A rare white-tailed eagle has been spotted in a Suffolk village playing with a stick before taking flight.
The eagle, which RSPB estimated there were about 300 of in the UK in 2020, was spotted near Tunstall in east Suffolk, on the B1078.
The bird was spotted by Liz Quickenden while she was on her way to work in the morning of February 23.
She said she initially thought it was a buzzard, but after calling her colleague, Steve Hammond, he said it was a female white-tailed eagle.
WATCH BELOW: Credit Liz Quickenden
She said: "It's only recently that have I started looking in the sky for birds of prey thanks to my work colleague, who loves everything falconry.
"I spotted a huge bird in the field while en route to work – it was clearly a bird of prey but I didn't realise what breed until I video called my colleague to show him.
"This beautiful bird was simply playing with soggy sticks in a huge puddle, absolutely amazing experience to witness such a stunning bird of prey so close.
"I feel very very lucky - it was worth being late for work."
According to Mrs Quickenden, the eagle continued to fly closer to her, eventually being no further than 15 metres apart from each other.
Earlier this month, another two white-tailed eagles were spotted in West Suffolk.
White-tailed eagles went extinct in Britain as a result of egg collection and habitat loss in the 20th century, but have since been successfully reintroduced into the wild.
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