Owl Encounters

I stood in a field near Cheltenham on a bright but chilly autumnal day. My arm was clad in a falconry gauntlet, and I waited for a Black Barn Owl called Oreo to land there.

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I was both nervous and excited. As the exquisite bird with its great expanse of wings glided quietly towards me and then landed on my arm, I felt a sense of peace. Wildlife can do that, can’t it? Calm our nervous system and remind us of pure and simple things. Plus, owls have an ethereal quality, something otherworldly about them. It’s no surprise that they’ve peppered mythology for millennia. Standing face to face with Oreo, it was easy to see why; they really are quite magical.

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In 2002, Clare’s husband Phil Lott worked as a fireman. He was also a keen falconry hobbyist having been interested in birds all his life. At a time when rescue centres were scarce, Phil was known locally as someone who could help with a range of sick and injured wild birds, nurturing them back to health and releasing them back into the wild when possible. To subsidise this rescue work, Phil and Clare turned Phil’s falconry hobby into a business, giving local demonstrations in exchange for donations. The word spread and the business thrived and evolved. Together they decided that Clare would give up her job, take the helm and begin giving demonstrations. From this, ‘Walks with Hawks’ was born, and the rest, as they say, is history.

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Three of us, plus Clare, spent two thrilling hours in that field with a range of owls from across the globe, flying them and watching them feed. There was a Bengal Eagle Owl, Black Barn Owl, White Faced Owl and Long Eared Owl. I’d see glimpses of their personalities as they perched majestically on my arm, looking at me with wide eyes and then looking away. I realised I could stare at owls all day; they are truly hypnotic animals.

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Spending time with wildlife in this way is such a privilege. Faced with the delicate beauty of the owls was a stark reminder that wildlife and nature need our consideration and attention if we’re to maintain it and help it thrive. Because when it’s gone, it’s gone. And quite frankly the thought of that is devastating – not to mention catastrophic for our ecosystems.

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Clare reinforced this as we chatted. She explained that the loss of natural habitat in the UK and worldwide is having disastrous effects on wild animals and, for herself and Phil, helping people understand this sits at the heart of what they do. They hope that the close encounters with these beautiful animals brings home to people just how important their survival is.

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I left that morning feeling hopeful. Thank goodness for people like Clare and Phil at ‘Walks with Hawks’. They’re working hard and without fuss to preserve wildlife the world over from their corner of the Cotswolds. To book your memorable experience today head over to-

https://www.walkswithhawks.co.uk/home.html

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