Catch and release?

 Randy at the end of the day finally forced to give up.

Our friend John Hauck decided to continue his winter Odyssey so it was Just Randy, Tami, Thayen and Reubon for beaters yesterday.

 Sunrise this morning.

Jessie was first up again, and we put her up over a good bunch of Ducks at Arock. I was still worried about the Prairie Falcon, but she has apparently decided that she isn't going to challenge Jessie any more. Jessie leveled out a bit lower than I wanted, and didn't seem inclined to go any higher, so we flushed the Ducks for her. She sorted out the flock until she found one that she liked, bound to it on the other side of the pond.

 After she had fed for a while, I picked her up and we headed to the Rabbit warren's. In a fairly short time, Sue grabbed a Jack, but apparently didn't have a good grip on him. Randy went in to help her and did get to touch the Jack, but did not get a hold on him. He broke loose and left them both with egg on their face and hair between their toes.

We moved on and in the next flight, Sue had struck again, but this one got away before anyone could get near them. It was a bit unusual since she had lost only one other Jack in all her hunting. Perhaps it is just that she is taking riskier shots at them, rather than the sure thing.

We traveled on, and Peg grabbed a Bunny, but also lost it after a few squeals. This catch and release is a new thing for us.

A bit more walking and Sue grabbed a Bunny that wasn't able to withstand the combined arial attacks of the girls. A leg a piece and we were about to start again. Tami had picked up Peg and managed to take two steps before Peg slammed into the ground subduing a truly trophy Vole.

Unfortunately it all went down the hatch before a hero shot could be taken.

I have to admit that since we spent a total of 12 hours hawking yesterday with 5 different hawks some of the details are a bit hazy. Sue managed to crash into a barb wire fence, sticking a thankfully short barb into her chest. While she wasn't seriously hurt, it did throw her off her game a bit. She had some chases on a couple of hen Pheasants, but Peg was in a better position and pulled a bunch of saddle hackles out of one of them. Sue ended the day with one Bunny, had her feet on two Jacks, and a full crop. Peg caught two Bunnies, a trophy Vole, lost a Bunny and one Pheasant, and also all she could eat.

Bruce Haak, brought over Jessie's sister, Jinx to fly. It was her second flight and although she flew high, she didn't catch anything. Randy flew Cully (Finnish Goshawk) several times, but things didn't work out for him either. Both are still out shape, and just starting.