As we reported a while ago, Mull suddenly seemed a slightly emptier place recently when Mara and Breagha, our two satellite tagged youngsters from 2008, both left the island for the first time. In the last year, one has gone on a fly about and then returned and then the other has gone and returned and they continued to spend alot of time together here. So now, for both birds to have been gone for so long is, well, a bit unsettling. It shouldn't be of course. We should be celebrating the fact that we still have two fit and healthy juveniles, now over a year old exploring their new world. But with all the sickening news this summer, of the poisoning of a golden eagle in nearby Glen Orchy and then the sad loss of Alma on another sporting estate in the Angus Glens near to where poor White G met his fate, it just kind of makes you feel uneasy to say the least.
But let's concentrate on the good news. Breagha in particular has had a grand tour of the famous Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland, at one point flying near to our brilliant nature reserve at Forsinard. She then made her way back down the west coast a short way and seems settled in the dramatic Kylesku area for the time being. She's made the occasional day trip to Loch Maree but has headed 'home' to Kylesku to roost. Of course she has hopefully many more years of wandering and exploring yet before she finally settles down on a breeding territory. I'm sure she'll be back to pay us a visit before too long. Meanwhile 'little' brother Mara is just across the water from here on Morvern and Ardnamurchan. By all accounts he seems to have made friends with some guys at the local fish farm (I wonder why?).
So what of the Mull 'Class of 09'? Well our 10 chicks are now all fledged and flying well but are still near their nesting area and being fed by their parents. We're lucky that we have a host of people across the island, both residents and visitors, who keep an eye on things for us and send in regular reports. Soon we hope to be introducing the two new Mull satellite tagged chicks to you all. We have another male and a female from different nests on the island and both are doing well. Once we have everything up and running for the website and the data coming in regularly, we'll be launching them to the world! Standby for that exciting moment. Meanwhile, we will continue to keep a close eye on the data for Breagha and Mara on their big adventures and hope, above all, that they keep themselves safe and out of harms way. Bon voyage!
Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Thanks, Dave. I've asked The Times why I can't post a message for Simon Barnes. Has anyone else tried? I will keep on being alert as to where we can all perhaps help and will keep you all posted, if it's at all helpful. Please do forgive me, everyone, if I rabbit on too much. I'm trying to ensure that this becomes in no way an ego-trip. I have never been the ego-tripping sort. It would just be good if I could be of some use outside my professional/academic work and my family life, etc, etc. I'll keep on posting everyone here about it because I am very, very far from being the only one that can DO something. I do hope that I have helped other people both here and outside this messageboard to feel that a little person CAN do something, however small, to help the birds - and that it might, just might, make the world a better place. We can only do what we can on our own little scale, in our daily lives. We have been given this phenomenal gift of the internet and - well, it's worth giving this our best efforts, isn't it? Every good wish - to you all.