Latest news with #goldenEagles
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Golden eagle collision concerns over Walkerburn wind farm plans
A pioneering project to boost golden eagle numbers in the south of Scotland has raised collision risk concerns about a wind farm plan in the Olsen Renewables wants to construct eight turbines at Scawd Law near charity Restoring Upland Nature (RUN) - formerly the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SSGEP) - has objected to the scheme due to its potential impact on the nearby company has said the wind farm - which it has reduced in scale - could contribute £8m to the local economy over its operational lifetime. The first chicks from the project were released in a secret location in the Moffat Hills in 2018 having been brought from the the time there were only between two and four breeding pairs in the south of have risen to about 50 and they have spread their wings across the border into conservationists are concerned at the impact the Scawd Law scheme could have in the Moorfoot Hills which are home to one of the first settled breeding pairs from the Dr Cat Barlow said they did not believe it was the right place for a wind farm. "The Additional Information Report (AIR) currently being used by the site's developers is dated and substantially underestimates the impact on golden eagles at a particularly critical time for the local population," she said."Breeding territories must remain undisturbed for long-term population sustainability, as golden eagles are highly sensitive to disturbance and tend to avoid areas around wind turbines."The expansion of wind farms without rigorous, up-to-date environmental data risks pushing these birds out of the very landscapes they need to survive." She said a new impact assessment was needed as the current one underestimated the risk of Barlow added: "We know that the drive for renewable energy comes from a position of caring for the environment."Indeed, it is key to reducing the carbon emissions which cause climate change - the greatest long-term threat to Scotland's wildlife."We are supportive of renewable energy developments in the right place, but it is crucial that the most up-to-date insights are used in the consideration of proposals to ensure wildlife and renewable energy can thrive together."Fred Olsen Renewables has been approached for comment.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Golden eagles return to English skies after more than 150 years
Golden eagles are making a comeback in England. The birds, which are the UK's second-largest birds of prey, have been absent from England's skies for more than 150 years. However, now the eagles have been seen beginning to cross the border from the south of Scotland. The return of these majestic birds is exciting for wildlife enthusiasts and suggests that golden eagles might soon nest in England once again. Where are the eagles coming from? One of the eagles who has been spotted venturing into England is Talla, a young male golden eagle. He was spotted by wildlife enthusiast Ian Glendinning, who has seen golden eagles many times in the Scottish Highlands. This year is the first time he has spotted the birds in his home county of Northumberland. "They just fit in perfectly with the landscape, I just felt a real sense of amazement that they are there and I can see them," he said."It just feels like they belong here." Talla is one of around 50 golden eagles living in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and is all thanks to the work of South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SSGEP). The project was set up when the population of golden eagles in the region dropped to a handful of helped to restore the numbers of golden eagles in the South of thanks to satellite tagging the project is able to track some of these birds crossing over into England. Where are the eagles travelling to? The tagging has shown the birds visiting Northumberland, North Pennines and the Lake have even been tracked travelling as far as the Forest of Boland in Lancashire and Nidderdale in chair Michael Clarke said: "Thanks to our satellite tagging, we can confirm that some are beginning to venture into Northumberland and further afield and these sightings reaffirm the importance of us extending our groundbreaking work."While it is too early to say if they are settling in these areas, it is a potentially exciting and significant milestone."
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Golden eagles flying back to northern England
After years of absence, golden eagles are beginning to venture back into England from the south of Scotland, leading to hopes they might nest. Among those crossing the border in 2025 was a young male called enthusiast Ian Glendinning has seen the UK's second biggest bird of prey many times in the Scottish Highlands, but he never expected to encounter one in his home county of Northumberland. "It was the end of March and I was driving in a remote corner of the national park with a couple of friends and the rear passenger suddenly shouted out 'what on earth is that?'," he says. "I looked over to my right and about 30 metres away there he was, sitting on a rocky outcrop."Before I could get my phone out for a photo it glided away, but it was absolutely colossal, there was just no doubting what it was."I would defy anyone not to be impressed seeing such a huge bird at close range." Talla is one of around 50 golden eagles living in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and resurgence is thanks to the work of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SSGEP), set up when the population in the region had dropped to a mere to more about the return of golden eagles on BBC SoundsSince 2018, SSGEP has successfully translocated 28 juveniles, collected at six to eight weeks of age, and 15 sub-adult golden eagles between four months and three years from the Scottish Highlands. SSGEP chair Michael Clarke said: "Thanks to our satellite tagging, we can confirm that some are beginning to venture into Northumberland and further afield and these sightings reaffirm the importance of us extending our groundbreaking work."The birds have also visited the North Pennines and the Lake District, even travelling as far as the Forest of Boland in Lancashire and Nidderdale in Yorkshire. "While it is too early to say if they are settling in these areas, it is a potentially exciting and significant milestone," Mr Clarke said. Golden eagles were wiped out in England and Wales by the mid-19th Century, mainly due to persecution by those who saw them as a threat to livestock or game birds. Despite a brief return following the two world wars, when driven shoots largely ceased, numbers gradually declined again with the last resident golden eagle in England disappearing from the Lake District in UK's remaining population was then largely confined to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, particularly in remote, mountainous regions. Dr Cat Barlow, CEO of the charity Restoring Upland Nature, which has taken SSGEP under its wing, said it is not surprising to the birds "exploring in England"."In the first few years of life, the birds will go looking for new territory, looking for a mate, looking for new feeding grounds," she said. "They'll get up high in the sky and head for the areas that look interesting to them, usually those remote upland areas."They create a visual map of where they've been and when they find what they think is a good place, they'll settle there and try and attract a mate." Welcoming a possible move south, she said: "I'm from County Durham myself and I'd love to see them back for good there." It is not yet clear whether a golden eagle population in areas like the Lake District, or the Northumberland Uplands will establish itself without birds being brought from Scotland. "In theory, as available territories fill up in the south of Scotland, eagles will begin to move into England and they have been visiting old nest sites," Dr Barlow Wildlife Trust CEO Mike Pratt said: "They don't see a border and the landscape either side of the borders of England and Scotland is so similar it's not a surprise they're coming south."The sightings are almost like the golden eagles giving their blessing and saying that the landscape can take them." The charity has recently acquired the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland; 9,500 acres of land which include the Simonside Pratt hopes one day golden eagles will be present there. "It won't be a rushed process and we'll be consulting carefully, but the project in the south of Scotland has been such a success, people really love them."I would like to think the same could happen here." Mr Glendinning has seen golden eagles three more times since that first shock sighting in March and feels a sense of "wonderment" each time. "They just fit in perfectly with the landscape, I just felt a real sense of amazement that they are there and I can see them," he said. "It just feels like they belong here." Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
