The 2nd calendar yr White-tailed Eagle at Stocks Reservoir, Lancashire, UK.

12.03.03.  by Pete Wilson.

I was stood in the car park at Stocks Boardhouse, talking to my line manager, Roy Taylor, when I spotted a bird flying up the valley towards the dam.

The low Sun made it difficult to make out any detail, but the flight action immediately reminded me of a Heron, but perhaps a bit slower. So I really didn't think anymore of it.

However, as it approached the dam, Roy saw it as well - his initial comment also being "Is that a Heron?".

It was now c350m away from us, and just below our head height. By now, it was clear that it was a huge bird, dwarfing the Gulls and overall, a very dark brown in colour.

Roy had his 'Bins' in his hands and immediately identified it as a 2nd calendar year White-Tailed Eagle, also seeing the blue wingtags.

I quickly grabbed my 'bins' from my car, and we both watched it continue in a NE direction up the Reservoir.

From the wingtags, the bird is one of 10 fledglings that were tagged last year in NW Scotland. This is believed to be the furthest proven movement of a Scottish White-Tailed Eagle.