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Recently I was lucky to watch a spectacular battle in skys here.

Whilst out with a birdwatching client who wanted to see birds of prey, we took her to one of my favourite spots for watching them at close hand. We never expected to see what we did though. 5 minutes after we arrived we could hear screaching and within seconds a full on battle was taking place above our heads. A rare Bonelli's Eagle really was not happy with a pair of Golden Eagles. Both birds are very territorial and we are lucky to have both eagles nesting in our area. Considering the size difference between these eagles it was a suprise to see that the Bonelli's Eagle appeared to be winning this particular battle. The Golden Eagles were doing their best to move on and leave the area but the Bonelli's Eagle would not give up. Fantastic to see.

The picture below shows the size difference between the 2 eagles, the Golden Eagle really is a giant of a bird.

That is an amazing shot Kiersten...how lucky was that ? I had no idea there was such a size difference. Having now seen this piccie I now know the bird I saw in the poquiera Gorge last month was a Golden Eagle and not a vulture. Thanks for that.

I nearly always see eagles above the Cebollar/Puente Palo area. Not clever enough to identify exactly but they must be either Bonellis or Golden eagles. Think they live in the forests below the Cebollar.

Ah yes the illusive eagle from the Poquiera gorge. James is on a mission to photograph this bird. He gets his camera out the bird vanishes, he puts his camera away, the bird arrives again. Its a bird with a sense of humour Glad the picture has helped you to id a bird of prey.

If I had picture of a golden eagle and a vulture in one shot you would see how enormous a vulture really is. We think golden eagles are big, vultures are like pterodactyls

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(03-25-2011 10:21 AM)elperronegro Wrote: [ -> ]I nearly always see eagles above the Cebollar/Puente Palo area. Not clever enough to identify exactly but they must be either Bonellis or Golden eagles. Think they live in the forests below the Cebollar.

Hopefully next time someone is up that way we can get a photo and get an id on this bird too.

OK so maybe it WAS a vulture...what made me think that initially is the splayed feathers on the wing-tips....but it was so huge I then thought it was a golden eagle. It hunts from the crags to the right (looking up the gorge) as you reach the lunch spot by the new bridge. Can someone capture it on film so we can end the mystery ?!!

James is up there tomorrow so hopefully he will get a shot at last of the eagle. Im pretty sure it will be an eagle as the vultures dont hang around here for the winter

All the birds use their fingers (splayed feathers on the wing tips) to help direct them in flight, very useful tool

Will keep you posted.

Unless you are the bird we saw at Puente Palo who didn't have any

yes ive sorted that problem out, it was the angel of the shot, nothing wrong with his wings after all. Still so much to learn

Thats a relief !!

great battle Ariel recently! V an eagle pair of golden eagles.

It was an incredible show with the eagle appearing to win this particular battle. Much noise and aerobatics. The Golden Eagles seemed to want to get out of the fight, but not Bonelli give up and kept diving in feet first. Great to see the two types of eagle in the same space and so close to each other to appreciate the size difference