Flying days

Well, we survived a weekend under canvas, the highlight of which turned out to be a visit to the National Birds of Prey Centre.

For me, the best bit was getting close to a female Bald Eagle. For Mac, it was the flying demonstration - watching a range of Raptors being flown from the hand, including a Peregrine Falcon and a Eurasian Eagle Owl. But it was the Red Kite that Mac fell in love with. She wants to go back and fly one herself!

Happily, it looks like she's going to get the opportunity this summer. Mac's birthday is coming up, and one of the center's Falconry Experience Days sounds like an ideal present.

By the way, here's something I didn't know: while the Old World vultures are related to hawks and eagles, the New World vultures are more closely related to storks. It's another example of convergent evolution, the most intriguing illustration of which is the Tasmanian Wolf.