David Rayner Photography

Birds of Prey at HCT

BIRDS OF PREY AT THE HAWK CONSERVANCY: 50 species + one other
All the birds of prey in this gallery were photographed on two visits (September 2009 and March 2010) to the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Hampshire, UK. The Trust is open to the public and is very popular with children. Its activities are many and include Conservation, Education, Rehabilitation, and Research. Each year several sick or injured birds of prey are treated at the Trust’s hospital before being released back into the wild.
The various events and activities usually provide excellent opportunities for photographers. This is reflected in the respective numbers of each species in this gallery. The larger numbers include Black and Yellow-billed Kites, Barn Owls, Secretary Bird and Hooded Vultures. If we had found the time to visit HCT more often then we surely would have found more photo opportunities.
Finally, two points. First, the HCT provides regular feeds for wild birds such as Red Kites, Kestrels, Buzzards and Grey Herons. These are not included in this gallery. Secondly, the ‘other’ mentioned above is not a bird of prey but a group of Great Bustards which, at the time of our visits, were being prepared for a project to re-introduce them onto Salisbury Plain. I’m not quite sure where these may otherwise be placed, so I have included a few photos at the end of this gallery.