The show must go on!

(courtesy Freddie Mercury & Queen)

I wanted to write this blog last evening but the computer had other ideas!  I would have started writing about the weather - how glorious it was yesterday, sunshine, blue skies and warm too.  Here we are - 24 hours on and we are in the throes of gale force winds and lashing rain - as the song says "what a difference a day makes!"

Yesterday was pretty spectacular at Loch Frisa.  It started first thing.  As those of you who have visited Frisa will know, our feeders in front of the hide are visited by a whole host of birds, from chaffinches, siskins, redpoll, goldfinches, greenfinches to name but a few.  I had just finished topping up the feeders when I heard a "whoosh" above me.  I looked up and just couldn't believe my eyes.  There, just a few metres overhead was Frisa, our female white tailed eagle.  She appeared out of the wood next to the hide and proceeded to fly over me, across the field to the loch and then join her mate Skye who was sitting on one of their favourite trees.  That was certainly one of my closest encounters with her.

Chaffinch at Loch Frisa - photo Debby Thorne

Skye and Frisa sat for most of the morning, preening and keeping an eye on the hooded crows and ravens that paid them the occasional visit.  Then halfway through our afternoon trip, both Skye and Frisa took off across the Loch.  They disappeared briefly behind the small hill next to the hide and to be honest, I thought that was the last we were going to see of them for the day. Wrong!  After a couple of minutes, both of them appeared above the hill, gently circling each other - we had a fantastic view of both of them.  They gradually drifted towards us, circling and mirroring each other the whole time and getting higher and higher.  Eventually they disappeared into the clouds - we were all glad for a brief rest from staring up for so long as our necks and shoulders were aching.  Suddenly, we spotted Skye appear in a blue patch of sky - he was on a mission - flying away from us at a rate of knots.  Just watching the speed and the distance he covered was just incredible.  Frisa, eventually appeared but gently glided across the hill out of sight.

That wasn't the end of it! As the visitors were preparing to leave, a buzzard appeared above the parking area - it was almost stationary and we could see all its markings.

Common Buzzard - photo Debby Thorne

Then from behind it was joined by two more buzzards.  They began flying straight up and then plungeing down, like a peregrine in a stoop - as we watched in amazement, they were shortly joined by another 3 buzzards - they were all flying together, circling, then going upwards, then shooting down like a stone.  Then we spotted our regular 2 kestrels who decided to join in the action - they simply mirrored the buzzards - it was just incredible to watch.  This "show" went on for about 15 minutes as we all just stood in awe at this fantastic display.  When it was finally over, our visitors were reluctant to leave in case Loch Frisa had another "show" waiting in the wings (sorry for the pun!).  I think one visitor summed it up beautifully "who needs a TV when you can watch wildlife performing like that".

An update on our barn owl chicks - the eldest is now 6 weeks old and Mum has moved out to give them some growing and stretching room.  We still have three chicks, in small, medium and large sizes and named Wink, Blink and Nod.  The eldest is now losing its white fluffy down and is being replaced by feathers which it is keen to show off to us on camera when he goes through his stretching routine.  Another 3 or 4 weeks then fledging time.

Screen capture of our barn owl chicks - 3rd one is hiding to left - bit camera shy!

Just a note to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for Treshnish Farm, here on Mull in our Nature of Farming Awards - we are all anxiously awaiting the result - as soon as we hear anything we will let you know.

Dont forget you can book a trip to Loch Frisa, and hopefully see the stars of the BBC's Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Skye and Frisa, by calling our friends at the Visitor Information Centre in Craignure on 01680 812556.  The meeting point is at the south end of Loch Frisa, on the Tobermory to Salen road.  Further details can be found at Mull Eagle Watch

You can also follow us on Twitter too - @skyeandfrisa for daily updates.

(and the reference to Freddie Mercury and Queen was to coincide with what would have been Freddie's 65th birthday yesterday - sadly missed!)

Until next time,

Debby Thorne

White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Mull