14 DAY TRIAL // A group of cyclists who were taking a ride on Llanllwni Mountain, in Carmarthenshire, Wales on Tuesday experienced an unusual encounter. They came across a golden eagle who swooped down near them and proved to be very friendly.
When they saw the big bird of prey was so meek, the mountain bike enthusiasts ventured to approach it and even give it a pat.
The golden eagle is a very powerful bird of prey, one of the best known in the Northern Hemisphere. It has strong feet and massive, sharp talons which help it snatch up a variety of prey. Its wingspan is of 7ft (2m) and weighs 6.35 kg (14.0 lb) on average.
Nikki Channon, who runs MudTrek Mountain Bike Breaks, said she was very surprised to see the eagle, and mentioned that it might have been lost.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The eagle just stood there looking at us and seemed as interested in us as we were in it. It was so tame and had jesses and bells around its ankles so it must come from captivity,” she said, according to the Mirror.
A spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said the bird had probably escaped from a center as it had bells on its feet.
Although the bikers were lucky and could get close to the bird, police advises people not to approach the bird for their own safety.