New data reveals how far Isle of Wight eagles have ventured

It might be lockdown for humans, but the Roy Dennis Foundation's juvenile white-tailed sea eagles have been spreading their wings during the last couple of months.

Data just released by the Forestry England and the foundation shows the extent of their range, with two of the birds reaching as far as the North York Moors.

As they are fitted with GPS trackers, the project workers have been able to keep tabs on them.

Artecology diagram showing the eagle movements

The latest newsletter says: "Bird G3-93, a male from Mull, is now famous in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire but seldom seen.

"He's been travelling since mid-March and journeyed more than 1,000 kilometres this spring."

The bulletin says he headed west towards Slimbridge Wetland Centre, then north to Staffordshire before flying onto the North York Moors.

"After just over a week in North Yorkshire, he was on the move again heading south via the Peak District National Park to Northamptonshire, passing close to where he spent the winter.

"He then stayed a few days in East Anglia before returning to the Peaks and the North York Moors.

"Bird G3-18, a female, also left the Isle of Wight in mid-March, making a series of flights around the west country from her new base in Wiltshire.

"She then made a direct flight, joining G3-93 on the journey to the North York Moors, where she seems settled for now.

"Bird G3-24, the last of the group to leave the Island, was seen several times on her six-day journey to eastern England.

"She took just a couple of days to reach the coast of Norfolk, but flew four days against the wind to return to the Isle of Wight.

"Perhaps most interesting of all is bird G2-74, who spent much of the winter with G3-24, his female companion.

"Both birds have been busy learning and developing new skills since returning to the Isle of Wight" - Sea eagle newsletter.

"They have become quite adept at catching grey mullet along the coastline. Fish is by far their preferred meal and the Solent waters provide a rich source of this food.

"G2-74 has made several flights from the Isle of Wight, but choosing not to settle away from the island." A couple of short flights over Hampshire and West Sussex and back home are not too surprising, since the Isle of Wight is in view from soaring height. Remarkably he made two long return flights, one around southeast England and another over the southwest.

"These flights really demonstrate that the Isle of Wight and the Solent coast is home to these juvenile eagles."