It was a great season, right up until December. Then things changed, changed again, and, just for good measure changed some more. Even the seasons seem to have changed. Spring is late, but finally here in full-force. I look back now and am amazed at all that happened and not as bothered that it [...]
See…. The rabbit Be… The rabbit Even if you have no idea what rabbit is.
Took Smash out today in the muck and mire. He got his first sparrow just a few yards from the truck. Then he got a mouse a little further on. If he and I had been in better shape and I could have slogged through deep water and heaved my summer heft over a fence [...]
“Well, I’ve wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it.” – Elwood P Dowd “Harvey” First hunt and everybody came home dragging butt. I can tell I’m already back at full falconry stride – I spent a significant part of the time rationalizing putting grasshopper [...]
Tonight was going to be the night. And then the heavens opened up. Lots of wind, lightning, and maybe even a bit of hail. Trees are down, power’s out in large areas, and it’s just generally not a good idea to be out right now. So we wait unti tomorrow. Smash is at weight and [...]
Today, being the 709th anniversary of the death of William I, the Conqueror’s third son and king, William II, Rufus, shot by one bolt of six given to William and fired by Walter Tyrell, my 26th great-grandfather, and it also being 99F and 115F heat index with Smash 20g overwieght, I mowed the lawn. I [...]
It was too hot for an old man to go hawking. My job’s ability to remain stable is non-existent. Taking a hawk out in the middle of breeding season for every other type of raptor and songbird is not a good idea. But it’s August now and things are different. It is uncharacteristically cooler, everything [...]
We start hawking tomorrow. There are vineyards to keep clean of marauders and a crop of rabbits like I have never seen before here. 103, but it’s a dry heat….
Showers and thunderstorms will continue across north texas into the evening hours. Some of the storms will be severe, with large hail and damaging winds. Tornado watches are in effect for much of north and central texas. Tornadic supercells will be possible in and near the watch areas, particularly in vicinity of a cold front. [...]
Both hawks are molting. I tried to fly Smash one more time after I got back from the canyonlands. His weight was still on the high side and I got impatient. I paid the price. I spent almost an hour in a greenbriar thicket conning him out of a tree. On the way back to [...]