Well, September is certainly proving to be a saviour in terms of weather. We are enjoying lots of warm sunshine and blue skies - you could almost be fooled into thinking it was May or June. Tee shirts have come out of winter storage and its lovely to feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Our family at Loch Frisa have been enjoying the warm weather too. Skye and Frisa are spending long periods, perched on the larch trees in front of the hide, looking so relaxed now the majority of this year's parental duties are done. They will still be feeding Heather but the majority of their work is done. They seem to be enjoying some "me" time before the whole process starts again.
The golden eagles have been enjoying this weather too and our visitors have been getting great views as they fly across the hide, trying to steal the limelight from Skye and Frisa. The buzzards are still a joy to watch - the youngsters now hunting on their own but occasionally taking 5 minutes out to play tag with a sibling! We still have butterflies and dragonflies around and just occasionally, we glimpse the odd swallow - so we can still pretend its summer.
Calgary Bay this week - white sand, blue sea and blue skies - Photo Debby Thorne
After tomorrow, we start a new phase at the Hide. Previously, we would now be planning to put the hide into mothballs until next Spring but from next week we are going to keep the hide open through autumn and winter, running our trips at 10.00 am and 1.00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Bookings can be made through our friends at the Tourist Office in Craignure (Tel: 01680 812556). We are fortunate that our eagles do not migrate and are here all year round so if you are planning a trip to Mull come and see us! Details of our Eagle Watch project can be found here http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/mull/index.asp. The leaves on the trees are starting to turn, the heather is in bloom and the bracken starting to die off - autumn on Mull is stunning - the colours breathtaking and as for the wildlife, well ........ you will just have to come and see if for yourself!
This Sunday also sees our "Fledge" party at Loch Frisa - a chance to raise a glass to all our chicks and to say thank you to everyone involved with these magnificent birds. We are meeting at the hide at 1.00pm and the gates at both ends of the Loch will be open - if you are around, do come and join us.
Debby Thorne, White Tailed Eagle Information Officer,
Isle of Mull
Hi everybody have had time to read Swallow story and comments,seems Dave has everyone in tears.I can tell you all he is just as you imagine him and having met him and his lovely family picnicking and going beach-combing on the east side of Loch Na Kael on a Sunday he was also even then taking the chance to check up on a pair of Sea Eagles he was a bit concerned about.The really nice thing was he made time for both of us just as if we were Springwatch or whatever and we all know that doesn't always happen with busy people.We think when he reads this he will probably cringe a bit as I am sure he is a really humble man,made a special effort to meet sweep.Many thanks Dave.
We saw Skye and Frisa very high above the hide one evening playing and almost locking talons which was fantastic also on two separate days saw Yellow tag black spot and her mate perched in pine trees and when a Buzzard came over she became vocal and annoyed so he took the hint and scarpered I believe she is known as a nasty one but she still looked lovely
Hi Mex yes we were on Mull,we had some good replies back about the poisoning,think attitudes will gradually change as RSPB membership increases and more people become enthralled by raptors,feel sure people like yourself help quite a lot but it is a slow process and I feel the more people who get to places like the Loch Frisa hide will all talk about the wonderful birds and help things along.I think it is good some of us others are writing or they would think it was just one obsessed person so well done for getting others on board.