It's strange what life sometimes throws at us. Opportunities, that had the time been right, might have led us along a different path and those that you just grab with both hands and nothing is going to stop you.
And so, a chance meeting with the lovely Sarah Barraclough has led to a "blossoming" friendship between Moorland Falcony and Workingline Images, and one which is filled with excitement for the future.
Steve and Sarah have been running Moorland Falconry for a number of years, and whilst previously they could be found carrying out displays at Game Fairs and such like they are now concentrating more on their birds and on the educational aspects they offer. They specialise in British Birds of Preythey are both passionate to teach children and adults alike about their charges. In fact, once Steve has started, sit back, relax and enjoy (but watch the time because it's gone in a blink).
Since I was a young girl, I have had a fascination with Birds of Prey. My Dad was gifted The Audubon Society's Book of Wild Birds , it was huge and lived on the bottom shelf of the glass cabinet at home. Thick, crisp, glossy pages, with stunningly beautiful photographs (which even then I could appreciate) held my attention for hours.
And then, without so much as blink, forty years later, I am standing in the woods behind our home with Chesnut the Tawny Owl, in front of me and I am attempting to re-create those incredible glossy plates.
I was hosting a "catch up" event with one of our Dog Photography Workshop Groups and Sarah had offered to bring Chesnut for the girls to photograph as a surprise. And from that point there was no going back !!.
Andrew also has a passion for wildlife and living on the edge of a moor, Curlews, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Grouse, Buzzards and of course Kestrels are not uncommon sights. But for him the Kestrel and Barry Hines' story "Kes" have a particular place in his heart.
But, it was never going to be so easy as "come up and see my birds" ... Steve and Sarah are obviously extremely protective of their feathered family and so both Andrew and I need to learn how to behave around the birds and how to interact with them.
What comes next is proving a challenge ... we are both Learning the Lure. Now, I will be honest and say that Andrew is far more coordinated than I will ever be... swinging a lure around standing still is one thing, swinging a lure and moving is something altogether different and then add a Peregrine, or a Kestrel or a Lanner Falcon coming towards you at full tilt and well... I may just stay this side of the camera. As for Andrew, watch this space !
Then an incredible opportunity arrived, a new addition to the aviary ... and would I like to come and photograph her ???.. the question needed no real answer.
This is Blossom, she is a European Kestrel and I have the privilege of charting her life from fluffy chick to mature Kestrel in photographs.
I first met Blossom when she was 17 days old and was no more than a ball
of fluffy feathers, albeit a ball of fluffy feathers with a steely gaze
and razor sharp talons.
Sat on Steve and Sarah's sitting room floor, Blossom was learning how to feed herself pigeon breast.
Blossom is what is termed an "imprint", and I will cover this in more depth in my next blog, for now, it's a case of getting to know you and introducing Blossom to as many new sights, sounds and experiences as possible.
So the camera was a new experience. I was initially worried that the flash would spook her, but Blossom is unflappable. After finishing her supper she strutted across the floor to investigate what was going on.
Much like a puppy or a child, after she had fed and amused herself for a while, it was time to rest.
Just over a week later, I got a message from Sarah telling me a I really really needed to come and see Blossom, that I wouldn't believe the difference. So with camera in hand and new puppy as co-pilot we ventured up the hill.
What a surprise. I seriously could not believe the difference that a week had made, no more the fluffy ball with steely eyes, now a stunning young Falcon finding her flying wings.
Steve and Sarah talked me through how the last week had gone and that Blossom had taken her first flight only the day before, I was there to witness Flight No.2 !!!!
Having spent the previous afternoon atop the greenhouse roof, Blossom was happily sat next to Steve's glove taking everything in.
Her first perch was the gate post at the end of the track adjoining open pasture land, she sat for a while before deciding that the time was right, and how my heart soared as she dropped from her post and headed towards us.
From a photography point of view, it was a huge learning curve. Dogs, horses and humans are to a degree predictable in their movement, but birds, and birds in flight are something very new and something very unpredictable. Over the coming weeks, I hope to learn to read Blossom's movements and to understand how she will approach Steve and the lure, and maybe then I stand a chance of capturing a picture that does her justice, for now "snaps" will have to do.
For some reason as soon as she lifted from her perch I expected her to soar, but no, she came in low and fast and straight for us only lifting and arriving at Steve's hand at the last moment to take the prize that was waiting for her.
The next attempt saw Blossom initially mobbed by Swallows on the barn roof. Deciding that she had had enough of the pesky critters she decided to venture out across the paddock. Coming out from the shelter of the barn the wind had increased and was obviously something new for a our young Kestrel. Sat on a stone wall a good distance away from Steve, Blossom decided to that really Dad needed to make this a little easier, so with much coaxing and reducing of distance she finally managed to reunite herself with the glove. More than enough excitement for one day.
I can't wait to see the difference another week will make.
For more information on Moorland Falconry please visit either their website
or find them on
To see the full gallery of images please visit the WORKINGLINE IMAGES
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