Incredible moment: Gray seal SPITS jet of water at eagle to stop it from snatching fish during unusual ‘first of its kind’ battle on Isle of Wight

A gray seal has been caught spitting a stream of water at an eagle to stop it snatching fish during an unusual “first-of-its-kind” battle.

Birdwatcher Clare Jacobs managed to capture this rare encounter in Newtown Harbor on the Isle of Wight.

Experts say the spitting tactic is a defensive strategy deployed by the gray seal to prevent the white-tailed eagle from catching fish.

The seal and the eagle, both predators, compete directly for fish.

Ms Jacobs said the eagle began to swoop towards the water in Newtown Harbour, but as it approached, the seal broke the surface directly below it and launched into the jet stream.

Mrs Jacobs said: ‘I’m always delighted to take photographs of eagles. But capturing such a rare and never-before-seen interaction made my year.’

His daughter, Megan Jacobs, is a paleontologist at the School of Environment, Geography and Geosciences at the University of Portsmouth.

She said: “Sightings of gray seals and white-tailed eagles are now common events on the Isle of Wight, but so far no interactions between these two species have been reported.”

“This is the first record of an interaction between these two top predators and the first report of gray seals using spitting as a means of defense or deterrence against an aerial enemy.

“Spitting may be a strategy to exclude white-tailed eagles from competition for prey, as they compete directly for fishery resources.”

White-tailed eagles, the largest of all European eagles, can reach a maximum wingspan of 2.6 meters (8 ft 6 in).

Megan added: “Spitting is an unusual behavioral activity among vertebrates, which is why this event is so fascinating: it challenges our existing perceptions of animal defense mechanisms.”

“I am delighted that we have photographic evidence, as the spit is normally only seen in humans, camels, llamas and alpacas, as well as some snakes, where it is used to deliver venom, and the archer can also use it to capture prey. fish .’