Wow! What a day it has been. The weather has changed, again! Warm and sunny with just enough breeze to keep any midges away. As I arrived at the Hide this morning, I was greeted by Skye and Frisa have a fly around together, enjoying each other's company with just a bit less stress now that Heather is doing so well by herself. They still keep an eye on her but she is getting ever more adventurous, flying higher and just a bit further.
I was halfway through the talk this morning, when we spotted something flying - two golden eagles - we stood for about 10 minutes just watching them soaring when we spotted another - this time a juvenile goldie. They gave a great display when Heather, our chick was seen flying over the Loch towards the Ridge - lots of oos and aaahs - she really is stunning. I wish I could capture a close up shot of her for you but take it from me, really dark chocolate brown and huge! Like most birds of preys, the female is larger than the male, so she is bigger than her dad!!
We then had a great view of Skye and Frisa again, keeping a close eye on their youngster when a young lad who was visiting, and was keen as mustard, spotted another eagle - this time another juvenile white tailed sea eagle, not quite the full white tail but a lighter coloured head - too high up though for us to see any wing tags to try and identify it. Certainly a fantastic morning's viewings.
This afternoon, I decided to have another go at checking out Half Pint and his sibling. Dave's scope is still drying out in the airing cupboard (hope it recovers by the weekend when he returns!) but with the weather still warm and sunny, thought I would have a better chance at seeing and indeed hearing our chicks. I hadnt gone five minutes from the van, when I spotted one of the adults flying in carrying a seabird. What a great start. The adults will bring food to the young if they are on the ground or on lower branches so makes it easier for us trying to locate the chicks.
As I moved into position, my ears were filled with what is so recognisable as sea eagle chicks calling - they were going mad - and the reason, the other adult appeared carrying a fish. The chicks spot the parents coming in and call with excitement - this also allows the parents to spot the chicks as they move around either on the ground or in the trees After about 20 minutes, I decided to leave our little family. Everything had gone quiet. Mum and Dad were sat close together in a tree, like an old married couple - both chicks had been fed and were quiet. All is well with the World! A great end to the day.
As I type this, I am looking out the window across the Mainland at the Morvern Hills - our latest satellite tracking of Mara and Breagha show Mara just over the water from Mull in Morvern - he feels like he is in touching distance. Breagha is up north on the west coast, a fair way from home! Keep safe.
Debby Thorne - White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull
what a wonderful day Debby. I'm sure you and everyone at the hide had a day to remember.
So glad to "see" Half Pint doing well:) We have all taken him to our hearts.
Thanks again and stay dry.
What a fantastic day Debbie. Thank you for your wonderful description of events, and the "old married couple!" I can picture it all, although I wish I could actually be there to see it!! Heather sounds beautiful, and obviously growing well. I can't believe she is bigger than her Dad! Have been watching the tracking for Mara and Breagha, as you say - keep safe you two!
Ooh jealous, but lovely story can kind of imagine being there. Well i look forward to coming in October. That sounds like a fantastic load of sightings, Our best bird day on Mull , apart from our Oattie moment, as on my avatar, was along the track by Loch Frisa, saw 2 WTSE, then 2 Goldies also saw a merlin very close to and a Hen Harrier, brilliant view, it was just great and then cycling back i looked up flying not far at all above us was an adult White Tailed Sea Eagle, could tell it was mature as was light colured and white tail and head, i was so gob smacked i was fumbling with my camera and missed it, i was like WOW.
Another fab sighting was at Grass Point, i am sorry to say needed the loo, and was just coming back from the bush when a glorious mature White Tailed flew low just past me, again no camera and wow factor.
Hope to beable to tell more stories after October , are you listening eagles, please come and give me a treat, plus its my birthday then so we can have an Eagle party, all eagles invited :-)
Thanks for the great stories, you 2 should release a book!
So nice to know that all is well on eagle island (lets hope the scope is alright too)
Thanks for the lovely update Debby, keep them coming.
Another great update Debby and good news too. Better keep that airing cupboard really warm!!.
Hi Debby wow what a great day,everyone would be so pleased.We seem to say it all the time but it is so good of you and Dave to give us more or less a running commentary on what is happening.Feel sure Dave's scope be none the worse for ware,and it sounds as if Mull living up to its name of Eagle Island.With the blogs from you and Dave those of us fortunate enough to have been to Mull keep up to date and recognise some of the places and must encourage those who haven't been to go to Mull if possible.Of course all the other wildlife besides the Eagles is fantastic as well.
Thanks for the regular updates Debby. It's strange to think when we were there in April they were all just eggs LOL
I am so glad all is well with your beautiful Sea Eagles Debby.
You sound as if you have been well taught by Dave, he would be proud of you managing to get close enough to know what was happening with Half pint and his sibling :)
It really amazes me how quickly these magnificent birds grow and it doesn't seem any time at all that you were showing your first visitors to the hide and then were able to tell us that the eggs had hatched and the chicks were being fed, then in no time they were being ringed.
I am so glad that Heather is such a credit to the care of Skye and Frisa how wonderful for you to see her flying so well and so free. :)
Debby thanks so much for yet another update and just wonderful to hear all is well there. How I envy you being able to watch these magnificent. Mara and Breagha do keep safe won't you.
STOP PRESS: The scope is fine - the old airing cupboard trick did the job! phew - just in time
Great news, Debby (re birds AND scope). Are you going to delete all the sections telling Dave how close to the tide (or deluge) his prized possession ran??! Ah but he will be soooooo pleased at how well you and the birds have been doing that he will think you did a fantastic job in the airing cupboard and may even ask you to substitute for him again soon - at the next 7-year-olds disco......
great news on the scope!!
Glad to scope is OK Debby! I agree with Sooty, Mull is just beautiful. We had a fantastic week on Mull back in May, wish we could have stayed longer. The eagles are of course just brilliant, but there is also so much more wildlife to see, and the scenery is fantastic. I'm sure most of you know that! Just a quick question - how old are the chicks when they start to hunt for themselves?
Heather has already started hunting - she is nearly 16 weeks old now and we have seen here hunting for at least a week now - parents will still be bringing in food to supplement what she is finding. You are certainly right about the variety of wildlife - as I was hanging out washing yesterday, we had a great skua come over being mobbed by the gulls!
Thanks Debby. I can't believe that Heather is now 16wks. How quickly she has had to "grow up", but I suppose that is how it should be. How wonderful to see a Great skua. We don't see birds like that down here in East Anglia, although there is usually something interesting to spot over at Minsmere.