For any wildlife enthusiast your first sighting is something that will stay with you for a long time – sometimes forever. I knew my academic placement year would create a lot of fond memories but prior to arriving at Aigas I did not realise the sheer number of exciting wildlife encounters I would have.
The first time I saw a white-tailed eagle, I was filled with so much excitement I could not stay still. In my first month at Aigas I was out on the West Coast shadowing the rangers. I knew there was a good chance of seeing eagles, alongside lots of other exciting birds as well as seals or potential cetaceans. However, I did not expect to be grinning from ear to ear in the bus just from seeing one bird.
I remember we had stopped for lunch, I was taking my sandwich out of my bag and heard senior ranger Dora say that she had spotted an eagle! My eyes went up to the sky but I could not see anything. With some confusion I looked over and noticed where Dora had the scope pointing. I put down my sandwich and lifted my binoculars to scan the area. There it was … sat on a wall … an eagle shaped blob. The guests all formed a queue while Flavio put the other scope on the eagle as well. Then, once all the guests had seen it, I had the chance to look at it through the scope. I think that is when the grin on my face started. The eagle stayed sat on the wall the entire time we were eating our lunch. I could not believe my eyes, I had to keep getting up to look it. Dora explained the difference between a white-tailed eagle with a paler, yellowish-brown head (and a white tail which we could not see behind the wall) and a golden eagle which would have a far darker head in comparison. It was amazing to share my excitement with lots of the Road Scholar guests who were also over the moon with their first white-tailed eagle sighting.
The rest of the afternoon felt like a whirlwind. I was so exhilarated I do not remember what else we saw or did that day. It was definitely an Aigas experience that will stay with me forever. I have seen plenty of eagles, both white-tailed and golden, now having been at Aigas for 9 months but some sightings I will just never forget. And, this day out on the West Coast seeing a white-tailed eagle is one of them.
