I met Amy out west of town. She wanted to fly Cooter, her second season RT. It was cool with a northerly breeze. Cooter, flying around 820 grams this morning, appeared fairly focused. He chased a rabbit and some small birds. He might take a little more reduction, but is flying quite a bit heavier than last season. He's a fine little red-tail.
Because we saw rabbits and birds I decided to fly Cisco at the same venue. He was very heavy this morning, 990, but did well on the t pole. He caught a cotton rat, I traded him off, and minutes later he grabbed a cottontail as it slipped into the brush. Lots of screaming. I dug a hole in the brush but was too slow grabbing the bunny. It slipped off. I was fired up and put Cisco back on the t pole. Unfortunately he spotted a wild red-tail, always a distraction, so I hooded Cisco and headed to the woods.
I got out of the SUV, and immediately heard a squirrel scolding. Cisco was ready quickly. I removed his jesslets and let him go. We chased squirrels for a good hour or two, and he nearly caught a couple. The pace was slow which I attribute to his weight. At one point he did his rope a dope, where he looks anything but interested in catching squirrels. Preens, sits, and looks around. I think it's a way of fooling the squirrels. It's worked a few times in the past, but it can get a little old from the falconer's standpoint. He made a final attack and I called it good.
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