Category Archives: Eagle
Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring over the Cobb Highway
We were driving along the Cobb Highway in central New South Wales, between Wilcannia and Ivanhoe. I spotted this eagle during a stop for lunch. Unfortunately, my camera settings weren’t properly adjusted for the light. Still, it’s worth recording this sighting as I don’t often have the opportunity to see a Wedge-tailed Eagle. In fact, this is only my second sighting ever.
Common name: Wedge-tailed Eagle
Scientific name: Aquila audax
Approximate length: 0.9-1.1 m; wing span 1.8-2.5 m
Date spotted: 19 May 2024 (autumn)
Location: Cobb Highway near Ivanhoe, New South Wales, Australia: 32°23’55.4″S 143°54’02.0″E
My first Wedge-tailed Eagle
I was super excited to see my first Wedge-tailed Eagle a few days ago. This is Australia’s largest bird of prey, measuring about 1 metre from head to tail and with a wingspan of 1.8 to 2.5 metres. The females weigh up to 4.2 kilograms, while the male is smaller and weighs up to 3.2 kg.
We were camping at Mary Flynn Reserve on the Bridle Track in NSW, Australia. This bird was high up over the hills above a Turon River valley. Evidently these eagles can fly as high as 2 kilometres above the ground.
I was struck by the long, widely-separated wing feathers, and the ease with which the bird was gliding. At times it soared high, at others it dipped down to the tree tops, which from my perspective were still high on the hills above the valley.
These photos are all of the same bird at the same time of day. Later in the day, I saw another bird (or maybe the same one) taking off from a hillside. It was interesting to see the slow, heavy flaps of the wings that the bird needed to become airborne.
Here’s my final picture of the bird:
Common name: Wedge-tailed Eagle
Scientific name: Aquila audax
Approximate length: 0.9-1.1 m; wing span 1.8-2.5 m
Date spotted: 13 April 2024 (autumn)
Location: Mary Flynn Reserve, Bridle Track, New South Wales, Australia: 33°04’51.0″S 149°23’57.6″E
White-bellied Sea-Eagle at Manly Dam
For the third time ever, I’ve seen a White-bellied Sea-Eagle at Manly Dam. These are very large birds, and it’s quite awe-inspiring to see them in the skies above the dam. As usual, the eagle was very far away. I managed to get this picture of it:
The eagle flew rapidly along the northern shore of the dam. I was far away on the opposite shore. The bird flew east to west, then disappeared into the trees on the north western shore — in the area that’s approximately in the middle of this photo:
Common name: White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucogaster
Approximate length: 85 cm. Wing span: 2.2 m
Date spotted: 26 May 2023 (autumn)
Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’30.0″S 151°14’54.7″E
Majestic White-bellied Sea-Eagle
White-bellied Sea-Eagles are not uncommon in some areas around Sydney, but I’ve yet to get a good look at one. Today is the closest I’ve ever got to a decent picture, though my camera was at its maximum zoom (70x):
I was in Sydney Olympic Park, in the area around Newington Armory, doing the guided bird walk offered by the BirdLife Discovery Centre. The bird was on the far side of the Parramatta River.
White-bellied Sea-Eagles are very large and imposing birds. From head to tail, they measure approximately 85cm. They have a wing span of around 2 metres.
Here’s another picture of the bird:
The Birdlife Discovery Centre offers a webcam view of the sea-eages’ nest: Eagle Cam. The eagles currently have two chicks. You can watch them sleep, stretch, and be fed by their doting parents!
Common name: White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucogaster
Approximate length: 85 cm. Wing span: 2.2 m
Date spotted: 28 August 2022 (winter)
Location: Sydney Olympic Park, Newington, New South Wales, Australia: 33°49’16.7″S 151°04’06.3″E
Sea-Eagles at Manly Dam
For the second time ever, I spotted a White-bellied Sea-Eagle at Manly Dam, north of Sydney. This one was circling high in the sky:
Common name: White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucogaster
Approximate length: 85 cm. Wing span: 2.2 m
Date spotted: 3 July 2021 (winter)
Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’59.2″S 151°15’19.4″E
These eagles are large, imposing creatures. The last time I saw one at the dam was back in April 2017. I didn’t post any pictures then, but now I’ve gone back and rooted out a video of that bird. The eagle was very far away then too, and I had my camera on maximum zoom.
This video, from April 2017, shows the bird coming in to land at a small beach on the opposite side of the dam from where I was:
One day, with luck, I’ll see one of these eagles from closer by!
White-bellied Sea-Eagle at Manly Dam near Sydney
Yesterday I spotted a White-bellied Sea-Eagle flying along the shore of Manly Dam. It flew up and down the shore a few times, and across the water, then landed at the edge of the water in a baylet, with its legs in the water.
I was on the opposite side of the dam, so I couldn’t get a close look at the bird. I did take some photos and videos, but they’re fuzzy and unsatisfactory, although they’re good enough to satisfy me about the identification of the bird. So I decided to record the sighting here, and hope I get to see this beautiful bird again soon.
Common name: White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucogaster
Approximate length: 85 cm. Wing span: 2.2 m
Date spotted: 22 April 2017 (Autumn)
Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’35.2″S 151°15’08.0″E
Sydney Birder 