2nd September 2018
We were spolit with eagle action last Thursday at West Ardhu!
Hope arrived with a measly portion of food but, instead of dropping it in the nest, she perched underneath Misak to eat it herself, despite the incessant calling from the hungry chick.
Ulva, appeared at the same time but, realising the food wasn’t for sharing, she swiftly moved on and soared up high for our visitors for a while before being mobbed by ravens.
Ulva, one of the chicks, soaring overhead
And there was more mobbing to come! The visitors would have gone home happy then but in the final moments of the tour, Hope flew past us over the nearby hillside. Instead of following her normal route, she strangely decided to stop and perch precariously atop a very spindly tree. She was now sat about 100 metres away from us – something we rarely see them do!
Almost immediately, she was greeted with hostility by one of the local buzzards who proceeded to mob her as she called out, swooping past her again and again until she finally up and left, with the buzzard in pursuit.
Here is the series of Cian’s photos to illustrate the story!
Hope, coming in to land near the group
The buzzard mobbing Hope
Hope looking up at the buzzard
Hope has had enough!
Hope leaves, pursued by the buzzard
Tours at West Ardhu are still running throughout September. To book on a tour, please call 01680 812 556. Of course these are wild birds so please bear in mind that you may not get as lucky as this!
Thanks for reading,
Meryl
RSPB Community Information and Tourism Officer