JENNA'S DIARY 2007- 2008

Sun 12th August 2007

Still in moult at me moment, on her last couple of primaries. Bringing her weight down at the beginning of September.

Sun 9th September 2007

Her weight was 2lb 11oz. She flew to me in the aviary for a tip bit after a while but she was nervous when I took hold of her jessies. She will only be fed every few days now to get her weight down quickly. Fed a rabbits head as she hasn't had food for few of days. Fitted new anklets and jessie's.

Thu 13th September 2007

Her weight was 2lb 8.5oz.  She flew to me in the aviary almost instantly. Fed 3oz of rabbit. Previous years I  dropped her weight down slowly, it took me ages to get her down to hunting weight. This year I'm going to get her weight down as quickly as possible and get her out hunting.

Mon 17th September 2007

Her weight was 2lb 6.7oz.  She flew to me in the aviary instantly. Fed 3 skinned and gutted D.O.C as she came across the garden to me instantly. Also wormed her using 2mg Panacure 2.5%. Manned her on the glove for an hour as I watched TV, she was very relaxed. Dropped over 4oz in a week.

Thu 20th September 2007

Her weight was 2lb 5.5oz.  She flew to my empty fist in the aviary instantly. Fitted her Tail mount and bell. Manned her on the glove for half an hour. Sprayed her with mite and lice spray.

Fri 21st September 2007

Her weight was 2lb 5.8oz.  Went for a walk around the Thomas's fields with the lamp for a manning session. Flew hard at the first rabbit 50 yards off, slammed into the cover but missed. After that she wasn't interested flew at a couple more but only about 50% effort and ignored a few. Returning to the fist instantly. Gave her 2 skinned and gutted chick, she still has a couple of ounces to lose.

Mon 24th September 2007

Her weight was 2lb 5.0oz.   Heavy rain and wind. Flew her a few times across the garden. Gave her 1 skinned and gutted chick with A1 Raptor. Getting the last bit of weight off always seems to take ages.

Wed 27th September 2007

Her weight was 2lb 4.7oz.   Went for a walk around the Thomas's fields with the lamp, full moon and a slight wind. Flew at the first 4 rabbits about 70% effort. After that she ignored a few due to her high weight and lack of fitness. Returning to the fist instantly. Gave her about 1oz rabbit. Got her to follow me back to the car across the grass fields while it was a full moon. Doing Jump ups on our next session to build up her muscles.

Sat 29th September 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.7oz.  Went for a walk around Tony's farm in the day. The cover was really thick she crashed into the cover for a rabbit and then a mouse but missed, after that she was hanging back a lot watching the cover more than me. Did 30 Jump ups about 15 foot high. Fed a couple of chicks.

Mon 1st October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.7oz.  Went lamping to the river. Had about 5 flights at rabbits which were on the way back to cover, she didn't have a chance of catching them.  She caught the 6th one after an 50 yard chase. First one of the season let her feed up on it straight away. She was great with me as I was breaking into it. Fed heart and lungs and a back leg and the bits I had left in my bag as we walked home. Norwich tomorrow for 2 days.

Rabbit Lamping 1

Thu 4th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 4oz.  Went lamping to Tony's a new farm, never been on it before. As soon as I got over the gate the neighbours dogs went berserk. Jenna got a bit upset. She flew at a rabbit  but missed it and didn't re-chase. Ended up losing her and turned to my Luksander receiver, never used it before. I was impressed found her straight away in some conifers 100 yards away. Got her back and moved away from where the dogs were barking. Only had one other slip. Fed her 1 1/2 chicks her weight is high but she hasn't had food since Monday.

Rabbit Lamping 1

Sat 6th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 4oz.  Went lamping for a few hours to the River and Thomas's fields. She had about 10 long slips, good exercise. She was unlucky a couple of times but her weight is still a bit high and she is only giving about 80% effort. She managed to get a 3/4 grown rabbit just before we got back to the car. Fed her up on it, about 3oz

Rabbit Lamping 2

Mon 8th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.8oz. Fed her 2 chicks legs.

Tue 9th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.5oz.  Went lamping with Charlie to the bumpy road, dark night and windy. I saw the difference in her weight on the first slip. She re-chased the rabbit 3 times before it got away. She caught 2 after that but then the grass started to get thicker on the fields. She had about 6 flights but she was grabbing the grass as it touch her feet and then punching the rabbits with her feet closed full of grass. She was re-chasing but the same thing kept happening. She started to get frustrated and tired. Managed to get one on the way back to the car and fed her up on it.

Rabbit Lamping 5

Thu 11th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 4oz. Fed her 2 chicks legs.

Fri  12th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.7oz.  Went lamping with Charlie and Scott to shrimps. Dark night, no wind at all. Had 5 flights caught 5. Fed her up on the 5th one, as we walked back to the car she caught another. 

Rabbit Lamping 11

Sun 14th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 4.2oz. Fed her a chicks head.

Mon 15th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 4oz. Raining and the forecast has given rain for the next couple of days so I went lamping to the river to work on her fitness. Within minutes she was soaked. Had a few long flights at rabbits, hard work for her when she is wet, flew back to me for tip bits. Fed her about a chick altogether. 

I'll have to reduce how much she eats when I feed her up until the cold weather kicks in as she's not dropping it quick enough.

Rabbit Lamping 11

Wed 17th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.3oz. Went to shrimps lamping, strong wind and pitch black had to keep flicking the lamp on to see where I was going. I fell 12ft down a banking and smashed the food tub, had to pick bits of plastic out of the meat all night . Bird caught the first rabbit we saw and as I ran over the rabbit ran through my legs, the birds open wings hit my legs and the rabbit escaped. She caught 2 more after that but they also got away and she ignored a couple. She didn't seem to be her usual self, she didn't have any go in her. When she caught one I broke into it and and let her feed on the meat around the rib cage. This seemed to make her a bit keener. I did the same on the 3rd one she caught  and on the 5th one I also let her have the heart and lungs. She missed and ignored a lot though. Forecast frost tonight so I gave her a good feed about 3oz. I don't know whether she got injured on the first one she caught. She hasn't had a good feed since Friday, more likely to be her energy levels are down. 

Rabbit Lamping 16

Fri 19th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.1oz. Went to bumpy road lamping with Darren and Charlie. No wind at all very quiet, as a result we didn't see as many rabbits as normal. It wasn't as dark as Wednesday night.  She missed the 1st rabbit which was about 80 yards off, she got back up in the air and caught a rabbit on the next field down another 80 yards off, which dragged her down its hole. I couldn't get my hand down enough to get hold of the rabbit and she ended up letting it go. Similar thing happened last year, I put my gloved hand down but couldn't feel anything because of the glove so I put my  other hand in felt the rabbits fur and grab it, as I was pulling it out the bird decided to get a better grip but ended up sinking it talons into me, very painful. The next rabbit she caught run underneath a log as Jenna grabbed it and she hit the log hard. I expected her to be knock out when I got there but she was ok and still had hold of  the rabbit. As we walked I heard the grass rustling at the side of me, I turned on the lamp and Jenna jumped down onto a rabbit. We walked a bit further and the same thing happened again. After that she started to pick which ones she would go for, any rabbits over 20 yards off she was ignoring any closer than that she would go for. So I only lamped the hard to catch rabbits. She ignored the first 5 I lamped before catching one after a good flight, we were close to the car and I wanted to reward her for the good effort so I fed her up on it.

Rabbit Lamping 21

Sun 21st October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.7oz went for a walk around Raymond's in the day. She followed on fine and her response was good until she got in the neighbouring farms wood. There's a few pheasant in it and she started to self hunt. Got her back onto my permission and she went for a rabbit which was running through the centre of a hedge but it was just too thick. Found a couple of holes which could be ferreted. 

22nd to 26th October 2007

In Belgium for 5 days, a friend is looking after Jenna and Taz the ferret

Sat 27th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 5.1oz. at 4pm. Too high for the ferreting trip I had planed on Sunday. Decided to go lamping Sunday night instead. No food

Sun 28th October 2007

I sorted out all of the equipment and the tip bits as the wind picked up. I was just about to get Jenna out and weigh her when the heavens opened. Gave it half an hour but it was still the same so I gave it a miss, I'll try again tomorrow. Didn't stop raining all night. Fed her a couple of chick heads.

Mon 29th October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.5oz. Went to Carform with Alan and Charlie. It was very windy and as soon as we got out of the car it started to rain, luckily it didn't  last long. Not many rabbits about. She grabbed one on its back as it was running towards cover, It dragged her about for a bit until I got there. We walked for about 20mins but didn't see a thing then the heavens opened. We decided to call it a night and made our way back to the car. I flicked the lamp on and saw a rabbit 80 yards away from us running across the field towards a wood . Jenna took off after it but I thought no chance with the strong side wind and being wet from the down pour, but she was catching up to it. She grabbed it as it ran into thick brambles and held it until I got there. Best flight of the season so far. I fed her up on it when we got back to the car. 

Rabbit Lamping 23

Wed 31st October 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.3oz. Went lamping with Lee and his mate to the River. No wind at all, didn't see a rabbits until we got to the far end. Birds behaviour was strange she was constantly flying from my fist into trees, she would come back to the fist instantly for no tip bits?  She flew across a field and followed a group of people took about 15mins to get her back. This place is well lit with street lights so she can see branches etc but she has never behaved like this when we have been here before. Got back it the car and went to Tomas's field saw more rabbits there she grabbed hold of the first one she went for but let go as the rabbit somersaulted. After that she had 5 slips all between 80 -120 yards she was pumping her wings all the way but the rabbits where getting to the cover seconds before she got there. She only had a few tip bits all night.

Rabbit Lamping 23

Thu 1st November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.1oz. Went lamping to shrimps. Slight wind and pitch black. Had a couple of slips before she caught one. We walked for ages after that without seeing any rabbits, then we saw the reason 2 foxes. Birds behaviour was spot on tonight. Caught 4 more then headed back to the car by this time she was a bit wet I could see she was getting tired, gave her 15min rest as we walked back then found an easy slip for her to catch and fed her up on it. Gave her a full crop

Rabbit Lamping 29

Sun 4th November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.2oz. Going to Scotland next week so I thought I would try out my new ferret at a set of hole I found at Raymond's. He's never been down a rabbit warren before. Bonfire night Monday, pointless going lamping for a few days. Jenna flew straight to the pheasant wood on the neighbouring farm and would not come to me for ages. I wouldn't mind if she bagged one but she slammed into about 6 pheasant and didn't catch any. Got hold of her jessies and went to the warren. Put the ferret down a hole but there was nothing in. Bird seemed fine with the ferret so I cast her in a tree. Ferret decide to have a nap in the warren when I put him down the 3rd hole and we had to dig it up. Called Jenna down to my fist but it wasn't instant so I decided to call it a day. Over the last 3 weeks the ferret has put on weight which is normal for this time of year but he has put on too much  and it's made him lazy. I have notice he doesn't run around the garden as much when I let him out of his hutch. I think the bird could do with being a bit keener as well if I fly her in the day.

Rabbit Lamping 29

Tue 6th November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.2oz. Went lamping to shrimps. Very strong wind and not as dark tonight, I could see where I was going and Jenna caught every rabbit by there heads. The only difference I could see with her at this weight was it was harder to get her off the kills. She caught 5 and with the wind each flight was fast. 

Fed her up on one out of my bag as we got back to the car. Gave her a full crop. 2lb 5.6oz when we got home

Rabbit Lamping 34

Thu 8th November 2007

Gale force wind. Go on Friday instead.

Fri 9th November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.5oz. Went lamping to shrimps with Darren and Phil. Very strong wind which got worse as the night went on, too windy really. Hardly any rabbits about and I could only slip her down wind. Managed to get 4 and fed her up on the last one. She got blown off a couple of times.

Rabbit Lamping 38

Sun 11th November 2007

Went to Scotland. Went deer stalking to the quarry with Paul and got a Roe deer. Forgot to lift the chicks out of the freezer so we had no food to feed the birds and ferrets.

Her weight was 2lb 2.8oz. Went lamping around Toms farm. Walked  for over an hour didn't see one rabbit. 

Rabbit Lamping 38

Mon 12th November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.3oz. Went ferreting in Toms wood, there's been a lot of rabbits here previous years.

All the warrens where unused and I didn't have any pick up pieces at all. Walked half way through the wood and Jenna dropped on a Hare. Fed her up on it, at least we had something to feed the birds on.

Took Paul's bird to the farm next to the railway line but same again. So we went stalking with Billy and Dave and Paul shot a Roe Deer 

Rabbit Lamping 38      Hare 1

Tue 13th November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.0oz. Went lamping on Charles's farm. Bird caught the first one we saw then started to act as if she wasn't that keen, she was chasing but only about 80% effort. She was fed Hare yesterday. She caught one more which had the signs that it was just starting with mixy. Only saw a few.  

Rabbit Lamping 40      Hare 1

Wed 14th November 2007

Went to Toms farm, me and Paul shot 50 wood pigeon. Dave and Billy took us out foxing at night. Lamped from the land rover for 2 hours and only saw one fox which Billy shot. In all that time we only saw 3 rabbits

Thu 15th November 2007

Went to Toms farm, me and Paul only shot 12 wood pigeon didn't see many today. At night it was foggy so we decided to have an early night and get to Stewarts farm for 6am and do a morning stalk

Fri 16th November 2007

Got to Stewarts farm at 6am Stalking stayed until about 9. Didn't see any deer so we went back to the cottage for a sleep. Foggy night 

Sat 17th November 2007

Dropped off a create of Stella to each farmer and headed home in the afternoon

Sun 18th November 2007

Fed  3 chicks. My wife is having an operation on Monday so I spent the day with her.

Mon 19th November 2007

Lesley was fine after her op and was told she could go home that night.

Tue 20th November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 1.0oz. Went lamping with Charlie to the bumpy road. It was spitting when we got there. Bright night could see with out the lamp. Bird chased the first rabbit we saw to the right of us, missed it and landed on top of an embankment. I lamped another rabbit to the left and she took off from the banking and caught it. As she was low I gave her its heart and lungs. Shortly after that she caught another as it was running  back to its warren. She had hold of it by its back legs I don't know if she got kicked but after that she wasn't that keen and completely ignored rabbits for about half an hour. As she started to take notice of the rabbits again the rain started to become heavy. She caught one more but by that time she was soaked and struggling to fly. Only saw a few.  Fed her a full to the brim crop.

Rabbit Lamping 43      Hare 1

Thu 22nd November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.0oz. Went lamping with Charlie to the bumpy road, took his mate Carter who turned up with the noisiest jacket I have ever heard. It was a full moon and a quiet night, no wind at all. For 20 minutes every rabbit we saw was sat next to there holes. I got Carter to take his coat off and wear it under his jumper it made a big difference the next rabbit we saw the bird nailed. She then had about 6 slips, she grabbed all of them but only managed to keep hold of one. She ignored a few as we made our way back to the car. Just fed her what tip bits I had left.

Rabbit Lamping 45      Hare 1

Sat 24th November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.8oz. Went lamping to the River. it was raining light on and off all night. Jenna chased 2 rabbits which both made it to cover just before she caught up to them. Only saw them two rabbits. Just fed her the tip bits I had, 2 chicks.

Rabbit Lamping 45      Hare 1

Mon 26th November 2007

In Exeter for a couple of days with work gave her a rabbits head and liver.

Wed 28th November 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.5oz. Went lamping with Charlie to Shrimps. Bit windy and fairly dark. Had a few slip's into the wind at rabbits heading back to their warrens at full speed but she couldn't catch up to them in time. It had rained hard all day and by now her tail and primaries were soaked. As we turned back with with wind behind us Jenna caught the first one by it back and got dragged about a bit before getting a foot on its head. She traded it straight away for a chicks leg. Shortly after she had hold of another but didn't keep hold of it. Didn't see any after that for about 15mins then Jenna had a 100 yard flight, she had hold of it twice but it managed to get away. She then caught one with out the lamp as it went behind a hill. She also traded it instantly. She had hold of a couple more as we made our way back to the car but she didn't keep hold. Fed her up on the second one she caught at the car. I notice her jessies are getting a bit stiff  I'll change them for next time Put her bath in the aviary as her feathers are a bit grotty.

Rabbit Lamping 47      Hare 1

Sat 1st December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.5oz. Went for a walk to the River with Charlie. Warm sunny day and no wind. Beating the bramble produced 4 rabbits. Jenna managed to get the second one. The cover was too thick on the other rabbits for her to get at them. She also went for 2 moorhens which dived and came up in thick reeds. Found a few well used warrens, I'll have a go with the ferret next week end. Notice the transmitter had come off on the way back to the car. Found it up a tree covered in ivy. Fed her on the rabbit she caught back at the car. Birds behaviour and response was excellent.

Rabbit Lamping 47  Day 1   Hare 1

Mon 3rd December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 1.7oz. Went lamping with Alan to the Moss. 8mph wind. Got the first rabbit we saw as it ran back to the wood. The second rabbit was in a spud field when Jenna went for it, she just missed it as it jumped into the next row of potatoes. She didn't re-chase I think she lost sight of it straight away. Jenna then missed a couple as we headed over to Tony's farm one did a back flip as she grabbed it. As we got up to the farm the neighbours dogs started barking Jenna got a bit edgy, she flew at a couple of rabbits but wasn't that keen. As we left the area with the dogs and the bird settled down I spotted a rabbit going through a field full of dead thistles. Jen caught it by its back as it went under a bush. I grabbed hold of it by its head and it bit me taking a chunk out of my finger. It was more painful than a talon going in. I let her have a good feed on it and let her pull on a front leg as we walked to the car.  

Rabbit Lamping 49  Day 1   Hare 1

Wed 5th December 2007

Too windy to fly fed her 1 chick. I'll go tomorrow if the weather is ok.

Thu 6th December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.7oz. Gales and pouring down outside.  I'm out on Friday so I wont be able to fly her. Did 100 jump ups in the house for 2 chicks.

Fri 7th December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.2oz. Got home at 1am, it was dry and hardly any wind so I decided to get my stuff together and go lamping whilst I could. I went to the bumpy road.  Bird had 5 flights and got 4 rabbits. Jenna did well to keep hold of them, the first one dragged her into a bush and one did a summersault as she grabbed hold of it which caused her to let go but as soon as the rabbit landed she grabbed it again. Fed her up on the 4th one. I wasn't out very long. I got pulled by the police for a routine check on the way home.

Rabbit Lamping 53 Day 1       Hare 1

Sun 9th December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 2.5oz. Went for a walk to the River. Sunny day. Beating the bramble produced 3 rabbits. Jenna got the first two but the brambles were too thick on the third rabbit. Fed her on a rabbit she caught back at the car. Lots of dog walkers about. Birds behaviour and response was spot on.

Rabbit Lamping 53  Day 3   Hare 1

Tue 11th December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3oz.  I went lamping to the bumpy road with Charlie. Quiet night with no wind. Bird caught the first one a hundred yards away. She then caught one in long grass, I could tell she had hold of it because I could see her head zig zagging above the grass as the rabbit was dragging her but by the time I got there the rabbit had gone and she was left clutching a load of grass. I didn't see the second one she caught, Jenna just took off and nailed one about 25 yards away. We had a lot of flights but most of the rabbits were sat on their holes. We got two more and I gave her a good feed back at the car.

Rabbit Lamping 57 Day 3       Hare 1

Thu 13th December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.4oz. Starting to get really cold so I'm pushing her weight up slightly.  I went lamping to Shrimps. Freezing cold with a slight breeze. First field we came to was covered in rabbits but the one Jenna went for was sat next to its hole and just as she got up to it the rabbit was gone. She then caught the next 4 we saw but by this time her feathers where damp and muddy. We had a few more flights but she was struggling. Fed her up on the 5th one and let her feed on it back leg as we walked back to  the car.

Rabbit Lamping 62 Day 3       Hare 1

Sat 15th December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 4oz. Went for a walk to the River with Charlie and Scott and took the ferret. Frosty sunny day with no wind . We bolted a rabbit from the first warren which Jenna got and dug one up which the ferret had nailed. As we walked through the bramble to another warren  Jenna caught another which was sat out. We also got one more from the second warren which was a good chase through the trees. As we walked back to the car she saw a mallard which dived as she went for it, as she turned to have another go she saw a moorhen which she caught in the reeds. I would have preferred the duck. Fed her its head and the bits of chick I had left in my bag. I don't want her weight going up any more, her behaviour was ok but I could tell she was on the high side. 

Rabbit Lamping 62  Day 6   Hare 1    Moorhen 1                                                                             Ferret 1

Monday 17th December 2007

Her weight was 2lb 3.4oz. Went Lamping with Charlie to a farm in Hale which runs parallel with the river Mersey estuary.  Because of the moon It was a bright night. We lamped five large fields without seeing any rabbits. We then came to the 40 ft drop which runs all the way up the side of the river. At the bottom of the 40 ft bank is a strip of  marsh grass about 30 ft wide, then the distance to the water was about 200ft of mud flats. I lamped down on the grass and saw a rabbit running back to the bank about 100 ft to the right of us, Jenna went after it but as she got half way the rabbit had gone. I called her back to the glove and walked up the banking for a couple of hundred feet and had another look. Jenna took off, I though she had spotted a rabbit in the grass but she flew passed it and was heading towards the water. I shone the lamp to see what she was going for and at the edge of the water at the end of the lamps range I could just make out a couple of wading birds.  As she got up to them they took off and headed straight out into the estuary which is 5 miles wide at this point. I constantly whistled to try to turn her but she carried on going and we lost sight of her. I got the receiver out and didn't get a sign. I new by that she had gone into the water and the batteries were shorted out. I phoned a friend to find out about the tide and was told  it would start coming in at 12pm that gave us 2 hours. We made our way down the bank and as Charlie waited I headed out into the thick mud.  The mud in some places was over my boots it was nerve-racking but I had to get to the edge of the water to see if she had managed to reach the side. When I got there the colour of the water was the same as the mud. There was no sign of her, I threw a piece of weed in to see how fast the water was flowing, it was roughly 5 times faster than I walk. I followed the river down stream for miles but didn't find her. I was really gutted I didn't want to stop looking but the tide was heading in and my lamp was dying. I don't think she would have lasted very long in the freezing cold water. She was a cracking bird, I'll really miss her.