Lost Tiercel Pere/Saker

[Hawkranger]

Dear All
Just returned from a week in caithness (Thrumster) were sadly my 4 x intermwed Pere/Saker took off on day 1. Spent 4 days tracking/triangulating and boxing to have the signal drop out. Did about 250 miles but for the life of me never once saw him. Contacted Police, IBR and anybody that would listen to me. He is 173MHZ channel 2 but the more i think of it the more i am inclined to belive the battery has failed. Any sighting or info would be appreciated.

Devastated.

[Hawkmaster]

Good Luck HawkRanger!

Was he maybe kite trained? This has now become ONE of my biggest reasons for kite training falcons.

[Kentish Falconry]

Good Luck HawkRanger!

Was he maybe kite trained? This has now become ONE of my biggest reasons for kite training falcons.

Kite training is always a good idea not only does it get your bird fit it also has the added advantage that a Falcon in the air will see it from miles away and if he/she knows there will be food around they should come back providing of course that it has not cropped up on a kill and can't be botherd to move. We also use refs whistles when a bird is well out of range to attract it's attention any method you can use to get your bird back the better
Terry:supz:

[Harrisii]

here is an email for a guy who bides in Sutherland with many falconry conections.
his name is Hugh Haggerty and he runs falconry holidays in north scotland.
an email to him to ask him to keep an eye out or to listen for info may help.
hope this is of use to you. hope you get her back, best wishes, colin.

highlandholidays@tiscali.co.uk

[Hawkranger]

Just had a phone call from the Police WO in Wick who confirms the hawk is on Dounreay site. Anobody know of any falconers in the area.?

[MickeyDredd]

Just had a phone call from the Police WO in Wick who confirms the hawk is on Dounreay site. Anobody know of any falconers in the area.?

Not that far north i'm afraid (other than Jack Merlin who I dont think visits this forum much these days). You could contact the estate you were hawking to see if there are any other falconers due to visit who could try to retrieve the bird for you.

You could try to contact Jack Merlin (Derry Argue) through his website which I think is www.adviegundogs.co.uk (http://www.adviegundogs.co.uk) although he is still a distance away in Easter Ross.

hang on, GaryB is from up that way also, I think. it says Highlands on his profile but I'm sure it used to say Caithness so he is probably your best bet - again not sure if he's still on here much.

Mike

[Jack Merlin]

I have already replied earlier today, by private email, offering to visit Dounreay and see if anything can be done.

[MickeyDredd]

Good man ;)

[Hawkmaster]

Yes I agree and I have already increased all involved's Reputations

[Gary.B]

We're working on it up here m8.

[Hawkmaster]

OK one of our plans and intention of the GoogleMap will come in handy right now. Checkout who is close by and maybe there are more eyes and ears?
http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/VBGooglemap.php

[Hawkranger]

The response from all involved with the forum has been fantastic. All that can be done is being done thanks to the help i have received from members of this forum. lets hope for the best outcome.

Thak you again!!

[Barry]

Hi Hawkranger,

I take it you were out with Lance the keeper on Ailsa's moor. What were you hunting? Crows probably. Anyway, I have hawked grouse there for several seasons (not '05 though as they had poor grouse stocks and did not hunt any). Over the years I have had birds go wandering and there seems to be a pattern. Birds go over beyond Guy Wallaces house where the geese are and many crows gather. My Gyr Saker, if not served quickly once at pitch would either go after the ducks in the very wet bit west of the falconers cottage or head slightly north east and hunt along the coast on the other side of the main Wick road, he even caught bloody Blackbird up there. The other place that draws them is to the north west where there is a windfarm off in the distance beyond the forrestry. Sadly the one bird that went off radar was a wild taken tiercel that was being flown by a guy from Ireland. He searched for four days and found the bird electrocuted along the inland road that splits the moor. Clearly all this could be of no use as birds go where they want, but more often than not our falcons would follow this pattern if they did go astray. Lance is a good guy and if any sighting is made of your falcon he will most likely get it in for you.
Good luck.
Barry.

[Gary.B]

Any news on this bird, I know there was another sighting since Dounreay, alot of people have been asking.