About to stray into the Dark side!!!

[Cassini]

Hi guy's thought I'd let you know whats happening with my Hawking instead of the art for
once!! Well its been an interesting if problematic season for me. Some of you will know that I
have been given the opportunity to fly a wild disabled Falcon this season . Megan as she was christened came in via my friend Dave Scott and she was a bit smashed up feather wise . She got hung up in netting and thrashed herself a wee bit she also had a dropped wing. Well she
came home with me and was dually rung by the authorities and put through the long task of putting her right . She Needed a good moult that was evident from the outset as there was
no possible way she could be released with her feather damage . On the surface just sat on the block you would be forgiven for thinking there was nothing wrong but on examination
most of the primaries on both wings had breaks and fractures up the quills.. So any way I started her training and we then imped the worst of the primaries and everything was looking
good towards getting her fit. Because Megan was this years Eyass there was no way of knowing what hunting experience she has or hasn't so I went about kite training her first then
got her killing and that is where we have come to. Unfortunately her Imps failed and I have
made the decision to put her in for an early moult . We will pick up things again next season
she is a lovely flyer , my only worry is she is showing some weird imprint tendencies such as
being a little vocal and mantling. Something I have yet to have experienced with a albeit wild
falcon. I may have made a mistake with her somewhere along the line which I have to hold my hand up to.

Well with no Falcon to fly and allot of game to fly at I was in a real quandry as to what
to fly . I asked around to see if anyone had a Peregrine to fly but no cigar . I'm a bit of a purist at heart and love the peregrine pure and simple. Allot of my mates all fly Hybrids down here and some exceptional ones too but I've never been comfortable with them.
They are stunning to look at and years ago I thought they were the bee's knee's but after flying a Peregrine tiercel a few years back i have never looked at hybrids in the same
way since.

Now enter Floyd, Floyd is a gyr x peregrine tiercel that was originally flown by my late friend
and hawking bud Bruce Huxham. Bruce passed away two years ago after a very short but
bitter battle with cancer and has been greatly missed by us all down here. Floyd bruces tiercel was taken on and flown by Dave Scott and he has become a lovely little game hawk.
His only real vice is his tendency sometimes to just do one! and you have to get in front
of him via the telemetry experience to stop him flying clear to Ireland !!! so here I am with the chance to fly my late friends Gyr x Peregrine and I've excepted the challenge.
Well its only till the end of the season and its a chance to have a bit of fun and to give Bruce who is looking down on me a real laugh at his purist mate finally dipping a toe into
the Dark side!!! Watch this space

[Greg]

Good luck Andy,
I would use two trasmitters by the sound of it!

[Berkut]

Good luck with him Andy. Seems like a great idea .

ATB,
Neil.

[SmallPeregrine]

Hi guy's thought I'd let you know whats happening with my Hawking instead of the art for
once!! Well its been an interesting if problematic season for me. Some of you will know that I
have been given the opportunity to fly a wild disabled Falcon this season . Megan as she was christened came in via my friend Dave Scott and she was a bit smashed up feather wise . She got hung up in netting and thrashed herself a wee bit she also had a dropped wing. Well she
came home with me and was dually rung by the authorities and put through the long task of putting her right . She Needed a good moult that was evident from the outset as there was
no possible way she could be released with her feather damage . On the surface just sat on the block you would be forgiven for thinking there was nothing wrong but on examination
most of the primaries on both wings had breaks and fractures up the quills.. So any way I started her training and we then imped the worst of the primaries and everything was looking
good towards getting her fit. Because Megan was this years Eyass there was no way of knowing what hunting experience she has or hasn't so I went about kite training her first then
got her killing and that is where we have come to. Unfortunately her Imps failed and I have
made the decision to put her in for an early moult . We will pick up things again next season
she is a lovely flyer , my only worry is she is showing some weird imprint tendencies such as
being a little vocal and mantling. Something I have yet to have experienced with a albeit wild
falcon. I may have made a mistake with her somewhere along the line which I have to hold my hand up to.

Well with no Falcon to fly and allot of game to fly at I was in a real quandry as to what
to fly . I asked around to see if anyone had a Peregrine to fly but no cigar . I'm a bit of a purist at heart and love the peregrine pure and simple. Allot of my mates all fly Hybrids down here and some exceptional ones too but I've never been comfortable with them.
They are stunning to look at and years ago I thought they were the bee's knee's but after flying a Peregrine tiercel a few years back i have never looked at hybrids in the same
way since.

Now enter Floyd, Floyd is a gyr x peregrine tiercel that was originally flown by my late friend
and hawking bud Bruce Huxham. Bruce passed away two years ago after a very short but
bitter battle with cancer and has been greatly missed by us all down here. Floyd bruces tiercel was taken on and flown by Dave Scott and he has become a lovely little game hawk.
His only real vice is his tendency sometimes to just do one! and you have to get in front
of him via the telemetry experience to stop him flying clear to Ireland !!! so here I am with the chance to fly my late friends Gyr x Peregrine and I've excepted the challenge.
Well its only till the end of the season and its a chance to have a bit of fun and to give Bruce who is looking down on me a real laugh at his purist mate finally dipping a toe into
the Dark side!!! Watch this space

Don't go there young Andy Sky walker come back to the light:!:
Does that mean you'll growing a mullet hair style, wearing dodgy leg chaps and dodgy camouflage gear LOL
Phil

[Cassini]

Don't go there young Andy Sky walker come back to the light:!:
Does that mean you'll growing a mullet hair style, wearing dodgy leg chaps and dodgy camouflage gear LOL
Phil

Now Now .... Phil, I hope your not reffering to one of my best mates! well your safe
with the hair any way's

[Cassini]

Good luck with him Andy. Seems like a great idea .

ATB,
Neil.

Neil thanks for the good wishes. I'm not sure about the good idea bit!!!
we will see

[Cassini]

Good luck Andy,
I would use two trasmitters by the sound of it!

Greg already do with all my falcons a huge elastic band would be better for this little chap.
Or a tracter beam off startrek!!:)

[SmallPeregrine]

Now Now .... Phil, I hope your not reffering to one of my best mates! well your safe
with the hair any way's
:mrgreen:...... seriously good luck Andy....been there got the T-shirt 1983 Peregrine/Prairie Female........ bloody awful things but best get it out your system now before they ban the B astard things... amen!:goodman:
ATB
Phil

[Redeye]

Going to the dark side....i thought you had really seen sense and gotten a Goshawk, not more of these funny pointy winged thingys!

[Yeoman]

Going to the dark side....i thought you had really seen sense and gotten a Goshawk, not more of these funny pointy winged thingys!

Me too

[B C]

Hi Andy

Like you, I have a thing about Peregrines (I have 2 females) but I also have a male Gyr x Pere (Doc).
I love the 2 girls - they are both different but I also love flying Doc as well.
Truly awesome gamehawk sometimes - but can also be a bit unpredictable, thats the fun of the fair mate!
Good luck with him and enjoy yourself - I bet you soon change your mind about the darkside. They've got their place - same as the purebreds

Have fun
Bernie

[Cassini]

Hi Andy

Like you, I have a thing about Peregrines (I have 2 females) but I also have a male Gyr x Pere (Doc).
I love the 2 girls - they are both different but I also love flying Doc as well.
Truly awesome gamehawk sometimes - but can also be a bit unpredictable, thats the fun of the fair mate!
Good luck with him and enjoy yourself - I bet you soon change your mind about the darkside. They've got their place - same as the purebreds

Have fun
Bernie

I agree BC, but I'm not sure if their place is with me:D

[Cassini]

Red eye, yoeman, well I'm certainly not brave enough for the Gos thing!!!! not yet
anyway.

But Cheers for flagging it up anyway

[GameHawker]

Andy, How did the first free flight go today:twisted:. This could come back and bite me in the ass in a few weeks time:lol:.

Carl

[Cassini]

Andy, How did the first free flight go today:twisted:. This could come back and bite me in the ass in a few weeks time:lol:.

Carl

You know bloody well how it went Ha Ha... Showed up at Daves Place mid afternoon
he said I could have first slip, unhooded Floyd, he bobbed his head roused then straightlined
it for the horizon!!!! Had my kids with me that were ok for the first hour but then it began to
ware thin with them!! Floyd kept on the move till Dark. I caught up with his signal booming
on his way back to where we had started. Pulled the landy over in a lane, signal strong ,walked
out into a field and he came out of the trees right over the Landy! Little ****%%$%$%!!!

I must need my head examined taking him on!! For those of you that are now saying , he's to
high or to keen Floyd has a habit of doing this what ever weight and you can go
eight straight flights and he's perfect waits on beautifully head shoots pheasant perfect!!
then he will just do one next time out. Dave Scott who flew him the last two seasons after
his owner passed away , has tried perseveering with him but grounded him till now.


I'm sure its solvable and I'm willing to try a few months of working with him to see if it
makes any difference but hay ho off to a great start :D

[Cassini]

Well today went much better with Floyd , Flew him at Dave Scotts ground on one of the cover
strips there, lovely conditions and if I wasn't worried about him doing one I would have let Floyd
mount allot longer than I did. but a short and sweet lesson was in order after yesterdays
telemetry hunt. so I chucked him off after removing his hood ,not letting him look around
to let something catch his eye!! he left the fist and rowed off onto the light NE wind , I didn't
let him go to far out before shouting at him to keep his focus he did a couple circuits and
as He came in around a third time I was walking the cover where I'd seen partridge run in.
He was around 250 ft but I needed a flush quick to cement his trust in me for the coming
weeks ahead. After tweny yrds a group of four Red legs flushed ,Floyd rolled into a stoop
and chased them down towards a hawthorn hedge 100yrds away it looked like he just bound
to one of the tail enders just as they all went out of sight . I ran down and found him looking
miffed by the hedge . I think he lost it on the ground . shame but not bad for second free
flight out of the pen and from the low pitch I'm kind of glad it got away. I called him in and
headed down the hill.

Incidently J.P from the forum was with me today and when walking up
towards me through the cover took his eye of of Floyd whilst falling over
and missed the stoop!:) Never mind Jamie you'll learn to keep one eye
on the ground one on the falcon when you get to my age and not fall over.
We've all done it bud!! You've only waited three weeks to come out with
me then gone and fallen over at the best bit!:goodman:

[Finnish]

Good luck Andy your going to need it by the sounds of it mate...


Lee Lol:lol:

[Cassini]

Good luck Andy your going to need it by the sounds of it mate...


Lee Lol:lol:

Yep Lee , Its a case of Buckle up and hold on to your hat, or telemetry in Floyds case:)

[Finnish]

Seen him fly a few time's Andy when he wants to he can be a real good un...

[Cassini]

Seen him fly a few time's Andy when he wants to he can be a real good un...

I know mate , I will be giving him a few short flights at daves place for the next few days
just to get him up and running . He has flown here alot as you know then the plan
will be to start pushing him a little, flying more different ground and see what happens.
He may be too set in his ways to change much but I'll have fun trying for a bit.

[Cassini]

Today the weather was not good!! rain and low preasure heavy damp air. so with much
needed work to do I chose not to fly Floyd instead he chilled in the studio with me
here are some photo's of him just chillin.

[GameHawker]

Andy, He looks very similar to Biggles.

Carl

[Cassini]

Andy, He looks very similar to Biggles.

Carl

I thought the same carl after seeing your photo's of him. They are both nice
looking Hybrids. Prefer the darker ones personally as you do to i think.

[J.P]

Incidently J.P from the forum was with me today and when walking up
towards me through the cover took his eye of of Floyd whilst falling over
and missed the stoop!:) Never mind Jamie you'll learn to keep one eye
on the ground one on the falcon when you get to my age and not fall over.
We've all done it bud!! You've only waited three weeks to come out with
me then gone and fallen over at the best bit!:goodman:

I just thought it was about time me and the soil got to know each other better.
:yawinkle:

[Cassini]

I just thought it was about time me and the soil got to know each other better.
:yawinkle:

See you missed the flight and I missed you eating soil!!! ..... : ) sounds fair

[Natch]

good luck andy seen him fly well at daves,i,am sure u can get the best out of hin on your land,,,,,thank,s 4 a great day,,p,s got any pic,s from bruce,s meet gary:cool:

[Cassini]

good luck andy seen him fly well at daves,i,am sure u can get the best out of hin on your land,,,,,thank,s 4 a great day,,p,s got any pic,s from bruce,s meet gary:cool:

Gary, good to hear from you bud. I'll be trying my best. I did get some good photo's
from the day I and Dave hosted and I'll be forwarding them onto the BFC web site.
I got some of you and your falcon and will forward them to you . PM me and let me know
your email.

Regards Andy

[Cassini]

Well today , with a bit of wind and fairly clear conditions I was hopefully that Floyd would
show me a little more. I've been slowly loosening the reigns in hope that I can trust him and
the last two flights have been ok and relatively tight in their style. He has had a little bad luck
regarding his closing the deal on flights but I still think he maybe taking a bit to get his eye
or should I say footing in.

Jamie joined me again today and we headed for Aveton one of the three spots that I fly
game on. Its fairly typical of the countryside round here but has got some decent sized fields
that, with cover strips put in by the land owner and allows for some good gamehawking setups.

We flew on the Northwest side of the farm to make the most of the prevailing wind today.
I sent Jamie to the top of the strip as I walked out on the windward slope to cast Floyd off .
I'd already glassed the strip to see if there were partridge in there and saw at least four by
the edge of it picking around. With Floyd now I just cast him off quickly to minimise his
horizon chasing !!! With him on the wing I start walking immediately and try and keep him
fairly centered. He did mount well and as I reached the lower fence line about to cross into
the wheat field he was at about 300 + and still climbing. I quickly glanced to my right to
see Jamie coming down the strip now only 20 yrds to the marked partridge . At about 10
yrds out the partridge broke and headed into wind across the open plough as I'd wanted
them to go. Its about 250-300 yrds to cover that way. Floyd must have come thumping
down as he gave one of the departing partridge a hell of a whack and it bounced of the
plough he did a wing over but I was still to low to see over the ridge. the partridge
gathered itself and took off hell for leather non the worst for its basket ball impression.It
shot passed me heading for a bramble patch on the edge of the wood and fence line with
floyd hot on its heals. Both slammed into the hedge and I ran down to see if he had
snagged it in the cover. Unfortunately It made its escape and I was disappointed for floyd
he flew well and for some reason his feet aren't connecting in the right way at the mo.
I'm sure it will come right for him . Jamie had my camera with him and took some shots
of todays outing. One of the shots my face say's it all . I'm getting more relaxed with floyd
now and slowly I think I will start pushing his mounting further.

[Cassini]

here are the last two. Again my face is a picture after picking him off the lure.

I must say thanks to Jamie for taking All the snaps :)

[J.P]

Again my face is a picture after picking him off the lure.


I didnt think i caught your good side either Andy. Maybe its from the neck downwards?

Really good day today with Andy and Floyd, i managed to catch the stoop instead of doing a face plant. But i didnt catch the flush or see high speed partridges ricocheting themselves off the ground. Looks like its going to be one step at a time for me :roll:
I'd like to say a big thanks to Andy for taking the time to take me out with him, i really appreciate it.

Plus thanks to Andy im now officially trained in his secret number one past time.

The art that is turnip pulling :yawinkle:

[Rowan]

nice thread,keep it going;plus photos.

[Cassini]

Rowan , your wish is my comand!! Well today went almost exactly as it did
yesterday with Floyd except that He did reach a better pitch initially. he did
loose some of it though as I neared the partridge I had marked . Good to see that he is
getting higher . I relaxed a bit more with him today and took a longer walk into the flush
which probably helped.

Again he came barreling down and bounced one off the soil he took quite a few feathers
out of this one. Did a quick wing over but the partridge yet again was up and away
before Floyd got a foot to him. Then the chase was on to cover and the Partridge won.
I was disapointed for floyd but wished he'd just bind to them instead of pounding them into
the dirt!! I was glad for the partridge too though they realy are tough now and it earned
its freedom. Floyd waited above where the partridge put in but I don't do the reflush thing
especially on a seasoned hawk like Floyd. so he had to come back over where I called him in.

I finished off by checking more feeders were topped up . I came across a great setup
on a pheasant moments after in a stubble field he was in no mans land right in the open
and clamped as I got out to fill the feeder I was next to. Typical

Here's some photo's of Floyd on the wing just after being cast off and the partridge
as they flushed. I'm amazed I got this shot while trying to bring the flush together
for a hawk waiting on!

Sorry I didn't get the stoop , wanted to watch :)

[Cassini]

I didnt think i caught your good side either Andy. Maybe its from the neck downwards?

Really good day today with Andy and Floyd, i managed to catch the stoop instead of doing a face plant. But i didnt catch the flush or see high speed partridges ricocheting themselves off the ground. Looks like its going to be one step at a time for me :roll:
I'd like to say a big thanks to Andy for taking the time to take me out with him, i really appreciate it.

Plus thanks to Andy im now officially trained in his secret number one past time.

The art that is turnip pulling :yawinkle:

Thanks Jamie Errr I think??? And don't tell everyone about the Turnip pulling they'll
all want a go!! Thanks for your help by the way, now you can see how much
work goes on the Game management side!! I'ts all worth it though and we are putting
something back which makes a difference.

[Rowan]

Rowan , your wish is my comand!! Well today went almost exactly as it did
yesterday with Floyd except that He did reach a better pitch initially. he did
loose some of it though as I neared the partridge I had marked . Good to see that he is
getting higher . I relaxed a bit more with him today and took a longer walk into the flush
which probably helped.

Again he came barreling down and bounced one off the soil he took quite a few feathers
out of this one. Did a quick wing over but the partridge yet again was up and away
before Floyd got a foot to him. Then the chase was on to cover and the Partridge won.
I was disapointed for floyd but wished he'd just bind to them instead of pounding them into
the dirt!! I was glad for the partridge too though they realy are tough now and it earned
its freedom. Floyd waited above where the partridge put in but I don't do the reflush thing
especially on a seasoned hawk like Floyd. so he had to come back over where I called him in.

I finished off by checking more feeders were topped up . I came across a great setup
on a pheasant moments after in a stubble field he was in no mans land right in the open
and clamped as I got out to fill the feeder I was next to. Typical

Here's some photo's of Floyd on the wing just after being cast off and the partridge
as they flushed. I'm amazed I got this shot while trying to bring the flush together
for a hawk waiting on!

Sorry I didn't get the stoop , wanted to watch :)Nice cameo Andy something differnt about this thread.Agree with the policy of putting game down,good feeling.Wonder what moment a falcon decides to bind rather than cut,and why they dont cut more often?ones as lethal as the other but when a falcon cuts,well its quite amazing.Anyhow once again nice thread.

[Cassini]

I chatted to Dave Scott last night about Floyd and what he's been doing. Dave just seemed
to think that he's getting his targeting down. His Footing is usually very good and has
head shot game on numerous occasions. Unfortunately for Floyd he's playing catchup
at this stage of the season!

Glad your enjoying the thread ROWAN. I agree with you to about how lethal it can be
when they get it right. On large Quarry like cock pheasants and large waterfowl its actually
so much safer to the falcon if they can master this technique.

There's a great bit of footage of a gyr x peregrine owned by Joe Roy in the states Head
shooting a pintail on a DVD I have somewhere? I think its a California Hawking club
produced film ???

[J.P]

Rowan , your wish is my comand!! Well today went almost exactly as it did
yesterday with Floyd except that He did reach a better pitch initially. he did
loose some of it though as I neared the partridge I had marked . Good to see that he is
getting higher . I relaxed a bit more with him today and took a longer walk into the flush
which probably helped.

Again he came barreling down and bounced one off the soil he took quite a few feathers
out of this one. Did a quick wing over but the partridge yet again was up and away
before Floyd got a foot to him. Then the chase was on to cover and the Partridge won.
I was disapointed for floyd but wished he'd just bind to them instead of pounding them into
the dirt!! I was glad for the partridge too though they realy are tough now and it earned
its freedom. Floyd waited above where the partridge put in but I don't do the reflush thing
especially on a seasoned hawk like Floyd. so he had to come back over where I called him in.

I finished off by checking more feeders were topped up . I came across a great setup
on a pheasant moments after in a stubble field he was in no mans land right in the open
and clamped as I got out to fill the feeder I was next to. Typical

Here's some photo's of Floyd on the wing just after being cast off and the partridge
as they flushed. I'm amazed I got this shot while trying to bring the flush together
for a hawk waiting on!

Sorry I didn't get the stoop , wanted to watch :)


Sounding good Andy, shame he didnt connect properly again.
Just aswell i didnt come out. :yawinkle:

[Cassini]

Sounding good Andy, shame he didnt connect properly again.
Just aswell i didnt come out. :yawinkle:

Oh yes , how was your aniversary mate ;) hope she's forgiven
you going out and messing about with those ****** birds

[J.P]

Oh yes , how was your aniversary mate ;) hope she's forgiven
you going out and messing about with those ****** birds

We had a wicked time, and it's all clear now:rolleyes:, so it looks like i wont be moving into the cassini residence after all.:yawinkle:

Are you out today(Friday) mate?

[Cassini]

Went out today but had to settle for racing against the fading light As I had the kids with
me . I picked Joe up from school and raced with him and maisie out to the Hawking ground
the conditions were quite blustery today with a fresh SW wind . I had to take what I could
find and worked a setup in stubble turnips on a lovely windward slope . I cast Floyd off and
as I did a woody flew right across in front of us and Floyd gave chase and disappeared over
the hedge line . In my head i was cursing myself for flying him an hour + behind and in
the last bit of daylight. I walked on hoping he would pull off and come back over which
he dually did and started to mount into the wind above as I walked the turnips toward the
feeders. About ten yards away I looked up and he was about 500 ft and bang over head.

Its amazing what goes on in a falconers head is'nt it my first thought was ,very nice.
And then immediately thought but yeah imagine what he would have been at an hour
earlier and with a longer walkin etc !!! Arhhh are we never satisfied!!!

anyway about five yards out from one of the feeders the grey's got up to my left and headed
straight down the hill into wind, With Floyd now a flickering teardrop searing down using all
his quick wingbeats to give extra speed in the stoop . They all disapeared from view
over the brow of the hill I ran to try and catch if he had to throw up or if he contacted.
I kept running down the hill. No sign, this could be good ,, this could be real good,,Oh there
he is :( He came gliding across the bottom of the field I shouted he turned and came
into the lure. I headed back to my kids in the truck watching from the truck at the top
of the hill and talking non stop through the radios I left with them!!

[Cassini]

Well its been a while since I up dated this thread. Floyd has been doing well
and although not performing to his best at all of the time he has shown me
some real nice flights .

One of the best was on Dave Scotts ground where he mounted real high(700ft+) over a coverstrip
which we knew had Partridge in i took a long walk in from one end and Dave took the
other end I was about 15yrds in and thinking where are they??? I ran around like
a looney for a bit and managed to flush a Cock Pheasant which headed down the hill
over open ground to cover a few hundred yards away. Floyd came barreling down and bound
to the cock and brought him to ground. I ran as fast as I could to assist him but the cock broke loose and headed down the hill with Floyd right behind him. the cock bird made it.

Although unsuccessful this was the highest I'd seen from him all season and I was looking
forward to building on that.

The next few day's I continued to get out with floyd and he improved all the time.
taking a few more partridge and narrowly missing out on another Cock pheasant in
a long flight where he remounted to impressive pitches over me and Chris Wood who
acompanied me with his pointer Megan. Floyd knocked a cock down so hard it smashed
into a hawthorn tree so hard a shower of feathers exploded as it made contact with a larger branch. He again remounted and I walked out to a Snipe holding spot where
seven Snipe got up underneath him at about 800ft he never dipped a wing!!!
I called him down to a partridge body .

As The Norton Park BFC meet came I was looking forward to flying him with
Dave and his Pere x Sakers

The First Day we were there was in fact the 3rd day of the meet and we met
our party at the ground we were flying that day.

Brian Bird was our field master and we saw many good flights. The highlight for me
was seeing Sweetpea daves Pere x Saker fly. she shone as usual although I am
byass she flew the highest that day. Floyd handled himself well and mounted well
not going as high as he can do but good enough and he paid the price on letting a
cock pheasant go to long before starting his stoop and it made cover.
Bob wolstencroft was the only one that caught that day from a fine early flight.
you can see the shots I took on the Norton Park meet thread I started.

On returning Home I gave Floyd a few days off ...More for me than Floyd if I'm
honest!!

Wed 14th Jan Temp 2 oC

Weighed him in the field, He was 1lb 11 3/8 oz a little heavier than i would have
wanted but I was keen to get him back on the wing.

I decided to fly him on the Valley set at Aveton, I drove down the road from the top
barns where I weighed him and passed the other north side of the farm . Seeing the
the frost covered strip running down the the middle of the open wheat field on my right I
wondered whether to switch but decided to stick to my plan. 2minuets later I was stepping
out of the Landrover looking across the open stubble field into the sun and crisp morning
chill. I opened the back and stepped floyd up onto my fist , Attached his transmitter
and walked out , wondering all the time whether he would take to the morning flying that
we will be doing till the season burns out at the end of this glorious of months.

Floyd fidgeted on the glove, anticipating the game ahead . I looked across the valley to
the Conifer trees at the valley's head . There were a few Woodies in there but time was
pushing on and i needed him to be in the air. I removed the fastening clip and struck the
braces of his hood , He leaned forward tiptoeing on the glove i left the hood in place,
one last look around then tipped it from his face. The gold from the horizon glinted in his
eyes as he took in the scene. I cast him off only for him to land in the stubble . i walked
forward and he left the floor heading for the wood and the Pigeons just stirring from cold.
As they spilled from the tree's he quickened his wing beat flying in amongst them as a
puppy would chase butterflies from a meadow. He pressed one hard making it bail into the
trees. He continued on into the wind above the conifers and now high above the valley
he turned and climbing came back towards me. I felt my body relax so much so that I
hadn't realized how tense I must have been watching him have his play with the pigeons.
Floyd was now high above in the crisp air and i was approaching the top of the strip. He
now turned behind me at an impressive pitch keeping tight circles as I moved down the
strip. About twenty feet in a Cock Pheasant broke from behind me and headed for the
top hedge not far away. Floyd began his stoop but pulled out knowing it would make
cover. Damn I should move that feeder I thought to myself, If only he had been another
30 ft down the strip Floyd would have had a good crack at him. Floyd immediately
started to mount again above me I wasn't sure where the partridge would be in here
today and I crouched to not alarm them further. Floyd read the signal and remounted to
a higher pitch than before and when ready came over signaling his his readiness.
Not wanting to encourage this form of him training me, I stayed put ! He then powered off
over the other side of the valley climbing as if his life depended on it . As he got out over
the other fields I started to walk , Mistakenly I should have let him further latitude as he
immediately broke off climbing across towards me but not as high as I wanted or knew he
could have got out there.No matter he was on his way back now . I walked on thrashing
cover and generally disturbing the peace. Eight Partridge flushed from about five meters in
front of me and raced hell for leather down the field. Floyd rolled into a stoop but I
watched the Partridge he Honed in on one at the bottom of the stoop , hitting it with a
glancing blow which forced it to turn down the valley. Floyd threw up an turned on it too
tail chasing it towards the valley bottom and cover. He connected just before cover
and came to rest with his prize.

[Cassini]

16thJan Fri
I was due to meet up with Jamie at 7.00 – 7.30 but looking out into the blackness at 7.00 am showed it to be raining quite heavily. Jamie had text me shortly after saying that he would not be coming as he had a lecture at 9.00 and it would be cutting it too fine.
I chose to work for a while in the studio and see if the rain would clear away around nine. Sure enough it did so at 9.00 am I was on the road out to Aveton , I had decided to do the yabbacombe Side of the farm. On the two stubble turnip fields and hedgerow strip. As I pulled up in the field, Woodies spilled from the trees and headed out into the neighbours stubble field. I went ro the back of the truck and got Floyd ready with transmitters etc. I stepped him up and walked out into the stubble turnips accompanied by the bland staring of a group of sheep bleating monotonously at me thinking I was going to give them extra food. Wilf the farmer had moved them there a few days ago to start grazing the turnips, keeping them fenced to small sections of the field as they work their way through it like woolly locusts. The Woodies were still in the stubble field and I was uneasy about their proximity to where I’d be slipping Floyd. I twirled the lure as I walked towards them to force them to take off some singles dropped out from the conifers too and left much to my relief. I walked on and stuck the braces on Floyd’s hood and un hooded him. He looked about him and I gave him a little longer than I usually give him before casting him off into the wind. He took off low across the field heading for the top of the wood. As he flew out over the top my insecurities about him surfaced and I gave him a short shout to remind him of his role. He nonchalantly looked over his back as if to say yeah alright, alright stop worrying. Just over the top of the wood as I expected a Woodie to commit suicide coming out underneath him he turned back down wind towards and high over me. Then he powered out into wind over the valley, climbing not with his usual clippy wing beat but with a powerful driving rowing action.
As I walked on I thought I will give him more time today. I won’t run at any point or get animated in any way and see what happens to his attentiveness. Dave told me that he seems to need this animation going on underneath him but the more I fly him on my own the more I’m not sure of this. He is very quick to anticipate any behaviour that signals an imminent flush so I need to mix up my approaches with him to keep him guessing. As I got to the end of the first field I looked up, he was 400ft+ and making into the wind, out to my right. I moved to my right, getting below him and then started up through the cover strip from the bottom running next to the hedge dividing the two fields as I passed the first feeder a hen pheasant broke cover from the other side of the hedge. It flew out and then curled round, racing up the hedge on the other side towards the green lane. Floyd came streaking past above to my right following the path that the pheasant took. I didn’t see the impact but I heard it and saw his throw up about sixty yards further on from the other side. He winged over and was down in a flash. As I ran through the gap in the hedge three more hens and a cockbird flushed. I found him on his hen at the bottom of the hedge

[J.P]

Tomorrow mate, just you wait!
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1204/muteswanfliesarpjq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I'll catch it all on camera, stoop and all..:roll: :yawinkle:

[Cassini]

Tomorrow mate, just you wait!
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1204/muteswanfliesarpjq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I'll catch it all on camera, stoop and all..:roll: :yawinkle:

Yeah mate we will show those Canadian boys what catching a big white goose
is really about :D