Over the Christmas break those visiting the Lower Derwent Valley had the good fortune to finish the year off with the appearance of an impressive visitor, when an incredible juvenile White-tailed Eagle was found at Aughton Ings on the 26th. Since then it has appeared to be fairly settled in the area and has been seen daily between Aughton and Thorganby Ings, with the best place to get a view from being around Aughton churchyard, whilst records have also been logged from Ellerton churchyard, the viewing platform and hides at North Duffield Carrs and the viewing platform at Thorganby village hall.
This species is the largest bird of prey in the UK, with a massive wingspan of 2.4 m, 'fingered' ends to its wing tips and a distinctive wedge-shaped tail 🦅 White-tailed Eagles went extinct in the UK during the early 20th century due to persecution, but the species has since been reintroduced back into north-western and eastern coasts of Scotland, and more recently into the Isle of Wight and now has a total population of c150 pairs. The individual currently present on the reserve here is un-ringed and may well be a juvenile wandering from the continent where some populations have been rapidly expanding.
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Whilst this is not the first White-tailed Eagle to have occurred in the area, it is the first to have lingered and has been regularly seen feeding on geese carcasses on the floodbank, as well as hunting ducks and even taking fish from the river, whilst attracting a steady stream of birders and interested local residents alike. If you haven’t had chance to get down for a visit yet and would like further updates, keep an eye on our Twitter and Bluesky accounts, and if you'd like to read more about other White-tailed Eagles that have passed through the reserve, pre-order our new book 'The Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley' by e-mailing Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk
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