Eve diary 2008-9

EVE'S DIARY 2008 - 2009

Female Harris Hawk.1st Season

Jenna's Diary 2007 - 2008

Jenna's Diary 2006 - 2007

Bow Eagle Owl Diary 2008

2007

EVE'S DIARY 2008- 2009 her 1st season

Before you get your bird it is a good idea to prepare a training routine. There’s more than one ‘right’ way to train a bird, you need to pick which way suits you the best and stick to it.

Because I’m training a Harris Hawk I need to avoid the bird seeing me as a food source to prevent imprinting and screaming. The hawk should see me as a source of opportunities to hunt for its own food. To do this I need to get her hunting as soon as possible and after the initial training avoid feeding her myself. The bird will get most of its tidbits by moving away from me. Click here to see my full training routine

This page contain hunting pictures. Do not scroll down the page if this will offend or upset you

Click here to go to the latest entry In my diary

Day one picking her up

Tue 15^th July 2008

Picked her up from Phil’s at 17 weeks old. Checked her over and she was in perfect condition. I am really pleased. Fitted the anklets and leg bells. My hood needs altering. The beak opening is too big she could see. Used Phil’s hood as we fitted her out.

Brought her home tried to get her to stand on the fist for 10 minutes so I could weigh her but she wouldn’t so I put her on the bow perch on the lawn. She bated a few times then stood on the grass staring at the jesses. As it started to get dark I hooded her with insulation tape temporarily making the beak opening smaller and weighed her. 2lb 6.6oz after the hood weight was deducted. Took her to the aviary and bowed her down after giving her a spray with anti mite.

First 10 days in the Aviary

Wed 16^th July 2008

Had a look at her on CCTV I don't think she moved a muscle all night she was still stood in the same position on the floor. Offered her 6 gutted chicks with vitamins on at 8am tied on the draw. Took them out at 8.30am she didn’t even look at them. Offered her the same at 6.30pm, she looked at them after 10 min’s. Took them out at 7pm. She didn’t see me on either occasion and the whistle was blown as the draw was inserted.

Thu 17^th July 2008

Had a look at her on CCTV, she was still stood on the floor. Offered her 6 gutted chicks with vitamins on at 8am tied to the draw. Took them out at 8.30am she was looking at them but didn’t move towards them. Offered her the same at 6.30pm. Took them out at 7pm. If she wont eat the food in a quiet aviary I would have had no chance on the fist. She didn’t see me on either occasion and the whistle was blown as the draw was inserted

Fri 18^th July 2008

Offered her a rabbits leg and 2 chicks at 8am. Took them out at 8.30am she’s still not interested. Offered her rabbit leg and 2 chicks at 6.30pm. Took it out at 7pm later I put her on the lawn for an hour whilst I changed her water, she was constantly bateing.

Sat 19^th July 2008

Offered her 6 chicks at 8am. She ate 3 chicks then moved away from the feeding draw. Took them out at 8.30am. She is starting to get the idea and hungry. She went 3 days with out food

Sun 20^th July 2008

Offered her 3 chicks and a rabbits back leg at 9am she ate the chicks and a few mouthfuls of rabbit.

Mon 21^st July 2008

Offered her 6 chicks at 8am, she jumped on the feeding draw straight away and ate 3 ½ chicks. Removed the draw at 8.35am after she had left the draw. Put her on the lawn for an hour in the evening to change her bath water she bated a lot.

Tue 22^nd July 2008

Offered her 4 Turkey poults gutted with vitamins at 7am, she ate 2. Removed the draw at 7.30am while she wiped her beak on the perch. She never ever mantels when she's feeding.

Wed 23^rd July 2008

Offered her 4 Turkey poults gutted with vitamins at 7am, she ate everything. Removed the draw at 7.35am.

Thu 24^th July 2008

Offered her 5 Turkey poults gutted with vitamins at 8am, she finished eating at 8.40am everything was gone apart from 1 leg. For the past few days she has stood on the round concrete filled tubes at the sides of the bow perch. The next time she eats will be on my fist. Put her on the lawn for ¼ hour after tea whilst I changed her water and brushed the aviary she kept bateing. I then spent ½ an hour getting her to stand on the fist to get her used to the idea. Stood her on the bow when I put her back in the aviary, she stayed on it as I move away low and slow and as I closed the door.

On Friday, day 10 / Start of training feeding on the fist

Fri 25^th July 2008

Checked her on CCTV in the morning and she was stood on the tubes at the sides of the bow perch again. Her weight was 2lb 3.5oz. Sat in the garden, it took 25 minutes before she stood on the fist long enough to offer her the large slashed piece of rabbit I had ready in my bag. She bated a few times and was more interested in me than the food. After 30 min's I hooded her and removed the food. Put her on the bow in the garden she bated a lot.

Don't like manning too much until the bird feeds off the glove and starts to accept you but I manned her in the house for an hour to get her used to me a bit. Hooded her a few times, at one point whilst hooded she attacked the glove footing and biting it.

Sat 26^th July 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.7oz. in the morning. When she was bateing she would get back onto the fist herself. She stood on my fist the whole time the food was offered. She kept looking at the food but wouldn't lower her head. After 30 min's I pegged her out in the garden until it got too sunny then put her back in the aviary.

Her weight was 2lb 2.1oz. in the evening. Offered her rabbit for 30 min's. Six times she looked at it and started to lower her head. As she got 2" off taking a bite she would look at me as if she had forgot I was there, panic and bate. She does the same when the hood is removed.

Sun 27^th July 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.7oz. in the morning. I thought she would eat this session after dropping her head yesterday but she reverted back to not even looking at the meat and bateing a lot. I noticed a small damp patch on one of her anklets it looked like she had lost a couple of scale off her leg probably through bateing so much. I replaced the anklets with a thinner softer leather and made them narrower. I washed the area with a solution of 250 parts water to 1 part F10 CL disinfectant then put antiseptic cream on. I will only put her on the bow perch in the aviary instead of the garden, she doesn't bate as much in there.

Her weight was 2lb 1.1oz. in the evening. Offered her rabbit, after about 25 min's she dropped her head and had a mouthful. She ate the lot 2.5oz but it took her about 15 minutes she didn't rush. Took her in the house and manned her for 4 hours she was like a different bird more relaxed preening, leg up and at one point eyes closed. She was still a bit wary when I moved my hand but she didn't bate even when we walked around the house. Her response to food was quite slow she will need a slight weight reduction I think to get her to do things instantly. Her leg had dried out a bit.

The day after she feeds on the fist. Jump to the fist

Mon 28^th July 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.7oz in the evening. Offered her a chick on the glove, she ate it when she settled down after a couple of minutes. Put her on the T perch in the garden and tried to get her to jump for a poults leg and back. After about 25 min's and a few near miss stretches she grabbed the glove with one leg and ate the food with the other leg still on the perch. I moved my hand so she had to put the other leg on the glove then tossed a leg on the floor. She bated past it. I finished by giving it to her on the glove and then manned her for the rest of the night. She wasn't as settled tonight. Her leg looks the same, Im going to the vets to get it check out tomorrow, I have also found a talon puncture wound at the bottom if her foot.

Tue 29^th July 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.5oz at 1pm I put her in the travelling box (TB) for the first time and went to the vet Molly Varga in Manchester. She said, what I thought were missing scales was bruising and the surface wasn't broken, she put a padded silicon plaster over it. She gave me a weeks course of Noroclav antibiotic 250mg twice a day for the talon puncture marks and gave me 2 doses of panacure 0.18mg, one for now and then another in 2 weeks time for worming £35. I made some bungee jesses, the one for the bruised leg is a fraction longer.

Her weight was 2lb 1.4oz at 6pm gave her a poults head and ribcage with the medicine pushed into the throat. She ate it but wasn't interested in jumping to me. Manned her for 4 hours stroking her with a feather then put her in the travelling box at night. She went in ok. Noticed the bird twitching her head a lot when she's on the fist? Having to feed her twice a day is going to be bit awkward to control her hunger. Her food will have to contain no castings while she is being fed twice a day.

Wed 30^th July 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.3oz at 8am , she flipped as I took her out of the TB. Took her to the bow in the aviary where I had placed a poults head and neck which held the tablet.

Her weight was 2lb 1.2oz at 6pm fed her a chicks head with the tablet in on the glove. She wasn't even leaning for the food as I tried to get her to jump to the glove for 15 min's. Manned her for 3 hours. She not bothered when I touch her feet. Put her in the TB at night, she went in fine.

Thu 31st July 2008

At 8am took her out of the TB (bated) and put her on the bow in the aviary where I had placed a poults head which held the tablet. At 6.30pm she was 2lb 1.9oz but she'd had a bath during the day and was still slightly damp. She ate a poults head on the glove instantly then jumped to the fist for a neck and ribcage after about 15 minutes but wouldn't jump again. Im giving her too long to come and getting two small meals each day with her medication is taking the edge off her hunger. Had a good 4 hour manning session, cleaned her feet and managed to change her leg dressing with one hand while she was sat on the glove, she wasn't bothered at all. Put her in the TB a few times and walked around the house and garden a lot.

Its hard to get the accurate weight of the bird unless the swivel is in exactly the same position each time, slightly up or down makes a big difference. The bird isn't 100% steady yet so I wouldn't put her on the scales with just her jesses on. I rigged up a dog clip fastened to the T perch on my scales so I can remove the leash and as Eve stands on the perch attach the dog clip to the swivel before letting go of her jesses. The scales are zeroed with the dog clip so I just have to deduct the swivel weight 0.4oz. I can grab hold of the perch if she bates.

Fri 1st August 2008

She came out of the TB perfect, stepped onto the glove. Her accurate weight was 2lb 1.3oz at 8am. Gave her the medicine in a poults head on the glove, she ate it a soon as it touched the glove. Tried to get her to jump to me for a couple of minutes but she showed no signs of wanting to, so I put her on the bow in the aviary. At 8pm she was 2lb 1.1oz gave her the head and rib cage she wouldn't jump so I just manned her. Found that the head twitch she keeps doing only happens when I'm talking. Its like a party trick if I ask her a question she will always shake her head saying no. Put her in the TB at 11pm.

Sat 2nd August 2008

She came out of the TB perfect, her weight was 2lb1.2oz at 7am. Fed a poults head and lower back then put her on the bow in the aviary. I am in Whitby until Sunday night due to the wife booking a trip. Lorraine fed her a head with the tablet in at 6pm.

Sun 3rd August 2008

She spent the night in the aviary, Lorraine fed her a tablet in a head at 10am. She was 2lb 0.3oz at 8pm. After a head was eaten off the glove she jumped to me 5 times the length of the leash instantly. She was going for the tidbit I flicked on the floor after she had eaten the food on the glove but before getting the food she would try to escape. She ate 1 poult

After she’s Jumped to you. Increasing the distance

Mon 4th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb1.3oz at 8am. Offered her a poults head on the grass, after a while she jumped down for it but then saw her chance for freedom and went for it. I kept hold of the leash until she stopped, she then walked over and ate the head. She bated again as I went to pick her up. Put her in the aviary for the day.

Her weight was 2lb 0.2oz at 6.30pm after weighing her I put her on the bow perch in the garden and got her to step onto the fist for the poults head. I attached the creance and got her to come 1 foot, as she finished eating I tossed a leg on the floor, she looked at it but wouldn't go for it. I put her back on the perch and with the leg on the floor next to her she came 2 then 4 then 8 then 12 then 16 feet instantly hitting the glove hard. She doesn't seem to like going on the floor for food? she had one poult.

I took her for a 2 hour walk around the fields, along a river and through some thick dark woods, she coped well with it all. We saw a few dog walkers, I put the hood on her as they came towards us when they were about 40 meters away then un-hooded her after they had gone past us about 30 meters off so Eve could watch the dog moving away from her. She only bated 5 times throughout the whole walk, three times at wood pigeon and twice at rabbits, looking good. Manned her for another hour at home then put her it the TB for the night.

Tue 5th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 0.5oz at 8am. She's going in and out of the TB brilliant now and I've never had to bribe her with a tidbit. Offered her the last tablet in a poults head and neck. She can have some casting tonight. Her weight should be lower tonight, hopefully she will go for the tidbit on the floor.

Her weight was 2lb 0.1oz at 6pm. She has started to sit on her bow perch instead of the floor and she didn't bate when I picked her up. Put her on the T perch at one end of the garden and she came 10, 20, 30, 40 , then 50 ft twice instantly, a couple of times she came as I was walking away. She wouldn't go down onto the floor for a tidbit after she had landed on the glove, I don't know why. She had 3oz of rabbit with fur. Now her response is good I'm going to increase her weight to see at what weight her response starts to fade. She has never flown more than a few feet before and isn't very experienced, her flying reminds me of a plain making an emergency landing as it runs out of fuel.

Went to the Welsh hawking club meeting, only got home late so Eve spent the night in the aviary. Got a new albino hob ferret.

Wed 6th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 0.7oz at 6pm. She was sat on the bow again and she hasn't been bateing, I could undo the knots on the leash without having to used my teeth. She stepped onto the glove fine. Took her to the foot ball pitches to do some creance work but when we got there a football match was taking place so we went for a walk around some paddocks to introduce her to horses. She batted at some ducks as they took off. As we got back to the car it started to pour down. I drove back to the football pitches, the game was still on and it was torrential rain. Got Eve out of the TB and sat in the front of the car with her for 30 minute until the rain had eased off. Put her on a goal post and with the rain and a match going on behind us she came 40 foot instantly. I put her back on the post and walked away, as I got to the 40 foot mark she hit me in the back of the head then made her way back to the goal post, I whistled and offered her the glove, she turned mid flight and landed on my fist. My fault I removed her bells when she bruised her leg to reduce the pull on her anklets. I got her to come 60ft then 80ft then 100ft then 120ft instantly, I kept my eye on her as I walked away. She had 3.3oz of poult. Didn’t try giving her a tidbit on the floor it was too wet. We had a walk round the woods and fields for an hour. She didn't bate at the rabbits we saw but by this point we both looked like drowned rats. When we got home the first job was to fit a leg bell then we sat for an hour drying off. Put her in the TB when she was dry. I'll try her with the dummy bunny.

Thu 7th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.2oz at 6.30pm. Fitted a plectrum with the bell and telemetry clip then went to the football pitches. Got Eve to fly 60 foot to the glove which she did instantly. I then hooded her and set up the dead rabbit so it was in cover and the line went round a goal post so when my helper Susan pulled it the rabbit would move away from us. Because of Eve's reaction to the live quarry we've seen, I thought I would set up the bunny without introducing it to her first to see what she would do. She's obviously been fed a good varied diet at the breeders, full rabbits, pigeon, ducks, quail etc, (Thanks Phil). I unhooded Eve and walked towards the rabbit, as we got 50 ft off it I shouted HO, the signal for Susan to start running. Eve went after it as soon as the rabbit appeared from the cover and nailed it after a fast flight. I move in slowly and low with a tidbit on my glove, she tried to fly off with it a couple of times. I knelt on the creance and started to pull bits off the carcass for her to eat. I struggled a bit to get her to release the ratchet foot grip she had on the rabbits head. Set the bunny up in a different location and tried again, she wasn't as keen this time, probable due to how much she had just eaten but she eventually took off after it. I helped her feed on the carcass again then cut off a back leg and got her to step up onto the glove for it. She had 6oz of food, I weighed her back at home after I had dried her of with the hair drier. She will spend the nights in the travel box until I free loft her.

Flying free / Hunting

Fri 8th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.7oz at 6.30pm. She was a bit jumpy when I picked her up. Took her to Raymond's put her on a fence post, she flew to me instantly so I put the flying jesses on. I put her on a post and walked, she followed once then went for a coot in the middle of a pond. The coot dived and Eve ended up in the water. I went in and fished her out. Great start we had only been out 5 minutes and both of us were soaked. Kept her on the fist and had a walk round. Saw a rabbit sat out, 10 yards away from a horse but she wasn't interested, she wouldn't take her eye of the horse. Got her to fly to me a few time just for fitness. Manned her in the house after drying her.

Sat 9th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.8oz at 4.30pm. It rained all day up to 4.15pm. Took her to the river and put her up a tree as I started to beat some really thick brambles she came down to my arm. I put her back in a tree and she followed but she only flew in front of me a couple of times when she did she got a tidbit but she didn't click on.

After 30 min's we were both soaked due to the drips off the leaves and me walking through thick cover. Saw one rabbit but Eve ignored it. I put the hood on her, set the dummy bunny up in cover and put her up a tree. I started to beat as I pulled the rabbit. She nailed it straight away. I fed her from it and gave her a few tidbits as well. She tried a couple of times to drag the bunny off into the cover. It started to rain on the way back to the car. She had 3.5oz

Sun 10th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.4oz at 5.30pm. Very strong wind but at least it was dry. Went to Raymond's and put her on a post, she was following but only when I called her and then she would try to land on my glove. As she was on the glove she spotted a rabbit and slammed into sheep wire trying to get at it. She freaked out as we went through a field with the horses when they came over. After that she ignored me for a while. On the way back to the car I gave the pond a wide birth. Eve was sat on a post as I called her she was looking directly down at a clump of grass and ignoring me, I thought it must be a mouse. I walked over to her and kicked the grass to my amazement a coot took off, Eve also took off after it as I shouted hoe. I don't know if me shouting scared her but at that exact point she seemed to jump and then jilted the chase. Finished on the swinging lure and a constant whistle. She had 3oz of poult.

Mon 11th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.3oz at 7.00pm. Went to Baxter's farm for the first time. Walked with Eve on the fist, there's not many trees or hedges, the fields are separated by drainage ditches. Walked for 20 min's with out any action. As we changed direction Eve started to get really stressed out constantly bateing, beak open and panting. This went on for about 15 minutes and I couldn't work out why until I saw in the distance about 2 miles away a wind turbine spinning fast. I put the hood on her and walked to a place where the propeller's were hidden by trees and took the hood off. She was fine until we could see the propeller's again, then she started to bate. We change direction so I was in the way of her seeing it and she settled down. We didn't see any quarry so I finished off with the swinging lure as it started to rain. she had 3.5oz of poult.

Tue 12th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.1oz at 5.30pm. Cheshire hawking club meeting tonight so I just did 50 jump ups calling her to the fist then flicking a tidbit on the floor. She wasn't coming instantly, it took about 30 minutes to do 50, she had 4.5oz, she didn't pant at all due to the gaps between jumps. BBQ & bring a bird night at the club, because of the rain the meeting and eating took place in side and we couldn't take the birds in, shame it would have been good manning. The bruised dead scales have started to peel off her leg.

Wed 13th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.1oz at 6.30pm Took her to Tim's her response to me was brilliant. I was calling her to the glove and after a while flicking a tidbit on the floor, as soon as she had eaten it she came back to the glove on her own accord. A couple of times I put her on a post and walked towards a tree, I pointed where I wanted her to go and gave a pip on the whistle and she flew past me and landed where I was pointing. Don't know if it was a fluke but she was rewarded straight away. She spotted a hare and gave chase on two occasions, both times she gave up when she got close to them. She also chased 2 rabbits but they got to the warrens before she got there. We went on a field with horses and she completely ignored the easy rabbits, she was more interested in what the horses were doing. The only problem I had all night was hooding her, she kept trying to dodge the hood when I was putting it on but she didn't get her own way. I forgot to take the dummy bunny. The 2nd course of panacure 0.18mg was given it a chicks head. She had 4.5oz.

Thu 14th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.0oz at 9.30pm. Prefer to go lamping after the bird has experience handling rabbits but, I'm struggling to produce enough rabbits for her to go at. The land I have with warrens in the middle of fields is too far to travel after work, the local warrens are too risky to ferret because of the thick cover. I went lamping to shrimps, the bird has never been on the lamp before. I flicked a chicks head on the floor and shone the lamp on it. She flew down to it then back on the glove for a tidbit. We watched a fox hunting close by for a while. Then set off to find a rabbit. The first one she saw she ignored the 2nd one she went for but as it went out of her sight she flew back to my fist. The 3rd one we saw she nailed it as it was running away from us. As I was running over to help her the lamp died, typical. It took me a while to reconnect the wire but Eve kept hold of it. I dispatched the rabbit and spent half an hour helping her to feed. I broke into the top of the ribcage and gave her the heart, lungs then through the diaphragm and then the liver. By going through the ribcage and not the stomach you don't end up with the guts going everywhere. I removed a back leg and got her to step onto the glove and she ate it as we walked back to the car. I traded the leg for a few tidbits on the floor. She had 5oz weighed her when we got home.

Rabbit Lamp1

Fri 15th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.3oz at 7.30pm. Went to Fairclough's just before dark, had a couple of flights at rabbits sat at the edge of the field. When it got too dark we lamped, the rabbits were out in the middle of the fields now. Eve flew really well it was really exciting to watch, she chased 6 rabbits and after missing she carried on chasing them, she just lacked experience and fitness. She was straight back to the fist after the rabbits had disappeared. Took her to shrimps and she caught a easy rabbit sneaking through long grass. Fed her up on it. She had 5.5oz

Rabbit Lamp2

Sat 16th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.3oz at 4pm. Went to Stuarts with Darren and Phil ferreting. 10 minute before we got there it started to pour down and never stopped. Phil flew his Red tail first, we bolted a couple of rabbits but the bird wasn't interested. Got Eve out, she was a bit jumpy at first maybe because we are normally on our own? By the time we got to the warrens she was soaked. Two rabbits appeared from bolt holes behind us by the time we saw the first one it was too late and I swung round on the second and caused Eve to loose her balance. The last warren we ferreted before heading home produced a good bolt. As Eve left the glove she was so wet she dropped right down to the floor and had to pump her wing hard to get some height again, the rabbit made it to another warren before she could catch up. Darren and I only had fleece jackets so after an a hour or so we were drench. She had 6 tidbits If the rain had stopped when I got home I was going to dry her off and go lamping but it got worse.

Rabbit Lamp2

Sun 17th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.1oz at 2pm. Went to Smiths I spent an hour going through thick brambles while Eve was in the trees above me keeping up. Its a shame we didn't see anything it would have been a good lesson for her and would have made all the thorn cuts and scratches worth while. We then went to Fairclough's, one hedge had 4 rabbits along its length Eve went for the first one as it jumped into the hedge she carried on to the 2nd as that jumped in she went for then 3rd one then the 4th. We then went to Raymond's and had a walk round for a hour. Eve went for a rabbit sat out but it got to safety before Eve got there. Finished off with the dummy bunny. She had 4oz

Rabbit Lamp2

Mon 18th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.2oz at 9pm. Went to Fairclough's lamping, the best field has been ploughed. Eve had 7 long chases but she wasn't that keen, she was gliding towards them not pumping and before the rabbits had made it to cover she was giving up and circling back to me. She only really tried on one occasion and caught the rabbit as it jumped into long grass. I only fed her the organs she had about 3.5oz altogether. I think her poor response was down to fatigue, she did a lot of flying on Sunday, she was completely different on the 15th. Poured down as we headed back to the car.

Rabbit Lamp3

Tue 19th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.4oz at 9pm. Went to Shrimps lamping it was very windy. The first rabbit we saw was 100ft off, Eve took off and caught it as it ran back to a warren. The rabbit did a back flip and took Eve with it but she kept hold. I fed her the main organs and got her to leave the rabbit for a few tidbit thrown out of her reach. We carried on lamping and came across 3 young foxes 20ft away. She flew at a couple more rabbits but turned off while the rabbits were still visible. At one point she circled back to me but the wind took her right past me, I thought telemetry's coming out, but she managed to make her way back to the glove. As we headed back to the car we spotted a rabbit and Eve caught it after a short chase. I fed her up on it. I removed the back leg and tried to get her to step onto the glove for it, but she couldn't release the grip she had with one foot, I had to take her talons out of the rabbit myself. Weighed her at home she had a full crop 8.5oz altogether, she can have a day off tomorrow.

Rabbit Lamp 5

Wed 20th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 3oz at 8pm. Rained all night. Manned her in the house, she had no food.

Rabbit Lamp 5

Thu 21st August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.2oz at 9pm. Fitted a Plectrum on Darren's Red tail then went lamping with him and Phil to Shrimps. I lamped the first field and saw a fox about 50 foot off a rabbit so I turned the lamp off and carried on, its not worth the risk. In 2006 Janna flew at a rabbit 150 yards away and caught it. As I made my way over I watched a fox run in on her, I thought it had got her because it was that far away I couldn’t see properly, all I could see was wings flapping all over the place. I ran to her as fast as I could shouting at the top of my voice and the fox ran off, luckily Jenna was ok. On the second field we lamped 3 rabbits where heading back to their warren, Eve took off and went for the nearest one which mange to make it to the hole. Eve turned for the second one and grabbed it as it jumped into a clump of ragwort. I dispatched the rabbit and lifted them out of the weeds onto the grass and fed her up on it. she had 7.5oz.

Rabbit Lamp 6

Fri 22nd August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.8 at 9pm. Went to Fairclough's lamping. Had a few long flights but she wasn't keen at all. She flew at the rabbits but landed when she got a few feet off them and then just watched as they ran away. Her response to me was still good. She did catch one in a lettuce field as we got back to the car. Fed her up on it 5oz.

Rabbit Lamp 7

Sat 23rd August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.7oz at 4pm. No food today.

Rabbit Lamp7

Sun 24th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.2oz at 9am. Went to Stuarts with Darren and Phil ferreting. Phil flew his Red tail first, It chased a rabbit sat out and a squirrel. The only rabbit we bolted was hidden from the bird by a tree, It ran over 100 meter to a hedge, it would have been a good flight. Phil finished with a real dummy bunny then we got Eve out. She went for a couple of rabbits sat out but jilted at the last minute. Only bolted one rabbit which Eve went for but it got to another hole before she had caught up to it. Ferret caught a couple of rabbits. There are loads of warrens in the middle of the fields but no fresh markings. Birds too high. She had 2.4 oz rabbit.

Rabbit Lamp7

Mon 25th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.5oz at 8pm. Went to Fairclough's lamping. Had some really long flights and lots of good opportunities to catch but she kept breaking off at the last moment. She didn't seem out of breath as much today. On one chase she landed on the floor and the rabbit ran towards me, just before it reached my feet it did a u turn and ran back past Eve 2 foot off her and she just watched it. She had 1.7 oz of poult.

Rabbit Lamp7

Tue 26th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.6oz at 8pm. Went to Shrimps lamping with Charlie. Eve caught a rabbit on her 5th attempt. She seemed a bit keener today but the rabbits are easier to catch here. She was going for the rabbits but she was struggling to actually grab them. Fed her the organs then as I tried to get her to step off I tossed 1/2 poult out of her reach she let go of the rabbit and grabbed my hand before getting the food, luckily I only got a small scratch. We carried on lamping, after another 10 chases, (2 of them she had hold of but they managed to escape) she caught another. I fed her the organs and traded it for half a poult. She struggled to let go of the 2nd rabbit. She had 4.1 oz. Free lofted her today

Rabbit Lamp9

Wed 27th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.7oz at 8pm. She was vocal today. Went to Tomas's lamping, no wind at all. Eve had a lot of long flights, she nearly caught a couple but she wasn't re-chasing. I know her weight is too high but I'm trying to work on her fitness. By flying her high she is getting loads of exercise chasing and although her weight is high she is still getting the odd rabbit. The serious hunting will start when I get back off my holidays. She had 1.1 oz.

Rabbit Lamp9

Thu 25th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.1oz at 8pm. Went to Tony's lamping with Alan, no wind at all. Lamped a few fields, Eve seemed to be trying more today but it was harder to judge. The fields haven't had any crops on and are full of patches of long grass and weeds. The problem is when the rabbit disappears from her sight into the cover she thinks its gone and automatically comes back to the fist as the rabbit appears from the other side. She had 4 flights. We then went to Fairclough's and after a couple of chases she caught one. I fed her the organs then traded the rabbit for a few tidbits. She had 2.9 oz.

Rabbit Lamp10

Fri 26th August 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.3oz at 9pm. Went to Shrimps lamping with Phil and Darren, no wind again. She had 4 chases and caught 3 rabbits. The first rabbit she left straight away for tidbits, she wouldn't let go of the 2nd rabbit so after 10 min's I gave her the heart and lungs then she left it for a few tidbits and I fed her up on the 3rd one. She had 3.8 oz.

Rabbit Lamp13

Sat 27th August 2008

Went to Kos for 10 days with Lesley, Alf fed Eve and the ferrets.

Thu 11th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 5.3oz at 7pm. First time she has seen me in ten days and she jumped onto my fist straight away. Went to Latham fields lamping, I had a full chick ready on the swinging lure just in case she wouldn't come to me. She went for the first rabbit we saw but didn't make any effort and then landed in a tree. I called her to the fist and she came instantly. Her response to me was excellent but she wasn't that bothered about the 3 other rabbits she went for. She had 1/2 a poult.

Rabbit Lamp13

Fri 12th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 4.4oz at 8pm. Went to Shrimps lamping with Phil. Eve was chasing but only about 70% effort. Her fitness level has dropped she was panting a few times when she came back to the glove. She managed to get one but it dragged her down a warren and she let go. She had 7 flights altogether her response to me was good, she is like a boomerang. She had 3oz.

Rabbit Lamp13

Sat 13th August 2008

Went to Scotland with Paul for two days deer stalking. We could have shot a Red hind and a Roe doe on Saturday night if they where in season. Sunday morning was misty, visibility was down to 40 meter, we saw a Red hind. Later in the after noon we saw 2 Roe doe's after the mist had cleared. We didn't see any stags or buck's which are in season, the rut has just finished so they are probably resting up in the forest getting their energy back. Eve had a chick on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Mon 15th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 4.0oz at 8pm, I thought she would be lower than that. Went to bumpy road lamping with Charlie, showers and no wind. When I went to get her out of the aviary she had pulled her jesses out, I called her to the fist and as I fitted one jesses my wife called "phone for you" I shouted back "I'm in the aviary". I must have spooked Eve by shouting she started bating and hanging upside down and as I lifted her back on the fist she wouldn't stand up. She settled down after a while and went in her box. We saw 2 rabbits sat together, Eve went for them but as the rabbits headed in different directions Eve landed on the floor and watch them run to safety. She came back to me instantly. She chase another but did the same, I thought she would at this weight. We walk for 15 minutes before seeing another rabbit. Eve caught it and I fed her the heart and lungs then got her to step off for a few tidbits, she went for them straight away but it took a while for her to let go of the rabbit, she doesn't seem to be able to release the left leg grip. Straight after that she caught another, I removed the back leg and fed her on it as we walked back to the car. She was soaked by this point. The only time she got tidbits was to get her off the rabbit. Fitted permanent flying jesses when we got home. She had 3.5 oz.

Rabbit Lamp15

Wed 17th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 3.3oz at 7pm. Went to bumpy road lamping with Charlie. No wind at all and a full moon, a terrible night for lamping. Didn't see many rabbits. Eve missed the first 2 we saw which where sat at their holes. She caught the third one, I gave her the heart then tried to get her to step off for a poults head and leg. She went for the tidbits but wouldn't let go of the rabbit for ages. We walked for 1/2 a hour with out seeing another rabbit so we decided to call it a night. On the way back to the car Eve flew off and nailed a rabbit in the beam which I hadn't seen. I removed a front leg and got her to step up and feed on it as we headed back. Just before we got to the car we saw another rabbit Eve went for it, she was about 8ft off the floor and I thought she's going to fly straight past it. As she was directly over the rabbit she suddenly dropped 8ft vertically. There was a loud smack and a scream but the rabbit ran off. Eve chased it but it got away. I haven't seen this sort of attack before. For 5 minutes before we reached the car we could hear a bell behind us following us, I couldn't work out what it was. I kept having a look but couldn't see any one. As I put Eve in her box a cat with a bell on its collar appeared from a bush. She had 3 oz.

Rabbit Lamp17

Fri 19th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.5oz at 7pm. Went to Fairclough's lamping with Phil. No wind. I struggled getting Eve out of the aviary again, as soon as I take hold of he jesses she goes mad, bateing and hanging upside down. She had 6 long chases but only really tried once. At one point she took off after a fox, I ran after her shouting and luckily the fox disappeared in to the cover. Her weight is too high, I haven't managed to get her down to her proper hunting weight since we got back from holiday. Even though she's high she has caught the odd rabbit and been fed on it, so she hasn't really dropped any weight. This could also be why she's hard work when I pick her up in the aviary. I free lofted her before we went away so she could be fed through a hatch. If she doesn't settle down as her weight comes down I will have to take out the perches and tie her to the bow again. Manned her in the house for a couple of hours she was wary of me when I touch her jesses. She had 1.5 oz.

Rabbit Lamp17

Sat 20th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 3.4oz at 1pm. We are going to the lakes ferreting on Sunday, because of her behaviour in the aviary, her weight being high and its been a month since we last went out in the day, I though it would be a good idea to check her response during the day locally first. I struggled getting her in the aviary. When I got her out of the box at Smiths she bated and ended up in a tree. She wouldn't come down to the fist so I flicked a tidbit on the floor. She came down for it then jumped straight on my fist. As I took hold of her jesses she bated. I walk for 15 minutes and she settled down. I tossed a tidbit on the grass, after she ate it she came straight back to my glove. She then went for a hen pheasant which went into cover 150 yards away. As I made my way over she came straight back to me. I then spotted a squatted Hare, as we made our way toward it Eve spotted it a took off. The Hare bolted and Eve just missed it. She carried on chasing it for over 100 yards and then gave up. Again she came straight back to the glove. As we made our way back to the car I threw a tidbit and then got her back on the fist. I did this about 6 times. She had 0.5 oz.

Rabbit Lamp17

Sun 21st Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 3.3oz at 7am. Went to Barry's ferreting with Phil. Phil's Red Tail caught its first rabbit after 2 chases. Got Eve out at 11am, she chased 3 rabbits but jibbed at the last moment. Her response to me was ok but not always instant. The ferret bolted a rabbit and Eve got one foot on its back before swinging round and grabbing it on the head with her other foot. I fed her the heart and lungs. I've been struggling to get Eve off kills so I tried out a new method and it work a treat. I took a draw string bag put my hand in it and took hold of the rabbits back legs, with my gloved hand I moved the bag over the rabbit so the rabbit was inside the bag. I then threw a chicks leg and Eve let go of the rabbit straight away. Shortly after we bolted another rabbit and she caught it after a uphill chase and the bag worked perfectly again after she had eaten the organs. I called it a day after that. She had 2.5 oz.

Rabbit 19 (Lamp17 Day 2)

Tue 23rd Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.5oz at 7pm. Went in the aviary to get her, she had managed to pull her permanent jesses off so I had nothing to get hold of. She was that bad I had to catch her using a net. She wont be free lofted any more. Fitted mews jesses, swivel and leash. Took out the perches and lined the floor with carpet. Manned her in the house for a couple of hours then she spent the night in the travel box in the garage.

Wed 24th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.8oz at 7am. Took her out of the travel box and tied her to the bow perch in the aviary. She bated a few times. I will put her in the TB each night then into the aviary in the morning so she gets picked up more often and hopefully gets used to it again.

Her weight was 2lb 1.7oz at 7pm. She bated when I picked her up off the bow. Took her to Fairclough's lamping with Charlie. She had 4 hard chases over 60 meters, the rabbits instantly went to full speed, even Charlie said "I didn't know rabbits could run that fast". On each occasion Eve tried hard to catch up, constantly beating her wing. After the rabbits had disappeared Eve came straight back to the glove, I don't even call her back, she automatically comes back to her hunting perch. Eve caught one as we got back to the car, I fed her the heart and lungs then used the bag to get her off the rabbit for a poults leg. We then headed to the Shrimps. After 2 chases the lamp started to flicker the cable seemed to have a split in it. Eve caught the 3rd rabbit and I fed her up on it. The bag didn't work as well this time but I probably rushed a bit due to the lamp. She had 3oz. She is like a different bird out hunting to at home.

Rabbit 21 (Lamp19 Day 2)

Thu 25th Sept 2008

She bated again this morning as I took her to the aviary.

Her weight was 2lb 2.2oz at 8pm. She bated when I picked her up off the bow. Took her to Tony's lamping, slight breeze. Had half a dozen really good flights, she seem more determined to catch the rabbit on each flight. Eve caught one behind the ponds on her 3rd chase, fed her the heart and lungs and a bit of meat from the rib cadge. I covered the rabbit with the draw bag and before throwing the poults leg I let her have a moment to realise the rabbit had gone then threw the tidbit and she jumped off with no problems. She had hold of 2 more after that but she couldn't keep hold. The last flight she had was amazing, she turned the rabbit 5 times and had a foot on its back at one point, its a shame she didn't catch it but the rabbit deserved to escape after putting up such a good fight. She had 1.5oz of food.

Rabbit 22 (Lamp20 Day 2)

Fri 26th Sept 2008

Took her out of the travel box and tied her to the bow perch in the aviary at 7am. She bated as we stepped out of the garage.

Her weight was 2lb 1.7oz at 7pm. She bated. Took her to Lennon's lamping with Phil and his Harris, no wind at all. First time out with another bird Eve didn't seem bothered. Phil's bird has only just finished moulting so he didn't fly her, just a manning session. Eve grabbed hold of the first rabbit we saw as it run into thick brambles, I struggled to get hold of the rabbit and it eventually got free. She only had one other chase. She had 0.5oz of food.

Rabbit 22 (Lamp20 Day 2)

Sat 27th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.2oz at 10am. Went to Barry's ferreting with Alf, Mild breeze. First field we went in had a horse. I slipped Eve at a rabbit sat out but she flew to a tree in the next field, she doesn't like horses after that she was hard work. The next field had bullocks in, we bolted a rabbit and Eve chased it until it went through the herd. We moved into the next field, Eve got hold of a rabbit as it went down a hole but let go. She caught one sat out in the field were Phil's Red tail caught one last week. We tried the albino ferret and every time the ferret came out of the hole Eve bated for it . We then went on Heron's, Eve grabbed hold of the first one we bolted and then caught the second one. I fed her up and called it a day. Her response to me wasn't good all day. The ferrets caught 2 rabbits. She had 2.4oz of food.

Rabbit 24 (Lamp20 Day 4)

Sun 28th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.6oz at 12.30pm. Went to Smiths, strong wind. Kept her on the fist until we got to the small wood then put her up a tree, she followed on ok. We then had a walk around the boundary's until we came to another small wood. I put Eve in a tree and as I walked through the bramble I disturbed a pheasant. Eve came down to the floor and was looking for it through the brambles as it took off from the other side. If only she had stayed high up. As we headed back to the car a Hare bolted, Eve chased it and got a foot on its back as it turned into the wind and picked up speed, she couldn't keep hold but she carried on chasing it. Her response to me was really good. She had 2 poults.

Rabbit 24 (Lamp20 Day 4)

Mon 29th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.0oz at 8pm. She didn't bate when I picked her up. Took her to Fairclough's lamping, Gale force wind. She flew at a few rabbits but was getting blown all over the place. She was unlucky a couple of times. We then tried shrimps the wind seemed even stronger. We only saw 2 rabbits, As Eve got close to them they took off into the wind and Eve had no chance. She had 2oz of food (1 3/4 poults).

Rabbit 24 (Lamp20 Day 4)

Tue 30th Sept 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.9oz at 9pm. Went to bumpy road lamping. Gale force wind. There were rabbits everywhere. Eve caught 3 easy rabbits. On each one, I opened the rib cage for her and on the third one I removed a front leg and let her eat it on the way back to the car. After she had eaten it we saw another rabbit and she caught that as well. She had 6oz of food. She will stay in the aviary at night while she has stopped bateing.

Rabbit 28 (Lamp24 Day 4)

Wed 1st Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.7oz at 7pm. She didn't bate again. Went to the River Ribble lamping with Alan and Phil. Strong wind and raining. Eve had a couple of chases but missed and landed on the water logged pasture field. She caught the third one after a short chase but by that time she was drenched so we called it a night. She wasn't that keen. She had 1.2oz of food.

Rabbit 29 (Lamp25 Day 4)

Thu 2nd Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.7oz at 7.30pm. Went to the bumpy road lamping with Charlie. No wind, it stopped raining as we got there. Eve caught the first rabbit she went for, I traded her off with a poults head. The second one she caught she got the heart and lungs. Eve grabbed hold of the 3rd one as it was going down its hole, I managed to get my hand past Eve and get hold of the rabbit and pull it out. traded it for a poults head. I fed her the organs on the 4th rabbit and let her eat a back leg on the glove as we walked back to the car. 4 rabbits out of 8 chases within 20 minutes, her response was spot on. Started to pour down as we got back to the car. She had 5oz of food.

Rabbit 33 (Lamp29 Day 4)

Fri 3rd Oct 2008

No food today Cheshire falconry club field meet tomorrow

Sat 4th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.8oz at 8am. Went to a field meeting at Llangollen with the Cheshire falconry club. First time out with other Harris's. She slammed into the first pheasant she saw but it managed to escape as 30 took off around her. We walk through the mature wood for an hour. Eve seemed to be ignoring the cock pheasants only going for the hens, she grabbed hold of 3 but they managed to get free and Eve was left gripped onto a pile of feathers from their backs. Our time was almost done so I walk to the far side of the wood and then started to head back to the car. Eve spotted a cock in some thistles and nailed it, this time she had a foot round its head. First one she's had so I fed her up on it. She had 6oz of food.

Rabbit 33 (Lamp29 Day 4) Pheasant 1

Sun 5th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.8oz at 1pm. Went to Tim's with Charlie. The grass has just been cut for silage so we didn't see any hares. She went after rabbits on 3 occasions but they were all sat on the opposite side of the field next to the hedge. She dropped down on a partridge as it was taking off. Fed her the head and neck. She had 2oz of food altogether.

Rabbit 33 (Lamp29 Day 4) Pheasant 1 Partridge 1

Mon 6th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.9oz at 7pm. Went to bumpy road with Charlie. There was no wind and it was raining when we got there, it stopped after 5 min's. She chased the first rabbit we saw and grabbed it inside a bush, she only managed to get hold of its back and it dragged her about for a bit. She caught the second one she went for then had a few misses. As we made our way back to the car she flew at a rabbit sat in long grass as soon as she grabbed it I knew it had mixy it didn't move at all. She had 3.6oz of food altogether.

Rabbit 35 (Lamp31 Day 4) Pheasant 1 Partridge 1

Tue 7th Oct 2008

1oz food, Welsh falconry club meeting.

Wed 8th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.5oz at 7pm. Went to Fairclough's lamping. There was no wind, a quiet night. Eve had 3 chases but the rabbits got to cover after a couple of Eve's wing beats and she turned and came back to the glove. On the last field Eve took off after a rabbit 100 yards off, as the rabbit got to the hedge it turned and started to run along the edge of the field, this gave Eve the chance to catch up and catch it. I fed her the heart, lungs and liver and got her to step up for a back leg. She ate it as we walked back to the car. As we got half way across the field a car pulled up and a bloke walked over to me with a crowbar. After I told him what I was doing and that I had permission he explained he has had equipment stolen from his sheds on the next fields so he was just checking what I was up to. After a short talk he gave me permission on his fields as well. She had 7oz of rabbit. She was really keen at this weight.

Rabbit 36 (Lamp32 Day 4) Pheasant 1 Partridge 1

Thu 9th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 3.8oz at 7pm. Went to Shrimps lamping with Charlie. There was a slight wind. Eve had 5 chases but she wasn't trying hard. She got right up to them but the final footing was poor. She caught the 6th rabbit but it got away as I was running over, the rabbit couldn't get its bearings, it was going round in circles, Eve flew up a few feet and then dropped down onto it again. She caught another shortly after that, I thought she had missed it there was no sound and no struggling, when I got there Eve had it in a ball with one foot on its head and the other foot was pinning the back legs to its head. She had the organs from both. Called it a night after the second rabbit I don't want her weight going up anymore, Its about 2oz too high now. She had 4oz of rabbit.

Rabbit 38 (Lamp34 Day 4) Pheasant 1 Partridge 1

Fri 10th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 3.3oz at 7pm. Went to the river lamping. Only Saw 2 rabbit. Both were long slips, the rabbits had gone before she got 2/3 of the way. She had 1 poult.

Rabbit 38 (Lamp34 Day 4) Pheasant 1 Partridge 1

Sat 11th Oct 2008

No food today Welsh falconry club field meet tomorrow. Bowed her out in the garden all day while I made a new ferret box.

Sun 12th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.3oz at 7am. Went to a field meeting at Llandegla with the Welsh falconry club. Hot sunny day. 3 Harris Hawks and 5 Redtails all together doing single slip off the fist. Too many birds in my opinion, it would have been better splitting into groups. As we were walking back to the car for lunch the keeper let me walk through a wood on my own and after a couple of near misses Eve grabbed hold of a hen pheasant just as it was flying over a stone wall. First kill of the day so I fed her up on it, One less bird to fly in the afternoon. She had 6oz of food.

Rabbit 38 (Lamp34 Day 4) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Mon 13th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.0oz at 7pm. Went to bumpy road with Charlie lamping. There was no wind at all and a full moon, bad night for lamping. Eve chased the first rabbit we saw but it was sat on top of its hole. There wasn't any rabbits out were we normally see them so we ended up heading to the hills. I lamped down into a valley from the top of a hill, Eve took off and headed away from the lamps beam. I moved the lamp in her direction and she was going for a fox on the opposite hill and she was pumping hard. My heart stopped. The fox and Eve went over the top of the hill and out of sight. After a few seconds Eve appeared and came back to my fist. We saw a few rabbits after that and Eve tried really hard to catch them but the rabbits could hear her coming and dodged her at the last second, Eve was re-chasing and re-chasing but couldn't manage to get one until the 6th slip. I gave her a good feed from it, I am at a the Cheshire Falconry club meeting tomorrow night. She had 7oz of food. When I gutted the rabbit at home I found a long flat white tapeworm about 15cm long and 1cm wide. I hope Eve didn't eat any eggs, she only ate the vital organs and leg meat from the rabbit.

Rabbit 39 (Lamp35 Day 4) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Tue 14th Oct 2008

No food, Cheshire falconry club meeting. Martin Hollinshead is giving a talk.

Wed 15th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.0oz at 7pm. Went to Shrimps with Charlie lamping. We sat in the car for 15mins when we got there because the rain was so heavy. When the rain changed to a very light shower we got out of the car and set off, it was very windy. It took ages to find the first rabbit which was sat on its hole, as Eve took off it jumped down. Our pace was getting faster and faster as the rain started to get heavier I was trying to cover as much ground as I could before Eve was too wet to fly. Just as we were about to call it a night and head back to the car we spotted a rabbit running back to its warren, Eve took off and caught it. I ran over as fast as I could, I knew if she didn't keep hold of it she wouldn't get a chance to catch another. When I got there the rabbit was half way down its hole luckily I could see its back feet under her tail feathers, I grabbed hold and pulled it out. I fed her the pluck then a front leg on the way back to the car. When we got to the last field before the car we spotted another rabbit, a ball of rain drops appeared around Eve as she flapped her wings and took off, she all most got it as well. Dried her off with the hair drier when we got home. She had about 4oz of food.

Rabbit 40 (Lamp36 Day 4) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Thu 16th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2.2oz at 7pm. Went to Tony's with Charlie lamping. Eve didn't seem herself tonight she had half a dozen flights at rabbits but she didn't appear to be giving it her all. She had 5 tidbits.

Rabbit 40 (Lamp36 Day 4) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Fri 17th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.4oz at 7pm. Went to Fairclough's lamping. We walked the full length of the land without seeing a single rabbit. Something must have disturbed them, we had a walk up the canal for a while to give the rabbits chance to come back out. When we got back to the fields Eve had two brilliant slips the first one was a 200 yard chase and the second was very dramatic. The rabbit went into cover twice and as Eve crashed in, the rabbit jumped back into the field and Eve took chase again. She almost got it as the rabbit tried to cut the corner of the field but the rabbit turned and made it to some bushes before Eve could catch up. Even though we didn't catch one I was very happy with her performance she tried really hard. She had 1/2 oz of food.

Rabbit 40 (Lamp36 Day 4) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Sat 18th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.5oz at 7am. Went to Barry's with Phil ferreting. It was windy with occasional showers. We put the ferret in a hole while Eve was above the warren in a tree. The ferret caught one, I dug about 2ft down into a tunnel, and Eve took off and landed on a rabbit carcass in the middle of the field. I left Phil to watch out for the ferret at the hole I had dug while I went to get Eve. A rabbit bolted out of the hole and Phil caught it with his hands, It gave him a right good kicking but Phil must have been at hunting weight because he didn't let go, lol. The ferret bolted one at the next warren and Eve caught it. The ferret caught one at a hole on the 3rd warren and I grabbed hold of the rabbit and I covered the hole with my body so the bird couldn't see what was going on. As I had a game of tug of war with the ferret Eve took off and Phil said "look out here's a dog" Next thing I saw was a Bullmastiff head under my arm trying to get the rabbit, good job it was friendly I had to push it out of the way. After the rabbit was in my bag the dog had gone and Eve was back on the glove we headed to the next warren. A quick bolt and Eve caught her 2nd of the day. The ferret then caught 2 more and had to be dug out. At the last warren we tried Eve dropped down onto a rabbit with mixy in a clump of nettles seconds before a rabbit bolted from the warren. We then got Phil's Redtail out but it wasn't interested it was too heavy so we called it a day. There was a lot of rabbit carcasses about and rabbits with mixy. She had 3/4 of a full crop. Her response was really good.

Rabbit 42 (Lamp36 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Sun 19th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 4.4oz at 8am. Went to Smith's, it was very windy. As we got up to the small wood a pheasant took off and Eve chased it. As Eve was chasing the hen, 6 pheasants took off in all different directions. We then headed for the other small wood I put Eve up a tree and started to beat Eve dropped down and tried to get a pheasant but the bramble were too thick. I put her back up a tree and started beating again a cock pheasant took off in front of me, Eve hit it in mid air about 8ft off the ground there was a cloud of feathers but it managed to get away. We then had a walk down the field. Eve was looking at something over my shoulder, I had walked straight past a squatted hare. Eve took off after it but after she turned it a couple of time she gave up. She had 3/4oz of tidbits. Could do with a week of frost to kill back the cover.

Rabbit 42 (Lamp36 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Mon 20th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.3oz at 7pm. Went to Carform lamping. Gale force wind, I struggled keeping Eve on the fist. She caught two on short flights with in ten minutes, I gave her the pluck from each. Because of the wind I decided to call it a night. We were back home within an hour. Didn't see many rabbits. She had 3oz.

Rabbit 44 (Lamp38 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Tue 21st Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1.3oz at 6.30pm. Went to Cheshire lamping with Alan and Phil. Slight wind. Eve chased a rabbit 50 yards into a wood, she missed it on the first attempt then caught it after a another short chase. She then caught 2 more heading back to their warrens. The 4th rabbit was squatting in the middle of the field, Alan walked over to it as we stood back, the rabbit took off at top speed and Eve caught it after 70 yard. She had 4.5oz. Sent a mute sample off to the vet Molly Varga to test for tapeworm.

Rabbit 48 (Lamp42 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Wed 22nd Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1oz at 8pm. She's a bit on the low side. Went to Fairclough's lamping, there was a slight breeze. She went for a rabbit sat out in a freshly harvested lettuce field. She grabbed hold of it on its back and was dragged 40 yards towards the hedge before they came to a halt. With the tractor going up and down the field, it was muddy and boggy, when I got to Eve she was covered in mud. I dispatched the rabbit then lifted them to a grassy area and fed her right up on it.

Rabbit 49 (Lamp43 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Thu 23rd Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 0oz at 8.30pm. Can't understand how her weight has dropped, maybe worms?. I need to test my scales. Went to Fairclough's lamping, Gale force wind. She went for a couple of rabbits but the wind was too strong, as the rabbits change direction she was getting blown everywhere as she tried to turn. She caught one as it run straight at us. I gave her a good reward from it thinking her weight was low but after that she didn't seem to be trying. She chased a few more but wasn't really keen. On the way back to the car I took the rabbit out of my bag and set it up on the field as if it was a live rabbit. As it appeared in the beam Eve pounced on it. I fed her up, a full crop as it poured down.

Rabbit 50 (Lamp44 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Fri 24th Oct 2008

No food, she can have a night off. I made a 2lb 2oz weight at work on accurate postage scales. I put the weight on my falconry scales when I got home and it read 1lb 14oz. 4oz under. I bought new scales and when I weighed Eve at 9pm she was 2lb 7 1/2oz.

Sat 25th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 4 3/4oz at 7am. Went to Taylor's ferreting with Charlie and Phil. When we got to the hill we had a walk round to assess the situation. The wind was too strong and then it started to pour down. The wind was that strong the rain felt like hail stone as it hit our faces. We ended up heading back home, it didn't stop raining all day. She had 1oz at home.

Rabbit 50 (Lamp44 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Sun 26th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 3oz at 8.30am. We went to Smiths when the rain stopped, it was still windy. Eve took off a couple of time after pheasants at the far edge of the field. She also took off after a hare we bolted but she was only following it. Her weight is too high, she seemed more interested in playing about in the breeze, getting lift from it which I let her do, as soon as I called her she was coming straight back to my fist. She had 1oz.

Rabbit 50 (Lamp44 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Mon 27th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 1 3/4oz at 9pm. Went to bumpy road lamping, there was no wind or moon a very dark, cold and quiet night. She had a couple of long flights at rabbits but they were sat on their holes. It took us a while to get the first rabbit. I traded the rabbit with its heart thrown out to the side. She caught the second one in a wood, when she grabbed hold of the rabbit it flipped her over but she didn't let go. I also traded her with a poults head thrown to the side. When we got back to the car I went to another field to set up a rabbit out of my bag to feed her up on it, I gave it a quick lamp and Eve took off and caught rabbit number 3 in some long grass. I gave her the pluck then I started to cut off bits of meat from a back leg for her. We had been there about 10 minute when a lamp shone on us from a distance of 40 foot and a voice shouted "what are you doing". 3 guys with air rifles came over and said that they thought I was burying a body, they couldn't see the bird. We had a good laugh about it. She had 5oz of food altogether.

Rabbit 53 (Lamp47 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Tue 28th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2 1/2oz at 7pm. Went to Fairclough's lamping. No wind and frosty. Eve caught one on the lettuces field after a 80 yards flight and ended up wet and muddy. She then chased a couple but the weight of the mud seemed to be affecting her, she was really panting when she came back to the fist. She manage to catch another and I fed her up on it. Not many rabbits about. Dried her off with the hair dryer when we got home. She had 5oz of food altogether.

Mute results came back from the vets positive for tapeworm and other worms. 1 dose of Dronit and Panacur now and another dose in 14 days, cost me £26 in total.

Rabbit 55 (Lamp49 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Wed 29th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2 1/2oz at 7pm. Went to Carform lamping with Charlie. Cold wind and it rained the whole time we were out. She caught 2 easy rabbits. By the time she caught the 3rd she was soaked and struggling to fly so I decided to call it a night and feed her up. I opened up the ribcage, she ate the heart and lungs then pulled out a piece of liver, attached was a large tapeworm, I grabbed it and threw it away. I got her to leave the rabbit for a poults head and disposed of the carcass in a hole. near the car I fed her up on a rabbit she caught earlier. She had 6oz of food altogether. Hair dryer job again. Gave her the 1st course of medication.

Rabbit 58 (Lamp52 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Thu 30th Oct 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2 3/4oz at 7pm. Went to Tony's lamping with Charlie. Slight breeze. Eve had a couple of long chases before catching a young rabbit heading towards the bomb fire. She caught another young one near the ponds. I fed her up on one of the rabbit she caught earlier when we got to the car. She was only giving about 80% effort. She had a full crop.

Rabbit 60 (Lamp54 Day 6) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Fri 31st Oct 2008

No food.

Sat 1st Nov 2008

Her weight was 2lb 3 1/2oz at 7am. Went to Taylor's ferreting with Charlie, Phil and Darren, its the first time on this land, we had a look last week and found plenty of holes. It was a breezy day but dry. Caught 5 rabbits, 4 with the ferrets. Eve caught 1 out of 3 bolts. We put both ferrets into a large warren, they were in and out of the holes but there wasn't any rabbit at home. As I put Taz my polecat hob back in the box Casper my albino hob went into what appeared to be another rabbit hole, after a couple of seconds there was a bang and Casper gave out a scream. We had a look into the hole and it seemed like a deep tunnel. I took Eve back to the car and picked up my lamp and creance as Phil started to dig. When I got back Phil had opened up a 2 foot wide pot hole. Darren had tied a chick to a dummy bunny and was trying to get the ferret to grab hold of it. The line on the dummy bunny was 20 foot long and was only just reaching the ferret. I found some wire by the car and used it to make a drop net with the bag I use to hide rabbits from Eve. I put a couple of chicks in the bag and lowered it down to the ferret. Casper climbed straight in and I lifted him back up to safety. I checked him over and couldn't find anything wrong. We were all over the moon to get him back it was a great group effort. Called it a day after that. Eve had the pluck from the rabbit she caught and a few tidbits.

Rabbit 61 (Lamp54 Day 7) Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen) Partridge 1

Pictures of the 20 foot pot hole and the drop net we used

Sun 2nd Nov 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2 1/2oz at 7am. Went to Smiths with Charlie. Eve went for a pheasant as it ran into a wood. As she was up a tree I went in to flush the pheasant. Eve spotted it in thick brambles and went for it but the brambles stopped her from reaching it and the pheasant ran through and out then took off. A bit further on and Eve took off after a grey squirrel, luckily it got away. We then flushed a wood cock, Eve chased it but it had a massive head start, As she was chasing it I spotted a squatting cock pheasant but it took off before Eve came back. We then had a walk through the field and Eve spotted a Hare in its form. The hare tried to bolt just as Eve got to it. Eve slammed into it and wouldn't let go. I fed her the heart and lungs. We weighed it at home 7lb

Rabbit 61 (Lamp54 Day 7), Hare 1, Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen), Partridge 1,

Mon 3rd Nov 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2 oz at 8pm. She seamed very keen when I got her out of the aviary. Went to Baxter's lamping no wind at all. The only thing we saw was a rat which Eve went for, luckily it got to its hole before she got to it. We went to Fairclough's on the way home. We only saw a few of rabbits. Eve was giving it 100% she was really trying to catch them. She caught a rabbit on the lettuce field as we were heading back to the car. I fed her up on it. . She had a full crop 7 1/4 oz.

Rabbit 62 (Lamp55 Day 7), Hare 1, Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen), Partridge 1,

Tue 4th Nov 2008

No food, Welsh falconry club meeting.

Wed 5th Nov 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2oz at 6pm. After going to a fire work display I went to Shrimps lamping at 10pm. With it being bonfire night and no wind to cover our tracks I didn't expect to see many rabbits. I just wanted to get one rabbit to give her a feed. She flew at the first rabbits we saw but they got to their holes. The second one she caught after a short chase 10 minutes after getting out of the car. I fed her up on it. We might have caught more if we had carried on but I was happy Eve got a kill and a feed. She had 1/2 a crop 4oz.

Rabbit 63 (Lamp56 Day 7), Hare 1, Pheasant 2 (1Cock 1Hen), Partridge 1,

Thu 6th Nov 2008

Her weight was 2lb 2oz at 7pm. Went lamping to Cheshire with Alan and Beef and his .22 rifle, slight wind. I made a big mistake, the first rabbit we saw she caught on the other side of a barbed wire fence. Instead of keeping the lamp on Eve so she could get a good foot hold and take control of the rabbit I shone the lamp on the fence as I climbed over. When I got on the other side of the fence I put the lamp on Eve and the rabbit had gone. It must have given her a kicking because after that she was ignoring rabbits and the ones she did go for she wasn't really trying. She did catch one but it was an easy flight. I fed her the heart and lungs. We shot 5 rabbits then her keenness picked up, she really tried on the last 2 we saw before heading home.