without his gloves on lol must know his bird very well good stuff

Dave

Would you do this with your Redtail? ;) :lol:

[GriffMJ]

Well done mate, enjoy the rest :lol:

A recent days hawking with berkut!

Are those my hoods? :D Bigger pic please!!!

[MickeyDredd]

Are those my hoods? :D Bigger pic please!!!

griff

I cant post them any bl**dy bigger on here! :lol: :lol:

[GriffMJ]

griff

I cant post them any bl**dy bigger on here! :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol: Mickey ...Can you e-mail me the big version of that pic please....

[MickeyDredd]

Griff

I'll try, mate. ;)

[Sandeep]

Those are beautiful pictures. I have held a female Goldie that belongs to a frind of mine in Cardiff. He hunts foxes with her.

But that picture of you opening the quary bare handed .... Cooollll.. Thats a trust between a falconer and his bird. I was so uncomfortable when I was holding the female Goldie on my gloved fist. Had never held a raptor with such gargantuan proportions.

But with my hawk eagles and Bonellis .... I never had a problem. Once my hawk eagle grabbed my finger ( my fault) and I was so taken by surprise that I puled my hand.... net result - a 4 inch gash. I gave her my hand the next minute and she she steped onto my ungloved fist like nothing had happened....;) ;-)

[GriffMJ]

Thanks for the pics Mickey Dredd.....

I have played with the pics to brighten them and get some better contrast in them.... nice to see my hoods in their working environment :D

http://www.m-jhoods.co.uk/images/Eagle/Neils.JPG

http://www.m-jhoods.co.uk/images/Eagle/Hooded.JPG

[Berkut]

Those are beautiful pictures. I have held a female Goldie that belongs to a frind of mine in Cardiff. He hunts foxes with her.

But that picture of you opening the quary bare handed .... Cooollll.. Thats a trust between a falconer and his bird. I was so uncomfortable when I was holding the female Goldie on my gloved fist. Had never held a raptor with such gargantuan proportions.

But with my hawk eagles and Bonellis .... I never had a problem. Once my hawk eagle grabbed my finger ( my fault) and I was so taken by surprise that I puled my hand.... net result - a 4 inch gash. I gave her my hand the next minute and she she steped onto my ungloved fist like nothing had happened....;) ;-)
All my eagles let me open up the quarry barehanded.At first they didn,t but I find it to be a confidence thing.The more you do it the smoother the whole process becomes.My female is a monster (from a size point of view ) yet will nibble food from my fingertips when on a kill.
Thankyou for the comments.

[Berkut]

Griff,
As we have discussed,good hoods make the whole job easier.All my hunting trips were made more enjoyable as the eagles behaviour ( ie they settle down when it is not their go ) was much improved ,purely because of good fitting,comfortable hoods.
Regards.

[MickeyDredd]

Well done with the pics Griff - I'll need to put aside some time to work out how to do such things ;)

[Berkut]

Well done with the pics Griff - I'll need to put aside some time to work out how to do such things ;)
Mike,
I can,t wait till the season comes round again.!!!!!!

[MickeyDredd]

Mike,
I can,t wait till the season comes round again.!!!!!!

Me neither mate - I've got the telephoto lens now if you want an official photographer ;) :lol:

[Berkut]

Consider yourself hired>

[TiercelJim]

berkut,in the photos youve normally bagged more than one kill,how many flights would you go for in a day,whats the succes rate of the eagles and is this most days?
regards,jim.

[Berkut]

berkut,in the photos youve normally bagged more than one kill,how many flights would you go for in a day,whats the succes rate of the eagles and is this most days?
regards,jim.
Jim,
Each day is different,depending on weather,time etc. I like to give the birds plenty excercise and pumping after quarry really tires them out.Most days I catch multiples once the birds are made,although initially single kills are the order of the day for approx 6 - 12 kills then I start to work up from there.
There are lots of blue hares on the land so I can be choosy about my slips,especially out the hood.
Because the land is open I often let a hare have a 200 - 300 yard start and it makes for good sport.
If I am short of time I will quite happily travel for one good successful flight and call it a day.Also if the 1st flight is a very good one,tests the bird and ends in a kill I will feed it up and fly the next eagle.
My best day this season I caught 12 hares.Bentley caught 6/6.I fed him a decent crop.The young eagle (Taggart ) missed 3/3 and then took 4/4,each better than the next.I fed him on the 4th and when I got back to the vehicle Bentley had put over most of the crop so I took him out for another 30 minutes and he caught another 2.
I will point out that blue hares will never be as formidable a quarry as a brown hare but they are good fun and if flown properley are great sport and certainly prepare a Goldie well for chasing browns.On top of that they are a natural quarry for the Goldie.

[TiercelJim]

berkut,do you just walk the hares up or do you get a point an move into good position for a down wind flush?does the wind affect a fit eagle much from a standing start?
jim

[Berkut]

berkut,do you just walk the hares up or do you get a point an move into good position for a down wind flush?does the wind affect a fit eagle much from a standing start?
jim
Jim,
A bit of both,my wirehair use to be punished for pointing fur but since flying the eagles she has adapted and now I can always tell if she is pointing a hare.
If I am flying out the hood I try and get a slight uphill advantage and flush into the wind which means he has to work harder.If I walk a hare up I take it as it comes.
Waiting on flights,upwind flush or downwind,it doesn,t really matter,although in a decent wind any miss downwind is usually flight over.

[TiercelJim]

thanks for your replys berkut,ill blitz you with some more questions soon!lol
jim.

[Berkut]

thanks for your replys berkut,ill blitz you with some more questions soon!lol
jim.
Jim,
Any time.As that little cockney on the BT advert says " It,s good to talk "

[MickeyDredd]

berkut,do you just walk the hares up or do you get a point an move into good position for a down wind flush
jim

His land has so many hares on it, all he has to do is slam the car boot shut when he gets the eagle out and he has a choice of slips!! ;) :lol:

[TiercelJim]

[QUOTE=MickeyDredd]His land has so many hares on it,
bit like the wifes chin then!lol. good to here that hares are doing well up there they seem to be every were down here too altho i have no hawk to fly them at,I just use them to steady the spaniel up.It makes a good bird having the right quarry an plenty of it.
jim.