The Tidal Train bringing passengers from flushing via Queensborough to London, on Friday week, brought also the annual consignment of Dutch hawks for English falconers. They were fifteen in number, in the charge of Mr. George Oxer, falconer to The Old Hawking Club; and under his assiduous care they arrived (hooded of course) on two cadges, in perfect order, without a feather broken. A little party of expectant hawkers were on the platform to meet them, and the birds on arrival were eagerly scanned and criticised. There were twelve falcons and three tiercels, all birds of the year or, as they are generally called, red hawks, from the rufous tone which at that age pervades the dorsal plumage. Not a single haggard had been captured, nor did any goshawk, gerfalcon or merlin add variety to the picturesque group of “falconer’s favourites”.
Seven tiercels had been ordered by would be purchasers, but three were caught, two of which went to Mr. T. J. Mann, of Hyde Hall, Sawbridgeworth, the third to Mr. St. Quintin of Scampton Hall, Yorkshire, whose success in partridge hawking with tiercels was lately chronicled in these columns. Of the falcons, eight were reserved for the club; two went to Mr. Hinchcliffe of Leeds, one to Mr. Marchant in Kent and one to Mr. Blaine in Somersetshire.
It is not to be supposed that these are the only hawks which are just now in the hands of English falconers, most of whom have birds of this year as well as last in their mews. There is, fortunately, a supply to be obtained from English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish eyries, as well as some from North Brabant; and there are some experts who, for game hawking, prefer English or Scottish eyasses to Dutch passage hawks. For rook hawking, however, as lately described in our columns, passage falcons are generally allowed to be superior; and it is for this sport that most of the newly arrived birds will be trained.
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This delightful description of the passage hawks arriving from Valkenswaard appeared in the sporting press of 1865. There are a number of things that I find interesting about it apart from the obvious falconry history aspect of the piece. Firstly that the language used to describe the hawks and their future intended usage. It is obvious from much of the terminology used that the writer and editor supposed their audience would readily understand such terms as “passage”, “hooded”, “eyasses”. Also it was interesting to note so many famous falconry names of the past being allocated hawks. It has to be assumed that Mr. Blaine of Somersetshire was none other than Gilbert Blaine who went o to become one of the all time doyens of British falconry.
I am indebted to Mr. Brian Bird of The George Edward Lodge Trust for the opportunity to peruse the hawking diary of a Mr. H. Willmont and the random clippings on falconry it contained. It was amongst these clippings that this particular gem was found.
It is not to be supposed that these are the only hawks which are just now in the hands of English falconers, most of whom have birds of this year as well as last in their mews. There is, fortunately, a supply to be obtained from English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish eyries, as well as some from North Brabant; and there are some experts who, for game hawking, prefer English or Scottish eyasses to Dutch passage hawks. For rook hawking, however, as lately described in our columns, passage falcons are generally allowed to be superior; and it is for this sport that most of the newly arrived birds will be trained.
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This delightful description of the passage hawks arriving from Valkenswaard appeared in the sporting press of 1865. There are a number of things that I find interesting about it apart from the obvious falconry history aspect of the piece. Firstly that the language used to describe the hawks and their future intended usage. It is obvious from much of the terminology used that the writer and editor supposed their audience would readily understand such terms as “passage”, “hooded”, “eyasses”. Also it was interesting to note so many famous falconry names of the past being allocated hawks. It has to be assumed that Mr. Blaine of Somersetshire was none other than Gilbert Blaine who went o to become one of the all time doyens of British falconry.
I am indebted to Mr. Brian Bird of The George Edward Lodge Trust for the opportunity to peruse the hawking diary of a Mr. H. Willmont and the random clippings on falconry it contained. It was amongst these clippings that this particular gem was found.