Well, Heather is turning out to be a quick learner. On Friday as we watched her in a field in front of the Hide, it was clear she had caught something and was feeding. It was very difficult to see what it was, but I was surprised how quickly she had managed to work out how to catch something. Today, she took another step forward in her journey towards independence. As we looked out of the Hide window, we saw a large bird hunting over the crag in the distance. From the profile, we could tell it was a sea eagle but on closer inspection with binoculars we were taken aback to see the dark brown profile of our Heather! She had her legs and head down, looking for prey - she wobbled slightly but eventually slipped from our view. Amazing at this early stage she has started hunting for herself. Skye and Frisa will still be bringing in food for a while yet but the fact she is hunting on her own means she has the instinct to go out and look for food herself. What a gal!
Breaking news tonight! If you check the Google Earth movements for Mara and Breagha, for the first time, neither birds are on Mull. Mara has been flying around Morvern and Breagha has been up to Loch Maree. These birds are now out on their own in the big wide world. Without the satellite tags, we would have no way of knowing their movements and would have to rely on sightings. Its great that we are able to keep an eye on their movements but at the same time, we know they have lots of dangers to encounter. Again, in the news, report of a buzzard found poisoned http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8166855.stm
Please encourage family and friends to support our campaign to protect Birds of Prey. Here is the link to sign our pledge Birds of Prey Pledge.
Tonight as both our youngsters, settled down for the night, let's hope and pray they stay safe. With most of the chicks now fledged on Mull, it brings home that these birds have an incredible journey in front of them - leaving the nest is only the beginning.
Let's hope Mara and Breagha stay safe.
I apologise for the quality of this photo but someone asked for a picture of Heather - this was taken last Friday in the rain from a long way away but at least gives you a glimpse of our beautiful bird!
Photo by Debby Thorne - Heather, our female chick
Debby Thorne, White Tailed Sea Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull
wow, what a lovely blog Debby, thank you so much:)
And the picture is just the best. her markings are wonderful.
We say this again and again but how can people be so cruel as to poison these or any wonderful birds
Thanks also for the news about Mara and Breagha. You have me worried about them now!!
If it is not a secret, can you say roughly how many chicks have fledged this year on Mull?
Reply: Hi Gary - we are still waiting for a couple of fledgings to go - Dave will do a check round on his return and can let us have the number of chicks for this year - hope you can wait a little bit longer!
Thanks Debby. I can wait as long as needed:)
It is great to learn so much from these regular blogs. Especially the type of behaviour that can only really be witnessed by you (Dave & Debby) watching their development every day. Hard to believe she is successfully hunting already.
Thanks for the photo. How fortunate you are in your role to see these magnificent birds.
Still we had a thrilling visitor to our back garden on Saturday, a young Green Woodpecker hopping round the lawn and the house sparrows are back too after not seeing any for years.
Reply: I'm amazed that I managed to post a photo - still finding my way round the new system - wait till Dave gets back - this will all be new to him!
Great update Debby. Thank you. How marvellous that Heather is starting to fend for herself. She is really beautiful and such a lovely colour.
However, like Gary' I'm now worried about Mara and Breagh!! I feel so furious but completely helpless knowing that these birds are STILL being persecuted. In this day and age it is totally inexcusable.
A very advanced Sea Eagle, Thats amazing she is fending for herself already. Thanks for the pic it is great, it shows the size of these birds! When I first came to Mull years ago I remember David Woodhouse on his wildlife tour, just look for what might look like a tourist sat on the rocks, it may be a White Tailed Sea Eagle.
You are so lucky to live with these birds, its fantastic that they see to be doing so well.
Thanks for the posts and picture.
Thanks Debby for the update and you are right Heather is some girl and a very quick learner. With the wonderful parents she has in Skye and Frisa it is not wonder. I am so angry about the buzzard, why oh why do people poison them. I shall worry about Mara and Breagha now and pray that this does not happen to them now they are travelling further afield.
Hi guys new to this malarchy but give it a try see if it works for me.Help bloggers what is all the fuss about white tailed Seagull,I thought all Seagulls had white tails am I missing something or is this Heather a bit special.Photo doesn't look like a Seagull.Guess must be a simple explanation.
Hi Sooty
I'm sure you are being funny:))
This blog is about Sea Eagles, not Seagulls!!!!!!!!!
Heather is one of the best specimens of the former:)
Having a bit of trouble posting to the blog, hopefully this time it will work.
Great photo Debby, it's amazing young Heather is hunting already.
Good luck to Mara and Breagha out there on the mainland, it's a dangerous place. I've sent the birds of prey protection pledge to everyone I know asking them to sign it.
Reply: Well done Blog came through fine! thanks for passing round the Birds of Prey pledge - we must stop this killing of all birds of prey.
1) The buzzard was presumably poisoned by a neighbour of the estate named, to judge from the wording of the report. 2) Heather must look fantastic! 2) Breagha must have flown over 60 miles from Fort William to Loch Maree on the 26th and/or 27th 'as the crow/seagull flies.' 3) Sooty can spell malarchy. I wonder if he (?!) can spell Troll? I believe that is what these hilarious interruptions are called? But if he is simply a simple soul, we must be kind as perhaps he cannot read too well. I beleave English is detearierating? Well, our family calls sea eagles 'seagles' in textspeak, anyway. You try texting a student camping solo in the snow in the Arctic Circle under the aurora borealis amidst a horde (sic) of the white-tailed eagle or haliaeetus albicilla without using abbreviations or deviating for just a minute. Sorry, Sooty, no owls here just at the moment, but wot a hoot, huh?
Found you and your little tease out, Sooty! A great wind-up - well done!! Excellently clever troll! I started to catch on when you used a word that I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue how to spell (malarchy, malarky, malarkey?? ). Kind regards also to Den&ann, from the seagles.
Hi Mex so glad you still blogging I can continue my education from your blog but continue to forgive any mistakes I make,didn't know how to spell malarchy just guessing but Troll real easy as I am a giant living in a cave.Serious matter though birds getting poisoned horrific number of Sea Eagles been poisoned I believe from the releases they have made,sure that it makes all bird lovers really sad.Really great news about Heather and so nice that a name given to Bracken as in his short life as others have commented he gave lots of pleasure.Like others I am sure we would try each day to see if any updates gave us any news about him and Heather.
Oh well here goes, I think I now have two identitys after the problems I have had with logging in.
Love the photo of Heather Debbie even though it is distant she is very plain to see and wow arn't Mara and Breagha spreading their wings. It will be very interesting to see when they next come home to Mull if they will meet up for a chat about their adventures. I can't wait for the day they settle down to breed themselves and wonder where that will be.
This is a test by me (Debby) to see how my comments come out! Going to check on Half Pint tomorrow - will let you know how he/she is doing!