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david sexton

Even though we are getting our satellite data through regularly and we know they are both fine, sometimes you just want to set eyes on one or both of our young sea eagles - just to be sure!

This is just a short update as I'm on the move for the next few days. We know from the latest satellite data that on Monday night, Breagha was almost back home and roosted on the opposite side to Loch Frisa from where her nest was last year. Meanwhile Mara was at Loch Ba, perhaps in the company of other young sea eagles. As the days begin to lengthen - albeit very slowly - we also saw a slight charge in the solar batteries on the satellite tags so we're hopeful this will also begin operating to its full potential in the coming months giving us even more and regular information on their movements and whereabouts.

On Sunday evening I took a call from Iain Erskine, our island Port Manager for CalMac who is an excellent photographer and who helped support Mull Eagle Watch in a big way when he was our police sergeant for Strathclyde Police. He had just witnessed a very sustained chase by one of his local golden eagles after a young sea eagle. With camera in hand (as always) he managed to fire off a trillion digital shots of the encounter which was relentless. It was only later when he looked at the images and then printed some off for me that he realised the young sea eagle had a satellite transmitter on it! The photos show him/her looking in great condition and it's just fantastic to actually set eyes on one of our chicks after so long relying on the satellite data to reassure us. We know that both chicks were fine after that dramatic encounter and from the data and location of her roost on Sunday/Monday we think the chick in question may well have been Breagha. Well done girl, you survived and probably learnt yet another valuable lesson: don't mess with territorial golden eagles!

So as the first flakes of snow begin to fall on Mull this morning (we've so far escaped the 'chaos' in the rest of the UK) I'll leave you with the news that Mara and Breagha seem in fine fettle thus far in this their first big winter test. Frisa and Skye taught them well. Until next time...

Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer

Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer

  • Hi Dave thanks for update.Good to know both youngsters doing well and learning lessons all the time.It must be so important that these eagles lean to respect each other.I used to worry that the Sea Eagles would overpower the Golden Eagle and perhaps drive them off of their territories but obviously Goldies are made of sterner stuff.Winter in earnest again down here but good that nowadays lots of people feed birds so hopefully losses minimal.What we call our thrush loves sultanas but has to pinch them between being chased off by bossy blackbirds.Best wishes.
  • Wonderful news that Breagha and Mara are OK and lovely description of the chase. As you say if it was Breagha well done and she seems to know how to look after herself. Hope you are snowed in.

    Margobird

  • Wonderful to hear both are doing so well, and a sighting is terrific - hope she learned a lesson about goldies :) Snow in East Midlands has been problematic, now it's ice and we still seem on chaos ha ha! Keep warm and stay safe Dave.

    Everybody rides on the karma train.

  • Great to hear both chicks doing well and what fantastic photos! Also a quick thank you for coming to help the children with the RSPB Big Schools Bird Watch - the children are so excited whenever they see a bird land in the garden - if anyone is interested I did a small article for my blog www.wildfreckle.blogspot.com Off to search for eagles in the snow!