The new website for the Utah Merlin Meet is now officially up and you can register for the meet! Check it out for dates, accomodations, schedule, and more. This is going to be an exciting meet that you don't want to miss! Hope to see you there.

www.merlinmeet.com

The new website for the Utah Merlin Meet is officially up and registration is now open! Check it out to see dates, accomodations, schedule, and more.  This is going to be a meet you won't want to miss. Hope to see you there!

www.merlinmeet.com

 The Merlin meet in Utah is getting bigger and better each year, and 2016 certainly won't disappoint! Falconers from Canada, Mexico, and Scotland will join with falconers from around the US in Lehi to share stories and experiences while watching merlins pursue large flocks of starlings into the vast Utah sky. The beautiful Wasatch Range adds to the magic of each day providing an epic snowcapped background for watching these powerful little falcons hunt. Thursday and Friday evenings we will have presentations by some of our international friends sharing their experiences flying merlins back home, and we are working on a raffle that will have prizes geared towards hawking with merlins and other micro-raptors . This promises to be an outstanding week of merlins, friendship, merlins, camaraderie, merlins, fun, and well MERLINS!  If all this isn't enough there is also an outstanding opportunity on Friday and Saturday to see some large falcons making amazing flights as their falconers compete for top honors at one of the longest running and most established skytrials the world over: The Utah Skytrials! The meet will conclude at the Skytrials Awards Banquet on Saturday night. For more information including lodging details please go to: www.utahskytrials.com

Great news for falconers over the pond! You will soon be able to order a copy of "The Passage Merlin" from Coch-Y-Bondu. I just sent a box of books out to them this week. Check out their website and watch for it to be added to the list of available books! Find them at: www.anglebooks.com

I had such a wonderful time visiting with friends in Mexico this past month. It was such a wonderful opportunity for Al Ross and I to experience some merlin hawking south of the border. The hospitality and kindness we experienced was overwhelming. A sincere thank you to Shanny, Nicolaus, Ricardo, Adrian, and Ulisses...brothers! You guys made it a trip of a lifetime. Al and I were hosted by Shanny and his wife, Charis, at their home in Chapala. Their house was home base and Charis spoiled us with good coffee, wonderful food, and great conversation.

This is the back patio where we started most days with hot coffee, merlin talk, and warm sunshine...a nice reprieve from the Idaho winter.

We spent a very long and fun night at Ricardo Padilla's home in Toluca to kick off the group gathering. Many thanks to his wonderful family for tolerating a bunch of overly excited merlin guys as we took over their home for the night. Nico and Ricardo took me out for some excellent street tacos that evening! A pretty darn good meal to celebrate my 40th birthday with my friends. Many libations were had and the merlin talk got louder and louder as the night went on. It was a fantastic time. The next morning we were out hawking in the fields of Toluca with Shanny's and Adrian's female merlins. We got some good flights and both birds flew well from nice pitches. Ricardo had a new Richardson's female just beginning her lure stooping, and he handled her beautifully considering the pressure he surely felt from the  panel of peers watching his every move! HAHA! He is a talented falconer and was spot on with his new charge. I can only imagine that they are enjoying some excellent spring hawking together now.

The next long night of visiting and talking about merlins took place at a wonderful lake home of Adrian Reuter's in Valle de Bravo. What a gorgeous little town on a mountain lake. We hawked in a valley above 8000 feet in elevation getting slips on horned larks and striped sparrows. The birds flew well and the bright sun burned mine and Al's winter complexions. Both the merlins flew really well again, and had us all running around like lunatics trying to get the crafty sparrows out of some fairly thick clumps of cover. There was  a lot of laughing and many more stories told before heading down out of the mountains. I signed some books for my friends, and we enjoyed an outstanding lunch before parting ways. 

Shanny, Nico, Al, and I got on the road to Chapala for a few more days of rest and relaxation before heading back to the cold northern winter. We relaxed in the sun and enjoyed the smiling faces and wonderful people in the local community around Lake Chapala. The chilaquiles, pina coladas, and company were amazing. Thanks to everyone that participated in making it an incredible trip. Al and I both are sincerely grateful.

The books arrived finally arrived today even though we had a pretty substantial snow storm making driving a challenge. Individual orders are being boxed up and will begin shipping Tuesday afternoon!

Well there is continued delay with the main shipment of books from the printing company. I had hoped they would arrive today, but I have been guaranteed they will arrive Monday. A few have made it into the hands of falconers here at the Utah Skytrials, but the rest will begin shipping as soon as they arrive. Again, the shipper guaranteed me they would arrive Monday.

The Merlin Meet in Lehi UT begins tomorrow! Al Ross and I flew the last couple of days with some local falconers. The slips were great and we had some awesome flights. My girl "Lucy" caught a starling yesterday in a good flock flight and flew flocks hard today but didn't connect. Al's bird "Gem" flew today's flock beautifully and caught one in fine style!

The weather isn't looking good for tomorrow, but we will still be at the meet hotel at 10 a.m. in the lobby. Come and join us for conversation and camaraderie as we watch the wind and snow hoping to get out with the girls. Also keep an eye on the Facebook page to see more photos and updates from the meet!

Some of the first boxes of books have arrived here in Utah! Most of the Collector's Editions are here, and I will begin shipping those tomorrow. The majority of books are still on their way to Idaho having been delayed a few days by inclement weather back east. They  are scheduled to arrive Friday.

Notification came today that the books have shipped from Sheridan Books! They are on track to arrive on the 17th, and we will begin shipping the very next day. I'll be at the Merlin Meet at the Utah Skytrials in Lehi from Feb 19th-22nd if you want a buy a copy from me personally. For information about the Utah Skytrials or the Merlin Meet go to: www.utahskytrials.com