I was about ten feet from one during a detachment to RAF Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, some years ago. He was perched by the road, on a post, and I pulled up alongside in my Land Rover. We just looked at each other for a few seconds before he just languidly took flight further down the road. It was a magnificent sight. I’ll never forget it.
Yeah was a nice family pub. Haven't been for long time. Used to call with my Grandad when we walked the dog during the summer holidays.
I had a similar experience in 2005 in the Cairngorms. I pulled up at the side of the fence post It was sat on and could have touched it through my open window. Felt like time stood still. It looked too big like it was out of scale, must have been four foot tall with a six inch beak. Magnificent creature.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and had to check with one of the locally based range staff who was travelling with me. I said to him “That’s not a golden eagle surely” and he replied that it quite definitely was. I felt so privileged to have got so close to such a creature in the wild. Benbecula was a largely uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides although there was a large RAF and Army-run firing range there at that time (1986). I was there for two weeks as part of the team testing a new aircraft-launched, sea-skimming missile called the Sea Eagle. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see a bird of that same name.
talking of birds,Adam Murray a rumoured twitcher, think they said twitcher any way, is training a group of birds to do some entertaining flying routines for next seasons half times, no longer will we have a fat kid from the away end up against our whippet thin reds kid in the run to the half way line and back to win a permit holder for your dad competition ,yes its the red sparrows display team ...............................................................................................tumbleweed .....................................................................................
Back in 2009, Crystal & I were celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary in the Scottish Highlands. Early one morning, we were sat in the garden of the cottage we'd rented. The weather was glorious and we were drinking in the fabulous view, when we noticed something in the sky. It was two golden eagles, gliding around on the thermals, never flapping their wings. We were captivated by their beauty.
Birds in Barnsley. The feathered variety of course. Never a lot to choose from when I was growing up on Sackville street what with Qualter Hall and the Cannister company pumping lots of vile fumes. mostly spuggies, blackies (can I say that these days?) and starlings. Seeing a magpie was a major event and never anything with any colour. A rumour went about once that an Osprey had been seen down at Wosbro res but I expect somebody shot it and had the thing for Sunday roast.
