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and first thing we were out, 

and what a treat we had, 

as we drove through narrow county lanes, 

 we arrived here, at Coolings, but not the one we normally go to, it is quite near the other outlet but due to road works we had to take a circuitous route, 

but here we are at Coolings, one of the group we have never been to before, 

inside, 

lots of goodies to tempt you, 

some of the main building was made into room settings,

but there were still free standing displays, 

we made our way, 

through rooms,

and furniture, 

there were of course plants here, 

but we had not come for them, 

we will be calling in here later, neither of us had eaten breakfast as it was a early start, 

and this is what we had come for, 

Diana had already bought admission tickets for Willows Birds of Prey Center, 

a quick look to the right as we went into the 22 acre site,

there were all manner of creatures here, 

from pigs, 

to bee and other insect homes,

Diana was soon snapping away,

taking photographs of parrots, 

to a tortoise, 

and burrowing owls,

I did like this, everywhere we looked, 

bee hotels as I call them, 

if you buy one of the 'Experience Days' this is the field where it all happens, 

for us we just had general admission tickets, but twice a day a meeting the birds is put on, so check times before you travel,

I tried to explain to Diana, (unsuccessfully) that just because wallabies hopped and came for Australia they were not kangaroos, 

from another continent, 

I am guessing almost everyone's favorite, 

meerkats, 

we started our walk, 

I saw this from a long way off, I knew straight away what was in the high runs, 

ferrets, 

before I left the UK back in the 80's I had 4 ferrets, 3 coloured and one albino, they were such fun!

along here aviaries for owls, 

the site was huge, 

as we came across more owls, 

everywhere, 

as always the wire in the way, but not later, 

past more bee hotels,

and a stand of trees, that I guess did not survive a drought, 

in the next enclosure, a bird we all know,

chickens,

then something rarely seen, 

outside of Cottingley, fairies, I mentioned them in a post some time a go, have a look here, 

and here is their home, but you can only see them if you are very, very quiet,

we followed a duck,

and found a pond, 

with mum and a few ducklings, 

as well as others ducks, 

Diana was looking longingly at the masses of unripe blackberries, growing well beyond her reach, 

as you might expect hedgehogs live here, 

we made our way here, 

for a show, 

of a few birds of prey, 

we were a tad early, 

so a quick walk, 

where Diana found her hut, 

'Ah!'

then the first part of the show began, 

with one of the staff and a owl,

who was remarkably active, 

flying from hand, 

to various stumps, 

and perches, 

picking up tit bits of food, 

all of the time,

we were treated to a commentary, 

about these fascinating birds, 

next an owl that I guess everyone has heard of, 

a barn owl,

again the handler,

gave a wonderful description of the bird, 

and its habits, 

as he commented, 

its habitat, 

is slowly being taken, 

as barns are converted into human homes,

and this I really loved, 

he took the time to get really close to some youngsters, 

and show them how thick a owls feathers were, 

the kids,

and Mums really enjoyed the show,

and then it was our turn, 

he brought the owl over to us, 

I was chatting, 

and snapping away, as a tit bit was offered to get the owl to look my way, I mentioned to him at the end of this part of the show if it would be possible for me to take a photograph of a falcon for a project I am working on, he said he would have a word and to wait after the final part of the show,

and here was the final part of the show, 

a Harris's hawk, (Parabuteo unicinctus)

and what a beauty he was, this is a male by the way, 

he flew again from hand to different perches, 

it was then time to tether him,

for his walk back to the aviary, 

it was all absolutely fascinating, both Diana and myself thoroughly enjoy the whole show, 

but I think you can guess Diana's favorite here, 

the meerkats, 

they are just so adorable, 

and then my dream come true, 

up close and personal with a falcon, the falconer mentioned that this one was just having a meal, and was soon to be exercised, 

Diana was busy, 

with the parrots, 

I made my way here, 

where the Experience Days are held, 

the falcon was in the air, 

at this point I realized what a hopeless photographer I am,

when it comes to birds in flight, but what a joy to see a falcon soar, wheel, turn and home in on one of the local crow population, but the crow was having none of it, a crow does not live near a bird of prey facility with out learning a thing or two!

back down to earth, 

the bird was skillfully tethered, 

and rewarded, and then I heard it, the unmistakable sound of a Merlin V 12 engine, 

powering a Spitfire, a falcon and a Spitfire all on the same day! I was in seventh heaven and no mistake,

a reward given,

which the bird really liked, 

yummy!

meal completed, the bird was returned to its aviary, I was asked to wait as another falcon was being brought out, I could not believe it, the staff here are just so kind,  

the Spitfire, 

returned on its way back to Biggin Hill nearby, 

another falcon was brought out, 

its hood was removed,

and there he was, 

a falcon, 

this one a cross breed, I was told as he gets older his plumage, 

will darken with age,

and he was just so happy with posing! I thanked the falconer so much for indulging me in taking a photograph of a falcon, OK I hear you say, what is it with a falcon? not many people know this, but my birth name is Stanley Falcon Kemp, I wanted to take a photograph of my namesake, and today I have, as it happens I want to use a photograph of a falcon in a project I am undertaking, many, many thanks to the staff of Willows Birds of Prey & Wildlife Trail, which is in Coolings Lifestyle, Main Rd, Knockholt, Sevenoaks TN14 7LJ. Phone: 01959 580677, what a wonderful visit, I am already looking forward to calling back, one small thing a lot of the trail is under the cover of trees, so it can be a tad chilly, as we found out! next a bite to eat in the restaurant, 

by the time I arrived Diana had already received the coffees and cake, 

and then our meals arrived,

a chicken and chorizo pasty for Diana,

for myself a tuna and cucumber sandwich, our bill came to £36.00, and then we were off, shopping, at Polhill Nursery, 

a apple tree greeted us on the way in, 

I normally stop for some seafood, but as we still have some from our last visit to Bromley we did not stop, 

the waterfall working well, 

inside lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, 

in abundance, 

but we could not resist these, huge black Kentish cherries, 

and just as big, these yellow ones next door, 

into the shop, but alas the almond macaroons had sold out, 

next past the orchids, 

a few nice ones here, and then to the butchers, and we were in luck, 2 packs of saveloys to go, the ones here taste nicer than the ones we buy from Sainsburys, back to the car and off to Diana's work where I dropped her off, arriving home before my evening meal I had time to play with one photograph, 

a pair of damselflies I had taken on our visit to Lullingstone Castle we went to in mid June, above out of the camera,

and here played with a tad, 

and of course what I had come for, a photograph of the head of a falcon, this is the one I chose out of the camera, but he was looking the wrong way, 

reversed, 

angled down and cropped, 

background removed, the bird was still in juvenile plumage, so I added a few years, I was told the bird's plumage would darken with age, 

so my impression of a few years of aging, next remove the artifacts at the bottom of the photograph, 

and here he is, what a beauty! as it happens there are still a few problems with the photograph I am not happy with, a job for a few days time! it was then time for my evening meal, after which a Outback Opal Hunters and a Deadliest Catch, which I followed with,

The Madness of King George, (actually King George III), a great costume drama of the true madness of King George III, it is now thought that he had porphyria, which can be acquired or inherited, porphyria is a disorder of the blood where by porphyrins (and their precursors) accumulate to toxic levels in the body leading to various disorders, but back to the film, it is the story of King George III of England's slide into insanity, and the political and royal back stabbing which results from his incapacitation and to the inevitable question as to who is making decisions and ruling the country, a enjoyable if some what sad in places great movie, then in a strange schedule a Midsomer Murder started, just as Diana called to say she had finished her late shift, so I picked her up, arriving home we watched the rest of Midsomer Murder with a coffee and a chat before we were off to bed.