White-tailed sea eagle fishing in local lakes

A female white-tailed sea eagle that was released on the shores of Lough Derg in August 2020 has spent a good bit of time fishing in several lakes across Westmeath, according to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Photographer John McCauley recently spotted what the NPWS refers to as Bird E, and was delighted to record its presence in Westmeath (for the protection of the birds, the precise identification of its location is inadvisable).

A ranger from the NPWS told the Westmeath Examiner that Bird E was brought over from Norway as a chick in June of 2020.

“The release of these eagles is part of a reintroduction programme started in 2007. White-tailed sea eagles became extinct in Ireland more than 100 years ago but now there are around 12 breeding pairs (in Cork, Clare, Kerry, Tipperary and Galway).

“Bird E has travelled around Ireland, reaching the coast of Waterford last month – however, she has spent a good bit of time fishing in several lakes across Westmeath.

“On St Patrick’s Day she was spotted at one lake in the county with a young male eagle, also released from Lough Derg in 2020.

“All the breeding pairs to date are located along the western seaboard and at Lough Derg, but it’s always possible they could nest by a lake in Westmeath.

“They don’t normally breed until they are four or five years old, so E has a bit to go before she is likely to settle down.

“As you will see from the photos, young white-tailed eagles don’t actually have white tails – the tails only becomes fully white when they are three or four.”

An NPWS ranger had the following advice for bird spotters: “Please be respectful when bird watching especially during their most sensitive time in the breeding season by remaining quiet and inconspicuous as possible to avoid disturbing them.

"While they are not breeding in Westmeath at the moment, it's a possibility that they might in time if conditions are right - and that includes our approach to these magnificent rare birds.

“We would ask people not to get too close to them, but if people have binoculars, or like John, they have a long lens, and they can read the tags, we’d ask them to submit those sightings to the NPWS because we’re tracking all of those tagged birds, and also, just be aware, those who like to photograph wildlife, you do need a licence if you want to photograph protected wild birds on or near their nests, especially during the breeding season, and they contains eggs or unflown young.

“For just photographing birds on the lake or flying around, that’s perfectly acceptable – the nest would the thing, so we ask people not to photograph birds while they’re using nests during the breeding season, and that’s for the protection of the eggs or unflown young.”

If people spot an eagle they can report their sightings to the National Parks and Wildlife Service through their local conservation rangers: triona.finnen@housing.gov.ie for north Westmeath area or therese.kelly@housing.gov.ie for south Westmeath.