Golden eagle sighting near Wrexham 'exciting'

It is thought to be the first reported sighting of a wild golden eagle in Wales since 1990

A reported sighting of what appears to be a wild golden eagle over north Wales is an exciting development, say bird experts.

Brothers Rhys and Ifan Richards, both keen bird watchers, reported seeing the giant bird flying over Ruabon moor, near Wrexham, last Saturday.

It is thought to be the first reported sighting of a wild golden eagle in Wales since 1990.

A golden eagle was spotted by mountain bikers in Carmarthenshire recently.

At the time, Dyfed-Powys Police said there were no reports of a missing eagle but the RSPB said it was likely to have escaped.

Of the latest sighting of an eagle, Julian Hughes, a trustee of the Welsh Ornithological Society, said: "This is really unusual and quite exciting."

He said if the bird was a juvenile it could have strayed from southern Scotland or north-west Ireland where a re-introduction programme is taking place.

"Young birds can wander for hundreds of miles," he added.

"They only have to flap their wings a few times and they're away. But unless we get further sightings, it will be difficult to know the origins of the bird. It would be great to see the golden eagle reappearing in Wales."