A MISSING giant eagle with an eight-foot wing span finally landed nearly 30 miles away from its home.

Stellar’s sea eagle Benbecula from Newent’s International Centre for Birds of Prey took flight on Sunday, August 18, and was next seen having a flutter in the winning enclosure at Chepstow Racecourse four days later, where it was safely collected by centre staff.

Despite being the biggest species of eagle in the world, Benbecula had apparently been mobbed by a bunch of angry birds and got lost when it took flight.

The ICBP posted after its discovery at the racecourse: “The eagle has landed! After ending up at Chepstow Race course we have Benbecula back.

“A big thank you to everyone who shared, phoned and commented and to the Racecourse team for keeping the gates open! Back home now for some dinner.”

Chepstow Racecourse added: “Great crowd in for racing today, we even had an escapee Benbecula eagle all the way from ICBPNewent who heard what a great day out Chepstow is & didn’t want to miss out on the action!!!

“Returned safe and sound after enjoying a great afternoon of racing!”

The four-year-old had lost its transmitter device, so its trainers were unable to locate him after he flew off.

An appeal was launched, with people scanning the skies to catch a sight of the Stellar’s sea eagle.

Centre chief executive Jemima Parry-Jones said after his disapperance: “He has had a horrible time being beaten up by buzzards and crows.

“They are very aggressive towards eagles.”

Making an appeal to find him, she said: “He is the biggest wimp and normally sits in a hedge to get away from them.

“He was flying on Sunday and flying high.

“It was very windy and he flew up and was sort of blown away.”

The black and white sea eagle has a vast 8ft wingspan and would have been easy to spot with his distinctive white tail, big yellow beak and white shoulders.

The bird which originates from the coast of northeastern Asia was bred at the centre and is said to be “sensitive”, posing no danger to pets or livestock.

The giant Stellar’s sea eagle eats fish and birds and weighs in at between five and nine kg.