White-tailed eagles have been seen flying over gardens in Hampshire for the first time in centuries, following their reintroduction to the nearby Isle of Wight. Six of the birds were released on the island last year as part of a plan to reintroduce the species to southern England where they had not been seen for 240 years.The Isle of Wight was chosen both for its coastal habitats and central location along the southern English coastline, which conservationists say will allow the eagles to disperse to the east and west.“Establishing a lation of white-tailed eagles in the south of England will link and support emerging lations of these birds in the Netherlands, France and Ireland, with the aim of restoring the species to the southern half of Europe,” said Roy Dennis, founder of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, which led the reintroduction programme with Forestry England.