The key aim of the White-tailed Eagle project on the Isle of Wight, which we run in partnership with Forestry England, is to restore a breeding population to the South Coast for the first time since the late 1700s. This, we hope, will provide an important link between existing populations in Scotland and Ireland with those in continental Europe.  There has been a marked upturn in the number of sightings of wandering White-tailed Eagles from continental Europe in England during the last two springs, and while these young birds are likely to eventually return to their natal areas, some may stay if they encounter a breeding population on the South Coast.  Similarly, we expect young birds from the Isle of Wight to venture across the English Channel, particularly in their early years. While most are likely to return to the South Coast as they approach breeding age, it is possible that some will join the expanding populations in countries such as the Netherlands, France and Germany. With this all in mind, it was very significant that, on 6^th April, G463, a 2020 male, was the first Isle of Wight bird to make it across the English Channel, as Tim Mackrill explains.

G463

After wintering near Chard in Somerset, G463 was one of three Isle of Wight birds to spend time in East Anglia this spring. The young male arrived in early March and spent three weeks in the Brecks and West Norfolk. He was photographed at Thornham beach on 19th March before returning south to the Brecks that afternoon. Next morning he was on the move again, and flew south-east to the Suffolk coast near Southwold. The Suffolk estuaries are another superb area for White-tailed Eagles, and G463 spent time at the mouth of the River Blyth at Southwold on 21st March, before heading further south along the coast to the River Alde, between Aldeburgh and Orford Ness where he remained until the morning of 25th March.

On 25th March G463 flew north along the Suffolk coast, passing over Minsmere at 10:15 and then Lowestoft just before midday. He then headed into the Broads and spent four days in the Horsea area until 29th. G463 subsequently headed west along the North Norfolk coast and returned to his favoured areas in West Norfolk before moving south back to the Brecks on 1st April. The next morning he crossed back into Suffolk and then spent two days around Ampton Water north of Bury St Edmunds.

G463 was on the move again on 4th April, passing over Bury St Edmunds at 15:05 before heading south-east into Essex. He was over Colchester at 17:05 and then the Colne Estuary soon afterwards. The young male then headed north back into Suffolk and spent the night in woodland near Alton Water to the south of Ipswich. The next morning G463 initially flew north to Stowmarket, but strong north-westerly winds then encourage him south again. He crossed the mouth of the River Thames at 12:30 and the Isle of Sheppey soon afterwards. By 13:30 he had reached the south Kent coast at Dover and that afternoon flew 7 km out into the English Channel at an altitude of over 700 metres, before turning back again.

That night G463 roosted 10 km (6 miles) inland, but was back on the coast at 08:30 the next morning. At 09:52 he was 7 km out to sea once again but, like the previous afternoon, subsequently returned to land. He then flew south-west along the Kent coast to Dungeness. At 13:02 he was circling 1382 metres above and with a strong north-westerly wind providing perfect tailwind assistance, he headed out across the Channel a few minutes later. The transmitter logged the bird’s location every five minutes as G463 crossed the sea and showed that by 13:22 his altitude had dropped to 404 metres, but at the point of the next GPS transmission he had succeeded in gaining altitude to 582 metres. G463 continued on the same south-easterly course before making landfall just to the north of Boulogne-sur-Mer at 13:45, having completed the 47 km (29 mile) crossing in just 40 minutes at an average speed of 70 kph (43 mph).

After reaching French airspace, G463 continued to make good progress and flew a further 176 km (109 miles) south-east through France, eventually stopping to roost in a small wood near the village of Douilly in the Picardy region, at 19:40 local time.

Next morning the wind had changed to a south-westerly and this perhaps influenced a distinct change of course for G463. After leaving his roost site at 06:55 the young male headed north-west towards the Ardennes Forest. By 12:40 he was flying close to the Belgian border, and eventually crossed into Belgian airspace near the town of Givet an hour later. As the afternoon progressed G463 turned to a more northerly heading and eventually stopped to roost in a forested area just to the south of Liege having flown 237 km (147 miles) during the course of the day.

On 8th March G463 left his roost site at 08:00 and again headed north, skirting around the west side of Liege and then on towards the Netherlands border. He passed into Dutch airspace just after midday and headed NNE, following the course of the Meuse River for 30 km before crossing into Germany at 13:30. He continued flying north for less than an hour before stopping in woodland on the south side of the River Rhine having flown 158 km (98 miles) during the course of the day.

On 9th April G463 left his roost site at 07:30 but stopped again in farmland nearby soon afterwards. He eventually resumed his journey at 11:00, crossing the Rhine and then heading north-east through the German regions of Münster and then Lower Saxony until 14:30 when he stopped in an area of woodland and arable farmland near the town of Herzlake. G463 remained in the local area for the rest of the afternoon, but had still covered 154 km (95 miles) in just 3.5 hours of flying.

G463 remained in the local area for the whole of the next morning, but then headed north again at 13:00, flying 39 km (24 miles) north to Leegmoor, a wetland nature reserve. He roosted locally and then remained in the area all day on 11th .

On 12th April G463 was on the move again. He set off from Leegmoor in a north-easterly direction shortly after 10:00 and reached Jade Bight, a bay on the Wadden Sea coast at midday. He then skirted around the southern end of Bremerhaven before continuing north-east, pausing in a forested area south of Wingst, north-west of Hamburg, for four hours between 14:10 and 18:10, before continuing a little further north to a small wood on the south side of the mouth of the River Elbe. By the time he went to roost G463 had flown another 158 km (98 miles) during the course of the day, and was now just south of Schleswig-Holstein the most northerly of the 16 German states and a stronghold for White-tailed Eagles in Germany. G463 will now be encountering many other eagles on his travels.

G463 remained on the south side of the River Elbe all day on 13th April. This is an excellent place for the young male to spend some time, and it will be fascinating to see how long he lingers in the area, and if and when, he heads back towards the Isle of Wight.

G405

G463 is not the only Isle of Wight bird to wander a considerable distance this spring. Female G405 has also ranged extensively, but unlike her compatriot from the 2020 cohort, she returned to the Island yesterday after a month of explorations that took her as far north as East Lothian in southern Scotland.

In our previous update we reported that G405 had spent much of February and early part of March at Longleat in Wiltshire. She subsequently returned to the Isle of Wight via Dorchester and Poole Harbour on 16th March, but only remained on the Island for three days before heading north again back to Longleat on 19th March. She completed a short circuit of Warminster and Westbury on 21st, but then made a more determined movement to the north-east on 22nd, flying 132 km (84 miles) to south Northamptonshire. Interestingly that night she roosted in the same wood near Silverstone as 2019 female, G318, had a few weeks earlier.

A brisk south-westerly wind encouraged G405 to continue north-east the next day and by 10:40 she was over Tallington in south Lincolnshire, flying at an altitude of 583 metres. She continued on the same heading through the Lincolnshire Fens towards Mablethorpe before turning north-west to head into the Lincolnshire Wolds. That night she roosted in a small wood near the village of Burgh on Bain having flown 193 km (120 miles). The next day G405 made a shorter movement of 40 km (25 miles) to the north-west and roosted in Laughton Woods in north-west Lincolnshire.

G405 left her roost site soon after first light on 25th March and headed north-west into South Yorkshire and then north towards York. At 11:30 she was 12 km (7 miles) east of the city, flying purposefully north at an altitude of 717 metres, and an hour later she was photographed circling over Appleton-le-Moors. She subsequently headed north-west into the North York Moors having flown 118 km (73 miles) from Lincolnshire.

G405 remained in the south-west of the North York Moors for six days, and in that time favoured an area frequented by G318 last year, tending to remain on the lower slopes rather than the open moors.

On 31st March she flew 123 km (73 miles) west to the Yorkshire Dales and roosted in woodland south-west of Cowgill in Cumbria. The next morning she flew north the western part of the Yorkshire Dales and then into the Lake District. She was perched just to the north of Haweswater, between 12:22-12:37, close to the area where Golden Eagles used to breed, but then continued north again, passing the east end of Ullswater at 13:15 and then to the east of Carlisle at 14:25. She then crossed the border into Scotland at 16:00 before stopping in woodland 10 km (6 miles) north-west of Kielder Water, having flown 170 km (105 miles) from the Yorkshire Dales.

G405 remained in the local area on 2nd April, but then headed further north on 3rd April, passing Jedburgh at 11:45 and then completing a circuit of the Lammermuir Hills, where G324, a 2019 female had summered last year. At 14:45 G405 was at the most northerly point of her journey, 587 km (367 miles) north of the release site on the Isle of Wight. At this point she began heading south again, and eventually stopped in woodland 4 km (2.5 miles) south-east of Selkirk having flown 147 km (91 miles).

The next morning G405 headed slowly south-east and crossed the border back into England at 12:20. She then continued south-east through Northumberland before roosting in woodland just north of Rayburn Lake after a flight of 70 km (43 miles).

Having initially been encouraged north by southerly winds, a distinct change in the weather to cold northerly winds appeared to prompt G405 to head south again. She left her roost site at first light on 5th April and flew purposefully south, passing directly over Newcastle at an altitude of 601 metres at 09:47 and then to west of Middlesborough at 10:30. By 11:00 she was back in the North York Moors, and she flew a wide arc around the east side of the moors before stopping in Dalby Forest soon after midday, having already flown 170 km (105 miles). She remained in the local area for the rest of the afternoon and then next morning flew 7 km (4.5 miles) south before spending the day beside the River Derwent west of Yedingham.

On 7th April G405, again encouraged by northerly winds, was on the move again. At 11:40 she was 21 km (12 miles) south-west and now back on the exact track that she had used to fly north. She followed an identical route for 48 km (30 miles) and then continued on the same SSW heading over Worksop in Nottinghamshire at 13:36 (997 m altitude) and then Nottingham between 14:10-14:26. She subsequently skirted around the east side of Leicester and then directly over Market Harborough between 15:13-15:18 at an altitude of 469-499 m. At 15:43 she was just to the east of Northampton (840 metres) and then over Milton Keynes at 16:13 (630 m). She continued south, aided by the strong wind and skirted around the west side of Tring between 16:43 and 16:48 (207-338 m) before finally stopping in woodland to the west of Amersham at 17:25 having flown an impressive 323 km (201 miles) from North Yorkshire.

Next morning, G405 headed south-east towards London, and was flying at an altitude of 466 metres to the west of Wembley. At 11:15 she was directly over the River Thames to the east of Richmond at a low altitude of just 154 metres and she was then photographed by Ian Jones as she passed over Beddington Farmlands in south London at 11:50. Once past the capital she continued south-east into Surrey, Kent and then East Sussex. At 14:05 she was just 12 km (7.5 miles) north of the South Coast but at that point she turned to the east and flew back into Kent before settling to roost in Park Wood, north-west of Elham and east of Ashford, having flown another 188 km (117 miles).

Next morning, 9th April, G405 flew 22 km (14 miles) to the East Kent coast at Pegwell Bay and remained there for three hours before returning to the same area as the previous night to roost. She then lingered in the local area for all of the next day, before heading west on the morning of 11th April, passing just to the north of Rye Harbour at 10:15 and then north of Lewes at 11:40. She spent two hours near Plumpton during the middle of the day before continuing west and eventually stopping in Westdean Woods the South Downs north of Chichester.

G405 remained around Westdean Woods all day on 12th April but then headed south on the morning of 13th. She crossed Thorney Island at 10:30 and then headed west to the north of Portsmouth and then across Southampton Water. At 12:30 she was close to Lyndhurst in the New Forest and she then headed south to Lymington before crossing the Solent back to the Isle of Wight after just under four weeks away, have flown 2279 km (1416 miles) in that time.

G405’s return to the Isle of Wight is another demonstration that the translocated birds regard the Island and the South Coast as home. This is also evident in the differing behaviour of the 2019 and 2020 cohorts during the past month. After wandering extensively last year, the four 2019 birds are now spending all of their time either on the Isle of Wight or neighbouring areas of the South Coast. It is particularly encouraging that male G274 and female G324 seem to be forming a pair, and are spending most days together in coastal locations around the Isle of Wight. They have been observed catching both marine and freshwater fish on a frequent basis as well as Coot, Black-headed Gulls and even an injured Canada Goose. They also appear to be keeping the other two 2019 birds, G393 and G318, away from the Island wherever possible. This is the first indications of territorial behaviour, and is another encouraging sign for the future.

In contrast all of the 2020 birds continue to explore extensively. G461 has ranged along the whole of the South Coast from Kent to Cornwall in the past month, while female G466 has travelled west to Cornwall, completed a circuit of East Anglia and, most recently, was flying north through County Durham this morning. G471, meanwhile, has spent the majority of the past month in East Anglia, favouring the North Norfolk coast and also the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire, but then flew south-west today and was heading into Herefordshire at 17:00. G408 has generally remained more local, but visited the Somerset coast near Burnham-on-Sea on 4th April and has also spent prolonged periods in the Arun valley in West Sussex where he has been joined, on occasions, by 2019 male G393. These movements are typical of young White-tailed Eagles during their second calendar year, but the satellite transmitters are providing a fascinating insight into their daily explorations. It has also been excellent to hear about sighings of the birds on their travels – very many thanks to everyone who has been in touch and sent photos.

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After a prolonged spell of cold and wintry weather, spring is finally in the air. The first Sand Martins have appeared in southern England, and, like at this time last year, the White-tailed Eagles that we released on the Isle of Wight in July 2020 in partnership with Forestry England, are beginning to range widely. We are also building up detailed information on how the 2019 birds are learning to live successfully in the English landscape, as Tim Mackrill explains.

2019 birds

G393

Previous research on the dispersal of young White-tailed Eagles has shown that they often explore extensively during their first two years, before eventually returning to their natal site. This has been exemplified very well in recent months by the behaviour of G393. This immature male, one of the first birds to be released, headed north from the Isle of Wight in mid-September 2019 and subsequently spent the winter in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It then ranged extensively during spring 2020 – from Suffolk in the east to Gloucestershire in the west – before spending several months in the North York Moors, favouring areas with good numbers of Rabbits. Later in the summer G393 moved south again, lingering for a short while in rural Leicestershire before heading east to West Norfolk on 1^st August. The young male remained in West Norfolk for the next five months, catching Black-headed Gulls at a small reservoir  on the Westacre estate and then spending much of November and December around the Wash. During this period the satellite tracking data showed that the bird flew out onto the mudflats, in search of carrion, on 59% of days from 1^st November. It also frequently visited the mouth of the Great Ouse in the south of the Wash.  

G393 finally left West Norfolk on 4^th January and then, over the course of the next month, slowly made its way back to the Isle of Wight, spending time in rural Lincolnshire and Leicestershire and then arriving at Pitsford Reservoir in Northamptonshire on the evening of 29^th January. It remained in the local area for the next two days, and was seen by a number of local birders exploring bays on the north side of reservoir’s causeway.   

G393 was still present at Pitsford during the morning of 1^st February and was then watched heading south from the dam at 14:00. Remarkably G318, another of the 2019 cohort, which had been residing in the Lincolnshire Wolds for much of the winter was now also flying south and arrived in a wood just over two miles to the west, as G393 was circling south of the Pitsford dam. It seems very likely that good weather and the sight of another White-tailed Eagle had enticed the female south, because she subsequently retuned to Lincolnshire over the course of the next few days.  

 After leaving Pitsford, G393 passed through Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, passing over areas it had favoured during winter 2019/20, but now seemingly determined to return to the Isle of Wight. On the night of 7^th February G393 roosted in woodland just to the north of Newbury and, with a brisk north-easterly wind providing a helpful tailwind, set off again at around 09:30 the next morning. At 11:12 it was skirting the west side of Andover at an altitude of 298 metres and an hour later was over Stoney Cross in the New Forest. The Isle of Wight was now in sight and G393 crossed the Solent from Hurst Castle before making landfall just to the west of Yarmouth at 13:13. It had returned to the Isle of Wight exactly 17 months after first departing. 

 Once back on the Isle of Wight, G393 immediately located the other released birds and spent time at various sites around the Island. Interestingly local photographer, Ainsley Bennett, captured the first indications of territorial behaviour when he observed G274, who has remained on the Isle of Wight almost exclusively since release, chasing the rival male. 

On 28^th February, G393 crossed the Solent once again and skirted around Bournemouth to Poole Harbour. It remained in the local area until 6th March, favouring an area to the south of the harbour where it was been observed feeding on rabbits. Poole Harbour is within the likely settlement area of the translocated birds, and could certainly support breeding White-tailed Eagles in the future; so we hope this is a sign of things to come. G393 subsequently flew west to Chesil Beach on 6th March and then spent a day inland, before heading across Poole Harbour and then Bournemouth back to the Solent on 8th. Next day it headed across Southampton Water and then north-east past Petersfield. At 13:20 it was circling near Selborne, before turning and heading south into West Sussex. The change of direction may well have been prompted by the sight of G408 heading north-east from the Isle of Wight because the two birds met up in the South Downs later in the afternoon (see below).

G274 and G324 

In great contrast to G393, G274 has remained faithful to the Isle of Wight since release and it has been encouraging to see how this 2019 male has become increasingly adept at catching live prey during this period. G274, like other juveniles survived predominantly on carrion during its first winter, however from spring 2020 became adept at catching fish around the coasts of the Isle of Wight. In spring and summer 2020 Grey Mullet, which are abundant in shallow estuarine waters around the Island, became a favoured prey item, and the bird was also observed catching Black Bream in the Solent.  As autumn turned to winter we expected fish to constitute a smaller proportion of the diet, but G274 continued to catch fish throughout this period, particularly off the south coast of the Island at Blackgang. The satellite tracking data showed that between 1^st November and 9^th February G274 foraged off the south coast on 32% of days, flying up to a maximum of 4.5 km offshore. It was observed catching Bass on a number of occasions, including by two local crab fishermen from the boats. Bass are attracted to a shallow shelf off the coast at Blackgang by large numbers of smaller fish, and here they are relatively easy targets for hunting White-tailed Eagles. G324, another of the 2019 birds, was also observed catching fish in this locality throughout the winter.   

Since early February G274 has favoured another coastal site on the Isle Wight. Here it has been observed catching fish as well as Coot on a number of occasions and also an injured Canada Goose. Coot are a key prey item for White-tailed Eagles in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe and are likely to be important as a breeding population of White-tailed Eagles becomes established on the South Coast of England. Similarly, the goslings of feral geese are taken in substantial numbers in the Netherlands, but adult Greylag and Canadas are altogether more difficult due to their size. However, any sick or injured individuals may occasionally be taken as prey, as G274 demonstrated.

G324, meanwhile, has been observed catching Black-headed Gulls at another coastal site on a number of occasions, and is also regularly seen in the company of seals. In this case it seems to have learnt that seals often push fish close to the surface, and into White-tailed Eagle range. This clear switch from a dependence on carrion during winter 2019/20 to fish and other live caught-prey this winter is an extremely encouraging sign for the future, and illustrates the high prey availability for White-tailed Eagles in southern England throughout the year. 

G318 

It is clear from previous research, and our initial findings, that White-tailed Eagles can be highly individual in their choice of prey. This is exemplified well by G318, who has become something of a lagomorph specialist since release. This 2019 female spent five months during spring and summer 2020 in the North York Moors, favouring areas with high Rabbit abundance. Then, in late September, when it headed south into Lincolnshire, G318 again gravitated towards areas where Rabbits and Brown Hares were numerous.

G318 remained in Lincolnshire throughout the winter, frequenting quiet areas of the Lincolnshire Wolds where it was frequently observed catching both Rabbits and Brown Hares. Although the bird remained relatively sedentary during this period and spent the majority of her time perched inconspicuously on the edge of quiet woodlands, G318 did wander more widely on occasions, and was seen in a number of different localities around the county, including Kirkby Moor and nearby Kirky Gravel Pits as well as Middlemarsh Farm, where it was photographed by Nige Lound. 

Apart one brief return flight south to Northamptonshire (as described above), G318 remained in Lincolnshire until 27^th February when it made a purposeful move to the south, passing to the east of Boston at 13:20 and then across the north side of Peterborough at 15:20. It eventually settled in woodland on the Cambridgeshire-Northants border having flown 107 km (67 miles) from the Lincolnshire Wolds. G318 continued to head slowly south over subsequent days, and spent a night at Linford Lakes on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, on 2nd March.

After two days in southern Northamptonshire, north-easterly winds encouraged G318 further south and it flew 66 km (41) miles to south-east Oxfordshire that day, passing over Farmoor Reservoir just after 11:00 and eventually roosting close to the Wiltshire and Buckinghamshire borders. The next day G318 continued for a further 84 km (52 miles) south-west through Wiltshire, passing Amesbury and then Salisbury before crossing into eastern Dorset and roosting to the west of Verwood.

G318 has remained in the local area since, but it seems only a matter of time before she returns to the Isle of Wight after almost a year away.

Diet of 2019 birds

After more than a year-and-a-half of careful monitoring we are building up detailed knowledge of the diet of the 2019 birds since release. This is summarised in the table below.

Prey item	When taken	Comments
Marine fish, particularly Grey Mullet, European Bass and Black Bream	Year-round	Grey Mullet frequently caught in estuaries around coast of Isle of Wight; Black Bream and European Bass around IoW coast
Common Cuttlefish	Summer	Caught by G274 in seagrass beds in the Solent during summer 2020
Lagomorphs – Rabbit and Brown Hare	Year-round	Movements of 2019 birds strongly influenced by lagomorph abundance, with birds only favouring inland areas away from water where Rabbits and Brown Hares present in good numbers
Black-headed Gulls	Year-round	Key prey item throughout year with adults and fledged juveniles taken, but no evidence of birds predating colonies of breeding gulls (which are also avoided in Netherlands/Denmark)
Waterbirds, particularly Mallard and Coot	Year-round, particularly winter	G393 wintered along Oxon/Bucks border where large numbers of Mallard and also Wigeon present. Mallard feathers/remains found at regular roost site. G274 observed catching Coot on IoW
Carrion including scavenged waterbirds and gamebirds, dead fish and washed-up marine mammals, also kleptoparasitism of other species	Winter	High prevalence of dead/injured gamebirds provided abundant carrion for first-winter birds. Less important for older birds.
Corvids	Year-round	Corvid feathers/remains frequently located at regular roost sites
Wood Pigeon	Year-round	Wood pigeon feathers/remains frequently located at regular roost sites. May have been caught live or picked-up dead

Sit and wait

The satellite tracking data has also given us a valuable insight into how the birds live in the landscape. The GPS transmitters log the location of each bird as regularly as once every two-three minutes during the summer months (when battery voltage of the solar-powered transmitters is highest) and also record whether the bird is moving or stationary at the time. A recent analysis of these data show that the birds are perched for more than 90% of diurnal time. This is summarised in the table below for the three 2019 with the highest temporal resolution data. These findings corroborate previous research on White-tailed Eagles that demonstrate that they prefer the ‘sit and wait’ method of searching for food. For example a German study showed that they spent 93.2% of diurnal time perched. It is this habit of remaining stationary for long periods, often in quiet localities, that means the birds can be remarkably unobtrusive in the landscape.

	G393 (m)	G274 (m)	G318 (f)	Mean
Number of days	487	487	488
Total daytime GPS fixes	73799	60565	25763
Total GPS fixes perched	67435	54410	24187
Percentage perched	91.4%	89.8%	93.9%	91.7%
Total GPS fixes flying	6364	6155	1576
Percentage flying	8.8%	10.2%	6.1%	8.3%

2020 birds   

Whereas the 2019 birds have reached a stage in their development when they are more likely to remain on and around the South Coast, the 2020 contingent are now in the peak of the exploratory phase. Three of the remaining six birds from the 2020 release (G454 was sadly killed after flying into a powerline on the Isle of Wight in September), had already made exploratory flights away from the Isle of Wight during autumn 2020. G471 and G463 both flew west to Land’s End during October, and each bird subsequently wintered in the South-West – G471 on the Cornwall-Devon border, and G463 near Chard in the south of Somerset. 

G463

During the winter G463 lived in a relatively large core area of 140 km², predominantly to the north and south-west of Chard. This area included Chard reservoir where it was seen on a number of occasions.

In early February the young male began to range further and flew to the north Somerset coast just to the south of Burnham-on-Sea on 4^th February. G463 then lingered to the south of the village of Mark in the Somerset Levels until the afternoon of 7^th February when it returned to the Chard area. Then, on 10^th March, G463 headed south-east to the Devon coast near Bridport. It remained there all day on 11^th February, but then flew north on the afternoon of 12^th and spent all day on 14^th February in and around Copley Wood to the north of Somerton in central Somerset.

South-westerly winds on 15^th and 16^thFebruary  encouraged G463 to continue north-east and over the course of the next two days it flew 120 km (74 miles) across Somerset, and Wiltshire to West Berkshire. It lingered between Newbury and Reading for two days on 17^th and 18^th before making a brief visit to Theale Lagoon just to the south-west of Reading during the morning of 19^th.  G463 then skirted around the west side of the Reading, before spending the rest of the day in the Thames valley just to the north of the city. 

G463 moved further north on 20^th and lingered in the Chilterns in south-east Oxfordshire for three days before making another concerted move to the north-east on 23^rd, flying 86 km (53 miles) through Buckinghamshire and then Hertfordshire before roosting in woodland two miles east of Baldock.  Next day it flew a further 49 km (31 miles) further north-east into Cambridgeshire before covering another 47 km (29 miles) on 26^th, skirting to the east of  Newmarket and then crossing into north-west Suffolk. It lingered to the south-west of Thetford for two days before heading further north into the Brecks in Norfolk on 28th.

After a week in the Brecks, G463 flew a 105 km (65 miles) circuit to the North Norfolk coast on 7th March, flying over Blakeney, Salthouse and Kelling between 12:40 and 13:10 before heading back south-west.

G471

Like its compatriot from 2020, G471 spent the winter in the South West, spending much of its time on the Cornwall-Devon border. Its core area encompassed approximately 22 km² between Bude and Holsworthy, but on occasions the bird did make longer exploratory flights into other parts of Cornwall and Devon.

The most significant explorations occurred from 17th January, when G471 initially flew east to Toniton in Devon, at which point it was just seven miles to the west of G463. It then crossed the border into Somerset on 18^th before heading further south, skirting the east side of Dartmoor National Park and reaching the south Devon coast near Dartmouth at 12:30 on 22^nd January. It subsequently returned north and eventually returned to its favourite area on 1^st February.    

G471 flew to the north Devon coast near Clovelly on 14^th February and then, after a brief return to the Bude/Holsworth area on 16^th, headed east. It roosted in Stoke Woods just north of Exeter on  22^nd February, before flying 53 km (33 miles) north-east the next day to the Quantock Hills. It spent the day a mile north of Hawkridge Reservoir on 24^th and then flew north to the coast the next morning, passing just to the south of Bridgwater Bay and then heading purposefully east. By 2pm G471 was over Salisbury Plain and that night it roosted in a small woodland near Tilshead after flying 97 km (60 miles) during the day. 

We wondered if G471 would linger on Salisbury Plain, as other White-tailed Eagles have done in the past,  but instead the young male followed the lead of G463 and continued to head north-east over subsequent days. It roosted just to the south of Burbage in Wiltshire on 26^th and was seen attempting to catch a Brown Hare the next morning. It headed off soon afterwards and flew a further 58 km (36 mils) to the Chilterns in south-east Oxfordshire, just as G463 had done. In fact that night G471 roosted 2 km south of where his compatriot had spent the night six days previously.   

G471 continued to follow the Chilterns ridge north-east over the next few days, passing directly over Tring at 13:46 on 1^st March and crossing into Bedforshire later that afternoon. It subsequently roosted in a small wood between Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard that night before slowly making its way north through Bedfordshire over subsequent days, finding quiet woodlands to roost in each night. The similarity of the flights of G463 and G471 through the Chilterns is striking and demonstrates the importance of both wind direction and geographical features in shaping the exploratory flights of the young eagles (see above).  

On 5th March G471 crossed the border into Cambridgeshire and arrived at Graham Water shortly after 09:00. The young male was subsequently observed catching a trout later that day, and it has remained at the reservoir until the morning of 9th March, providing great views for local birders and members of the public. It was seen attempting to catch fish again on Saturday and then feeding on a Black-headed Gull on Sunday.

G461

G461 was the first of the 2020 cohort to the leave the Isle of Wight, completing a two-week round trip to East Sussex in early October. The young male then remained on the Isle of Wight until 5^th February when it crossed the Solent from the Needles and then spent two days in the Avon valley midway between Christchurch and Ringwood. It crossed Bournemouth and Poole Harbour on 7^th February and roosted that night close to Abbotsury Swannery in west Dorset. It continued to head west the next day, passing Bridport at 09:00 and then the Exe estuary at 11:00. It then followed the coastline south-west and was close to Prawle Point at 12:00. It eventually settled in a wooded area near Mothercombe at the mouth of the River Erme having flown an impressive 138 km (86 miles) in just over five hours of flying.

G461 remained in Devon until 7th March, favouring an area of 25 km² centred around the Erme and Yealm estuaries. Encouragingly it was observed catching a fish on at least one occasion, indicting the young male is following the lead of G274 and G324 on the Isle of Wight by learning to exploit the rich food availability in South Coast estuaries.   

After just under a month in Devon G461 was on the move again on 7th March, initially flying south-east to Prawle Point and then 50 km north to a small wood 7 km south-west of Exeter. Next morning the young male set off north again at first light, skirting around the west side of Exeter, before heading north-east into Somerset. It passed to the south of Taunton at 13:00 and then spent the afternoon at West Sedgemoor RSPB reserve having flown 68 km (42 miles). G405 remained at West Sedgemoor until 13:30 next day when it headed north-east. It was subsequently seen at Ham Wall and then to the west of Frome, before roosting within a mile of G405’s roost the previous night (see below).

G405

G405 remained on the Isle of Wight throughout the winter, and then crossed the Solent for the first time on 10^th February. The young female crossed the eastern New Forest, before turning west and roosting in woodland near Ashmore in east Dorset, having flown 88 km (54 miles) from the Isle of Wight. Next day G405 headed 26 km (16 miles) further north into Wiltshire and subsequently settled at Longleat Safari Park where it remained for the next two weeks, favouring an area of 6 km² and roosting in the park most nights.

On 26^th February G405 set off wandering again and next day flew purposefully south-east, passing over Winchester at 13:45 and then to the north of Chichester at 15:30. It eventually settled to roost in woodland to the east of Arundel in West Sussex, having flown 128 km (80 miles). Next morning G405 continued east along the coast and at 11:25 was photographed over Lewes by Brian Cox. Just over an hour later it was circling 10 km to the north-east, but then turned and headed back west along the coast, passing just to the north of Brighton, Worthing and Bognor Regis. It then skirted north past Chichester Harbour before roosting in Singleton Forest in the South Downs after a day’s flight of 137 km (85 miles).

On the morning of 1^st March G405 headed off north-west, passing to the north of Winchester at 12:45 and then across the southern part of Salisbury Plain, before returning to Longleat. G405 had flown another 112 km (69 miles), meaning its three day flight totalled 377 km (234 miles); another good example of one of the young eagles starting to learn the landscape of southern England. 

G405’s explorations did not stop there because on 8th March it flew north, passing over the west side of Bath just after 13:00 before reaching the Severn estuary just after 14:30 when it was circling just to the north-east of Slimbridge WWT. It subsequently returned south again and eventually roosted in a wood in north-east Somerset having flown 134 km (84 miles). It then returned to Longleat the next morning.

G466

G466, another female, also remained on the Isle of Wight throughout the winter, often in the company of other juveniles and the three 2019 birds. On one notable occasion it was photographed by Owen Cass while perched in a tree with G408 and G274.

On 1^st March G466 crossed the Solent for the first time in the company of 2019 male, G274. The two birds roosted together in the New Forest near Furzey Lodge. While G274 returned to the Isle of Wight next morning, G466 continued north across the New Forest and then into the Test valley. It spent several days to the south of Stockbridge and then, on the morning of 6th March, headed east, passing to the north of Winchester at 09:30, and then south through the western South Downs. By 11:38 it was over Lee-on-Solent at an altitude of 518 metres and then crossed the Solent back to the Isle of Wight having flown 68 km (42 miles). It has since been seen back in the company of G274, G324 and G408.

G408

G408 was the last of the 2020 cohort to venture away from the Isle of Wight. In recent weeks this young male had been a frequent visitor to the wetland sites favoured by the 2019 birds, and Project Officer Steve Egerton-Read also saw it catch a Rabbit in an area often visited by G274.

G408 finally ventured across the Solent on 9th March, crossing from the Isle of Wight coast just north of Bembridge to Southsea, between 12:24 and 12:39. It then crossed Farlington Marshes before heading north-east into the South Downs where it met up with G393 who had spent the night on the north shore of the Solent before moving into the South Downs.

Other White-tailed Eagles

We are very grateful to everyone who has reported sightings of White-tailed Eagles over recent months, many of which relate to birds from the Isle of Wight. However, at least three-four of the birds seen recently are likely to have originated from Continental Europe, or Scotland. An immature White-tailed Eagle seen at the Blyth Estuary in Suffolk on 27th and 28th February was definitely not one from the Isle of Wight, and probably a wandering individual from the increasing population in the Netherlands. Similarly one seen over London on 6th March, and probably the same individual over Lewes in East Sussex the next day, is also likely to have been a wandering bird from the Continent. Another immature over Knaresborough in North Yorkshire on 2nd February, and one at Flamborough on 6th and then nearby Fraisthorpe on 8th and 9th March were also birds that originated from either Continental Europe, or Scotland.

While these wandering birds are likely to return to their natal areas, our hope is that as a breeding population becomes established on the South Coast, some will eventually remain to breed if they encounter unpaired birds from the Isle of Wight.

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Over the spring and summer the four White-tailed Eagles that we released on the Isle of Wight in August 2019 in partnership with Forestry England have wandered widely, with the satellite tracking data providing a valuable insight into their movements and how they have learnt to live successfully in the English landscape. Two of the four birds are now back on the Isle of Wight, while G393 and G318 remain further a field, as Tim Mackrill explains.

2019 Birds

G324 and G274

Last month we reported that G324 had returned to the Isle of Wight after two months in southern Scotland. She has remained on the Island since and has spent much of her time with G274, whom she often associated with last winter. The two birds joined this year’s juveniles at the release site on a regular basis through September and October, and often roosted there. They have also been observed at several sites around the coast where they have been seen catching Grey Mullet, Black Bream and Bass. In late October Andy Butler and Pete Campbell enjoyed spectacular views of the two birds near Blackgang where Andy took these fantastic photos of G324 eating a fish while on the wing, rather like an enormous Hobby eating a dragonfly.  Pete commented that he was amazed at how the birds were able to catch fish, even with a strong wind and a rough sea. It is clear from the behaviour of the two birds that the coast of the Isle of Wight provides rich fishing grounds, and this is one of the key reasons we considered the area suitable for the reintroduction. It is certainly very encouraging to see the birds behaving in this way, and they were seen fishing in the same location again last week.  

G393

Having spent much of the spring and early summer in the North York Moors, G393 arrived in West Norfolk on 1^st August. He has remained there since, ranging between a number of different sites, both inland and on the coast. On 19^th September local photographer Les Bunyan took these superb photographs at RSPB Snettisham on the Wash, an area the bird visited regularly during September.

After spending the majority of October inland, G393 returned to the Snettisham area again in early November, and was seen on the mudflats on Thursday last week. The satellite data shows he also visited the mouth of Great Ouse over this last weekend.

We have been closely monitoring G393’s diet during his time in West Norfolk by checking for pellets and prey remains at regularly-used roost sites. This has indicated that Black-headed Gulls have been the key prey item in recent months, supplemented with some Hares and Rabbits. The huge numbers of wintering birds that assemble around the Wash at this time of year should ensure a regular supply of carrion during the winter months if G393 remains in West Norfolk. Studies have shown that carrion can constitute 30% of White-tailed Eagle diet during winter.

G318

In our previous update we reported that G318, who spent all summer in the North York Moors, had headed west into the Yorkshire Dales. She remained in an area to the north of the national park until 11^thSeptember and then spent two days around woodland along the River Greta south of Barnard Castle. On 13^thSeptember she headed 37 miles east and returned to a favoured area in the south-west of the North York Moors.

She remained in the North York Moors until 25^th September, when she flew 22 miles south and roosted in woodland north-east of Castle Howard. Next morning she left her roost soon after first light and headed south. By 09:50 she had flown 30 miles, and crossed the River Humber soon afterwards, landing briefly at Alkborough flats before continuing unseen further south through north Lincolnshire.

G318 has remained in Lincolnshire since, favouring several areas with quiet woodlands on private land in the Lincolnshire Wolds, where rabbits are numerous. Then, on 4th November she flew further south into the Fens, flying to the coast near Friskney, between Gibraltar Point and Freiston Shore, on 5th November, and then heading back inland. She has remained in the Fens since.

Like G324 who returned to the Isle of Wight after two months in southern Scotland, we expect G318 to return to the South Coast at some point, but she is clearly in no hurry to continue south yet. In fact there is every chance that G393 and G318 will meet up again at some point over the coming weeks. The two birds were just 16 miles apart on the afternoon of 5th November, albeit on different sides of the Wash. On a clear day there is every chance they will be able to see each other.

2020 Juveniles

It is now more than three months since this year’s cohort of juveniles were released on the Isle of Wight, and, to date, three have made exploratory flights away from the Island.

G461

The first of this year’s cohort to leave the Isle of Wight was juvenile male, G461. He crossed the Solent and Southampton Water on the morning of 30^th September and then continued into the South Downs.

He spent the next five days exploring several wooded areas in the Meon Valley in Hampshire, before roosting in woodland just north of Alton on 5^th October. He was seen nearby by Hampshire county bird recorder, Keith Betton next morning but then headed north-east, passing over Farnborough at 11:50. At 12:40 he was perched in a wood a mile north-west of the M25/M3 junction and then crossed the busy motorway and skirted across the south-west of London, passing over Queen Elizabeth II reservoir at 14:05 and then Island Barn Reservoir soon afterwards at an altitude of 438 metres.  Half an hour later he was over Coulsdon and then at 15:40 he was perched in a wood 2.5 miles south of Oxted. He roosted nearby having flown 52 miles during the course of the day. 

G461 was active soon after first light on 7^th October and headed south-east. At 13:36 that afternoon he was over Eastbourne on the South Coast and then headed north-east over the Pevensey Levels. He continued flying for a further ten miles before settling in an area of woodland 1.5 miles north of Darwell Reservoir having flown a further 51 miles that day. 

Next morning G461 flew to Darwell Reservoir and remained there all day, favouring the wooded south-west corner.  He returned to the coast at Pevensey Bay on the morning of 9^th October before heading north, passing half a mile to the north of Arlington Reservoir at 13:10 and then onwards to Buckhurst Park near Crowborough, having travelled 38 miles through the Sussex countryside .

G461 remained in the local area on 10^th October, but then flew south-west during the afternoon of 11^th. At 14:45 that afternoon he was flying west over Portslade just to the west of Brighton at an altitude of 210 metres, and half an hour later he passed just to the north of Worthing. He then settled in an area of scattered copses north-west of Findon, having flown 35 miles. He remained in the local area all of the next day, but then resumed his journey on the morning of 13^th October, passing over Bognor Regis, Pagham Harbour and then Selsey Bill at 11:45. The Isle of Wight was now within sight and he flew 19 miles direct across the sea, making landfall between Luccombe and Ventnor and then roosting in a favoured area of woodland on the Island having flown another 49 miles.

The young male has remained on the Island since, having completed a perfect exploratory flight of 276 miles over the course of two weeks.   

G461’s initial flight east from the Isle of Wight was made during a period of westerly winds. When the wind turned to the east during October, it resulted in two of this year’s juveniles heading west.    

G471 

G471 was the second of this year’s cohort to leave the Isle of Wight, on 11^th October. Rather than making the short crossing over the Solent, the young male headed west from the Needles and flew 18 miles across the sea to Swanage where he was seen passing through Durlston Country Park. From there he headed west along the Dorset coast, passing just north of Weymouth at 13:00 and then stopping for the night in farmland north of Bridport having flown 60 miles from the Isle of Wight.

He remained in the local area on 12^thOctober, but then flew to Lyme Regis on the morning of 13^th before following the Devon coastline west, passing to the north of Seaton at 13:00, before cutting inland and eventually settling in farmland north of Clyst St Lawrence, 8 miles north-east of Exeter.

Next morning G471 resumed his flight at 10:30 and headed west through central Devon, flying at altitudes of less than 250 metres. At 12:30 he had stopped in farmland north of Holsworthy, having flown 45 miles. He remained in the local area all afternoon and then flew 10 miles west to woodland along the Coombe valley on the Cornish coast north of Bude on 15^th October. 

On 16^th October G471 flew north up the coast, back into Devon. He paused for over an hour on coastal cliffs at Hartland Quay where he was seen by David Pearman and two friends.  Then, at 10:20, he headed out across the sea towards the island of Lundy, completing the 12 mile crossing in just under 25 minutes. Once he was over the island he was seen at close quarters by Tim Davis and Tim Jones, and then flew north to the northern most point of the island, where he perched on rocks for 20 minutes at midday. He then headed back south, and was watched again as he circled over the sea and then drifted back towards the North Devon coast. This was the first White-tailed Eagle sighting on Lundy for 140 years and you can read a fantastic account on the Lundy birds blog, written by Tim Jones.  

The return crossing took G471 35 minutes and, once back on the mainland he followed the coast 3 miles east, before settling in woodland north-west of Clovelly. Next day, G471 headed further south, and then remained in an area close to the River Tamar north-east of Bude for over a fortnight.

On 4th November G471 flew south-west, covering 59 miles in three hours, before stopping near Stithians Reservoir at 14:40 and roosting nearby. Next morning the young male continued south-west, passing over Penzance at 10:40 and then continuing towards Land’s End. An hour later he was circling two miles east of Land’s End, and just as G463 had done before (see below), he then turned around and headed back north-west. He passed over Camborne at 13:45 and then roosted in an area of scattered woods south-west of Truro. Since then G471 has headed further north-east through Cornwall. It will be interesting to see if he lingers in the South West, or heads back to the Isle of Wight.

G463

G463 was the third of this year’s cohort to cross the Solent. The young male set off from the Needles to Barton on Sea at 14:00 on 13^th October, and then headed west, skirting the north side of Bournemouth before roosting in woodland near Kingston Lacy, six miles north of Poole Harbour. Next morning, encouraged by a strong easterly wind, G463 left his roost site soon after 07:00 and again headed west. He paused for an hour in fields to the west of Axminster, and then continued through Devon, passing to the north of Exeter at 12:30. He eventually stopped for the night at 16:00 in a wooded area between the Devon villages of Hatherleigh and Highampton after flying 93 miles.  Interestingly he was now just 12 miles west of G471 who had followed a very similar course west through Devon earlier the same day. 

On the morning of 15^th October G463 remained around the local area until 10:30 when he again headed west. An hour later he had flown 23 miles and was circling just off Cornish coast north of Crackington Haven. He then followed the coastline south-west and was photographed by Pau Ash and Graeme Willetts over Hawker’s Cover near Padstow around midday. By 14:05 he was just to the north-east of Penzance and continued to the coast just to the south of Land’s End. Clearly not wanting to fly out to sea, he turned around, and then headed east to the south of Penzance and eventually stopped to roost in woodland near Relubbus, 6 miles to the north-east. He had flown 106 miles from his roost in Devon. 

Next morning G463 headed south-west again and passed over Mousehole and then west to The Brisons, a rocky islet just under a mile off the coast near St Just, where he perched for three hours from 12:00-15:00. He then headed north-east along the coast to St Ives, flying low across St Ives Bay soon afterwards before settling to roost in nearby woodland.  

G463 remained around the woodland close to St Ives Bay all day on 17th before slowly heading 16 miles east on 18th, passing to the north of Camborne and then spending the afternoon beside the Truro River, just to the south of the city. 

Next morning the young male headed 6 miles north-east to woodland between Tregony and Grampound, but then made a more concerted movement to the east on 20^th October, crossing St Austell Bay and the following the coast east to Plymouth. At 13:45 he was flying 86 metres above Plymouth docks and soon afterwards was perched near Crownhill Down, 7 miles to the north-east. 

G463 remained in the local area for the next two days, and then flew south-east to the Devon coast just north of Start Point on the morning of 23^rd October, before continuing north along the coast, and crossing Tor Bay at low altitude to Torquay. That night he roosted in woodland just to the north of Meadford beach, having flown 35 miles from Plymouth. Next day he left the roost site at 07:30 and spent several hours in woodland south of Watcombe Head, before flying 6 mils north and spending the remainder of the day in farmland north of Newton Abbott. On 25^th he continued north-east, crossing the Exe estuary at 09:00 before lingering in arable farmland just to the east of Exeter and roosting in woodland nearby. He then flew a further 19 miles north-east to an area close to the Devon-Somerset border on 26th.

G463 has remained in the local area since and, like G471, it will be interesting to see whether he remains in the South West, or returns to the Isle of Wight. Whatever the case, like his compatriot from the Isle of Wight, the young male will be building up valuable knowledge and experience on these fascinating explorations.

Can you help us?

Satellite tracking is a key element of the project, and as such, a core cost that we have to cover. Donations of any amount make a big difference, and so if you are able to make a contribution, please click the donate button below and select White-tailed Eagle project when prompted. Any donations, no matter how small, are very gratefully received. The Foundation relies on the generosity of our supporters to carry out our various projects. If you like what we can do, please click here to find out how your support can help us.