An Eagle in Hampshire!

[dubai_phil]

And no, not a D_P golfing tale either

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8357633/Rare-white-tailed-eagle-spotted-in-Hampshire.html

 

Cool time to head back with a crossbow - would look good stufffed and mounted on the wall (say a bunch of those aholes that still exist in the world

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

If it is a genuine wild one that is very exciting. The only problem is that unless I am not much mistaken it is a sea eagle. Odd choice to go to Basingstoke.

[miserableoldgit]

I am utterly convinced that I saw one of these in Braishfield around 18 months ago. I saw it twice. Once in the middle of the lane picking over an animal carcass and once, with a number of other people, landing in a tree in the same area. I kept telling people that I had seen an eagle but they all said that it was unlikely. Maybe I WAS right.

[ericofarabia]

I am utterly convinced that I saw one of these in Braishfield around 18 months ago. I saw it twice. Once in the middle of the lane picking over an animal carcass and once, with a number of other people, landing in a tree in the same area. I kept telling people that I had seen an eagle but they all said that it was unlikely. Maybe I WAS right.

 

Did it look anything like this and answer to the ame of Eddie?

 

 

[so22saint]

I'm also convinced I've seen this bird (or it's bredderin) while driving down the A34 from Newbury to Winch - my mum said she saw an Eagle (and she's a birder) over the water off Redbridge as well.

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

You will be talking about a Red Kite. If you saw a sea eagle you would know!

[Dog]

 

 

They eat Eagles in Russia.

[dubai_phil]

Going back many years before I came over here (The 80's) playing cricket around South Wiltshire & Hampshire we would VERY occassionally spot a Buzzard at long distance - mainly out up the Ebble Valley way.

 

Was quite shocked a year ago to come back and see them zipping in and out of the trees on approach roads to Salisbury.

 

Also about 10 years ago remember being diverted into the Brecon Beacons on a boys tour of Wales so that a couple of Twitchers could "possibly" spot a Red Kite - which we did. Then last summer making up the numbers & getting in the way at cricket - low and behold they were zipping above the cricket pitch just outside Salisbury.

 

So yes well spotted those - if it has been seen on a farm in Old Basing then the A34 looks the place to keep your eyes open. Something to do when stuck in the summer jams around Newbury then

[SuperMikey]

There was DEFINITELY a massive bird flying over my house during the summer - I live about 8-10 miles away from Basingstoke. It was f*cking huge.

 

 

....and no, it wasn't an aeroplane.

[ericofarabia]

There was DEFINITELY a massive bird flying over my house during the summer - I live about 8-10 miles away from Basingstoke. It was f*cking huge.

 

 

....and no, it wasn't an aeroplane.

 

Vulture? ..... or maybe ... this!!

 

.

Stay off the mushrooms Mikey~!!

Edited 3 March, 2011 by ericofarabia

[stug76]

I am utterly convinced that I saw one of these in Braishfield around 18 months ago. I saw it twice. Once in the middle of the lane picking over an animal carcass and once, with a number of other people, landing in a tree in the same area. I kept telling people that I had seen an eagle but they all said that it was unlikely. Maybe I WAS right.

 

There are a few buzzards in and around Braishfield, though they are very timid. On a good day I watch them out of the workshop window instead of doing work. On bad days, I've got nothing to watch when I'm not doing work.

[Gemmel]

There are buzzards in the woods in Lordswood.

[suewhistle]

When I visit Mum there are loads of Red Kites around: on one run around the local NT common I saw 7 in a few minutes: goodness knows what it's doing to the local wild life population, but as they eat lots of carrion perhaps it's not too bad.

 

Now I _did_ see an eagle the other day: here in the mountains they live in the National Park and soar along the standing wave at the crest of the local ski resort and then cross at high altitude to the massif on the border with Switzerland. I saw 3 together a few summers ago after walking up about 800m: made it worthwhile.

[Saint_clark]

9 foot wingspan? F*cking hell that is mahoosive.

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

When I visit Mum there are loads of Red Kites around: on one run around the local NT common I saw 7 in a few minutes: goodness knows what it's doing to the local wild life population, but as they eat lots of carrion perhaps it's not too bad.

 

Now I _did_ see an eagle the other day: here in the mountains they live in the National Park and soar along the standing wave at the crest of the local ski resort and then cross at high altitude to the massif on the border with Switzerland. I saw 3 together a few summers ago after walking up about 800m: made it worthwhile.

 

Red Kites don't do too much damage as far as I know. The explosion in buzzards has hit the Hare poulation hard as they kill the leverets. The grey partridge is pretty doomed as well. I would not let my terrier off the lead in Old Basing at the moment.

[dune]

There was DEFINITELY a massive bird flying over my house during the summer - I live about 8-10 miles away from Basingstoke. It was f*cking huge.

 

 

....and no, it wasn't an aeroplane.

 

It was a heron you stupid boy.

[yoda]

A white tailed sea eagle has been nested in New Milton for a while. Not heard much about it lately

[team-saint]

The bird near Basingstoke is an immature White-tailed Sea Eagle. It is the same bird that was present in the New Milton area from early January.

[SuperMikey]

It was a heron you stupid boy.

 

It wasn't a heron, it was dark in colour.

 

Btw, we woke up this morning at my halls of residence to find a slaughtered pigeon outside our front door - apparently a big bird came and took it off the roof before killing it early this morning. Could this be our mystery bird?

[Jimmy Gabriel's Halo]

Buzzards are spreading into Sussex, I regularly spot them when on the train to Southampton for matches.

 

And just to head off those of you so inclined, that's me on the train and not the buzzards.

 

Thank you.

[dune]

It wasn't a heron, it was dark in colour.

 

Silouettes are dark. It was a heron.

[Ken Tone]

It wasn't a heron, it was dark in colour.

 

Btw, we woke up this morning at my halls of residence to find a slaughtered pigeon outside our front door - apparently a big bird came and took it off the roof before killing it early this morning. Could this be our mystery bird?

 

No. Almost certainly a sparrowhawk, or just very faintly possibly if you are near a high point with a nest, a peregrine falcon. But a peregrine woud be more likely to take the pigeon in flight, not off a roof. Sparrowhawk is favourite by far.

 

The white-tailed eagle, which as teamsaint says has been in Hampshire for several months before the Telegraph found out (even though it was featured several times on BBC South in January), is also known as a sea eagle. Basically it usually eats fish, though it will no doubt scavenge on other stuff if desperate. They are so big that they have been known to take lambs. This one is a young one, out of its normal area, and has been on the coast near Barton-on-sea over much of the winter.

 

I have seen sea eagles on the Isle of Mull, where a small number breed. They are huge. You really would know with no doubt if you saw one. Many people confuse buzzards and red kites with eagles, but not if they've actually seen an eagle! And btw although a heron is grey it does look dark against the sky when flying.

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

No. Almost certainly a sparrowhawk, or just very faintly possibly if you are near a high point with a nest, a peregrine falcon. But a peregrine woud be more likely to take the pigeon in flight, not off a roof. Sparrowhawk is favourite by far.

 

The white-tailed eagle, which as teamsaint says has been in Hampshire for several months before the Telegraph found out (even though it was featured several times on BBC South in January), is also known as a sea eagle. Basically it usually eats fish, though it will no doubt scavenge on other stuff if desperate. They are so big that they have been known to take lambs. This one is a young one, out of its normal area, and has been on the coast near Barton-on-sea over much of the winter.

 

I have seen sea eagles on the Isle of Mull, where a small number breed. They are huge. You really would know with no doubt if you saw one. Many people confuse buzzards and red kites with eagles, but not if they've actually seen an eagle! And btw although a heron is grey it does look dark against the sky when flying.[/quote

 

Sea Eagles generally take lambs and occasionally fish!

[Somewhere In Northam]

sat-nav didnt work

[dune]

No. Almost certainly a sparrowhawk, or just very faintly possibly if you are near a high point with a nest, a peregrine falcon. But a peregrine woud be more likely to take the pigeon in flight, not off a roof. Sparrowhawk is favourite by far.

 

It wouldn't be a sparrow hawk. They are quite small. About the same size as a pidgeon.

 

Super Mikey saw a heron.

Edited 4 March, 2011 by dune

[SuperMikey]

It wouldn't be a sparrow hawk. They are quite small. About the same size as a pidgeon.

 

Super Mikey saw a heron.

 

Ken's post relates to a different occasion, a pigeon was killed outside our halls by a bigger bird which took it off the roof. Actually, it seems that there's a bit of a bird serial killer about, we have some ducks in a pond outside the cafeteria and one of them was found dead (and pretty f*cked up) a few days ago as well.

 

On the other occasion, I definitely didn't see a heron. Having done a Google search, the colourings on the bird were quite similar to those of a Red Kite so that's what I guess it was.

 

 

NOT

 

[dune]

On the other occasion, I definitely didn't see a heron. Having done a Google search, the colourings on the bird were quite similar to those of a Red Kite so that's what I guess it was.

 

You just can't admit you were wrong can you.