Mull Eagles : Loch Frisa

Don't Let the Sun go down on Me!

Debby Thorne — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:11:00 GMT

Well, September is certainly proving to be a saviour in terms of weather. We are enjoying lots of warm sunshine and blue skies - you could almost be fooled into thinking it was May or June. Tee shirts have come out of winter storage and its lovely to feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Our family at Loch Frisa have been enjoying the warm weather too. Skye and Frisa are spending long periods, perched on the larch trees in front of the hide, looking so relaxed now the majority of this year's parental duties are done. They will still be feeding Heather but the majority of their work is done. They seem to be enjoying some "me" time before the whole process starts again.

The golden eagles have been enjoying this weather too and our visitors have been getting great views as they fly across the hide, trying to steal the limelight from Skye and Frisa. The buzzards are still a joy to watch - the youngsters now hunting on their own but occasionally taking 5 minutes out to play tag with a sibling! We still have butterflies and dragonflies around and just occasionally, we glimpse the odd swallow - so we can still pretend its summer.

Calgary Bay this week - white sand, blue sea and blue skies - Photo Debby Thorne

After tomorrow, we start a new phase at the Hide. Previously, we would now be planning to put the hide into mothballs until next Spring but from next week we are going to keep the hide open through autumn and winter, running our trips at 10.00 am and 1.00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Bookings can be made through our friends at the Tourist Office in Craignure (Tel: 01680 812556). We are fortunate that our eagles do not migrate and are here all year round so if you are planning a trip to Mull come and see us! Details of our Eagle Watch project can be found here http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/mull/index.asp. The leaves on the trees are starting to turn, the heather is in bloom and the bracken starting to die off - autumn on Mull is stunning - the colours breathtaking and as for the wildlife, well ........ you will just have to come and see if for yourself!

This Sunday also sees our "Fledge" party at Loch Frisa - a chance to raise a glass to all our chicks and to say thank you to everyone involved with these magnificent birds. We are meeting at the hide at 1.00pm and the gates at both ends of the Loch will be open - if you are around, do come and join us.

Debby Thorne, White Tailed Eagle Information Officer,

Isle of Mull

I Wanna Hold your hand (I mean wing!) ...

Debby Thorne — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:08:00 GMT

Lennon and McCartney

Well Skye and Frisa have certainly been spending a lot of quality time together now that Heather seems to be fending for herself quite nicely. Most days this week they have been together either sitting on the same branch or just a branch apart. On one occasion, Skye slightly spread his wings, just touching Frisa who was sat next to him - they are such sociable birds and seem to just enjoy each others company. On another day after a heavy bout of rain, Skye was sat on a branch with Frisa sat just above him. They had just dried off from a shower, when the heavens opened again. Skye looked up at Frisa and she looked down at him, as if to say "oh not again, I've only just dried off". It was really comical.

Heather is still around but getting more and more independent and it seems mum and dad are happy to let her explore on her own and look for food which she seems to do pretty well. This week, we were visited by Roger and Justin the guys who do the ring tagging. They were over to clear out the nests and in the Frisa nest found remains of greylag geese.

Skye above and Frisa below

The Golden Eagles still pay us a visit as well as both the male and female hen harrier. Our young buzzards are a delight to watch, learning how to hunt from one of the parents who is always nearby keeping an eye out.

We are putting the finishing touches to our new satellite tracking page for the two chicks that were satellite tagged this year - the names have been chosen - keep tuned and all will be revealed shortly!

Another piece of news is that the Hide is going to remain open this year through the Autumn and Winter. We are lucky in that our birds do not migrate so you can come to Mull any time of the year and see them. From the third week in September (beginning 21st) trips will run on Tuesday and Wednesdays, still at 10.00 and 1.00. Anyone wishing to book a trip can do so through our friends at the Tourist Office tel 01680 812556. Here is a link to our page http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/mull/index.asp. We are happy to accommodate visits from any birding groups throughout the autumn and winter.

I took this photo of Loch Frisa this week. It was a beautiful still day and the water was like glass. There is certainly an air of autumn about - the leaves are beginning to turn and it wont be long before we are treated to the stunning reds, russets and oranges as the leaves change colour.

And finally, as soon as we know the date of the Blue Peter transmission we will of course let you know!

Debby Thorne

White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull

One Day I'll Fly Away ........

Debby Thorne — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:31:00 GMT

but not quite yet!

This evening I went to check up on Half Pint to see whether he has fledged yet. He and his sibling were 12 weeks old today! Its a bit of a precarious walk and loaded with a telescope, binoculars, daughter in tow, we tentatively made our way to the best position to view the nest without any of us tripping up, dropping the scope or the other threat, getting soaked to the skin by the heavy, intermittent showers we have had on and off today. At Loch Frisa the weather has been mainly bright and blustery with the odd heavy shower passing through - I thought a good day for fledging - a nice blustery breeze - great for taking that first step off the nest.

As we tentatively approached, with heart in mouth never quite knowing what you are going to find, we rounded the corner - a beautiful sight of an adult flying around enjoying the break in the weather - then the heart stopping moment as the nest comes into view (now, if I was Dave he would leave you hanging for a day or two!!).

Sat on the edge of the nest, two beautiful chocolate brown chicks, just chilling, looking around, watching Mum flying about. I was sure one of them would have gone today but no - they looked far too comfortable. Hopefully in the next few days, Mum and Dad will bring food but not take it directly to the nest, thereby trying to coax them out - thats when the fun starts for us, trying to keep an eye on them. But for this evening, Half Pint is looking fantastic, ready to face the world (well, in his own time).

As we opened the Hide at Loch Frisa this morning, we were treated to a beautiful display from Heather and Frisa - Frisa flying high on a thermal, Heather, flying lower and just still a little bit wobbly as she turns but beautiful nonetheless. They spent the morning sat on the other side of the Loch keeping each other company, sat side by side - our visitors were over the moon.

Managed to capture this shot of a Lapwing - often seen in the fields at Loch Frisa Photo Debby Thorne

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