Wildlife

James Lowen

The mist lifted for a few minutes; time enough to see that the quarry was indeed still present - albeit 500m away. Yes! Then the mist returned, rendering the bog even more beautiful.

Over the next few hours, we enjoyed prolonged views of the eagle. Birders' behaviour - contra some perceptions expressed on the internet - was impeccable; neither bird nor habitat was disturbed. Seeing the entire family Plenge-Williams was also a major coup! Unfortunately, Josh and I missed the eagle take to the wing, though were phoned by the nice gentleman David Bradnum and thus alerted to look up for raptors rather than down for herps. Returning to the car, we headed to a nearby site for several Sand Lizards and a fresh Keeled Skimmer, but unfortunately no Smooth Snake. Then we drove hell-for-leather back to London, and arrived only 30 minutes late for the start of our Bohemians cricket match, where we mustered a single run between us - prompting the skipper to ban pre-match twitching (apparently sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll are all fine)...

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1 June 2014 The eagle has landed

After a nerve-wracking 31 May, when there was no chance of me twitching Britain's third Short-toed Eagle, at Morden Bog NNR in Dorset, I awoke just before first light on a bed of leaves strewn across a woodland path. The couple of hours sleep had been interrupted by churring Nightjars, rustling voles and car headlights. Wandering along the sandy paths, through misty heathland, Josh Jones and I were treated to a dawn chorus of Cuckoo, Dartford Warbler, Tree Pipit and Woodlark. And then faced with a large line of nervous-looking birders, all hoping that the strengthening light would uncloak the eagle on its chosen roosting branch of a distant pine tree.