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From across the glen, the heat haze was too strong but I could just make out some flapping on the nest. One chick was still there. During the morning both Frisa & Skye came in but went straight to the nest. As the heat of the day intensified, I moved in to watch from near the hide. The haze was less but still only one chick was visible. Then I ventured into the cool of the dark forest where a gentle summer breeze kept the midges at bay and the clegs seemed less interested too. I'd seen Frisa and Skye depart together on a hunting trip so I seized the moment. It took me over an hour to gently creep through the trees managing to avoid any loud breaking twigs underfoot. I wasn't expecting to see anything but I thought I'd find a suitable place to sit and listen. Young sea eagles are very vocal at this stage. They can keep up a regular call as they food beg to an adult they may be seeing miles away. The call intensifies as the adult approaches. Even though both adults were away I knew I would hear the occasional call and maybe, just maybe I could piece together what had happened. At a distance I could indeed hear a call. Just the one. The wind in the trees, the running water in the burn and passing planes high above made it frustrating. Just as the calls started, so did the swaying tree tops. Then a military jet roared through. It seemed like everything was conspiring against me. I needed to edge a litttle closer - after all, that's what my special SNH licence entitles me to do. But I could not risk startling chicks or adults. I employed every Ray Mears and Bear Grylls technique I could muster to creep along the forest floor and not be seen. Eventually I was in position after a walk that could have taken 10 minutes but which had taken 60+. The wind eased, the planes had flown on and the burn was now just a distant trickle. I could hear a chick. Still only one. The situation didn't look, or rather sound, good. Then I thought I caught the quietest hint of another call. One was loud and quite near. I cupped my hands behind my ears to strain every sinew of my eardrums to focus on the other noise. Maybe I was imagining the whole thing. Suddenly the sunlight through the trees flickered, a vast shadow passed overhead. Frisa was back. Damn it. I'd been rumbled. But no. She circled and then landed in a tree not 50m away. I could scarcely breathe and I dare not move a muscle. Amazingly, I was so well concealed and quiet even an eagle hadn't seen me. I couldn't even move my head to look up so I just gently raised my eyes to see her, preening contentedly in the sun. My hands were still half cupped behind my ears and it took several minutes and a millimetre at a time to lower them. Immediately the midges appeared and bit and itched their way all over my face but I could do nothing to swat them. I'd come this far and there was no way I was going to blow my cover now, it wasn't fair on the eagles. As Frisa landed, the calls from the nest intensified. As I listened, my brain was trying to identify the calls and where they were coming from. Then, as one stopped, another started. It stopped and the other started again. Then they overlapped. There were TWO!  One was still on the nest but the other calls were coming from lower down, perhaps on the ground. By now one of my legs was completely numb and I had to ease it carefully out full stretch to get the blood flowing again. Pins and needles spiked through my feet as circulation was slowly resumed. Still Frisa sat there, oblivious to her contorted observer down below amongst the pine needles and wood sorrel. Half an hour later, she finally launched off and away. I could hear her wing beats overhead and the thick branch she'd been on swayed violently as her weight lifted off, leaving some giant bits of eagle down falling gently earthwards. There was no alarm call from her, she hadn't seen me. She was just off on another mission. I could breathe again and slowly stand. The calls from both chicks faded away as they saw Frisa depart but we could all rest easy again that both chicks were accounted for. Drained after the worry of the last 48 hours I fell into the landrover back on the track and removed an entire colony of ticks from my jeans, hoping none had ventured any further. On with the radio as I headed for home to the tune of 'Don't worry - be happy'. Ok, I thought. Good advice.

Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer 

I'd like to bring you some definitive and positive news on the 'missing' chick at Loch Frisa but I'm sorry I can't. However, you always tell us you want to know the facts as they happen so I'm afraid there is no easy way to say this: I am worried tonight. As ever there is good news and bad news. Let's get the 'bad' news out of the way and keep positive. Compared to previous years, it is undoubtedly early for him to have fledged. When Frisa or Skye have come in with food, they've gone straight to the nest and not searched for any fledged chick as I would expect them to do. I've scanned and searched for hours on the open ground and have not seen a hint of a chick anywhere. And now the better news...we still have a very active bouncy chick on the nest and it's feeding well. If the other one has gone early, it was fit and well last Thursday and is probably absolutely fine. Although things can go wrong at the last minute, it is unusual for something to happen at this late stage. The grass and bracken are tall and there is plenty of ground out of sight where it could easily be hiding. Chicks spend alot of time on the ground after they leave the nest...and they lie down too making it even harder to see them. 

So we will continue to watch and wait. I can't go any closer as there would be a risk of spooking both the one on the nest before it's ready and potentially the fledged chick sitting about on the ground. Not to mention the parents. It's a nerve wracking time for everyone and we need some world-wide positive thoughts please sent in the direction of Mull. We will let you know, one way or the other, as soon as we know anything. Can't write anymore...need sleep. Some hope! 

Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer

Just a note to say, I know a lot of you were looking forward to Blue Peter this afternoon - the BBC have rescheduled and our item will be featured in September - rest assured we will keep you posted when we know the date.  Thank you for all your positive thoughts - as soon as we have some news, we will of course, let you know. Debby

Well a very strange day indeed.  After hearing the news that our two chicks may have fledged I felt quite emotional.  Having spent all this time with them, from the day they hatched and watching them grow day by day, it was as if my own child was about to leave home. 

As I drove to Loch Frisa this morning, not knowing what I might find, my stomach was doing somersaults.  Usually, when I arrive at the Hide, I spend the first 10 minutes getting everything ready for our visitors but today I went straight down to our forward hide.  I scanned around with the binoculars - everything was eerily quiet.  Nothing to be seen, not even an adult.  I then thought I would just check the nest just in case - and surprise - sitting there preening was one of our chicks.  Oh the sense of relief.   A bit later, I scanned the skyline again and surprise, there was Frisa sitting in one of her favourite roosts, looking very relaxed and chilled - she had appeared from nowhere - a very clever sea eagle trick!  The next time I checked the nest, it was empty - someone is playing games with me I thought or my glasses need changing!  Frisa then decided to come and fly over the Loch and upset the gulls - a graceful flypast for our visitors, then returned to sit in tree.  Checked the nest, the chick was back again!  Oh what a funny game this is I thought!

Having spent most of the day with us, Frisa finally flew off on a very determined mission, probably to find some food, and the chick remained on the nest.  There was no sighting of Skye or the other chick today but judging  Frisa's behaviour which was very relaxed and calm, we believe they are just over the other side of the trees, frustratingly out of our sight.

Interestingly, the chicks on the Estonian Webcam decided to leave home last night!  A coincidence or a conspiracy!! 

We will certainly keep you updated as to the goings on at Frisa - but I am sure they are fine - they are big, strong healthy chicks who had done lots of wing exercises so obviously felt they were ready to go!  It may just take us a while to fathom out where they are hiding!!

Live sea eagle webcam 

Please help us look after Mull's majestic sea eagles. Click on the 'Join Here' button to find out more.

Debby Thorne, White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull

Where are our chicks at Loch Frisa? Some very strange and uncharacteristic behaviour from Frisa & Skye today by all accounts. Skye was down at the larches for much of the day staring intently down to the ground. Only one chick has been visible all day on the nest flapping like mad so clearly healthy. Where was No.2? And no food delivered. What's going on? Late tonight, Frisa came into the nest then quickly up onto branches and she was also staring down beneath her. Nothing was visible on the nest...now Skye was down near the loch edge perched in a low tree being mobbed like mad by gulls and crows. Was he keeping an eye on something? Have one or both chicks left the nest? It would be very early for them compared to previous years but they are now 10+ weeks old and, according to the text books, capable of flight. It feels too early. Others (Itchy & Scratchy 05, Haggis & Oatie 06 and Mara & Breagha 08 haven't left before 12 weeks). Tomorrow may reveal all. Debby - over to you. Stay tuned.

Despite the dominating news today, welcome to the east coast sea eaglets which landed at Edinburgh Airport and were greeted by the Minister for the Environment Roseanna Cunningham MSP and our project officer Claire Smith - catch up with the latest news on her blogs and the main news story on the RSPB Home Page. Thank you to the people of Norway and welcome eaglets to Scotland and the UK, your new home. 

More news from Loch Frisa as we get it. Be there in the morning...please.

Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer 

The following is an article which appears in the summer edition of "Scotland Outdoors".  Here is the link to their website.  http://www.scotoutdoors.com/

Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland, Mull Officer

"I have lived and worked on the Isle of Mull with my family for six years now, but I first came here more than 30 years ago. I was on a school geography field trip exploring glaciated glens, ring dykes and sea arches. In many ways, it was a trip that changed my life. There was something about the magnetism in the volcanic rocks which brought me back year after year on holidays and eventually to work in 1985 on my first RSPB contract to protect the recently reintroduced white-tailed sea eagles. It was to be a momentous year for that project and me personally as we witnessed the first wild fledged sea eagle in the UK for 70 years.

After 15 years in RSPB nature reserve management in Edinburgh, the chance of a lifetime to return to this special place presented itself. I applied for the post of ‘Mull Officer’, got the job and moved here with my wife and two daughters. We haven’t regretted it for a moment.

At this time of year, dawn comes early – very early. On a calm, bright sunny day, (they do happen), my first task is to check as many of the active sea eagle nests as I can. By now the chicks are well grown and feathered and will fly the nest shortly. The magnificent adult birds have done well getting them this far, through nest building in winter storms, 38 worrying days of incubation and another 12 weeks for the chicks to grow from tiny balls of down which could sit in the palm of your hand to fully grown young eagles with a 2.5 metre wingspan.

Some nests I can view from the Land Rover after a bumpy ride up a farm or forestry track. Others need a long slog out to a remote stretch of coast, then a precarious balancing act, peering with telescope and binoculars over a cliff edge to get a view of the nest. Sometimes I can’t immediately see a chick and the adults may be away hunting. My heart sinks. Has it all gone wrong and failed? Then, as I stay glued to the eyepiece, a rich, dark brown head with piercing eyes raises itself from the depths of the nest and peers out to sea in search of a parent returning with food. I retreat by crawling slowly and carefully through tick infested moor grass and bracken to somewhere safe where I can stand and stretch, pick off the ticks, pour a coffee and feel the late morning sun.

By mid-afternoon, I’ve also checked two golden eagle sites. Mull and its rugged, farmed landscape is home to an internationally important population of golden eagles. There is something deeply satisfying about confirming an active goldie nest with a well-grown chick. They are the more secretive, sleek, agile masters of the air in these parts and to see them on a daily basis is a rare privilege.

By late afternoon, it’s time to head home, pick up the family, pack up the Land Rover and head for the last Friday ferry to Iona. It is corncrake survey time and Iona is an island where farmers and crofters have done much to save this bird. After local fish and chips and a short nap, it’s onto the bike at midnight to weave through lonely, deserted lanes and along farm tracks. I avoid mad, snarling sheep dogs and snoozing cattle as I listen for the distinctive, rasping, summer call of the corncrake. By 2 am, I’ve heard 25 calling birds and managed not to crash into late-night revellers emerging from a ceilidh in the village hall. Some are startled by the barmy bird man as I emerge out of the mid-summer half-darkness and then watch bemused as I disappear again, heading for the B&B.

Sometimes the first skylarks are already singing as I crawl into a nicely warmed bed, the corncrakes have gone quiet and one very long, exhausting day is finally over. I wouldn’t swap it for anything."

Keep up with the Estonian sea eagles live sea eagle webcam - the chicks are the same age as Skye and Frisa's.

Please encourage your family and friends to sign our Birds of Prey Pledge http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/birdsofprey/

Dont forget you can join the RSPB and support our work with the eagles - just click the 'Join now' button  

Debby Thorne - White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull

As I drove to Loch Frisa this morning, I wondered what the day held in store. The weather looked like it could go either way - either lashing rain or glorious sunshine - I am certainly equipped for all eventualities. As I unlocked the Hide, I noticed something white on the water - a swan!  There have been several mute swans in Salen Bay for several months now so assumed one had come to visit us.

I then squelched my way down to the forward hide, admiring our beautiful orchids, fragrant and common spotted on the way before checking on the chicks.  I am still amazed at the size of them - they look ready to fledge but we still have a while before they make their maiden flight. One of the chicks, looking very soggy was sat on the nest, looking over to Frisa as if to say "does this wet stuff ever go away?".

Both Skye and Frisa were sitting nearby, both looking equally soggy. It is great when you see them sat so close as it really gives you the opportunity to see the differences between the male and female.  Like most birds of prey, the female is larger than the male, and Frisa has a much paler head than Skye.

I trained my scope over the Loch to check out the swan - imagine my surprise to see it was a whooper swan!  He/she should really be in Iceland - they certainly visit us over the winter but are usually gone by April - either he is very late or very early (or knows something about the weather that we dont).

I had a small group of visitors this morning and decided to take them straight to the forward hide where I knew they would get good views of both adults and hopefully the chicks. My famous words "if we go know we will miss that shower coming up the Loch". 

Sadly, we didn't quite walk fast enough and we got soaked but no-one minded as the spectacular views of the birds more than compensated for our wet clothes!  After that one downpour, the clouds cleared and we were left with a beautiful blue sky and sunshine.  We had a great view of our adults doing their cormorant impressions - sat with wings outstretched drying out their feathers.

This afternoon, I had a larger group and again, the birds didnt fail to please  One woman was so overcome with emotion that as Frisa flew close to the hide, she had tears running down her cheeks. Unfortunately she wasnt able to walk down to the forward hide but Frisa made sure she had a good view - that woman wasnt the only one with tears I can tell you! 

I never fail to be amazed by these birds - the pleasure they bring to so many people who appreciate just how special they are - a quote from the lady today "its our pleasure, but its their world" bought a lump to my throat - how very true.

I know Mex has reported the terrible news of the golden eagle that was found poisoned at Glen Orchy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8108827.stm 

and http://forargyll.com/2009/06/argyll-sees-golden-eagle-poisoned-in-glen-orchy/

We must put a stop to this senseless killing - if you haven't done so already, please sign our Birds of Prey Pledge and encourage family and friends to do likewise. http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/birdsofprey/

Dont forget you can join the RSPB and support our work with the eagles - just click the 'Join now' button  

Keep up with the Estonian sea eagles live sea eagle webcam

It was time to try again. Half pint had barely stirred during the last nest visit a week ago. His older, bigger sibling was standing up, his developing wings outstretched and hissing at our ringer Justin as he edged up over the nest rim. Half pint lay almost motionless in the nest and was clearly in no state to be ringed or measured. His first few weeks of life had been a real struggle. He had probably food begged and stretched with gaping beak towards the adults arriving every few hours with fresh prey as much as he could manage.

But somehow, he kept losing out and now it showed. While the bigger chick was alert and mobile, Half pint seemed listless. We left him in peace and departed, pleased to have found one healthy chick but subdued that Half pint would probably not survive the week.

One week on. Justin untangled his ropes, fitted his climbing irons and began to ascend. On the ground we felt tense, our mood mirrored by the alarmed adults calling anxiously overhead. Despite the lively banter, we were privately nervous and willing there to be a positive outcome.

This was no easy tree to climb. Larch is notorious for its dead limbs and progress was slow as Justin made sure he was safe and tied on at every available opportunity. I began to hear the calls of just one chick, clearly the older one, alert and aggressive as it sensed something approaching from below. We all exchanged a glance, raised eyebrows and made that 'oh well, it was worth a check' type of face and got back to concentrating on Justin's safety.

Even the adults had more or less given up and drifted off a short distance to perch nearby to await our departure. The wood seemed strangely quiet and now even the cries from the nest had fallen silent. Justin tied himself on for the final time before getting a good look into the nest. We were desperate to know what he could see but dare not rush him at this critical moment.

As he got himself secure, I stared at the ground. Bits of old prey lay round about. White gull feathers fluttered in the grass and bracken. A fulmar wing was caught in the bramble. As the wind dropped, the midges emerged and went to work. At ground level we were enveloped in the cloud of biting mini-monsters. At tree top level, the breeze just about kept them at bay. Justin eased himself up and onto the edge of the nest. We awaited his proclamation...

"Well well, haven't you grown?" we heard him say."What's that? we enquired urgently. "One or two?". A long pause. Silence. "One or two?" we tried again. "Two!" came the answer. Half pint had made it. Not only that but he'd piled on the weight and had almost doubled in size! He was winning through. He may still be smaller than his nest mate but his chances of fledging are now excellent. He was feistier too. He was quickly ringed and measured. Justin abseiled down alot faster than he'd gone up and we left behind in the nest another slab of halibut generously donated from Bill's fish place.

This time we vacated the wood with broad smiles and a sense of relief that all the accessible chicks had now been successfully ringed and that they were all in pretty good shape. As we glanced back towards the nest, there were both chicks sitting up defiantly with a 'don't mess with us' look. Very brave they were too. Just an hour later I watched one of the adults swoop down over the sea and grab a gull with great agility and head straight back towards the nest. Half pint would certainly be dining in style tonight.

Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer

Live sea eagle webcam 

Please help us look after Mull's majestic sea eagles. Click on the 'Join Here' button to find out more.

A week ago we visited a sea eagle nest on Mull with two chicks in it. This was to be the last nest check on Mull this season. We hoped we'd end the week on a high - and with the nest some 50 feet up, it didn't get much higher. These two were almost a month behind our twins at Loch Frisa and it showed.

While Frisa and Skye's chicks are now well feathered, these two were still very downy - a grey down with only the very first hint of feathers just appearing. One chick was big and strong and quite feisty. But there beside it was a smaller bundle of grey down. One was clearly way ahead of its sibling. 

Our expert climber and ringer Justin ringed the bigger of the two but the little one was just not quite ready. The feet of eagles develop rapidly and so they can usually be ringed at about four weeks of age. But poor little 'Half Pint' had clearly not been getting his fair share of the wealth of food being brought in by the parent birds: fulmar, gull, goose and deer were all on the menu. In situations like this it is always entirely possible that the smallest chick may not survive.

Sometimes, they just do not receive enough sustenance and slowly lose condition and lose their fight for survival. Sometimes too the bigger chick bullies the sibling so much that it just doesn't have the strength to fight back. This is the infamous 'Kane and Abel Syndrome' and is more commonly seen in golden eagles than sea eagles.It is more unusual for golden eagles to rear two chicks to fledging but it does happen.

For sea eagles, it seems much more common. Perhaps there is just more harmony in the nest. There is nearly always an off duty parent sitting nearby keeping a watchful eye on the nest. Perhaps the chicks just get less 'bored' when mum or dad is nearby and so they don't resort to sibling rivalry.

Whatever the reason, we knew we had to leave the smaller chick to the mercy of the elements and his nest mate and just hoped he would make it through. With such a big disparity in size, it's always tough to know what to do. Do you mess with Mother Nature and intervene? Rarely a good move. Do you try and foster the weaker chick into another nest with a similar aged chick? Or do you let nature take its course?

You take a long look at the wee one. Take a deep breath and turn away. Justin got some brief footage of the nestlings for us on the ground to view. In this case, there was no other similar aged nest. This pair had hatched late. All the others were several days if not weeks ahead. This one was going to have to take its chances. Surely it was in the best possible care of its parents?

As we gathered up the ropes and kit and prepared to get clear of the nest area, a nagging doubt remained. This pair has never successfully fledged two chicks before. And yet they had got these two this far, to four weeks old. This was already a record for them. As usual we'd left them a small gift of fish in the nest to make up for the brief spell of disturbance during the nest check and ringing. The parents would soon settle again and return to their normal pattern. When we were to return in a week - what would we find?  Now it was up to them.

Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer

Live sea eagle webcam 

Please help us help the sea eagles in Scotland. We can't do it without you. Join the RSPB today. Click on the 'Join Here' button

Just a quick update tonight but what an update!!

As mentioned earlier, our chicks at Loch Frisa were ringed last Wednesday.  One of the guys working for the Forestry Commission (Scotland) who was helping took some photos of the chicks.  It is just so exciting to be able to see them so close rather than staring at them through a telescope and binoculars.  They will be 8 weeks old tomorrow and are ever edging closer to fledging.  They fledge at about 12 weeks and that's when their adventures will reallly start, venturing out into the big wide world - but more of that when it happens and of course, we will keep you posted.

 Loch Frisa Chicks 2009

Photo Courtesy Alasdair Cameron Forestry Commission (Scotland) 

 Loch Frisa chicks 2009

Photo courtesy Alasdair Cameron Forestry Commission (Scotland)

 Loch Frisa Chicks 2009

Photo Courtesy Alasdair Cameron Forestry Commission (Scotland) 

If you are following the Estonian webcam, you will see that their chicks were ringed too, a couple of days before ours.  live sea eagle webcam 

Dont forget you can join the RSPB and support our work with the eagles - just click the 'Join now' button  

Also - a reminder to sign the Birds of Prey Pledge http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/birdsofprey/

Hi all, apologies for the radio silence from me and thanks to Debby for keeping this blog afloat. As she explained it's been quite a week and I'm only now getting a minute to update you on it. I'm forced to sit down and write due to the fact that at the moment I'm pretty much incapable of doing anything else!

Something went horribly wrong with my back yesterday simply by standing up, which after all the efforts of the last seven days is a bit ironic. So, dosed up with ibuprofen and paracetemol in a drug-induced haze, here goes.

A week ago this morning I was being elbowed awake after finally hitting the sack at 3 am. If I didn't get up now we'd be too late for breakfast. The aroma of sizzling bacon was wafting up the stairs. I'd just completed the first of three corncrake surveys on Iona. It had been a perfect warm, dry and still evening as Bethan (aged 9 and 3/4) and I cycled off from the B&B at 11 pm to start the survey at midnight. Yes, some sadistic researcher has concluded that all corncrake surveys have to be completed between midnight and 3 am when the males are on territory and in full cry.

In the semi-darkness of early summer, we pedalled our way along near empty lanes, stopping to count and plot all calling corncrakes in this national survey year. We tried to work out what was an echo and what was bouncing off farm buildings. We managed to swerve round late night ceilidh-goers staggering home and late night lovers startled by us cycling close-by.

Ah, Iona in summer. The air was full of bird calls from drumming snipe, piping oystercatchers and croaking crakes. We also managed to surprise a few snoozing ewes and lambs and a slightly manic sheepdog in the darkness. Luckily his chain was not quite long enough to reach us and we pedalled on with an adrenalin charged burst of energy. At the end, Bethan was almost asleep at the handlebars and we finally crashed into bed having counted a minimum of 28 calling corncrakes. A great start to the season.

Monday brought Day 1 of a hectic week of ringing sea eagle chicks, tree climbing to check failed nests, filming with Blue Peter and organising boats and people to be in the right place at the right time - oh and an event with the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay (Prince Charles & Camilla if you're not up on your Royal titles) thrown in for good measure.

Our tree climber Justin Grant and ringer Roger Broad worked tirelessly all week and we got round all seven active nests on Mull, two others nearby and checked all inactive nests too for signs of failed eggs. Blue Peter presenter Andy was a pleasure to have along and he was genuinely "blown away" by the "awesome" size of the chicks. Hope Blue Peter viewers enjoy it all on 30 June BBC One 4.35pm.

He spent a couple of hours on Wednesday morning in Salen Primary School under seige from eager pupils showing him their eco-garden, recycling bins and bird boxes. He also presented the school with a cheque from the Mull Eagle Fund to help them buy a nest-box camera kit. Then he signed autographs and chatted to everyone. Great guy. They filmed with Finlay too and then headed for the ferry on Wednesday.

On Thursday I hot-footed it to the wonderful Aigas Field Centre near Beauly as a guest at the Royal opening of the Magnus House - a superb environmental education centre named after Magnus Magnusson. Broadcaster Sally Magnusson gave a moving speech in memory of her father followed by Prince Charles who gave an unexpected and unscripted talk on the frightening loss of rain forests around the globe. It was heart-felt and stirring stuff. 

Finally, Day 5 and Friday dawned warm and sunny like every other day this week. We've been so lucky. The final nest and still two chicks alive and well. A fabulous way to end the week. I waved Roger and Justin off on the ferry and handed our Tobermory High School work experience student Michael back to his mum for safe keeping! What a week he'd picked to tag along.

Friday night I sunk into the sofa with a cold beer and watched some mindless TV. Ecstatic that the arrangements had all panned out so well and that we had so many healthy chicks to look forward to seeing flying in Mull's skies later this summer. Saturday saw the back give out and the agony kick in and so here I sit tapping away at the keyboard, ready for another dose of something strong.

The most satisfying moment was probably at Loch Frisa. Neither Frisa or Skye had any idea we'd even been near their nest and came straight back into feed their chicks as we departed. Now that's what I call precision timing. Goodnight... Wake me up if I snore....zzzzz......zzzzzzzzz.

Go to the live sea eagle webcam  in Estonia and click on White-tailed eagle TV / News and see how our friends also ringed their two chicks this week.

If you've ever thought of joining the RSPB but haven't quite go round to it yet, why not do it now?

Debby here - just adding a link to an article in the Sunday Mail about our oldest sea eagles on Mull http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/06/07/scots-sea-eagles-beat-old-age-to-hatch-rare-new-chicks-78057-21421942/

Phew - another hectic week on Mull!

Dave has been out and about with the leg ringing team and checking up on our new sea eagle chicks - he will be doing a blog soon to update you on what he's been doing (I think catching up on his sleep at the moment!). 

Our two chicks at Frisa were ringed on Wednesday, both Skye and Frisa were away feeding at the time and were totally unaware that anyway had been near their nest.  I think the only difference was when they returned, some kind person had left some fresh halibut on the nest - a welcome present indeed!  We had confirmation of two healthy chicks on the nest.  A DNA swab was taken (same as us with a mouth swab) and this will determine the sex of the chicks - then we can get on to the important task of finding names for them.  If anyone has suggestions, please let us know and they will all go into a hat for a grand draw.

We have had a couple of school visits to the hide which have gone really well.  Today was the turn of Lochdonhead Primary School, based here on Mull.  They had a great time and Frisa very kindly sat in a tree very patiently so all the children could see her.  What great excitement.  Some of you may not be aware but the monies raised from the hide from visits and donations are split in two - half of the money goes back into the Eagle Watch project and the other half goes back to the Island in the form of grants which groups can then apply to.  Lochdonhead School recently received such a grant and used their money to buy some nest camera boxes and some gardening equipment.  They are over the moon as within a week of installing the camera boxes, Mr and Mrs Blue Tit moved in.  They have been following them daily and are delighted to report that they now have 8 young blue tits.  The enthusiasm shown by these youngsters is so refreshing - I felt so proud when a bird flew down in front of us and one of the younger ones said "its a pied wagtail".  Before I started working for the RSPB this year, I worked at this school and each day they would come asking if they could help me fill the bird feeders - such eagerness and willingness to learn.  Looks like they listened well too!  Our future will be in their hands soon.

Lochdonhead Primary School - Photo Debby Thorne

Ooooh Look - an eagle! Photo Debby Thorne

Our other excitment this week, was the visit of Blue Peter.  Dave will fill you in on this visit but what a great team - set a reminder on your TV's 30th June dont forget to watch Blue Peter and see their visit to Mull!

Andi, from Blue Peter, Finlay our Wildlife Crime Officer and Dave chilling out on the Eagle bench in front of the hide - Photo Debby Thorne

Yesterday was my day off so I took my daughter to Iona to hunt down the corncrakes - did we find any? (potential cliffhanger!) - well ..... we heard plenty but sadly couldnt spot them.  But we did see lots and lots of painted lady butterflies. 

Painted Lady - photo Debby Thorne

Dont forget the Estonian webcam - look at the size of those chicks! Live sea eagle webcam 

 And not forgetting our friends over at Loch Garten who are having a rollercoaster of a ride at the moment - we wish them well and hope family life settles down to some sort of normality.

Dont forget you can join the RSPB and support our work with the eagles. Just click the 'Join now' button and take a look. 

Also - a reminder to sign the Birds of Prey Pledge http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/birdsofprey/

Debby Thorne - White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull

Buzzard - Photo Debby Thorne

Dave is busy dashing round the Island - its leg ringing time and we have Blue Peter helping out!  I will let Dave tell you all about that. 

Well - what a start to the day - blue skies, sunshine and very, very warm that I was forced to wear short trousers (not a pretty sight!).

Our first group in the morning consisted of 5 visitors - which I thought was a mistake as the trips have been virtually full since we opened.  It turned our one of the ferry's to the other Islands had broken down and the Mull ferry was helping out so quite a few people didnt make it over - hopefully everyone is back where they should be now. We stopped halfway down to the hide and had beautiful views of both Skye and Frisa basking in the sunshine.  With the sun glistening on their pale heads, they are still a stunnning sight and quite breathtaking.  We then went down to the forward hide and had some great views of the chicks - I think I need another word instead of chick - people are expecting small balls of fluff - our two are now quite a size, dark chocolatey brown with their feathers coming through - a couple of times you have to look twice through the scope as you think you are seeing an adult when in fact it is one of the youngsters - that gives you an idea of their size.  You can check how they are doing by comparing them to the Estonian pair Live sea eagle webcam 

Both Skye and Frisa provided us with some stunning flying displays - lots of oohs and aaahs.  We also had another adult sea eagle over the far side of the Loch, visiting from another territory - too far away though to upset Skye and Frisa. 

Our afternoon group, again was a small one, just 10 so we went straight down to the forward hide.  It wasn't long before we spotted a juvenile golden eagle flying quite close to the nest area - he was being harrassed by the hooded crows - he gave us a lovely fly past so we could admire the markings on his underwing.  Then someone spotted a peregrine passing through, followed shortly by a merlin - this was getting exciting.  Then someone shouted eagle from behind us!  We all swung round - a juvenile, there's another and another - that was 3 - and oh yes - another - 4 juveniles heading our way.  By now Skye was up flying heading out to meet them - Frisa was sat a couple of branches above the nest, giving out some warning cries.  The four juveniles circled, they were directly above our heads - then one of them and Skye locked talons and did a short tumble - we all held our breath unable to speak - it only lasted a short while but enough to cause heartbeats to race.  The juveniles did not want to leave and continued flying around the above the Loch for a good half hour - but they kept their distance from Skye - they had their warning!  Eventually they drifted off - Frisa never left her perch and Skye was her hero!  As we all got our breath back, another juvenile was spotted - this time flying across the trees towards the nesting area - oh no - what was going to happen (now if I was Dave I would leave this as a cliffhanger but I'm not that cruel!) - the strange thing was Frisa did not give out any alarm calls as she had with the other juveniles - Skye continued to fly but did not go in to warn the bird off - strange? the youngster flew directly over the nest - I would have expected a reaction from one if not both birds - but nothing!  The question is - was this Mara or Breagha popping home to say hi?  We shall have to wait for the data from our satellite transmitters to answer that one.  The afternoon didn't stop there - we then had female hen harrier being mobbed by the crows - she would be possibly protecting young ones if the crows had got too close - and of course, not to be left out of the action, our buzzard gave us a beautiful display.  What a day!  Someone once asked me if I ever get bored working at Loch Frisa - I dont think I need to tell you the answer.

Golden Eagle - RSPB Images

Dont forget you can join the RSPB and support our work with the eagles. Just click the 'Join now' button and take a look. 

Also - a reminder to sign the Birds of Prey Pledge http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/birdsofprey/

Thank you all for your support - we love receiving your comments too!

Debby Thorne - White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull