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david sexton

A great gathering today with over 60 people arriving at the hide in almost unbroken sunshine. If you were there, thank you for coming and I hope you enjoyed yourselves. The setting is wonderful - from the hide looking north over the calm, tranquil waters of Loch Frisa. A fisherman on the shore hoping for a bite from the wild brown trout; on the far hillside, cattle and sheep mingle and graze whilst nearer the hide, the local Jacob, Hebridean, Shetland and badger-faced sheep were being gathered to inspect this year's well grown lambs. Earlier the sea eagle chicks had appeared briefly, still enjoying our amazing spell of dry eather. On her usual mound sat Frisa - the Matriarch.

Frisa is 16 years old this year - middle aged perhaps for a sea eagle but absolutely in her prime. She's been with her mate Skye for 11 years and this is their 10th anniversary at Loch Frisa. They nested together first in 1997 - sadly their first chick died and a year later they moved to their new home, Loch Frisa. They've never looked back and have become one of the most successful and productive pairs of sea eagles in Scotland. What I love about Frisa is her amazing pedigree. She was hatched in 1992 on Mull. Her parents were the original adults which hatched the first wild bred sea eagle chick in the UK for 70 years following the reintroduction project. That was way back in 1985, on Mull and I was lucky enough to be one of the young, keen, inexperienced RSPB wardens to witness that historic event. We called Frisa's mum, Blondie, for obvious reasons - she had developed that wonderful, pale blonde plumage on her head and upper body that adult sea eagles gain in later life. She was a very special bird and I miss her still. She vanished in 2000 aged about 21 and, with her mate, is responsible for many of the sea eagles alive in Scotland today. Frisa was one of twins; her brother lived less than a year and when he was found, he had lead shot in him. Unbelievable that anyone could do such a thing, but sadly it still goes on in the UK - even today. That's why having Frisa with us still is so special. She roamed far and wide in her five years of maturing but eventually came home to Mull where she paired up with Skye and the rest is history. Frisa is now a grandmother with chicks she and Skye have raised, now fledging chicks themselves elsewhere in Scotland. She raised the famous Springwatch twins Itchy & Scratchy (named by children from Dervaig Primary School and who are still going strong), followed in 2006 by Haggis and Oatie (named by children from Lochdon Primary School). In 2007, they lost their chicks just as they'd hatched when their nest slipped and the tiny chicks fell to their deaths(see the archived Blog from May 2007 'White tail, black day'). But now Frisa and Skye are back on form with this year's offspring. Frisa is a very special bird for so many reasons - her links to the past, her successful raising of so many chicks and her tolerance of all of us watching her every move. For me, she reminds me of her mum Blondie, that first chick in 1985 and all that's followed since. She's part of how it all began and there she was today on her favourite mound in the sun, looking as magnificent as ever. Frisa - we salute you!

Tomorrow: Skye - a mate for life

Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer

Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer

  • David it was lovely to hear Frisa's history, so interesting and I can understand why you are so attached to her. I feel the same way about our LG family and I have never even seen them in the feathers and it is my first year! I watched the 24:7 programme and was so jealous of the presenter getting so close to the chick. But what a big bird, incredible! It was clear that everyone on Mull feels involved in the project and you are so lucky that you will be able to watch them all year round.
  • What a great day yesterday - glorious sunshine, very warm and lots of people with one thing in common, the love of these fantastic birds - I stepped back and looked around at the huge variety of people that were there - young and old from all walks of life - but all played a part in protecting these magnificant birds - they really do take your breath away and still when I see one the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. But at the end of the day, its Skye and Frisa who are the parents, who nurtured these two chicks that have now fledged and are spreading their wings - they are great parents and I think Dave's piece above says it all. But as if that wasnt enough, after the party, we drove down the length of Loch Frisa, trying to spot and Osprey but no luck - we turned the car round and as we approached the hide, a very large bird was sitting on a fence post outside the hide - it took off and disappeared before I could catch full sight of it but I'm pretty sure it was an eagle - it had been sitting outside the hide as if to say, they've gone now - thank you for looking after us - its our turn now - a very poignant moment, and yes I did have tears in my eyes! Also - farewell to Chris Griffin - Mum - you should be very proud - such a lovely person - if you could have seen him with the children - he was a natural and the kids loved him! We shall miss him but hope he will return to Mull one day soon! Bon Voyage Mara and Breagha and Chris too
  • Thankyou for this lovely story. It's very good for people like me who are new to this site and the sea eagles, to have the background to these magnificent birds. I've learnt a lot about your wonderful island and the people in it too. We hope to be able to visit it one day. The good news of your birds has come to cheer us up in a week when Roy Dennis has lost Moray and Deshar and Nethy haven't moved but are enjoying the fishing in the south! Keep up the good work! You all deserve a medal. Maybe I should write to the Queen..............
  • So glad you all had a wonderful time . Thank you David for the story of Frisa she is lucky to have made her home on Mull where she will be protected and so will all her babies . it must be so sad when one goes missing and it must be a bit like when you lose a pet dog or cat as long as you know where they are and what happened it is not so hard but when they go missing and you cannot put them to rest knowing what happened that is hard , you still keep worrying . I do hope that Frisa and Skye and all their babies live long and happy lives and they die with your knowledge on Mull .

    Valerie

  • Lovely story Dave, thanks for the geneology of Frisa and Skye...Must be fabulous to have watched her grow into such an awesome bird... Any chance of a webcam next year so we can watch all the antics that you so brilliantly describe???