There is a place called hope. Despite the poisonings, the losses, the persecution and the madness, there is a new ray of hope tonight that it is all finally beginning to really work - to really knit together. The project to bring the white-tailed eagle back to the British Isles actually began some 50 years ago. Long before Fair Isle in 1968 or Rum in 1975, there was Argyll in 1959. The late Pat Sandeman released three sea eagles in Glen Etive but as far as we know nothing came of it. Or did it? Occasional reports of an adult sea eagle drifting around the west coast in a desperate search for another of its kind persisted for many years. In theory one of them might even have still been alive when the fullscale reintroduction project started on Rum 16 years later. Just imagine, after a long, solitary quest the last remaining of the Glen Etive sea eagles rounds a vast headland and spies a distant but strangely familiar silouette soaring over the hills of Mull. After many years of dashed hopes, tangles with golden eagles and dark, lonely nights, our sole survivor is about to be reunited with one of its own. As the adult drifts ever closer, the newly released youngster suddenly realises that the mighty form heading towards it has a yellow beak, a dazzling white tail and eyes the colour of pale sunlight. They soar together, call loudly and talon grapple until finally they drift effortlessly away into a Hebridean sunset. A legend is born. Or...maybe not.
Since Rum in 1975, there has been Wester Ross in 1987, East Scotland and then Ireland in 2007. I had always dreamed of the day when the three populations from west, east and the Irish would all begin to merge. A real sign that the project to re-establish the lost birds to their former haunts was really beginning to work on a national, indeed international scale. And today comes news that it has finally happened. The comeback has really begun. We've had regular visits from our friends in Tayside since 2007. Some have been long stayers, others just day-trippers but most have wandered back east again, as they should. Then earlier this year came news of one of the Irish birds in Scotland. It was seen and reported by a ghillie on the mainland along a remote salmon river. Then last month one of their satellite tagged birds, a pioneering male 'bird L' was reported here doing a huge journey round the north of Scotland and even onto the Northern Isles. Recently, he started his homeward flight back towards Ireland. Some little understood but irresistable force was bringing him home to the hills of Kerry. But it was over the deep sea loch of Loch na Keal in the heart of Mull that the historic reunion occurred. At some point late one autumn afternoon, bird L passed over Mull where we also know east coast birds 5 and 7 were also recently tracked. Nearby was Venus, our 2009 satellite tagged female. He might also have encountered yellow black spot, even Frisa or Skye. Clearly he was tempted to stay; he was amongst friends and he roosted overnight here. Safe.
And so it had happened. For the first time since the early 1800's, populations of sea eagles from different parts of the British Isles were able to mix and mingle again. It was to be a brief encounter for soon he was moving on again, still heading south, stopping off on Islay. But it was a momentous occasion and one we hope will be repeated many times with other birds over the next few years. And where had it all happened? Eagle Island - where else? As the song says, there ain't no stopping them now.
Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Come and see the eagles yourself - Mull's Eagle Hide is still going strong. Call 01680 812 556 to book a trip this winter.
It seems to me that the golden eagle's main "predator" is man, and there is a lot of evidence to support that! I'm sure in one of the Mull Eagles blogs you described a golden eagle "zooming in" to (successfully)sort out an argument involving golden and white-tailed eagles, so obviously the sea eagles were not dominant there, and did get out of the way pdq.
Many thanks for that Dave,nice little story from you,luckily we got an extra one which is a nice bonus.Nice to get the evidence from the horses mouth so to speak and I was under the impression that the Goldie's better manoeuvrability gave it an advantage which Sea Eagles respected.Sad that many people don't care much for Sea Eagles as although we love the Goldie's we have lots of time equally for the Sea Eagles as I have said to you they never fail to give us really good views whereas the Goldie's always seem a bit more elusive.It is a shame that Chris said something like that without elaborating but really pleased not correct whatever it meant and you have put the record straight.
Very interesting what the crofters were saying in the artical Mex, looks as if they may possibly be trying to get insurance money for dead lambs! and blaming the fantastic eagels!
I am an avid watcher of Autumnwatch and thought a couple of things were wrong. Dave why don't you E mail them?
I don't know if Dave/Debbie or anyone else saw a fantastic documentary on channel 2 twice last week about a year at Victoria Falls (where my daughter visited in September). It showed the effects of the weather/seasons on the amount of water in the river/falls and how it affected the birds/wildlife/people who lived around it. Fantastic pictures of different birds as well as quite a lot of a pair of fish eagels with their spectacular white heads and bibs.
JILLIAN
Sooty
Yes I heard that comment too. I'm not really sure what he meant. Golden and white-tailed eagles co-existed for many thousands of years before we upset the applecart and thankfully they are doing so again. They usually avoid each other in my experience but if there is any dispute it is invariably the golden eagle which is doing the chasing and the white-tails get out of the way pdq. In fact just before Chris made his comment, Simon suggested that sea eagles dominate over golden eagles at a carcass. That wasn't a correct statement either so as far as getting their facts right, that little episode wasn't one of Autumnwatch's finest! Must be the pressures of live TV. That said, there will be odd occasions when the two species do come to blows and one or the other may get hurt but it is a very rare event as far as I can see. Unfortunately those folk who don't care much for white-tailed eagles (and there are many) often use this sort of story to try to blacken their name: "the sea eagles are forcing out the goldens" is a tale I often hear and it does the rounds year after year. As with many of the myths surrounding this species, there's precious little evidence to support it. There are as many golden eagle territories here today as there were when sea eagles first arrived back 30 years ago but that won't stop people banging on about it. Let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story eh? It's just a shame Chris chose to repeat it on national telly. Maybe he could elaborate on his report?
Dave
Hi Dave a week or two ago on Autumnwatch Uncut Chris Packham said something like reports of Sea Eagles knocking down Golden Eagles in Scotland,anything there you can comment on.Missing Mull can't book anything to come,got to have scan on hips and back,see consultant perhaps have to hope to get booking at last minute.Still seems great that we saw Skye and Frisa every day when we were there in September.Sweep got a photo of Tobermory Otter about a metre away on steps of pier might try and get children to put it on when they are here.