It was a wet and cold January morning as NRC set out on the first field meet of 2007. The club returned to Thenford Hill Farm on the Marston estate for their second visit to this venue. The group once again gathered at Happy Jack's Cafe for a quick breakfast and a coffee before moving on in convoy to the estate. We were greeted by the farmer who led the convoy to an area of the estate as yet unknown to us.

We parked our vehicles, donned suitable attire for the weather, and brought our hawks out for the customary pre-hunt photograph. We then headed of to the first area of wood to try our luck. Kevin and Martin had first slip, but nothing was turned up in this wood.

We moved on to a second wooded area where Martin's Harris spotted a rabbit and stooped on it and, having missed by very little,  sent the rabbit scurrying past tied on hawks who had to watch it go by!

Next slip went to Mike and Kate's hawks, but unfortunately, the rain was becoming more intense, and both hawks quickly became to wet to do very much, and so were tied back on.

Once in the next wooded area, Lee's hawk was slipped by a stream and took a duck in good style. Lee had to wade in thigh deep to retrieve his hawk, but it was worth the soggy trousers!

The group then started to head back toward the cars, but decided on one last try at a warren beside  the field track. Martin and Kevin put a ferret down, and Martin's hawk sat in a small tree beside the warren. Her attention was suddenly drawn to a small movement some 60 - 70 feet away, and off she went, stooping down vertically into some long grass. Two or three of the group raced over to her to find that she had come down on a very young Muntjac deer!

She was quickly taken up, letting go of the quarry which was collected up by Martin. Upon inspection, the deer was found to be none the worse, and was released back into the wood.

The group then made way back to the cars for coffee and to escape the relentless rain.

It was decided that it the best move would be to call it a day, as all the hawks ( and the group ) were soaked!

A rather damp and muddy experience, but an enjoyable day for the club, as always, rain or shine.