Dutch Birding volume 29 (2007) no 3

Eastern Imperial Eagle at Kamperhoek in April 2005

On 3 April 2005, a third calendar-year Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca was observed at Kamperhoek, Flevoland, the Netherlands. Kamperhoek is situated in the north of Oost-Flevoland and is a good spot for observing high numbers of migrating birds. The bird was discovered during counts of diurnal migration and was seen by seven observers. It stayed in the area for a short while (in flight) before moving on in a north-easterly direction. It was identified by the combination of the pale, yellowish-brown ground colour of the underparts and underwing coverts with the dark streaked chest, pale head and trousers, conspicuous pale 'window' in the remiges and the lack of a light wing-bar on the underwing. Several characters point to a third calendar-year bird. In particular on the photographs showing the upperparts, the difference between moulted and retained remiges can be seen. The inner four to five upper primary coverts have broad white tips and must have been replaced shortly before. This is the first record of Eastern Imperial Eagle for the Netherlands and as such long awaited, since the species occurs as a regular vagrant in countries north-east of the Netherlands, notably in Denmark. Most records in north-western Europe concern young birds in spring or autumn, often at well-known (raptor) migration hotspots.

Ruud F J van Beusekom, Noordwal 56, 1274 AG Huizen, Nederland
(tjiftjafwanadoo.nl)