Sea Eagle double catch

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Worth asking if the observers are familiar with the identification of Osprey & Sea-eagle and don’t just use the term loosely. The words He’s not a birder, but he’s reliable nonetheless. Suggest the observation would be real, though the identification could easily be wrong.

The words “hit the water” would also appear to be very relevant (as well as “:emerge”) and are certainly suggestive of Osprey. Sea-eagles snatch prey from the water surface in a passing fly by, without getting more than their feet wet. Ospreys go into the water with a splash.

 

Philip

 

From: Birding-Aus [ On Behalf Of Geoff Hutchinson via Birding-Aus
Sent: Wednesday, 16 June, 2021 9:11 AM
To: Tony Ashton; Birding-aus; Gordon Cain
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Sea Eagle double catch

 

Hi Gordon,

 

Like Tony said more than likely not an Eagle but it would have been an Osprey, and yes it does happen.

 

Cheers

Geoff Hutchinson

 

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On Wednesday, 16 June 2021, 09:01:18 am AEST, Gordon Cain <> wrote:

 

 

Thanks Tony. 

 

‘Emerge’ was my imprecise language, not his. I’ve only seen a sea eagle grab a fish once — and my two sons both got a far better view of it than I did!

 

Happy birding!

Gordon in Schofields, NW Sydney

Sent from my iPhone

On 15 Jun 2021, at 5:54 pm, Tony Ashton <> wrote:



Hi Gordon,

 

Not so rare. Snatch and double grab on school of fish given the bird will react to what its talons touch.

But your friend was wrong to suggest eagle emerged with the fish. Eagles don't plunge underwater.

 

Cheers

Tony Ashton

 

On Tue, Jun 15, 2021 at 2:53 PM Gordon Cain <> wrote:

A friend of mine was yesterday at Garie Beach, Royal NP, south of Sydney.

 

He watched a Sea Eagle fly off a cliff, hit the water, and emerge with two fish. ‘Either two fish, or a fish with two tails!’

 

Has anyone seen or heard of such a sight before?

 

He’s not a birder, but he’s reliable nonetheless.

 

Warm regards

Gordon in Schofields, NW Sydney

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