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
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Diane & Steven xx