The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Photographer captures endangered raptor taking a chance on deer
An amateur photographer has captured one of nature’s most spectacular sights on camera. Colin Black from Aberdeen was taking photographs close to the top of Glenshee earlier this week when he spotted a golden eagle swooping down to attack a red deer.
The deer was too large for the predator to do any real damage but Mr Black rushed to ensure he caught the moment.
The music instructor said: “I was not too far from the ski centre when I spotted the bird. I’d seen an eagle before so was sure that’s what it was.
“I didn’t have time to set up my camera as I would have liked, which is why the photos are slightly blurred.
“It happened so quickly and it was also about half a mile away so I knew I had to act quickly. There was no one else around and I couldn’t wait to go home and get them loaded up on the computer to have a proper look at them,” he added.
Despite having populations dotted around the world, golden eagle numbers are said to be small and getting smaller.
They are a rarity in Britain, with 508 known breeding pairs largely restricted to the Scottish Highlands and islands.
In August scientists revealed they had mapped the genetic code of the golden eagle in a development they believe will help efforts to protect and monitor the species.
Professor Des Thompson, Scottish Natural Heritage’s principal adviser on biodiversity, said: “These are superb images of a young golden eagle attacking a red deer.
“Young eagles disperse widely from their birth territories and are then on the move for several years before settling.
“Hunger can drive the birds to these desperate measures, for this deer is arguably too large for even an adult eagle to kill.
“Sometimes eagles hunt in pairs, and have been known to scare deer into tumbling over cliffs.
“Even the most experienced eagle watchers will only have seen such attacks once or twice in a lifetime.”