Ruim vijf weken een Slangenarend Circaetus gallicus in de duinen van Meyendel

Between 3 August and 11 September 2006, an immature Short-Toed Eagle resided in the dunes of Meyendel between Scheveningen and Wassenaar (Photo I). Most hunting flights occurred in open dune valleys, where presumably Sand Lizzards Lacerta agilis were preyed upon. Once the bird was observed carrying a still struggling Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (myxomatosis rampant in the region). Forested parts of the area were largely avoided. The Short-toed Eagle had frequent agonistic interactions with local breeding birds, and vice versa, i.e. Buzzard Buteo buteo, Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus, Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, Kestrel Falco tinnunculus and Hobby F. subbuteo; surprisingly, no such interactions were recorded with Goshawks A. gentilis. By August 3rd, the bird had synchronously renewed the three innermost primaries, the fourth was still growing (for pictures of moult in this bird, see also www.roofvogels. come2me.nl). Although the bird closely resembled a rehabilitated Short-toed Eagle that had been released earlier in 2006 (17 June) in the southern Netherlands, a ring was not detected and the Meyendel-bird is therefore thought to have been a differerent individual.