1st year HH attacks squirrel....Breathtaking!

[harrishawker]

Well I don’t want to start up another debate on HH on squirrels that is not was this post is about , it’s just a chance meeting I had today when flying her
She has been killing recently like I have never seen for an eyass HH with rabbits galore in the freezer. I have had HH’s be good hunters, average hunters and one which I think thought it was a butterfly! ;D

She tops it, in her first 2 weeks free she has had 6 rabbits, 2 pheasants and a squirrel. I have never ever had a HH that goes for squirrels and never heard of one killing one in its first 5 flights.
So there we were, she had been following on really well and for a good change she did not spot anything so it’s what I wanted, just good follow on fitness training.
Then she hung right back and I lost sight of her, she was in a tall tree, first of all I was amazed she had got that far up . She had what I thought was her eyes on a Trout Lake about half a mile away.
Then she just shot across to a branch on the tree next door, and then all I heard were ‘THUD’ and a flapping of wings and falling leaves coming my way soon after. The squirrel hit the deck and must have re bounded at least a foot back up in the air just as Cruella struck it. At this point I am going to tell you that I ‘Froze’, It all happened so quick from spotting her in the trees to a bouncing tree rat and my HH catching it on the bounce 6ft from me....I just froze with Mouth opened. Then after a few seconds I thawed out and with spike in hand went from a frozen statue to a bloodthirsty gladiator but there was no need she was thrown off and got a nip for her efforts too. It was not a full bite but it may have not been for the want of trying by the squirrel but a scratch with some blood.
It was an amazing scene to see and it was over so quick. I will never forget that thud six feet in front of me; it scared the life out of me!
I repeat again I have never ever known a HH in its first year go for squirrels...Incredible!

[Flight]

That's Awesome Harris!

How is she recovering from the nip? Sounds like she may need a set of chaps in the future.

[harrishawker]

I always keep a First aid kit in the car (mainly for my wounds ;D) but some Neosporine was rubbed in with a Savlon spray around the area. I got home cleaned it properly and then appled the cream back on.

It literally was just a scratch it may even been the rats claws or something?
I don't have a problem with HH taking squirrels but i would NOT deliberately hunt for them. After all what can you do if she likes squirrel?
Chaps would be a great idea as i have a good pair of brewers but they are too small for her but they will fit my RT and they will be used by him. ;D

I have been contacted many times about hawks free in the area and many have scars on their legs which definately are squirrel. I then think it may be a bird that has survived the winter and the one's with the scars usually have.

[Flight]

Oct 28, 2009 14:37:50 GMT -5 harrishawker said:

After all what can you do if she likes squirrel?

That's what I was saying, Chaps might be needed in case she developes a taste for them.

[harrishawker]

I have checked with the breeder and this year in total there was 7 birds from clutches. Three of them have started hunting squirrel. He has been breeding for over 30 years and has never ever had squirrel hunters from any of the clutches in many years, not 30 years off coarse but double figures
One of the birds a female entered on one... They have also been the same parents throughout that time.
I know though as more leaves come off the trees, rabbits get tougher and pheasants get very shrewd it’s going to get a 70% squirrel hunter. It’s ironic that my RT I want to focus on squirrel and now I have a HH who is ,it may be a case of packing her up a bit early in her first year but then again injury might decide that for me.....Funny old game...LOL

[Joby]

Congrats on your first squirrel!! It can indeed be breathtaking to watch a HH work squirrels. It's actually not that unusual for a first year HH to go after squirrels.
-Joby

[harrishawker]

Oct 29, 2009 9:35:51 GMT -5 Joby said:

Congrats on your first squirrel!! It can indeed be breathtaking to watch a HH work squirrels. It's actually not that unusual for a first year HH to go after squirrels.
-Joby

I guess you are lucky obviously to see this in the wild. their legs don't look tough enough like a RT's so i guess chaps must be in order here.
This is what got me a bit of a bad name as Squirrels and HH are a big NO NO over here in fact squirrel hawking with ANY bird is even a RT and a GOS, they are classed as vermin so no idea why but i guess they think the birds should not be flown at them for fear of injury, sometimes i dispear at my nation (there you are killjoy i said it ) and because it's very rare for us to see one do it you are automatically accused of flying them at them.
But i know i am not doing it deliberately so they can go and swing!....in fact they can swing anyway

[Flight]

You know what they say, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step"
You could be the leader of the new revolution of squirrel hawkers in England.

[jfseaman]

Well done Dave.

You got her rocking.

[harrishawker]

Thanks to you all.

Now i need to get her mind set into my RT Smokes who seems to be attacking Toadstools at present ;D

But it will come.....