Sorry for the delay in news but as you may have read we have now moved over to a new blog software! Still finding my way round it so hope this works!! I am holding the fort for a few days while Dave has a well earned rest.
The one piece of news I wanted to share with you is the naming of our chicks. This year Ulva Primary School chose the names and the names chosen are Heather for our female and Bracken for our male. They are really fitting names as at this time of the year, the Island is covered in heather and bracken and indeed, Heather, our female chick spent this morning sat amidst a clump of bracken - very ironic.
It has been quite a week here on Mull! We have been seeing Heather, our chick, quite frequently sitting down at the lochside with either Frisa or Skye in close attendance. On Tuesday afternoon, we had been watching her hop, skip and jumping around when all of a sudden she was flying - albeit quite low, but she flew from the lochside into the field in front of the hide. We had lovely views and I have to say (not that I'm biased) but she is simply stunning - a lovely rich chocolate colour. She then decided to fly back from where she came - relishing in this new past time called "flying".
Wednesday saw her again sitting down by the lochside. The afternoon group had left having seen Frisa flying over the loch and being attentive to her chick. I had tidied up the hide, done the paperwork and wondered down to the forward hide to lock up when I spotted a large bird flying above the trees. "It must be Skye or Frisa returning home" I thought. But I had to do a double take, as the bird I was looking at didn't have the usual pale head - this bird was chocolate brown all over - I quickly checked the lochside where she had been sitting and nothing! It was our Heather flying high above the trees. She looked a little wobbly but she started calling with excitement - a noise I have never heard before but it was obvious it was sheer excitement that she could really fly. It wasn't long before Frisa appeared and joined the flying display. I have to confess that at this point I had tears streaming down my cheeks - it was a magical moment to see her flying high with her new found wings - it was a beautiful evening and ideal flying conditions - as if to anticipate her next move, Frisa then landed on one of her favourite branches, remained for about a minute and then flew up - Heather then landed on the same branch albeit a bit clumsy but it was as if Frisa was showing her how to land. She stayed there for a short while but it wasnt long before she was up again soaring and screaming with delight. She kept looking at Frisa as if to say "look mum, I'm flying". It was very touching. Of course, this was the evening I said I wouldnt be late home but how could I leave? It was a truly memorable moment - Heather is officially airborne!
Please bear with us as we familiarise ourselves with the new software - I hope you will continue to read and join in our blogs.
Debby Thorne - White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Mull
Hi Debby thanks for the update - like everyone else I'm still finding my way round the new site!!
I think the names are perfect - Well Done Ulva Primary School!!
I think I would have been crying too seeing Heather soaring over head you (and Dave!) must be so proud of "your" chick!!!
Thank you Debby, what a wonderful moment for you:)
Yes, well done Ulva school. So pleased you decided to name Bracken. Although he only had a short life, he touched a lot of hearts and deserves to be remembered properly.
Such moments must help to compensate for the hours,days, weeks and months of sheer hard work and stress that you have endured and we have been privileged to share through this site. Thank you.
Hi Debby have had a job to comment as they have changed us to ames and wouldn't accept us at all.Ann has found a way round it but wonder what will happen when we submit.We need it changing back to den&ann,have told RSPB but perhaps you could remind them as well.What a great moment for you to see Heather flying and so enjoying Mulls wonderful scenery,what a lovely name Ulva Primary School came up with.Agree with what you say Mex but hope you do still comment as you often put a different side to things if not at least you know we have enjoyed your stay and your involvment getting signatures against poisoning etc will be sadly missed mostly by Eagles so perhaps you should comment if only for there benefit.We keep upto date about skeletons will be interesting to see results.Best wishes to Debby,Dave and all Eagle bloggers.
Thank you once again for such a lovely update Debby, it's a joy to read. So glad that you had your delightful 'moment' with Heather and hope there are many more to be shared!!
Debbie, thank you very much for your report. When you said it was Heather flying and she was calling out of sheer excitment I too felt my eyes filling up for her!!!! You obviously love your job and adore "your" Eagles.
All RSPB workface people should get Awards for your dedication. :o)
Well Done Ulva Primary School what beautiful names and so glad that the little one lost has got a name. Fly high for ever Bracken.
Thanks Debby for the magical update and I had tears reading about Heather so can quite understabd how you felt seeing her flying and being so excited about it. I along with others are still on a learning curve with new website but will get used to is. When you getting on in years things do not sink in so quickly. . As long as I can read about Frisa, Skye and Heather I am happy. I totally agree with maureen mccann
the RSPB should get awards for dedication. As long as there are such caring people it can only help all the beautiful birds of prey.
Great names to sum up two great individuals, one of whom will forever soar, as Margobird said, and see 'the wider horizon's grander view.' Den&ann - I had the same problem: the website had given out my full details, but the RSPB quickly rectified it (or else our kids might have killed me if they thought they were identifiable on the open Internet). Anyway, Debby sounds happy for us to continue here, until Dave's return at least. It was just that it looked to me as if the RSPB wanted us to head off to a Forum instead. From what I saw of the Springwatch Messageboard, a Forum can get far too personal (in more ways than one, and unpleasantly so). In contrast, all the people following these blogs by Dave and Debby seem to have one over-riding interest, and that is these beautiful birds themselves. We have been given a gift on this website to learn more about them - and if any of us can do anything that might help in any way, that is all to the good. But it is up to Dave, really, as to what he wants us to do, isn't it?
Hi Debby, Thanks for the update and it's great to hear how well Heather is doing. So - still enjoying the job then??!! We're ever hopeful that we will be back to Mull before the year is out, so will keep you posted. Meanwhile, the blogs are continuing to remind us of what we are missing!
It's all very new, I am also finding my way around!
Glad Heather seems to be doing so well, the sheer joy of flight must be so exciting for her - and good that her parents are nearby to demonstrate.
Sorry, I did not submit the above post twice, honestly! Maybe still some gremlins in the new site?
Don't think my reply got through but thank you Debby for info regarding our small motorhome reaching the hide. Will hopefully see you on 4th/5th or 6th Aug providing there is a space and our mobile phone can get through to the number. JILLIAN
Hi
This is a lovely blog to follow, we are hoping to visit in early to mid August, do you think we will still be able to see the beautiful eagles. We have been to Scotland 4 times now in an attempt to see them, only managed a couple of minutes seeing a Golden Eagle last year, but still haven't managed to see the White tailed.
Reply: Our White Tailed Sea Eagles are here all year round as well as the Golden Eagles so you have a good chance of seeing them.
Absolutely lovely names. How I wish Heather had a Mara (did I get the gender right?) I'm so glad white tailed eagles don't migrate. (one stress less !!! ). Don't worry, we are all familiarising ourselves with the new software Debby! Talk about a trek through a jungle - but it is good though, isn't it.? Thanks for your blog.
Reply: That's right - Mara is the male and Breagha the female - wow - think I've managed to reply to a comment - progress!
Woo Hoo, I am called Heather too!! I feel honoured to have an eagle called the same name as me, I really hope we get to see each other in October, plus its my birthday!! Have to say great name, well done children, you must all feel so special to name a White Tailed Sea Eagle chick.
Please come out to play in October Heather :-)
Best wishes to all and thanks for the great work you do to keep the chicks safe all year round !!
Heather