White-tailed eagles are spotted flying over England.
Eagles had been nearly hunted to extinction throughout England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales - but researchers are saying they are now making a triumphant return.
In Ireland’s majestic Glenveagh National Park, golden eagles had disappeared until 2001 when - with the help of the Golden Eagle Trust - birds collected from eyries in Scotland were released into the park, which now boasts a stable population of the magnificent birds.
White-tailed eagles, also known as sea eagles, are one of the largest eagle species on earth, and had become extinct on the coasts and cliffs of Great Britain.
Now, 240 years after the last sighting, a mature white-tailed eagle was confirmed soaring in the wild high over the North Yorkshire Moors. This is the direct result of several eaglets that were released onto the cliff sides on the Isle of Wight.
The white-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in the UK and the fourth largest eagle in the world. Its wingspan can reach 2.5m.
The sea eagle project is part of a 5-year strategy managed by the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England to re-establish eagles in the UK.
You may also be interested in: