HOW GOOD IS THE SPARROWHAWK ?

[Bullet_Jesses]

8) Back in Aug of “83” (when most of you were weans) I had acquired myself an eyass female spar. Having recently received a copy of North American Falconry and Hunting hawks from a relative in the states, I successfully trained her on the pole lure, in my back garden in Glengarnock, Ayrshire. After several weeks of training I decided it was time to take her on her first hunt. My home looked onto some great open fields. Along one side, ran the river Garnock. It was in the late afternoon and as she sat hood-less on my glove as we approached the rivers edge. I noticed a medium sized bird on a small sand bed. On seeing our approach this mysterious bird immediately took off downstream, about a foot or so above the water. It had a very rapid wing beat and made that pee wee sound, It was indeed a lapwing. It must have gone 25 to 30 feet before my spar bolted from the fist. She rapidly gained on the lapwing by the time it was about 60 feet away, smack in the center of the river. Realizing that the spar was on her tail the lapwing went into a shear vertical climb. My little spar continued to follow and was snatching at the lapwing continuously. Small puffs of feathers were floating down into the river. As the flight continued within full view, the spar bound to the lapwing about 25-30 feet above the water.As they both tumbled down into the river together, my heart missed a beat. Fortunately the water was moving slowly and I managed to wade out into the river (about 4ft deep at that point) By the time I got to her, she still had the lapwing in her grasp(well drowned). Upon fishing her out she appeared half the size from a few seconds earlier (soaking wet of coarse).It was indeed one of the best flights I have ever witnessed (and still is to this day).Just remember! This was her very first flight and considering she had never killed before that made it all the more special.She went on to became a great magpie hunter as well as having a few good wood pigeons to her credit.

Remember chaps! It’s not size that counts (although your wives or girlfriends might think different) ha! ha! It’s the tenacity, style and courage of the bird that is more important. I have had gyr’s stoop and smack ducks from 1500 feet or so, here in California, but nothing will ever beat that day in my home town in Scotland(I know! Would bring tears to a glass eye) ha! ha! .
A very dear friend and mentor of mine(when I lived there) Martin Connolly, once told me that, the best bird(s) he had ever flown were spars.Coming from a man who had in his possession Goldies, Peregrines and Goshawks, this was indeed a great compliment to this fearless little hunter.

[OutFlying]

Good description of a great day out. Flights like stick in your mind forever and it makes it hard for following hawks to match earlier achievements.

[BrianM]

welcome to the forum bullet jesses,,,,, do you ever come home for a holiday to dear old caledonia..lol

[Ben C]

Mr Bullet, I am only a mere slip of a beginner but I witnessed a similar such flight with a sparrowhawk. I wrote about it on another thread so I wont repeat it. Suffice to say, in my humble opinion it was the most tenacious and relentless flight I have ever seen. I lost my heart to that little critter, and have my soul firmly set on working my way towards a spar as a long term goal. And all from 35 seconds of flight! :lol:

But that is a long way off yet. Interestingly I have seen the equivalent in the aplomado flights on a video, but as they are currently at around £3000 in price (so I am told) and not bloody british as shall decline any temptation.

Nicely written as well

[Bullet_Jesses]

8) Does anyone still fly spars anymore? I have often thought of buying one here in the states, I know there are breeders here. Only problem is the climate, Goshawks don't do well, so I would suspect Spars wouldn't either.
Brian ! I might be home next year! Was back home a year past christmas.Never got a chance to go flying with anyone(lost touch)

[Ben C]

What about an aplomado, they are south american, you could just jump in the car :) :) :)

[Jastreb]

I had one of the best season last year flying mine(PICS ARE IN THE SHORTWINGS SECTION). I already prepaird all the details about this year quail season-I CAN'T WAIT TO START :mrgreen: !

[IAmTheWeasel]

Good luck, I have been in contact with Barry Olette on several occations and he is apparently the only guy breeding Sparrow hawks at the moment. I would love to have one too, but not at $900 each

[Isaac]

I would love to export as many spars as the U.S. wants if I could just figure the system out! If you have any info about it let me know...

[Isaac]

P.S. Any particular reason a thread about spars is under the longwings sections...? :rolleyes:

[North East Harris Hawker]

absolutely no idea why! ill move it when i get to my pc.
logged on through mobile phone at the moment .

[Tim Laycock]

HOW GOOD IS THE SPARROWHAWK!
My answer to this is-

How lacklustre does everything else seem(Gos excluded) whan you have been out with a properly made spar.

logged on through mobile phone at the moment .
Flash git!!! :mrgreen:

[Wightwings]

HOW GOOD IS THE SPARROWHAWK!
My answer to this is-

How lacklustre does everything else seem(Gos excluded) whan you have been out with a properly made spar.

logged on through mobile phone at the moment .
Flash git!!! :mrgreen:

dont encourage him Blacky........... :roll:

[Tim Laycock]

:lol:

[Jack Merlin]

HOW GOOD IS THE SPARROWHAWK!

I remember being asked to take a 12 year old out with my sparrowhawk once. I gave the lad a stick and told him what to do. We were blackbird hawking along the hedge rows in Gloucestershire. Ideal country and fantastic sport. But it needs a good beater.

When I got him home, his dad asked how he had got on. The boy was so excited he could not answer the question! He could not even speak! Takes quite a lot to render a 12 year old speechless.

I think that answers THIS question!<g>

[Tim Laycock]

I think that answers THIS question!

I dont think it does, I KNOW it does :D

My spar used to do the same to me when I was 12 :D

[Bullet_Jesses]

P.S. Any particular reason a thread about spars is under the longwings sections...? :rolleyes:

8) Me bad!!!!!!!!!!! This was my first posting on the Forum. I'm fully fledged and hunting on my own now. cheers Jim.C

[Wilfred]

This is a nice thread

[Barnaby]

nies introw maet welcum and join the sercus lol

[Alf]

Spars well there fun!
Hunt them well and there jaw droopingly good!
Have done and will continue to hunt these hawks till this body says no mate! Alf.

[FlyFisher]

going by the date jon this thread just realised its 4 years old (is this right)

[Steve.T]

P.S. Any particular reason a thread about spars is under the longwings sections...? http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_eyes.gif


Kats not been on yet......;)

[OutFlying]

going by the date jon this thread just realised its 4 years old (is this right)

Yes it was posted in 2005.

[Alf]

Still worth a reply though!:yawinkle: Alf.


Yes it was posted in 2005.

[OutFlying]

Still worth a reply though!:yawinkle: Alf.

But you read it in 2005 Alf, 4 years to type a reply :lol:

[Alf]

Jim it takes me time to think mate!:yawinkle: Alf.


But you read it in 2005 Alf, 4 years to type a reply :lol:

[OutFlying]

Jim it takes me time to think mate!:yawinkle: Alf.

Stop thinking of rats and Neils advanced driving techniques.

[Alf]

:lol::lol::lol:


Stop thinking of rats and Neils advanced driving techniques.

[Turumti]

8) Back in Aug of “83” (when most of you were weans) I had acquired myself an eyass female spar. Having recently received a copy of North American Falconry and Hunting hawks from a relative in the states, I successfully trained her on the pole lure, in my back garden in Glengarnock, Ayrshire. After several weeks of training I decided it was time to take her on her first hunt. My home looked onto some great open fields. Along one side, ran the river Garnock. It was in the late afternoon and as she sat hood-less on my glove as we approached the rivers edge. I noticed a medium sized bird on a small sand bed. On seeing our approach this mysterious bird immediately took off downstream, about a foot or so above the water. It had a very rapid wing beat and made that pee wee sound, It was indeed a lapwing. It must have gone 25 to 30 feet before my spar bolted from the fist. She rapidly gained on the lapwing by the time it was about 60 feet away, smack in the center of the river. Realizing that the spar was on her tail the lapwing went into a shear vertical climb. My little spar continued to follow and was snatching at the lapwing continuously. Small puffs of feathers were floating down into the river. As the flight continued within full view, the spar bound to the lapwing about 25-30 feet above the water.As they both tumbled down into the river together, my heart missed a beat. Fortunately the water was moving slowly and I managed to wade out into the river (about 4ft deep at that point) By the time I got to her, she still had the lapwing in her grasp(well drowned). Upon fishing her out she appeared half the size from a few seconds earlier (soaking wet of coarse).It was indeed one of the best flights I have ever witnessed (and still is to this day).Just remember! This was her very first flight and considering she had never killed before that made it all the more special.She went on to became a great magpie hunter as well as having a few good wood pigeons to her credit.

Remember chaps! It’s not size that counts (although your wives or girlfriends might think different) ha! ha! It’s the tenacity, style and courage of the bird that is more important. I have had gyr’s stoop and smack ducks from 1500 feet or so, here in California, but nothing will ever beat that day in my home town in Scotland(I know! Would bring tears to a glass eye) ha! ha! .
A very dear friend and mentor of mine(when I lived there) Martin Connolly, once told me that, the best bird(s) he had ever flown were spars.Coming from a man who had in his possession Goldies, Peregrines and Goshawks, this was indeed a great compliment to this fearless little hunter.


If I ever had to choose just one hawk to keep, it would be a passage spar.