BIRD watchers are rejoicing after a White-tailed Eagle was spotted flying over South Lakeland last weekend.
One bird enthusiast said the eagle, Britain’s largest bird of prey, looked like a microlight in the sky.
Marc France was watching two buzzards and a raven on Sunday afternoon when they flew over his motor home at College Green Park, Heversham, to investigate the arr-ival of another winged creature.
“The raven had a go at this huge bird and it was only a third its size,” said Mr France.
“The raven and buzzards attempted to get rid of this bird, but they had no impact on it.
"It’s by far the biggest thing I’ve ever seen airborne.
“When I saw it through my binoculars I shouted to my brother and there was quite a few of us making mental notes of it.
"I looked in my encyclopedia and recognised it straight away.
"You could clearly see its markings. It had a very distinct wing pattern, and the wings were very broad.
“It was just perfect. I hope it comes to live here. That’ll be great for me!”
A similar story of fight, or flight, was recorded in Haweswater, where the reservoir’s Golden Eagle chased off the White-tailed Eagle before it could settle.
The bird of prey, which has an eight-foot wing span and eats fish, carrion, birds and small mammals, is believed to be the same one seen in East Yorkshire two weeks ago.
“With reports stating the eagle does not have white tail feathers, it is likely that the bird being seen is an immature sea eagle from the west coast of Scotland,” said Neil Harnott, senior conservation officer with Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
“These sightings follow on from the sea eagle spotted on the Solway Firth last year – the first sighting in Cumbria for over 200 years. With sea eagles increasing in numbers in Scotland, it is possible that this magnificent bird will become a more frequent visitor to Cumbria.”
The eagle was also spotted by visitors at the RSPB Leighton Moss reserve, near Silverdale.
“It’s likely to be a juvenile that’s just wandered off,” said member-ship officer Annabel Rushton.
“But because its wings are so large it can fly great distances.
"I was gutted because I missed it, but a few of our visitors saw it.
"They’re absolutely massive birds. They practically cause an eclipse when they fly over.”
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