The Falconry Gods smiled today ...

If it wasn't so damned cold I'd have just sat besides my falcon on the side of a steep valley and simply soak it all in while the falcon plucked and ate. Sadly mother nature doesn't show mercy or compassion and I have to be content with feeding him up on the hike back up to the truck and endure some minor frostbite while thawing, sitting back in my truck. It appears I was the weakest link in our team this afternoon. Everyone performed to the highest standards we have set ourselves. At the end I couldn't muster a hero shot in the bitter wind and dreary daylight as I was cold to the core.

As I sit my soaker bath tub thawing out, relishing a particularly fine cabernet sauvignon, (good job this isn't a zoom video), I have an overwhelming sense of satisfaction reliving the days flight over in my head. In spite of many struggles life puts upon us, I am in a good place mentally right now.

Today I feel that i finally achieved my objectives with this late started gyr x peregrine tiercel hybrid and we have managed to cement such positive behaviors and traits that will put him in good standing for next season. A particular protracted flight today totalling 7.6km from start to finish that covered all aspects of emotions in one extended flight. A Rollercoaster of highs and lows, mixed with risks, and great efforts from every team player all packed into one flight, but my best so far this season with this new young bird who had the chips stacked against him from the start. Non falconers (gun dog trainers for example) look upon us as in wonder as we mimic a circus ringmaster managing a symphony of performers using dogs, falcons and gamebirds. We got lucky and the falconry gods looked favourably upon us for our efforts.

Tomorrow we rest and change focus back to more pressing family priorities. But for right now, i'm taking this moment, because life experiences have shown me only too well, there isn't a way to know we're in the best of times before we actually leave them