Aquila in L’Aquila

The L’Aquila region of Italy is named after Aquila which means eagle. It’s an area of breathtaking high peaks. “Do they have eagles there?” I hear myself ask, rather stupidly.

We’re driving around hairpin bends, zig-zagging up mountains and careering down steep slopes with breathtaking views at every turn:

There are many Buzzards here:

They fly effortlessly on the thermals:

They come close overhead. We stop three or four times and drive along again. I’m beginning to suffer from Buzzard exhaustion:

When another large bird flies overhead I almost don’t bother taking its photograph.

It’s only afterwards that I realise it’s a Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos. This one is a juvenile with distinctive white bars on its wings and tail.

It’s an Aquila in L’Aquila.