NEWS ALERT
In The Guardian newspaper today, Monday 10 November, there is an article relating to an ongoing police enquiry after a young sea eagle hatched on Mull in 2007 was found dead on an estate in Angus.
The eagle (a male, wing tagged 'White G' from Scottish Territory no. 29) had died from eating an illegal poisoned bait.
Whilst this is not one of Frisa and Skye's chicks or one of the two satellite tagged eagles being followed on this RSPB web page, it is still extremely disturbing and upsetting for everyone who does so much to look after these birds on Mull and for the many thousands of people who visit here each year to watch them. A very sad end for this majestic young eagle. More news later.
If this report about the sea eagle concerns you, please see the 'Help birds of prey' panel on the sea eagle tracking page of the RSPB website and click on 'Sign the Pledge'. Thank you for your support.
People remember in different ways. Some wear poppies, some march passed the Cenotaph, others watch it all on TV. All with their own reasons and memories. At 1100, many fall silent and reflect. This morning, more by accident than design, I found myself, surprise surprise, at Loch Frisa. I'd taken my daughter Bethan to Tobermory to take part in the local Gaelic Feis music festival.
On the way home, as I was passing the entrance to the loch, I thought I'd just take a quick trip up the track to see what was going on. I arrived at one of the viewpoints and had a scan about. Nothing there. Nothing on the larches. Anything on the mound? No. Pan right to the standing stones. There they are!
Frisa and Skye, dark and wet, were on the ground near the mighty stones. Skye was feeding on a rabbit. Frisa was nearby watching him. Five hooded crows were surrounding them, waiting and hoping for any scraps the eagles might leave behind when they'd had their fill. Every now and then, one bold crow would sneak in close and tweak the tail of Skye as he fed, causing him to jump up in surprise, turn round and glower at the crow and then resume feeding.
It soon became evident that Frisa was getting impatient and hungry. She strided towards her mate and was ready to barge him aside when he thought better of it and graciously stepped back to allow her to feed. The weather was atrocious. At times they vanished from view in really heavy hail showers which raced down from Ben More and engulfed us. Then after a few minutes, the squall cleared away, it was brighter for a few seconds and I could see the meal was almost complete.
It was a minute or so to 1100. Both eagles had now feasted and they both jumped away a few metres onto the ridge and allowed the crows in. I imagine there was quite alot of noise going on over there as I could see beaks opening and closing: the crows were clearly having a go, a couple of ravens too and the eagles also looked like they were calling occasionally but I could hear nothing apart from the howling wind and the hail on the roof of the landrover. A very noisy silence.
At 1100, as the radio fell silent, an all too brief shaft of sunlight hit the standing stones and the two eagles alongside. At the same time, a long, clattering rumble of thunder echoed round the hills. The cold, the wet and the mud all around made me remember my grandfather fighting in the First World War in a way I never have before.
All too quickly, the two minutes silence ended with the canons in London on the radio and another great clap of thunder at Loch Frisa, this time much closer. I looked back to the standing stones as the latest shower cleared but the eagles had both gone, as had all the crows. Either the thunder had spooked them all or there just wasn't anything left to eat. It was a Sunday and gone coffee time at home. Frisa and Skye had returned to their domain. It was high time I returned to mine.
Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
You can read how birds played a part in other people's memories of this time.
Still no new satellite tag data today. Hopeful for tomorrow. Any recent or new burning questions you may have will be answered Monday under 'Comments'.
Valerie,
Thanks for your explanation on the marking of Armistice Day in the UK. In the U.S. they changed the name to Veteran's Day many years ago, and now it is intended to honor all veterans of all wars.
I am so sorry to hear of any killing of wildlife but especially ones that are just hanging on in the survival stakes like our birds of prey - at times I am ashamed to be a member of the human race.
Wild Freckle (and for Dave's attention) - well done for setting up a thread on the BBC site that is drawing a lot of attention to these malicious acts.
Dave I can hear the anger in your voice and rightly so - whoever it was doing that is inhuman , I presume as it was on an estate someone will answer for it .
wstgeorge : Armistice day in England is marked on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month by 2 minutes silence but we also do the same on the nearest Sunday which this year was the 9th so that all the services and marches etc can be done , so we do it twice , hope that answers your question .
Dave take care.