A united kingdom of eagles

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.