Spring's near and you can tell by the different varieties of birds that have dropped into the estate just by walking around the grounds of  Stapleford Park.  The first of the Swallows and House Martins arrived from Africa and chasing them with the South wind, a little falcon called a Hobby.  We are very lucky to have two pairs of Hobby's nesting on our estate, both of which I've been observing on a daily basis, catching their prey to feeding their chicks.

Surrounded and being involved in sporting estates for over 20 years I've realized how heavily involved we have to be in conservation to keep these fantastic creatures here.

Each year I've noticed something new being built or developed on the way into Stapleford Park. The frantic pace of development and the changes in the countryside have been amazing. It seems our towns are not far away from being cities. Roads are now in  place where it used to be so remote and where I would see the most amazing wild creatures yet there are still  havens such as Stapleford Park, where I've sighted birds as rare as the Merlin, Britain's smallest falcon.

Now the warm weather is here Senna our Lanner Falcon is finding it easy to find thermals, gaining height most days.  Now he's climbing to around 2-3000 feet and recently joining him is a wild female Peregrine Falcon.  Usually I would be worried for the safety of our falcons but Senna and the female Peregrine seem to like each other so I don't think I have anything to worry about. Going around in circles, riding thermals until all I can see is two little dots in the sky.

Senna knows what he needs to do to get a reward! When I think the time is right or when Senna thinks the time is right he throws himself into what's called a stoop and shapes his body like a raindrop reaching speeds of around 150 mph.  As he gets closer you can hear the sound of his bell whistling more like a guided missile coming down, that's if guided missiles sound like that.  At the right moment I throw the lure in the air and with one hard smack, Senna hits it and takes his reward on the ground.

We have a number of Birds of Prey at Stapleford Park that you can enjoy a hands on experience flying them.


We hope to see you soon,


Pete Sibson
Head Falconer