Here is Patrick’s real deal. The answer to Philip‘s question is that I used to collect Pacific Islands postage stamps many years ago. I also visited
Solomon Islands a couple of times, 60s and 70s. without noticing the eagle though. Speaking of sharks, they know about not going in the water there.
From: <>
Sent: Saturday, 24 November 2018 11:54 AM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb' <>
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] White-bellied Sea Eagle
And here’s the real deal – unfortunately in captivity in Honiara!
Technical issue prevent me from posting on the chatline but feel free to put it up if you wish
Cheers
Patrick
From: Geoffrey Dabb <>
Sent: Saturday, 24 November 2018 9:27 AM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] White-bellied Sea Eagle
Named for an American ornithologist, and the subject of perhaps the only postage stamp issue showing the life cycle of a bird species – just a sample
below
From: Philip Veerman <>
Sent: Friday, 23 November 2018 9:30 PM
To: 'Canberra Birds' <>
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] White-bellied Sea Eagle
Sorry, Sanford’s (not Sandford’s).
From: Philip Veerman
Sent: Friday, 23 November, 2018 1:05 PM
To: 'Harvey Perkins'; 'Canberra Birds'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] White-bellied Sea Eagle
Well yes but you could better ask
What's it doing in the current cold, blustery and almost sleeting conditions?
about a tiny bird like a Weebill. Thermoregulation is harder the smaller you are……
I have occasionally had one over my home too.
From my observations, the White-bellied Sea Eagle is sort of common in warm Philippines and cold Tasmania. Actually it appears to me the Sea-Eagles (apart from
the African one and Sandford’s ) are more characteristic of cold places than warm ones.
From: Harvey Perkins
Sent: Friday, 23 November, 2018 7:57 AM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] White-bellied Sea Eagle
That was nice - just had a sub-adult White-bellied Sea Eagle (maybe 4th or 5th year bird) cruise past, heading north along the broader Murrumbidgee corridor. What's it doing in the current cold, blustery and almost sleeting conditions?
If I had wings I'd be off somewhere else!
This is my third record of the species from home (over 9 years now since we've been here) at Gleneagles in Kambah. Others were 15 Oct 2011 and 26 Sep 2015, so all spring records.
