Cosmo

[LanczSpringer]

I have just today collected my first bird a MHH.
Arrived home and spent some time manning, sat on fist after about 5 attempt and he has stayed there.

Weighed him at 16:30 (he wouldnt stand on the scales but he did sit :D )
at 600g (1lb 5) although his weight had been taken down a little by the breeder.

He does feel a little sharp but he has shown no intrest in food as yet.

Poppy my little cocker knows who's boss, suppose it was the good initial training from H4wka ;-)

I have managed to get the hood on him increasing the time upto about a min, will try longer tomorrow.

He tries to sit ob the glove is that normal? is it showimg that he is relaxed?
He wont sit on the bow as yet but i suppose that will also come with time?

all in all great first day, one that will stay with me forever!

p.s. sorry for any typos, iam typing one handed with "Cos" on the other :D

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7703/dscn1927edit5hi.th.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn1927edit5hi.jpg)

[LanczSpringer]

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3888/dscn1928edit3nd.th.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn1928edit3nd.jpg)

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1488/dscn1924edit1wn.th.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn1924edit1wn.jpg)

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/7190/dscn19304oj.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn19304oj.jpg)

Dont know whats up with the forum today, I had trouble loggin on ;-)

[Loopy]

What a stunning hawk................ congrats from Ben and I he looks fantastic! We are both looking forward to seeing him at Varmint's meet.

Ben says be careful about hooding him too many times in one session just in case. Is he parent or creche reared? Bring on the bunnies!!!

[LanczSpringer]

Thanks Lucy, I cant wait for the meet!

I am really looking forwards to it, i didnt try hooding too many time perhaps 4 max, couldnt belive how steady he is!

Cosmo won in the name stakes, Jen liked it, and the boss has final say!

He is a PR, 16 weeks old today, breed in an open fronted pen, with a GSP running around in the garden.

[Loopy]

Excellent. Cut the weight and get started.......He sounds a little trooper. Is he sqeeking and screaming yet?? You do realise that Cosmo is the name of the purple tweenie???? Thats going to look good on the IBR form, insurance and chipping details.

Lucy

[Tanith]

Great to read your thread.

You are both in for a fabulous year.

[Ninja-Jon]

Hi there LanczSpringer how is the training going with your new BOP? Hope everything is running smooth for you.

[HarrisHawk.1.]

nice bird you got there get him on bunnies lol

[LanczSpringer]

It's been a while since the last up date :roll:

Cos is still going well after all this time and I still enjoy flying him.

I've been reducing his weight over the last week or so and last night got him jumping to the fist and feeding on the fist.

Today I got the creance out, his response was great and I was tempted to take it off after the first flight but thought I wouldn't push it too much. I got him flying to the fist with the reward hidden. Last year he got to a stage where he would only fly to the fist if he could see the reward.

I'll knock that one on the head from the start this year :supz:

Tomorrow I'll have him flying loose then a hard training regime to get some fitness. There are still a few smaller bunnies about at the moment so I'd like to get him a nice early kill. Fitness will be the number one goal first though.

[BlackHawke]

got the first kill off the season under his belt yet ant?:supz::box:

[Ben C]

doubt it......PMSL

[LanczSpringer]

doubt it......PMSL

Kno b:wink:

The weathers been poor and I've been working away but he'll be out there tomorrow:supz:

[LanczSpringer]

Taking into consideration all the events going on this season which has limited my flying, Cosmo is on fire.

I managed to get out today with a good friend Dave Aldred, the weather was against us with strong winds and lots of rain.

However this year is the worst I've had for quarry numbers. I've not even any evidence of any rabbits on this patch I went on, We walked around for a good two and a half hours, in that time all I saw was two co ck birds and a hen with a woodcock and a hare for good measure.

The lack of quarry (rabbits) on my local land is really demoralising. Flying Cosmo at anything else is either unsporting or he has no chance. When I first got him there was an abundance of quarry now they have been eradicated either though disease or total persecution by others with guns :evil:

I think if this continues I might have to put rethink the game, there are lots of smaller possible quarry species around, (LBJ) or I can look at putting game birds down.

Next weekend is a BFC fieldmeet so there should be some challenging bunnies for him.

[K.Massey]

Ant have you been actively seeking land?

[LanczSpringer]

To be honest Kev, not for a while. There is in general a lack of rabbits on the Fylde coast, with a great number of small syndicate shoots taking up lots of potential land.

I suppose I should really get the glad rags on and get back out there looking for some more bunny land. I have access to quite a lot of land to fly on, however it's not land with lots of rabbits.

Ant

[K.Massey]

I suppose I should really get the glad rags on and get back out there looking for some more bunny land. I have access to quite a lot of land to fly on, however it's not land with lots of rabbits.

Ant

Ant I am constantly on the look out...yep you get quite a bit that ain't worth bothering with...but every now and then you find a gem.... another great tool is google earth...quite often to will see land layouts that you didn't know was there....also look for sand quarries.Robs letter is also a great option

[K.Massey]

This screams bunnies to me...and for working the dogs:supz:

[K.Massey]

This one also

[K.Massey]

I would also look at placed like this...the back of the quarry looks good...all reclaimed land ...with ponds too