Clue: Female bird always soaring round middle of lea (5)
Answer: REEVE
Explanation: Definition: Female bird
 **Reversal of**(… soaring, in a down clue) EVER(always/at all times) **containing**(round) **middle letter of**(middle of) "lea".
Defn: A female ruff.
Two ruffed ruffs ready to court reeves: