WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLE in Bedfordshire on 10 February

A visit to East Hyde had revealed the three Jack Snipe's showing well along the stream, but no sign of the Goosanders.

Shortly after turning back onto the B653 towards Harpenden, my girlfriend enquired what was soaring over the valley. Although obviously huge it took a few seconds to realise that it couldn't be anything other than an Eagle. A quick scan revealing a largely white tail, huge bill, and a pale belly, showed it to be an immature WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLE. With a rising sense of panic/exhilaration I pulled into the layby by the water treatment works. We then watched the bird soaring low over the B653 and heading north where we lost it to view as it flew over the hill towards Hyde Home Farm and the Chiltern Green/Peter's Green area. The snow and ice covered roads were not exactly conducive to chasing Eagles, but with a four wheel drive managed to manoeuvre along several of the minor roads, but couldn't locate it again. The bird was in view for around ten minutes in total, and probably a 2nd winter, with no obvious wing tags or jesses. If the bird stays in the area many of the lanes have limited view points, but the road from Kimpton to Peter's Green has a couple of panoramic view points to scan from (Duncan Coates).