Just a short one tonight...please see answers under 'Comments' to various queries some of you have raised recently back at 'They raise us up' from yesterday.
What a great surprise though...I could hear the hooves of a horse getting closer and closer. Before I could work out which direction the sound was coming from, I heard a familiar bark. Hurtling round the corner of the track, at top speed, came Bonnie, the Jack Russell rescued from near certain death a few weeks back (see 'It's a dog's life' blog). It was great to see her out and about again and following her owner on her horse. You can't keep a Jack Russell couped up for long - no matter how hard you try. It's just not what they do. And the obvious delight for Bonnie at being able to rush about through the brambles and bracken chasing rabbits and mink was clear to see. Will she go AWOL again? Possibly. Will someone be there again to find her? Hopefully. Will she be a happy dog? Absolutely - no doubt about it! She looked great - clean and all her proper weight back on. Almost unrecognisable from the skinny, frantic, desperate dog in that underground tomb. Fantastic.
And did she show me any gratitude? I knelt down, arms out as she rushed headlong towards me - and of course straight passed me without a backward glance and off down the track towards home! Ah well, at least this time she was heading in the right direction.
Although I've not been able to set eyes on Mara and Breagha for the last two days, the latest satellite data shows that they're both fine and still spending much of the time on their favourite hill. With this lovely mild, settled autumnal weather, they'll be enjoying the calm before the storm.
Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
2100hrs
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Oh Thank you Dave for the lovely update on Bonnie. It is so typical that she didn't rush up to thank you but don't feel bad, remember that you are part of a bad memory for her even though it was you who saved her life.!! and as you say at least she was heading home...
As to the the 200 lambs missing in Gairloch....they can't possibly all be taken by eagles...What about Bonxies? I saw one take a lamb on Shetland but don't know if they are on the West coast...
There are a lot of raptors who will take lambs..Harris Hawks for instance and also foxes which there are a lot of over there...As you say its easy to blame the Eagle.
The odd bit of poaching for the pan is not unknown either !!!