The Pikers Pit

Went out with a mate for a look around some new ground he has permission to hunt. Very windy and nearly had to call it off as it makes it very difficult for the birds to manoeuvre. Its funny its not something you really think about as you normally see birds flying in the wind but they fly where conditions suit and take advantage of the wind direction. When you are trying to get a hawk to a certain spot in a field and to sit in the perfect tree to strike you don't make it easy on them! The harris hawk that belongs to my mate Mik is tough as nails and the years of training, fine tuned. We stuck the ferrets down plenty of burrows ("burries" to the Scots) until we eventually got a rabbit to bolt. The rabbit made it a lot further (50m) than they normally do but an impressive dive bomb and a split second later it was lights out. A real privilege to see this ancient sport and a master falconer at work. Shameless Plug. If you're ever in the Edinburgh area, give Mik a call at Edinburgh Falconry and Fishing for a top day out.

Good stuff.

Nice pics mate and sounds like a fun day out for you,I've been hunting with hawks for over 10yrs now and also use them in my job as pest control still get a buzz out of every day i spend with them

Very nice mate is that a red tail

The one on the rabbit is a Harris Hawk and the other one was some cross breed id never heard of. Fairy something? Not sure.

Maybe a ferratail does that sound familiar

davelumb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 13:33 -

Good stuff.

Not if you were the rabbit!

colinb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 22:59 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 13:33 -

Good stuff.

Not if you were the rabbit!

I wonder if these hawks could take white doves, Colin?

davelumb wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29 2018 08:52 -

colinb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 22:59 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 13:33 -

Good stuff.

Not if you were the rabbit!

I wonder if these hawks could take white doves, Colin?

Sparrow hawks do so I'm certain these would. I want a Harris Hawk although I really really really want a Goshawk.

colinb wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30 2018 01:07 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29 2018 08:52 -

colinb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 22:59 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 13:33 -

Good stuff.

Not if you were the rabbit!

I wonder if these hawks could take white doves, Colin?

Sparrow hawks do so I'm certain these would. I want a Harris Hawk although I really really really want a Goshawk.

Or failing a hawk a shotgun?

colinb wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30 2018 01:07 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29 2018 08:52 -

colinb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 22:59 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 13:33 -

Good stuff.

Not if you were the rabbit!

I wonder if these hawks could take white doves, Colin?

Sparrow hawks do so I'm certain these would. I want a Harris Hawk although I really really really want a Goshawk.

Or failing a hawk a shotgun?

wid wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28 2018 17:14 -

Maybe a ferratail does that sound familiar

Yeah thats the one. Its a bit of a beast, needs more training.

I used to use a falconer and his Harris Hawk to clear up the magies at nesting time.
When the bird was on the nest (the tail can be seen easily) the Harris would be sent to sit ontop of the bush and a long stick would be bumped into the bottom of the nest, off would go the magie and job done.
Even worked on Carrions, but the bird would scoot as soon as the Harris apeared, right old scrap they put up.
Also used a Gos on moorhens and rabbits, and where I now fish the keeper uses a Gos while dogging in the boundary fields before a shoot. Loveley birds but having to regularly dig them out of a big bramble after its snaffled a bunny can be annoying.

Using a falcon in the countryside can cause untold problems with the resident birds of prey, but I expect your friend already knows about it.

Thanls for posting.

Dogging in the boundary fields before a shoot sounds terrific mike!

Great pics , just finished reading h is for hawk about training a goshawk , my mate flies various birds its great to watch.

H is for hawk a new chapter on tonight bbc 2 7pm