A gift from Dad at Kent Falconry Centre

 

Hello everyone and sincere apologies for the lack of blog posts over the last few weeks, Benno is working his socks off every day, and we are currently adjusting to a new academic year of home education, so life has been pretty hectic, and this year seems to be disappearing at an alarming rate!

Yesterday, however, we were able to slow down and catch our breath when Evelyn and I got to do something really very special…

My dad never missed any of his grandchildren’s birthdays, and I have to say that it’s been tough this year, knowing that he’s not going to walk down the path, usually unannounced, card and present in hand, on mine and my children’s birthdays. The first of these sad days was just a week after he had died, when my eldest turned 18 – that was a bittersweet day.

Dad and my eldest on his second birthday

Anyway, to keep up tradition and to very much keep my dad’s memory alive for my children, this year I have got them each a birthday present from their “Grandad Eagle”, and Evelyn’s choice was something I think he would have really appreciated - a whole morning with beautiful birds of prey at the Kent Falconry Centre.

We were supposed to attend last week, but as the weather was so awful our session was rescheduled, and I am so glad that it was. We arrived at the stunning Belmont House and Gardens in Faversham just before our session. The skies were blue; the sun was shining and there was a gentle south westerly breeze.

 As we parked the car two red kites circled overhead and the sky was alive with buzzards and kestrels, so it appeared to be a good day for birds of prey.

 

Red Kites over the carpark

We were met in the carpark by Joe, and his long-legged Buzzard, Rufus, whose job it was to greet us and escort us down to the space where the other birds were waiting.

And all I can really say is, WOW!

 We spent the morning in the company of some beautiful birds of prey and Joe and Gemma, who run the business, and who are deeply knowledgeable about every bird that they own.

Evelyn wore the falconry glove and was able to hold and feed an array of different birds of prey, whilst I listened very carefully to all the details of each one, making careful notes for this blog, and taking photographs of each of the beautiful (and sometimes very funny) birds.

Evelyn started with a very sweet Burrowing Owl, which is native to North and South America, and as its name suggests, it lives in burrows underground. We watched Duke the Burrowing owl go through a little tunnel, and we listened to his squawks for more food! He was very cute!

 

Duke, the Burrowing Owl

Next things went up a few gears when we met Albert….

Albert is a Straited Caracara, a native bird of the Falkland Islands. As a species the Straited Caracara has been listed as Near Threatened and is therefore protected.

 

Straited Caracara 

Albert was extremely clever, if a bit unruly! He was very motivated by food and would fly up onto Evelyn’s glove for a snack and then fly off in search of more snacks. As an extremely intelligent bird, Albert was also able to see and differentiate between different coloured cones. He has learned that food is always under orange cones, and so he wandered between various coloured cones, tipping over the orange ones to find his food. It was incredible.

 

I hope he never lands in roadworks, he would cause some issues!

After the chaos of Albert, we needed some calm time, and Bear was just the owl for the job! Bear was beautiful and had a lovely time with Evelyn, eating from her hand and pecking at her glove, which we were informed was a sign of affection! I think Evelyn was grateful for the glove.

 

Bear, an African Spotted Eagle Owl

After Bear we had a little sit down to watch Inca the Red Backed Hawk soar above our heads with the other local birds of prey who were flying over. Red Backed Hawks are native to the Andes and Inca was loving the breeze that was blowing up from the valley, lifting her higher into the sky.

 

When Inca returned, Eva the Harris Hawk was brought out to see us, and she escorted us on a beautiful walk around the country estate. What a treat that was. She would fly off into different trees and then fly back to Evelyn’s glove for a snack, before taking off once more. Her colours blended beautifully with the autumn leaves. I could have watched her for hours. Evelyn informed me that she was one of the heavier birds, especially when she wanted to stay on the glove as Evelyn kept walking! I don’t think Evelyn minded though, what a special thing to be able to go for a walk with a Harris Hawk on your arm.

 

Eva was just stunning

For the last part of this incredible experience, we met Lenny the Lanner Falcon. Lenny took himself on a lengthy flight around the area, surveilling the grounds and the skies, before flying in at lightening speeds to try to catch his dinner which was on the end of a lure. He darted between us before returning up into the sky and coming back for another go. It was spectacular, as was the whole experience. Lenny eventually landed and had his lunch, and we went back home for our lunch too.

Lenny with Joe

I would like to say a massive thank you to Joe and Gemma and all the birds for such a brilliant experience, and for making Evelyn’s present from her “Grandad Eagle” so special. We will be going back again in 2027 and taking my mum and her camera, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

 

Sarah and Evelyn