NRC gathered at Holdenby House on the morning of 21st October, a grey day at the beginning, to take three hawks, an eagle and two ferrets over the Holdenby estate hunting hare and rabbit. Glynne Malkin had brought along Red, a young female Redtail who had not yet been entered at quarry.

We arrived at the site and parked the vehicles, and after getting all birds on the fist, we proceeded to the warren site, and the strategy was reviewed between ferreters and falconer.  Glynne waited across wind with Red, ready to slip her once the ferrets had done their work.

 After 10 or 15 minutes, a good flush was made, but Red lost her nerve and headed straight for the upper branches of the tallest tree - a little stage fright overtaking her on her debut. She was called down by Glynne, and the ferrets went to work a second time.

This time, two rabbits bolted simultaneously, and Red gave chase in fine style, but she couldn't quite catch up to the speedy quarry, both of them making cover to beat her.

Again, the ferrets went to work, and after a time, a third flush was made quite close to Glynne. Red was slipped, and again, gave chase in good style, but again, came up just a little short.

She did Glynne proud for an unentered hawk, especially given the number of people and other birds, not to mention her inexperience. Bigger and better things are certainly not too far away for this bird.

Tom Carnihan had brought along his "Bunny Buggy", and the plan was to give Dutch, Roly's African Tawny Eagle, a little exercise run or two just to get her in the mood.

The Buggy made off at speed, and Roly slipped Dutch hot on it's tail. She snatched the bunny off the buggy cleanly after a very stylish flight, rising up with the quarry and doubling back toward us. She came down and tucked into the attached meat, and waited for Roly's arrival to be picked up.

Dutch then entertained us with another fine flight after the buggy, again taking the velcroed dummy rabbit cleanly off the buggy in flight, rising up and coming down beside a hedgerow.

No more flushes were made, and the group moved in their vehicles to another site nearby. This time Gary and Bob were to slip their male and female Harris' - Ozzie and Maude respectively, if any quarry were to be flushed. A rabbit was flushed, but managed to elude Ozzie, a first time young hawk, and made cover further up the hedge row. Ozzie was tied on, and quarry was this time flushed for Maude, who, being an experienced hunter, took it in good style.

Not much in the way of quarry, or much in the bag, but a good second outing for the club, bringing us nicely up to Malham in early November.