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Cardiff: Golden eagle spotted in St Mellons park

A rare sighting of a golden eagle in St Mellons, a suburban area of Cardiff. Husband and wife Cefyn and Helen Potts were surprised to spot the eagle perched on a fence while they were parked in their car.

17 November 2023 · 23:48 UTC

Golden eagles have been largely extinct in Wales since 1850, making this sighting particularly remarkable.

Helen Potts expressed her amazement at seeing the bird up close and described it as a stunning and spectacular sight on a Sunday morning. Initially, she doubted that it could be an eagle due to their rarity in Wales.

Concerned for the eagle's well-being, they contacted the RSPCA, and the bird was later found in a nearby location called Willowbrook Gardens. It was taken to a vet for a check-up and then transferred to a specialist facility for care.

The owner of the golden eagle, Michael Fedeli, was reunited with his 13-year-old pet named Apollo. Apollo had escaped while Michael was building an aviary for his owls in the garden. After a few days of recuperation at a rescue center in Amroth, Pembrokeshire, Apollo was returned to his owner.

Golden eagles are a protected species and can live for more than 30 years. While they are predominantly found in Scotland, there are proposals for potential reintroduction efforts in Wales.