Large Brown Bird of Prey - Thirlmere (1 Viewer)

[BrianLParkinson]

On Friday 10th Feb this year I was driving from Grasmere to Keswick along Thirlmere.
Seen from below was a large dark brown bird of prey. It looked about twice the size of a buzzard.
I was not able to pull over and did not have my binoculars or scope with me. It seemed unlikely to me, but could it have been a Golden Eagle? I had thought that our last one had left Cumbria.
Any comments welcome.

 

[stevethehydra]

I think the last Golden Eagle in the Lake District was reported to have died recently-ish (though not sure if they found the body or it just disappeared for long enough to be presumed dead).

A wandering eagle from Scotland or an escape from a falconry centre are always possibilities, but a Common Buzzard looking bigger because of misjudged distance is by far the likeliest option.