We haven't seen much of the sun lately but in one break in the deluge I watched Frisa and Skye relaxing and unwinding after their busy summer. I gently pulled the landrover in, switched off the engine and rolled quietly to a halt. Frisa was to my left high in the sitkas; Skye was on my right in a larch. I panned from one to the other just enjoying them as they preened their soft plumage in the brief warm, sunny spell. Both looked regal and composed and somehow proud of their achievements this year. Somewhere nearby Heather was perched safely out of sight, probably drying off too. She was leaving her parents in peace, for now at least. As the sun's warmth penetrated their soggy feathers for the first time in days, first Frisa and then Skye half opened their broad, mighty wings and allowed them to droop a little. They just looked so chilled out. They deserved this moment. Then they went one step further, something I've never seen before. I thought I noticed Frisa's eyes were closed. I zoomed the scope in but they were open again. Then slowly but surely like someone after a heavy meal, her eyes closed completely and her noble head tilted slightly to one side. I looked across to Skye and he was doing the same! It was siesta time; I felt quite honoured that they felt so relaxed with me just 100m away that they could completely switch off. As I watched Skye, he did what people do when you watch someone drifting off on the train. Every now and then, as he snoozed, his head fell forward and he'd then jolt himself upright again, eyes wide open for a few seconds as if he'd been awake all along, only to slowly doze off again in the late afternoon sun. I looked back to Frisa and sure enough she was doing the same. They both just seemed overwhelmed by the stresses and strains of the last few months; maybe the heady cocktail of sunshine, warmth and the scent of spruce was just more than they could resist. It was certainly working on me! This afternoon nap business was catching.
As the sun slipped lower behind the trees, that slight chill which tells you it's no longer high summer, rippled through the larches and both birds gave themselves a good shake and a ruffle of their feathers. I don't know if they roosted there that night; I had to head off but I left with a sense of peace and calm. For birds which sometimes have to face such severe conditions in the wild, which can show such strength and at times such gentleness, I'd witnessed another new side to them: chilled, relaxed 'empty-nesters'. They both half-watched me drive off down the track and they were alone again - together in their domain.
Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
As usual fantastic report Dave. I had a fantastic time with birds on bank holiday monday, after a drizzly Sunday we left in cloud which by 11.am had turned to clear skies and too hot, typical weather for this country I changed twice whilst out for the day. With my husband we visted RSPB Arne peninsular which sticks out into Poole harbour in Dorset, about 12 miles from my home in Bournemouth. We had visited there last year however, half-way round on one of the walks came across an elderly couple whoes husband was having a posiible strok or heart attack. There were few around and the RSPB warden had managed to get his truct into the field next to the remote path so my husband did his first aid and helped the man back in the vehicle to the ambulance in the car park whilst I walked back so abondoned our walk (my husband is St John's ambulance trained). This time after him joking about taking a first aid kit with us, we went to talk to an RSPB volunteer about the sighti9ngs of serveal osprey who were resting on their migration and the vounteer pointed out which walk was the one to do with the best chance of seeing one. I said to my husband that it would be amazing, so near to home as I had been to two sites in Scotland a few weeks ago to see them. However optimisically we started walking along through the pine forest and then on the track over open heathland which reminded us of Loch Garten, with our Purbeck hills beyond.
All of a sudden I looked up to see 2 large birds of prey circling high above me, not sure what they were as they were below a dark grey cloud and the light was strange as the clouds were just starting to clear. I took out my binoculars and followed one until it got too small. My husband watched the other then a third briefly appeared. I thought by the shape they were osprey but because of the strange light could not work out their white underparts. We then spotted others with binoculars and scopes to their eyes. Further on we reached the hide above the inlet of water where the tide was just starting to go out. After watching many geese flying like min concords, gracefully and looking over to where ospreys had been spotted sitting/fishing we walked along the track and sat and had a picnic looking towards the trees from where the ospreys had flown off too. With a mouthful of sandwich, I quickly said to my husband, "binoculars, quick" and a little above the trees were two ospreys flying in circles. This happend twice more on my walk and although I could not see them as close as I would have like to see all of their colourings/pattern I was so happy to see them near to where I lived. As we left the car park two sika deer ran into the bushes. Unfortunatly on the way home I spotted 2 young foxes and a badger on a duel carridgeway that had been killed which was a bit upsetting. Thanks Sooty for the tip about the local ospreys.
JILLIAN-I think Dave's nature story-telling is rubbing off on me.
Lovely story Dave, I felt myself relaxing and nearly nodding off as well at the thought of them chilling out.
Thanks for sharing that wonderful time you had with Skye and Frisa.
Dave - what a lovely sight for you and for all of us avid followers, another 'good news' story. It really is amazing how you learn new things all the time - I witnessed our new unringed female Osprey at Site B, RW doing exactly the same thing this summer; a juvenile feeding himself on the nest and she kept letting her head drop. You hit the nail on the head when you compared it to us dropping off on the train - I've done that, how embarrassed do you feel when you wake up with strangers watching you!
Another of those very special 'magic' moments Dave. Thanks for sharing it.
Birdies LG DU update.
Hi Dave it is good that no matter how much you see of wildlife there is always something new to see.I Suppose like you say after hectic time they are taking the chance to relax,perhaps a bit like when your children leave home and perhaps they were hinting to all the Eagle Watch team to chill out as well as both Frisa Skye and Eagle Watch team will soon be all at serious work again,amazing how quickly it all starts again for these large Eagles.Hope the team get a nice break they deserve it but I suppose they also enjoy the thrill of helping these great birds and perhaps take the chance when less tourists in winter to enjoy Mull just for the residents.I feel sure that Skye and Frisa know you and Land Rover with them so to speak and quite comfortable for you to be close.