Sussex Golden Eagle

KentYeti · #1 (**permalink**) 12-04-2011, 01:40 PM

Or should I say the "Ashburnham Golden Eagle", which is what a local Society calls it.

This is the Golden Eagle that is regularly reported as being seen in Sussex, the latest report being 10th April this year.

Been seen close enough in at least one report to spot the jesses on it, so an escapee. As would be expected!

Just wondered if anyone here makes regular sightings of it. I'd like to have a go at getting a photo of such a bird. OK, it's not truly wild. But if it's been living there for 4 years now, it has clearly adapted to wild life.

One sighting was at Dane Hill, and from the others that seems to be the general area it lives in. Be good for me as when the season really gets under way I'll be over to the steam loco heritage railway over there, (the Bluebell Railway), quite often. Could add a few hours each trip to wait somewhere to try and see/photo the big bird. So any information on the bird and it's hunting habits would help a lot.

Adam Cheeseman · #2 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 12:13 PM

I'm surprised that after 4 years the owner hasn't tried more urgently to recapture such an expensive bird. I take it it is actually a Golden Eagle and not been misidentified?

Cheers,

Adam

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 02:26 PM

Had a North Yorkshire White-tailed eagle out of the blue today(wildbird) so these things can turn up anywhere.

KentYeti · #4 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

I'm surprised that after 4 years the owner hasn't tried more urgently to recapture such an expensive bird. I take it it is actually a Golden Eagle and not been misidentified?

Cheers,

Adam

It was a "bird society" where I read the reports. So I am assuming they were correct.

But yes. With so many reports, you would have thought the owners would have read about it, and tried to recover it.

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Had a North Yorkshire White-tailed eagle out of the blue today(wildbird) so these things can turn up anywhere.

Do you know if this is the bird that was in Sussex/Hants for a while + more recently in Lincs/Norfolk? Certainly a bit of a traveller!

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 14-04-2011, 12:56 PM

Apparently not Aeshna I have been told it was a different bird. Travelling South with sightings from Scarborough and Filey.

Adam Cheeseman · #7 (**permalink**) 14-04-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KentYeti

It was a "bird society" where I read the reports. So I am assuming they were correct.

Yes, but it was the Banbury Ornithological Society that originally identified the Oriental Turtle Dove as a Feral Pigeon.

Cheers,

Adam

Mick from Hooe · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 03:53 PM

I believe I've got over 4 minutes of the Eagle on video. I'm sure it's not a Buzzard as we see a lot around here. My only uncertainty is brought about because there are traces of grey on the Eagle's breast, which gives me a degree of doubt. I've seen the Eagle several times from our remote barn location in Hooe, but always in flight, so difficult to film. I intend uploading the clip onto YouTube. If anyone wants to look at the video, please call me on (07774) 147 148. Thanks. Mick C.

Wild-Woman · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 04:04 PM

I have heard of this bird, mainly through someone who lives in Bexhill who goes out metal detecting with a friend who is a keen birder. They have seen it several times now and say that it's unmistakeable. Could it have flown over from France? The owner then may have no idea that it is here.