Very unfortunately I couldn't get a picture (will absolutely try if he comes back around!) however i recently spotted what i think was a golden eagle around the Consett area, more specifically nearer to allensford river which is just at the start of the upper east pennines for those who arent local. It's pretty common for me to see red kites so at first i assumed that's what it was but it had a full tail rather than a forked one and it definitely was too big to be anything else. The closest thing to a picture of it was so zoomed in it just looks like a little black blob sadly since i was too busy staring at it that i forgot to take a picture while it was mostly overhead. Please let me know if this is the wrong place for posting, thanks
Yesterday what looked like a juvenile golden eagle killed one of our hens. We were out there before the raptor could take our hen's body away, so we did get a good look at it perched on a fir tree. Unfortunately, it flew off before one of us could get a camera. It had a distinct bluey sheen and a chestnut sheen around neck, very dark in colouring and white at base of tail. Is this likely to be a 'pet' eagle or an escapee from a bird of prey centre? Does that happen much? The first time we've seen anything like this around us (near Chepstow), although buzzards and red kites are commonplace.
Your description sounds like a Harris Hawk. Not a native bird, but common in falconry and often an escapee. Almost impossible to be a GE though.
Yes, you're right! We saw it again closer up and in better light this morning and I found in local group on line that people, from 20 miles away that is, had lost their harris hawk two years ago. Clearly, they've lost it again or just let it roam to save on feeding it. Pretty irresponsible. It's not native to our country and is decimating domestic and wild birds in our village. Not sure who to approach, if the owners don't respond!
See if there is a local falconry centre or club to you and let them know. Did you notice any jesses attached to its legs? If so, then it is definitely an escapee. It might just still retain enough memory of training that it will come to a glove if offered food. However, if it has been living in the wild for a time, or even wild born (there are reports of this happening occasionally) then the chances of this happening are low. In that case it might be something the RSPCA could sort using a baited trap. The legality around this is a bit murky, as Harris Hawks are not native. Irresponsibility is a moot point here, as birds of prey cannot be 'tamed' like a dog, for example. Even the best trained falconry birds sometimes decide to do a 'runner', leaving their owners bereft.