Police probe disappearance of UK’s biggest and rarest bird of prey
Dyfed-Powys Police and the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) are jointly investigating the suspicious disappearance of the white-tailed eagle in September and the theft and disposal of its satellite tag and harness.
The tag has been recovered from remote moorland west of the Tregynon area and shows that it has been removed from the bird with a sharp instrument, most likely a knife, before being hidden in an attempt to dispose of it.
“All potential lines of enquiry, including detailed forensics such as DNA and fingerprints, are being pursued,” a police spokesperson said.
“We are working closely with the tag owners, the Roy Dennis Wildife Foundation and Forestry England, to analyse the data, and progress this investigation.”
Searches in the area to try and locate the body of the bird have so far been unsuccessful, so the investigation has turned to a public appeal for anyone who was in the following areas at the specified times to contact police.
- Between 11am and 1pm on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at or around the Gwgia Reservoir, Tregynon (W3W///visa.hoped.assess)
- Between midday and 3pm on Saturday, September 13, 2025 on access land near Bryn y Fawnog (W3W///portfolio.newsprint.eyelash)
Dyfed-Powys Police can be contacted either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101,quoting police Ref. 25000766626.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.
Rare, but enormous, bird
There are thought to be fewer than 150 pairs of white-tailed eagles in the UK, but the sight of a one soaring through the sky is said to be “one you’ll never forget”.
What do they look like (according to the RSPB)?
The white-tailed eagle is the largest UK bird of prey. It has brown body plumage with a conspicuously pale head and neck, which can be almost white in older birds, and the tail feathers of adults are white.
In flight it has massive broad wings with ‘fingered’ ends. Its head protrudes and it has a wedge-shaped tail. This Schedule 1 species went extinct in the UK during the early 20th century, due to illegal killing, and the present population is descended from reintroduced birds. Schedule 1 protection means it is illegal to disturb this species.
Behaviour
In the UK, birds of prey don’t come any bigger than the mighty white-tailed eagle. Their enormous size and broad, almost rectangular wings have even earned them the nickname of the ‘flying barn door’!
Unlike Golden Eagles, they will catch fish, so you might spot them plunging their talons into the sea or a lake to pluck out a meal. They also eat rabbits, hares and other mammals, as well as birds, such as gulls and ducks, and carrion.
Nesting
White-tailed Eagles mate for life and are very faithful to their nest site, which will usually be on a cliff ledge or in a large tree. Pairs add material, like twigs and grass, to their nest each breeding season and as a result nests can reach up to 6 feet/1.8 metres across – that’s about the size of a double bed!
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