Friday 22 August 1200 Noon
(Wasn't that an old ELO line?)
On arrival at the hide today, the assembled crowd were all gazing skywards. A quick scramble with bins and 'scope and there high up in the clouds above us were our two wonderful chicks, soaring together again. They were at the highest altitude we've recorded them since fledging a month ago. They looked like proper eagles! A few dives on each other showed that they're getting more expert at this flight thing by the day. The size difference today was very marked - we have got the sexing right! Mara was dwarfed by his big sis. They would drift apart, then drift back together again. What a view they must have had - south and west to Loch na Keal, Ben More and the Treshnish Isles, east to the mainland and north to Rum and Skye. I wonder if they could see other young eagles doing the same thing? But deep down, in amongst the pride we all feel at having helped (a bit) to get them this far, as they soared even higher, I felt a pang of sadness too. One day, in the not too distant future, one of them would go up this high and start to drift away - and the biggest journey of their lives would really begin.
Dave Sexton RSPB Mull Officer
Hi David, wish I could be there to see Mara and Breagha soar in the skies. The way you describe it is very beautiful and visual for us poor souls who live miles away from you !!
Especially the description of proud mum and dad watching them at a distance...
I am chuckling as I said on the LG blog that I had written to you and you had not put the blog up and was chastised for it and being told in no uncertain terms that you are unbelievably busy and concientious and didn't have access to the computer 24/7....You have lots of fans out there !!! :-)
I took the time to read a lot of your earlier blogs and they are all wonderful and so informative..
I think its about time the RSPB published a Wardens book..Then we could have a record of your year at the different sights like Rutland/LG/ Mull etc...It would make marvalous reading..
When you say they will drift off to new lives, how far do they normally travel to settle down with new families, also how many years before they themselves breed..???
Our RSPB blogs are all getting tinged with sadness at the moment - Loch Garten as Nethy and Deshar head south, and the knowledge that in the not too distant future the Frisa chicks will spread their wings even further and fly off into the sunset! Is this preparing us well for when our children do the same I wonder??? love the blogs!