Club member for? Founder member. Chairman until 2 years ago and Chairman of the southern section of the BFC.

Years in falconry? 37 years (just how old is he?).

Birds kept? Jerkin, 2 Gyr/Peregrines, 3 Harris Hawks, 2 Peregrines, Lanner/Peregrine, European Kestrel, American kestrel, Snowy Owl, Tawny Owl, 3 Barn Owls, White faced Scops Owl, Sunda Scops Owl and a kookaburra

Dogs used? Irish red setter and an English pointer.

Ferrets, love them or hate them? Hate them!

Other field sports involved in? Shooting and fishing.

Vehicle used for falconry? Land Rover Discovery.

Favourite bird? Male Gyr/Peregrine.

New birds this season.

Most of the new birds mentioned in the last newsletter have now been entered. Chris Grays Red tail catching rabbits, Richard Murdock’s Female Harris Hawk has caught moorhen and rat, Paul Grays Harris has caught rabbit, John Lucas male Gos has caught pheasant, rabbit and pigeon. James Bradbury’s male Gos has caught rabbit and rook.

And Sheryl Bunjake is picking up her first bird, a Harris Hawk on the 2^nd November.

The Club History

The Home Counties hawking club was formed about 16 years ago. Founder members were Bob Dalton and Alan Greenhalgh and Roger Ratcliffe. They advertised this in the cage and aviary magazine.

Roger was the chairman and Alan was the vice chairman.

Alan became chairman and stayed in this position for about 12 years.

The club started with about 15 members and met at the Crown pub at Sandhurst. Sue Winn, Alan Greenhalgh John Hall and John and Leila Green are members from those days who are still with the club now.

The aim of the club was to bring falconers in the area together. There were both short and long wing fliers but the majority flew short wings.

The club has experienced highs and lows over the years but currently membership stands at 32 paid up members.

Club Meeting dates for 2010

January 19^th,February 16^th, March 16^th, April 20^th, May18th, June 15^th, July20th, August 17^th, September 21^st, October19th, November 16^th, December 21^st.

Easy way to remember is, it is the Third Tuesday of every month.

17^th November there will be a talk from Terry Large on hare hawking with Harris Hawks in the Czech Republic.

15^th December the club will hold its annual auction to raise funds for the club. Please bring along items which you wish to sell. All proceeds to go to the club. Reserves can be set on items.

These can be falconry related or anything you want to sell

If there are any members that would like to arrange a field meet for club members on club land please call Paul Gray on 01344 481053.

Paul will have a list of the land the club has available for members at the next club meeting in November.

Please remember to fly on club land you must have insurance and all birds must be equipped with telemetry and bells.

11^th< October meet At Aldbury

Paul Gray, Richard Murdock, Chris Gray, Ash Barnes and I met on some ground of mine at Aldbury.

The quarry, RABBITS, and there are lots of them there. We had two ferrets and three inexperienced first season birds and one fourth season Female Harris Hawk. The inexperienced birds, comprising of two female Harris hawks and a male Red tail. Ash was the ferret boy for the day.

First flight was from my Harris who after a lengthy wait missed her rabbit after an uphill chase where she had to squeeze between two trees whilst flying flat out. Chris’s male Red tail was unlucky on the next flight hitting the rabbit but failing to get a good hold. Richards Harris Hawk had a difficult up hill flight next which it missed.

Paul’s Harris then had an impressive long flight, missed the bird got up off the floor and continued the chase and was unlucky to catch. An impressive flight for a young bird.

The action was quick and fast and my bird caught two and also hit another one which it failed to hold.

Chris’s Red tail had the flight of the day, which for a young bird was impressive flight with the bird out manoeuvring the rabbit and making its kill.

The last rabbit caught was in impressive flight of about twelve feet!!!!  Much micky taking ensued about standing to near the warren but what can you do when your bird is that fast!

Total bag was five rabbits and we finished at 1.30pm in time to get refreshments in our local pub.

17^Th October meet at Chiddingfold.

Present were Ash Barnes and his male Gos, Paul Gray and his female Harris, Richard Murdock and his female Harris, Chris Gray and his male Red tail and myself with my female Harris hawk.

Dave the police Murray was demoted to the ferret boy for the day.

The flying was in mixed woodland and on some grass. Chris had the first flight in the owner’s garden and was unlucky not to catch. Next up was me and for some reason my bird did not fly well at the first two rabbits.

This followed with a lengthy lie up which Paul kindly waited for while the rest of us continued.

Ash’s Gos flew next and has the accolade of “the flight of the day” through the woodland at a terrific rate and agility catching his rabbit easily. My bird then caught on her next flight but as I approached tried to drag the rabbit into some bracken and in the process let it get away doh!

Chris’s red tail was next and was unlucky not to catch despite putting in a tremendous effort.

Next to catch was my bird who had to fly around Richards legs (who was franticly dancing) and managed to catch her rabbit.

The final bag was four rabbits.