#White-tailed eagle

[michaelnordeman]

This might not be the best picture, but I still wanted to share it. Just 20 years ago, the White-tailed Eagle/havsörn was extinct in this area. Thanks to Projekt Havsörn, initiated in the 1970s by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, this magnificent and majestic bird can now be spotted here quite regularly. Today, during a walk, we saw two of them, and it made me so happy! Värmland, Sweden (November 24, 2024).

[besidethepath]

Majestic

I saw one from the road and then five (!) sea eagles from a hide. What a sight!

[aticketplz]

スリーピースバンドやん

(たぶん親子)

多摩動物公園

The promotion photo of a three-piece band

(It's really a photo of parents and child)

Tama Zoological Park

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Sea eagles, including the white-tailed eagle pictured above, prey on salmon and mackerel, as well as ducks and seabirds. They sometimes eat lambs.

Photo by Colin Black/Alamy Stock Photo

[dogwise]

White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

[dansnaturepictures]

Four of my favourite photos I took in April 2024 and month summary

The photos are of; an Osprey at Lossiemouth in Moray, Speckled Wood on dandelions by Lakeside Country Park in Hampshire, early spider orchid at Durlston in Dorset and view at Laggan Dam.

April was another momentous and splendid wild month for me with so much seen and many amazing places visited. My birdwatching year continued to go from strength to strength with some smashing spring species seen and my year list kept pace with where my others had been at this stage in a year being second only to the number I was on last year my highest ever year list. Spring delights Swallow, House Martin, Wheatear, Whitethroat, glorious Sedge Warbler, Redstart, thrilling views of Guillemot and Fulmar, Little Tern and Common Tern were key species added to my year list this month alongside blockbuster names Osprey and rare Marsh Sandpiper. Avocet, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Sand Martin, Goldcrest, Blackcap seen and heard and my first Cuckoos heard this year were other highlights. Following the Lakeside Great Crested Grebes with their four growing chicks and a pair still courting and the new Winchester Peregrine pair was special again this month, as was seeing Greylag goslings and adorable Moorhen chicks at Lakeside. The month ended and the new one began whilst away on the incredible adventure that has been our Scotland holiday; it has been pure, tranquil, joyful and nourishing being out in wilderness areas surrounded and embraced by sensational wildlife both at the amazing cottage we’re staying in and the many fantastic places visited. By the end of April we had already seen many of the standout species of the trip including resplendent summer plumage Black-throated Diver and Red-throated Diver, majestic White-tailed Eagle, exuberant Willow Warblers a very welcome constant, Pink-footed Geese, Red Grouse, Red-legged Partridge, loads of Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plover, Knot, Hooded Crow, Kittiwake, amazing views of many Ospreys, Razorbill, Puffin, Common Scoter, Goosander, Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Teal, Wheater, Sand Martin, Yellowhammer, Crossbill, Brambling, White Wagtail, Tree Sparrow, Raven, Skylark, Buzzard, Common Gull, Curlew, Lapwing and Oystercatcher.

It was a massive butterfly month for me too as the peak season moved through the early gears enjoying magical views of Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Holly Blue and Wall Brown with many making the most of the wealth of dandelions out the front and at Lakeside. My moth year got going too with White-shouldered House moth at home and bright Brimstone moth at Durlston.

It was a marvellous month of mammals with Hedgehog at home, more Roe Deers in a strong year I’m having for them, Sika Deers on the way to Durlston and Grey Squirrels enjoyed. A massive part of the Scotland trip was exhilarating encounters with mammals, getting some of my best ever views of certain species; inside April this included stunning intimate views of Hares and Roe Deers around the cottage, an amazing moment as a Stoat ran through the garden, a dream encounter watching Bottlenose Dolphins at Spey Bay and Mountain Goats. Bees, spiders, Black and Yellow Cellar slugs and pill woodlouse were other highlights this moth. 

Flowers gripped my month of course too as the season really matured with cuckooflower, garlic mustard, wild garlic, early purple orchid, my first ever known sighting of green-winged orchid, early spider orchid, cowslips, bluebells, greater stitchwort, marsh marigold, wood anemone, milkwort, buttercups, lesser celandine, wood anemone, cuckoo-pint, red deadnettle, white deadnettle, yellow archangel, forget-me-not, green alkanet, speedwell and herb-Robert starring alongside the breathtaking dandelion scenes. Vetch, sea and red campion, thrift, hogweed and oxeye daisy (some more than others and largely down to personal perspective) were examples of the cycle of the floral year being slightly ahead again. In Scotland it was interesting to observe spring being slightly behind compared to home with daffodils and primroses still around in numbers among others. It was nice to enjoy the sight of fungi here and there in April including hoof fungus in Scotland.

I enjoyed two great social occasions this month, the Hampshire Ornithological Society’s Member’s Day and a talk from Megan McCubbin based around her book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading earlier in the year. Both were inspirational and eye-opening times where it was great to meet like-minded people something watching the Great Crested Grebes has allowed a lot too. Finally I enjoyed being out and looking out so much in April taking in my surroundings and taking in some wonderful vistas and epic sky scenes. Immersed in the splendour of the vast, open, rugged, mountainous and varied landscape in Scotland also including wetland, coast and forest we enjoyed some incredible and breathtaking views.

[wildlifegermany]

Vorzgsweise erbeutet der Seeadler Fische, die sich nah an der Wasseroberfläche aufhalten. Darüber hinaus zählen aber auch Säugetiere, Vögel und Aas zu seinen Hauptnahrungsquellen. Obwohl er in erster Linie kranke oder schwache Tiere erbeutet, kann dieses Kraftpaket Fische bis zu einem Gewicht von fünf Kilogramm und Vögel bis Graugansgröße überwältigen.

The White-tailed Eagle prefers fish that are close to the water surface. However, mammals, birds and carrion are also among its main food sources. Although it preys primarily on sick or weak animals, this powerhouse can overpower fish weighing up to five kilograms and birds up to the size of gray geese.

[girlinlovewiththeforest]

White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

[nature-nerd-sarah]

Posting birds until I hit post limit: White-tailed eagle

[ifelten]

Havørn (Haliaeetus albicilla)

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

[priestess-of-the-north-west]

Photo by Dan Russon on Unsplash  

[michaelnordeman]

White-tailed eagle/havsörn. Värmland, Sweden (January 1, 2019).

[anirobot]

No, eihän sitä aina voi olla kaikkein kuvauksellisimmillaan?

White-tailed eagle - Wikipedia

[sitting-on-me-bum]

In Scotland, the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles has revealed a fundamental truth about rewilding efforts.

Photo by Michael Eaton/Shutterstock

[foerodens]

Abenteuer Norwegen 6: Seeadler vor der Haustür

A couple of photos of two white-tailed eagles that I encountered in Norway this spring.

[dansnaturepictures]

Little and large birds and seals: Looking back on standout species seen last weekend

With its striking colour that reminds me of a comfy jumper and belly the hue of the north pole, it was a pleasure to get exceptional views of a Little Stint at Pennington on Saturday. Thrilling to see it race along the shingle shore, as it passed a Canada Goose its minute figure put into sharp focus.

At the other end of the avian scale on Sunday it was exhilarating to witness three majestic White-tailed Eagles soaring over their reclaimed kingdom at Newtown on the Isle of Wight. Almost surreal to see their magnificent size when two were settled on fence posts. And on that boat trip both at Newtown and going down the Beaulieu River I was spellbound by seals. Enchanting Common Seals with their adorable and inquisitive faces which were joyful to see so well. Longer faced Grey Seals a treat too, enigmatic ocean wanderers and wonders.