Just a little more detail on the latest data from Mara and Breagha. On the 16th November, Breagha was on the south side of Loch Buie in the south of Mull at 1005. Her brother Mara was just north of Salen on Mull's east coast two days later on the 18th at 0648 so he had probably roosted nearby - and not a million miles from his old nest site at Loch Frisa.
The sat tags are now on their winter timings which means, I'm afraid, that the data will be even more sporadic. The aim of this is to conserve the battery life of the packs during the long darker winter months. But conversely it should mean that when we do get readings it will be better quality and more precise. For the scientific study which is underway using this data to plot juvenile sea eagle dispersal from their nest area it will be frequent enough to get a general picture of their movements. For me and many of you, it won't be anything like enough as I just want to know where they are all the time! This won't be possible so we'll just have to wait patiently for every download - just like the Loch Garten osprey data which is now much less frequent than during Deshar and Nethy's long migration flights. The up-side is that the batteries should last even longer - maybe 3-4 years if we're lucky. That's assuming Mara and Breagha survive their first difficult winter alone and then don't encounter anyone or anything that would harm them. Work to ensure White G's death was not in vain continues apace. Meanwhile, in between data downloads, I'll keep you posted on any other sea eagle news which arises on Mull and elsewhere.
Tomorrow, I'm on the move again - this time for a meeting in Edinburgh with the Sea Eagle Project Team which oversees and assists with all the reintroduction projects in the UK and Ireland. This year there is a lot to report on - much of it good and exciting: 28 wild sea eagle chicks fledged on the west coast of Scotland, 15 Norway-bred birds were released on the east coast, a further 20 were released in Ireland and now we hear of some exciting plans from Natural England, RSPB and Anglian Water to further boost the UK project on the east coast of England. Twenty five years ago, someone born on Mull will have grown up with these birds as a normal, natural part of their everyday lives. Now they may have children of their own. The sea eagles will seem like they've always been here. It's quite a thought that 25 years from now, if sea eagles are to become a 'routine' part of everyday life in England, our descendants will still marvel at them as we do now and as our ancestors did many Centuries ago. And they'll hopefully wonder what all the fuss and scaremongering headlines were all about in 2008! Time will tell. If you support this project or have questions about it, see the lead story on the RSPB Home Page to see what you can do to help.
More news if I can get to a computer during my travels...
Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Thanks for keeping us informed Dave. Any chance on meeting you in Mull? I live in Somerset but I'm thinking of planning a trip next year. I could do with some practical advise on the area and access to the best spots etc. Tim.
Hi Every one. I'm new to this website but I have been following the story of the Sea Eagles on Autumn Watch recently. I am very interested in birds of prey generally, but these birds are certainly very special. I live in Somerset so a quick trip to Mull is unfortunately out of the question. I have never been to Mull, so I am not familiar with the island at all. Can someone tell me what the permitted access is like on Mull and can I just turn up at the hide or do I need to inform someone first? I was thinking of arranging a trip sometime next year, probably around September/October time. Are there any groups that may be able to assist me when/if I get there? Thanks and keep up the great blogging. Tim.
Are there any plans to re-introduce the Eagles into Wales, Snowdonia would seem a suitable venue, considering that the Opsreys have done so well since finding there own way here from other reintroduction schemes at Rutland water.
Thanks for the update Dave and the warning to be patient!! I'm sure you will get regular sightings of them as well to ease your mind.
Great news about the number of chicks fledged/eagles etc. Let's hope that trend continues.
Safe travels
Dave mentioned above that our descendants will marvel at these birds as we and our ancestors have done over the centuries. That got me thinking. The prehistoric evidence at the Tomb of the Sea Eagles on Orkney is well-known, but for its re-dating and possible interpretations, see http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba86/news.shtml and http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/isbister/eagle.htm Perhaps you may also like to hear evidence for a sea eagle at Chester in the Roman period? The find was made in a 2nd-century AD context on a site outside the Roman fortress, in the civilian settlement that adjoined the Roman harbour on the Dee estuary. The find was in a little valley that originally ran down into the Dee and might even have flooded at high tide, but had been walled off by the Romans. The little valley was then reclaimed by infilling with rubbish from the surrounding civilian settlement and the rubbish included part of a sea eagle. The site director, Simon Ward, says this sounds just the sort of place where sea eagles might scavenge. (Thanks to him for the information)