It's been a tough weekend. We've had one scare after another. At Loch Frisa we've had marauding corvids - ravens and hooded crows - causing mayhem at Frisa and Skye's nest. Their alarm calls have had us all on the edge of the famous eagle bench. Then the local golden eagle decided to pay a visit and caused even more heart stopping moments. Both Frisa and Skye were off the nest leaving the eggs dangerously exposed to the elements and the marauding corvids which were still loitering with intent. Finally all invaders got the message and cleared Loch Frisa's international air space. Peace was restored and it should have been time to head home for a late dinner. Then the call came in from the Air Cadets dug into the hillside near another nest. Both adult sea eagles were reportedly up in the air so a mad dash to the south end of the island and a climb up the hill to confirm that actually all was well after all. The police call them FAGI's. False Alarm. Good Intent. The Cadets have done a great job for us this Easter weekend and will hopefully have passed another stage in their bids for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards. Thanks to all involved and Strathclyde Police for their ongoing assistance.
The final bit of news tonight is that our female satellite tagged chick Breagha from Loch Frisa in 2008 has come home (again)! After a week or more exploring the Small Isles of Rum and Canna and then on to Skye, she headed back south via Morvern to central Mull. I'm relieved to have her back. It's a dangerous world out there and maybe she didn't go far but it was still a big step for her as she begins to explore the west coast. Welcome home Breagha. Happy Easter all. Now it's time for that dinner - what's left of it!
Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Margobird
Goodness me Dave, what a weekend...Crows,Ravens !!!
I have to say I really do hate the crows, not quite as much as I hate Bonxies, but close...To me they are delinquents who should all have ASBO'S !!! crows have moved back onto one of my chimney pots having spent the last week slowly dislodging the anchored cap on it AArrgghhhhhh....How do they manage it..I thought I really had defeated them this year. Think I will have to Superglue them on..So now I will have to suffer there cawing and cackling for another year..
We once watched a flock of Bonxies dive bomb mother sheep to make them run away from their new born lambs on Shetland so they could attack them...Horrible...
So I am really glad that Frisa and Skye managed to see them off. Also very glad that Breagha is back home....
Hi Dave good to have another update and hopefully soon have chicks in the nest it is worrying for birds with nests when crows and ravens around and on the mainland magpies do a lot of damage no matter what the experts tell us.Really great news that Breagha is back as Eagles seem safer on Mull.Such a pity we cannot feel that they are safe wherever they are.What a lot of pleasure being missed by the general public because a few people persecute these birds.We have seen people with no interest in birds spellbound when they have seen Sea Eagles and i would guess then interested for life.Years ago Buzzards were a rare sight round here now very common but we still get a buzz from seeing them.wouldn't it be wonderful if the Eagles could colonise new areas safely and naturally.Best wishes.