Meet the Model – Wallace the White-Tailed Sea Eagle
by Graham Stewart
Say hello to Wallace , the White-Tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Habitat:
Was declared extinct in the UK in 1918. The species was re-introduced in Scotland in 1975, numbers have increased slowly and in 2015 there were some 106 pairs
Size:
This is the UK’s largest bird of prey measuring between 66-94cm long with a wing span of between 1.78 – 2.45m
Nest:
A large pile of sticks on a cliff ledge or in a flat tree crown. As the birds are territorial the nest can be reused year after year.
Reproduction:
Reaches maturity from 4-5 years old and will mate for life. 1 Brood per year, 2 eggs March – July. Due to there relatively low numbers nest sites are protected.
Diet:
Will take dead / sick fish from the water with its talons. Fish offal left behind by fishermen. Known to take Hares and Sea Birds and there are some suggestions that baby lambs are also within this powerful birds capabilities. The bird is also known to “pirate” food from other birds and from otters. During the winter months when food sources are scarcer will also take carrion.
Threats:
Egg thieves, poisoning / shooting by game keepers and more recently wind turbines
All photography © Graham Stewart

Kit Bag – Sigma 150-600mm Sport
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSMS S As a wildlife photographer at sometime or another we are all going to need a long zoom lens to fully capture that one shot , so what happens if you don’t have £ 9,000 pounds available for a 500mm L series lens, or your shooting with one body […]

PROTECTION FOR HEDGEHOGS
From the BBC A group of MPs is calling for hedgehog nesting sites to get the same protections as those for bats and badgers, in an effort to boost numbers. Former Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has tabled an amendment to the Environment Bill, which he said would help “Britain’s favourite animal”. The spiky mammals should […]

CITES
CITES by Peter Hanscomb CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Widespread information nowadays about the endangered status of many prominent species, […]
Where did you took that shot ? Must have waited long enough to capture the brilliant shot.
LikeLike