Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos
Pictures by Ray Tipper - More about Ray...
More about Ray Tipper
Ray Tipper began his birding on the North Kent Marshes at the age if eleven. He left his native Britain in 1973 spending most of the next 22 years in Hong Kong. As a trustee of WWF he was intimately involved with its renowned Mai Po Nature Reserve. It was in Hong Kong that Ray turned to bird photography, which quickly became his major interest. He gained associateship of the Royal Photographic Society in 1990, and his photographs appear in journals and books throughout the world. Ray guides specialist birdwatching and bird photography tours and since 1997 has led more than 100 tours in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Madagascar. He now lives in the Algarve, where his intimate knowledge of its birds has been recognised by his appointment as Chairman of the Portuguese Rarities Committee.
Note white patches on underwings and tail typical of immature Golden Eagles.
Just two or three pairs of Golden Eagles breed in the Algarve in most years and all in remote sites in the north-east along the Guadiana valley. No doubt immatures wander from time to time from the Alentejo to the uplands of the north of our region, but it remains a very good day if one observes the species anywhere in the Algarve.
Same bird as in above photograph. Golden Eagles take at least six years to reach maturity. The amber coloured eyes of this individual indicate it is an older immature.
Enjoy a Birdwatching day with Ray...
Ray Tipper Picture licence enquiry...
Back to birds...
We hope that you have found this information helpful. If so we are sure you would also enjoy our books about Algarve wildflowers. Buy them online here...