White Tailed Eagle - Hampshire

HamieRaptorcliff · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 08:43 PM

I see the Eagle down in Hampshire is getting lots of press - rightly so, it looks outstanding!!

My question is, and I suspect it might be an unanswerable one, do we have any sort of idea how long it is likely to hang around? I appreciate it could just choose to fly off tomorrow, we can't predict that, but do we know from previous experience (albeit very rare) whether it may settle down for a reasonable period of time?

I ask because (a) I'd definitely be interested in heading down there for a view as it's one of my 'must sees', and (b) I'm just interested in how these things work - will it hang around until food runs out (if at all), it gets warmer, it gets lonely, etc

Cheers

RoyW · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 09:21 PM

There is a very good chance that this one will hang around for a while (I haven't checked where it is or how long it's been present though). Previous vagrants to England have often stayed for several weeks, even several months, but they don't always stay in one place. As you say nothing is certain though, and it could leave any day.

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 05:04 AM

This bird first appeared about mid- December in Sussex, was seen in that area for some days before disappearing off the radar + then re-located in Hants.

Susie · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 08:13 AM

As aeshna says, this is the same one I saw down at Amberley in Sussex. I would risk going to see it if you can.

Endrick · #5 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 08:37 AM

They are amazing birds, We've had one here which stayed for a week probably feeding on the salmon kelts but hasn't been seen locally since Friday. I wonder if they are part of the same release program?

kiyasmum · #6 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 09:20 AM

Can't help with how long it will stay, but they do seem to hang around if there is food. I have read this one is a tagged bird from the East of Scotland release. I have been lucky to see lots of them mainly on Mull but also on main land Scotland. Amazing sight.

htcdude · #7 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 12:17 PM

OK so excuse me asking a really stupid question, but is this a wild bird then? Not an escapee?

Nige

HamieRaptorcliff · #8 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 01:31 PM

My understanding is that it is a wild bird, yes.

I'd read somewhere (probably unreliable) that it had been 'blown in from Scandinavia'. But there is a suggestion it is a bird that was introduced in Scotland.

It could be both, I guess?

htcdude · #9 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 01:40 PM

Hmmmm maybe my Saturday trip to Sheppey will be detoured

Thanks for that!

Nige

RoyW · #10 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

This bird first appeared about mid- December in Sussex, was seen in that area for some days before disappearing off the radar + then re-located in Hants.

Found at Amberley around midday on Dec 11th, seen at several sites as it was tracked west into Hampshire on the afternoon of Dec 12th, then dissapeared until being found at present site on Jan 1st. There is also the possibility that this was the bird seen in south Essex (at the edge of the London recording area) on Oct 5th.

Most White-tailed Eagles in southern England are assumed to come from continental Europe (one ringed individual was from West Germany), and recent sightings have all been immatures - birds from the introduced Scottish population do wander though so can rarely be completely ruled out.

As the breeding population on the continent appears to be slowly increasing they may become more regular visitors (there are now a few regularly wintering in north-east France).