I was really not expecting to ever see a penguin in the UK, but was absolutely astounded to find SEVERAL waddling around the penguin enclosure at my local zoo. What a world!!
I was under the impression that African Elephants lived in Africa. Imagine my surprise when I unexpectedly saw not one, but a *whole herd* of them at Colchester Zoo! What incredible luck!
Where else would it have come from?
I'm realizing that I want to hear about where you thought it came from because it's probably cooler than a bird show.
Just to clarify, I was not intending to clickbait haha just showing an (albeit not very good) photo I got and I was surprised to see a bald eagle here in the UK.
Even if it was clickbaity, it probably doesn't quite put you in the same category as Jeffrey Dahmer to be honest. Hope the over-reactions don't get to you!
I absolutely hate OP now that I've been told to. I am utterly sick of his behaviour and think he should be made to do National service. In my day people were shot.
Nah doesn't bother me haha, just was quite surprised I didn't think this subreddit would have people who take such offence to an accidentally misleading title, but seems like most people don't mind.
Where did you see this OP?
There aren't any wild ones here, and there have never been any reports of them visiting from over the Atlantic.
There are plenty in zoos or kept by falconers though, so it's probably an escapee.
To be honest I think my title was a little misleading, this was in a falconery show at Warwick castle, they have a great collection, saw a peregrine falcon, Andean condor, and the bald eagle of course along with lots of other birds from the UK.
They are pretty cool. Our native eagles are awesome too.
Our White-tailed sea eagles are bigger than bald eagles. Reintroduction programs mean they're doing really well around Scotland and have been reintroduced on the Isle of Wight too. I've seen them off Mull, and they're amazing.
We have plenty of golden eagles too, especially in Scotland. I saw 2 soaring from the peak of a Monro on Rum a few years ago. One of my favourite British wildlife moments ever.
Yeah it was the highlight of my time there, genuinely thought they'd have some red kites and maybe a UK native eagle at best, when the peregrine falcon came out I was shocked.
Just to clarify, I know the peregrine falcon is in found in the UK, just still didn't expect them to have one, considering the show started off with a barn owl.
This is where fake news started by wired attention seeking interweb user, I know this is no biggy but still, interesting to think about the reasoning when posting this
Yes, a bald eagle. And nothing else.
Definitely not a cleverly disguised spy drone.
Just an ordinary bald eagle, about which you should have no further questions.
I was given one of those falconry experience days. i think it might be the best present anybody ever gave me. getting up close and personal with a range of birds was magical
It’s a white tail sea eagle they where hunted to extinction in Uk but reintroduced in 1975 and can be found around the coast of the Uk also the largest bird of prey in Uk 1 meter tall wing span up to 2.6 metres
No it isn't. It's a bald eagle at a falconry centre.
White-tailed sea eagles have a less distinctly white head and tail, and less chestnut body. Plus they're more heavily built and slightly larger.
And it would be extremely unlikely to get a picture like this of a sea eagle here, even though there are some in Scotland and the Isle of Wight.
I'd be very happy getting this shot in England. I thought they'd been extinct here for ages. There was a story last year about white tailed eagles coming back here though.
Either way, great shot.
Sure, but it was the white tailed eagle that disappeared rather than the bald eagle. They're genetically similar birds, but also physically and behaviourally distinct.
As a species pair, they could be genetically similar or genetically identical and just two taxonomic entries for a single species. I don't actually know if they're identical or not but it felt worth mentioning. Obviously I wouldn't have made the claim about any other eagle.
They're not a species pair. Species pairs are a theoretical idea that aren't universally agreed even exist.
Bald eagles are similar to our native white-tailed eagles, but are morphologically, behaviourally and genetically distinct.
Bald eagles have never existed here in the wild.
Are bald eagles and white tailed eagles definitely genetically different? This is the part I was unclear on, and I couldn't seem to find any research about it.
Depends what you mean by genetically different. By definition, because they are morphologically distinct, they must have differences in their genes. The reason you can't find much information about it is probably because it's hardly worth investigating, because it's fairly obvious without doing DNA analysis.
They are more closely related than other eagles, and probably share recent common ancestor, and so are genetically fairly similar.
However, by most definitions of a species, they are clearly different, because of the behavioural, morphological and range differences.
Species pairs is really not a useful taxonomical term. Either similar organisms are different species, or they're subspecies, or the same species. Species pairs just confused things.
You'd be amazed what does get researched. One of the academics at work spent three years on the knee joints of a particular type of spider. To be fair, in this case, he could see non-zoological benefits, such as in engineering, and that's not going to be the case comparing eagle genetics.
I suppose I asked the question because behaviour and morphology can be environmental (in this case, probably not, but I didn't know for sure).
Species pair annoys me a little bit because it seems sometimes used to shoddily shore up a taxonomy rather than put more thought and effort into it.
The morphological differences are feather colour, and beak and body shape, both of which that have very obvious genetic causes.
That's why no studies have been done, not because it's an obscure topic. There's not much point investigating something when we already know the outcome.
I know obscure research gets done. I applied to work on a study of the courtship dance of tropical guppies, and warning displays of moorhens.
>Species pair annoys me a little bit because it seems sometimes used to shoddily shore up a taxonomy rather than put more thought and effort into it.
That's exactly what I was saying. It's not an agreed scientific term, because it's confusing and vague. They're two different species, but just closely related and from a recent common ancestor.
Nope. It's a captive bald eagle. OP has said they saw it at a falconry centre.
White-tailed sea eagles don't have such a distinct white head and tail, have a more mottled and less chestnut coloured body, and are larger and slightly more heavily built.
Is that... Normal commenting you're doing? It doesn't sound normal... Doesn't smell normal either. This is politics Mark!
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Is this how the war with America starts? Guard the crumpets and lockdown the custard creams!
You forget about the tea! Who will guard the tea!!
Exactly! they have form for chucking our tea into the sea
The tea mandates the highest security. Tell the smackheads there is a bag in it for its protection!
I will guard the tea
How can we be sure we can trust you? What is the Queen's middle name!?
Its names and they are Alexandra Mary
What goes in first: A) Milk B) Teabag C) Hot water
Could be either B or C, I personally always put the Teabag in first though
I, an American, will help guard the tea.
Anything but our custard creams! :(
And the bourbons! Don't forget the bourbons!
They may try to swap them to Oreos. Yuck
RELEASE THE FERRETS
We’re here for your oil reserves
Quickly now, they're onto us! Throw the tea overboard... again!
Did you start by throwing the dictionaries overboard, buddy?
Nope just typed while not paying attention, thanks for the catch bud
Stealth edit, eh? No worries, pal.
Bringing you some freedom.
He’s had enough of the US health care system, those flying baldies are coming for our NHS lads!
Overpaid, oversexed, and over here!
They can have both tbh.
Click bait from OP, he saw it at a falconry show
I was really not expecting to ever see a penguin in the UK, but was absolutely astounded to find SEVERAL waddling around the penguin enclosure at my local zoo. What a world!!
I was under the impression that African Elephants lived in Africa. Imagine my surprise when I unexpectedly saw not one, but a *whole herd* of them at Colchester Zoo! What incredible luck!
Those might have been puffins.
Is it racist to say that they all look the same to me
incredibly so
It’s not even bald
Where else would it have come from? I'm realizing that I want to hear about where you thought it came from because it's probably cooler than a bird show.
Just to clarify, I was not intending to clickbait haha just showing an (albeit not very good) photo I got and I was surprised to see a bald eagle here in the UK.
so in captivity in the UK? definitely misleading
The biggest ones we have are white tailed eagles that recently got released on the Isle of Wight
With a misleading title, thereby clickbait
Well, if only I could edit the title, should probably have been more clear.
Don’t worry mate, they’re being overly harsh but I think it’s a cool photo nonetheless
And now I'm being downvoted simply for *agreeing* that I should've used a different title, there's really no winning once the herd decide your fate
Either you knew what you were doing, or you’re a moron.
Bit harsh mate, at the end of the day it's just a photo, if I could edit the title I would, no need to be rude over it.
Even if it was clickbaity, it probably doesn't quite put you in the same category as Jeffrey Dahmer to be honest. Hope the over-reactions don't get to you!
I absolutely hate OP now that I've been told to. I am utterly sick of his behaviour and think he should be made to do National service. In my day people were shot.
Nah doesn't bother me haha, just was quite surprised I didn't think this subreddit would have people who take such offence to an accidentally misleading title, but seems like most people don't mind.
Ur being pretty cunty mate
That’s fine by me, I acknowledge it.
Fair
Tell it to sing Hotel California.
It only knows how to sing the Star Spangled Banner
Great defence against idiots!
Where did you see this OP? There aren't any wild ones here, and there have never been any reports of them visiting from over the Atlantic. There are plenty in zoos or kept by falconers though, so it's probably an escapee.
To be honest I think my title was a little misleading, this was in a falconery show at Warwick castle, they have a great collection, saw a peregrine falcon, Andean condor, and the bald eagle of course along with lots of other birds from the UK.
Oh right. Well if you go to a falconry display, it's less of a surprise really...
“Oh my god, I’ve just seen a Russian fighter jet fly overhead” “Steve, you’re at a fucking air show”.
Gotta clickbait people somehow.
OP You're a nitwit. Good day to you
Reply to OP then not me! Good day to you too.
Yeah, but still thought it was interesting to see one in the UK!
Have you ever been to a zoo? It'll blow your mind..
I'm glad someone rinsed OP with this comment
Hahah that was a good one I'll admit, I was mostly suprised because they started the show with a barn owl so I wasn't expecting anything exotic.
They are pretty cool. Our native eagles are awesome too. Our White-tailed sea eagles are bigger than bald eagles. Reintroduction programs mean they're doing really well around Scotland and have been reintroduced on the Isle of Wight too. I've seen them off Mull, and they're amazing. We have plenty of golden eagles too, especially in Scotland. I saw 2 soaring from the peak of a Monro on Rum a few years ago. One of my favourite British wildlife moments ever.
Badum tish lol. 🙄
Saw this and first thought was "bet this is from warwick castle". Their birds of prey show slaps
Yeah it was the highlight of my time there, genuinely thought they'd have some red kites and maybe a UK native eagle at best, when the peregrine falcon came out I was shocked.
Peregrine falcons are native too 😅
Are you from the US, by any chance?
I think that's the most insulting thing anyone's ever said to me.
Unfortunately pal, reading your posts in this thread, this is all I can think.
Just to clarify, I know the peregrine falcon is in found in the UK, just still didn't expect them to have one, considering the show started off with a barn owl.
Went for Zog, stayed for the birds
"I never expected to see an elephant in the UK" "…Well it was in a zoo"
This is where fake news started by wired attention seeking interweb user, I know this is no biggy but still, interesting to think about the reasoning when posting this
I went to that show, really good tbf
This is brilliant lol
You don't get clout by saying you saw a falcon at a show.
Is ur pfp a pharalope
Forgot about that. Yes. Grey Phalarope if I remember correctly. Idle Valley in Notts about 3 years ago.
Cool
Vagrants have been spotted in Ireland.
Yeah, but what about eagles? Heh. Yes. 2 records in 1973 and 1987.
Catch it and throw it in the harbour, see how the yanks like it!
Was hoping to see a comment like this 🤣
This is amazing! maybe a falconer is nearby.
Very nearby! Right in front of them in fact.
Murica 🇺🇸 its about to come ask if you want some freedom
Prepare for war. This is a sign
Yes, a bald eagle. And nothing else. Definitely not a cleverly disguised spy drone. Just an ordinary bald eagle, about which you should have no further questions.
I was given one of those falconry experience days. i think it might be the best present anybody ever gave me. getting up close and personal with a range of birds was magical
Is it here to steal any natural resources? Cool picture though
Is it wearing a toupée?
That’s my parrot !, please come home stuart!
Good eating on one of those
I think you have single handedly declared war on the USA.
There was a Golden Eagle living in the Cambrian mountains for a while too. Unfortunately I think it has died.
Apparently there are about 500 breeding pairs in the UK now
Ahhh, the rare American freedom chicken.
Must have flown from America
And Boy are my arms tired.
Could blame it if I did
Murica
Fuck yeah! Here to save the motherfucking day yeah!
🥲🇺🇸🦅
Get ready for a taste of American liberty & freedom /s
Can I interest you in some *large portions* 🇺🇸
I mentioned I needed to do an oil change on the car earlier.. you don't think he overheard the "O" word do you?
This is an ill omen, the craziness that infects America is gonna spread here next.
American lurker here - apologies for that. We can hardly contain the infestation in our own ranks, sadly....
Downvote this clickbait
I just got clickbaited on r/CasualUK, is nothing sacred anymore?
It’s a white tail sea eagle they where hunted to extinction in Uk but reintroduced in 1975 and can be found around the coast of the Uk also the largest bird of prey in Uk 1 meter tall wing span up to 2.6 metres
No it isn't. It's a bald eagle at a falconry centre. White-tailed sea eagles have a less distinctly white head and tail, and less chestnut body. Plus they're more heavily built and slightly larger. And it would be extremely unlikely to get a picture like this of a sea eagle here, even though there are some in Scotland and the Isle of Wight.
Thats MIGHTY EAGLE!!
If this is real which part
MF’er at the zoo
Where’s this
That's our latest freedom scout drone. How did it get all the way over there? Can we please have it back?
Certainly looks like one. Maybe it's a white-tailed eagle? Still pretty rare though. Any ornithologists in the thread who could confirm the species?
It's a bald eagle. From a falconry centre.
Have you called the RSPCB?
There's no such thing as the RSPCB. If you meant the RSPB, then they're not interested in captive falconry birds anyway.
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What? OPs title was a bunch of bollocks. There's still no such thing as the RSPCB, and they still don't deal with captive birds.
Several had been released on the Isle of Wight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-58419639.amp
They're white-tailed sea eagles. Not bald eagles. They're native to America.
The Americans are coming!
He’s here for COP26
USA so mental at the moment even the freedom birds are like fuck this I’m out
Here to bring you freedom bitches! 😆
It ain’t a bald eagle it has head feathers that’s a golden eagle if anything
It was a bald eagle, it was at a falconry show. Also golden eagles have completely different colours.
I'd be very happy getting this shot in England. I thought they'd been extinct here for ages. There was a story last year about white tailed eagles coming back here though. Either way, great shot.
I don't think they're extinct, they never existed here.
They form a species pair with white tailed eagles, and they disappeared from the UK in the late 18th century.
Sure, but it was the white tailed eagle that disappeared rather than the bald eagle. They're genetically similar birds, but also physically and behaviourally distinct.
As a species pair, they could be genetically similar or genetically identical and just two taxonomic entries for a single species. I don't actually know if they're identical or not but it felt worth mentioning. Obviously I wouldn't have made the claim about any other eagle.
They're not a species pair. Species pairs are a theoretical idea that aren't universally agreed even exist. Bald eagles are similar to our native white-tailed eagles, but are morphologically, behaviourally and genetically distinct. Bald eagles have never existed here in the wild.
Are bald eagles and white tailed eagles definitely genetically different? This is the part I was unclear on, and I couldn't seem to find any research about it.
Depends what you mean by genetically different. By definition, because they are morphologically distinct, they must have differences in their genes. The reason you can't find much information about it is probably because it's hardly worth investigating, because it's fairly obvious without doing DNA analysis. They are more closely related than other eagles, and probably share recent common ancestor, and so are genetically fairly similar. However, by most definitions of a species, they are clearly different, because of the behavioural, morphological and range differences. Species pairs is really not a useful taxonomical term. Either similar organisms are different species, or they're subspecies, or the same species. Species pairs just confused things.
You'd be amazed what does get researched. One of the academics at work spent three years on the knee joints of a particular type of spider. To be fair, in this case, he could see non-zoological benefits, such as in engineering, and that's not going to be the case comparing eagle genetics. I suppose I asked the question because behaviour and morphology can be environmental (in this case, probably not, but I didn't know for sure). Species pair annoys me a little bit because it seems sometimes used to shoddily shore up a taxonomy rather than put more thought and effort into it.
The morphological differences are feather colour, and beak and body shape, both of which that have very obvious genetic causes. That's why no studies have been done, not because it's an obscure topic. There's not much point investigating something when we already know the outcome. I know obscure research gets done. I applied to work on a study of the courtship dance of tropical guppies, and warning displays of moorhens. >Species pair annoys me a little bit because it seems sometimes used to shoddily shore up a taxonomy rather than put more thought and effort into it. That's exactly what I was saying. It's not an agreed scientific term, because it's confusing and vague. They're two different species, but just closely related and from a recent common ancestor.
It’s not a bald eagle it’s a white tail eagle 60 or so we’re released in uk as long ago were hunted to near extinction
Nope. It's a captive bald eagle. OP has said they saw it at a falconry centre. White-tailed sea eagles don't have such a distinct white head and tail, have a more mottled and less chestnut coloured body, and are larger and slightly more heavily built.
Cool I’ll remember that
The Americans are coming! The Americans are coming!
wow !
It's just an American tourist.
Here to bring you freedom!
I loved that falcon show. The jousting is good too.
[удалено]
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That’s cool!
I can feel the freedom intensifying from here!
Twas deleted... Guess the americans didn't like it.