There's no business like snow business

Last Thursday the call went out for stories and ideas for a new specially commissioned programme for BBC Two: 'Snow Watch'. The Springwatch/Autumnwatch team wanted to know how the current freezing temperatures were affecting the UK's wildlife. The following day our good friend, cameraman and presenter Gordon Buchanan was on his way north from Glasgow across Rannoch Moor en route for the Lochaline ferry to Fishnish on Mull. We don't hang about when the call goes out.  A few days before, I'd watched Frisa and Skye, our two resident adult white-tailed eagles at Loch Frisa along with their 2009 chick Heather and two other immature sea eagles, all feeding at some gralloch on the hill. In addition there were three or four buzzards, 40+ ravens and countless hooded crows all sharing the seasonal feast.

In the absence of any natural predators, the huge red deer population of Scotland is managed by man. Throughout the autumn and into the new year, many stalkers and estates cull first the stags and now the hinds. It helps to keep the population in check, allows native vegetation to grow, provides valuable employment and income in rural areas and, if you like venison, provides a healthy and tasty casserole on a cold winter's night. Even if you don't eat meat, it's worth knowing that the traditional practice of 'gralloching' a beast after it's been shot provides a vital food source for many upland species - especially birds of prey. As seen in the multi-award winning RSPB film 'Eagle Odyssey' many species get to learn very quickly that the sound of a single shot echoing round the hills means a free and very welcome meal. In particular, eagles learn this trick. Stalkers talk of an eagle or two soaring overhead within seconds of the shot ringing out. Others tell of leaving the beast on the hill while they go off to fetch the pony or quadbike to haul the deer off the hill, only to return to find the eagles well fed - sometimes so well fed they can scarcely take off.  For some stalkers these close encounters with eagles are special moments and even the presence of a raven cronking overhead can signal good luck for the day's stalk.

And so it was that we found ourselves keeping watch over some gralloch on the hill all weekend from dawn until dusk. In the sub-zero temperatures, hands quickly became numb and feet could barely function. It was a primeval scene with buzzards, ravens and crows all taking their turns on cue. These predators turned scavengers do a good job of clearing the hills and coasts of carcasses - deer, sheep, goats, seals -  where the harsh winter weather takes its deadly toll. And how did the eagles fare in this waiting game? You'll need to tune into 'Snow Watch' to find out! All I can say is that Mull looks stunning in this winter wonderland and Gordon did not go away empty-handed. But I do now know why they say 'never work with animals or children' (not that I saw much of my kids this weekend). 

Some great news on our satellite tagged young sea eagles...the Loch Frisa chicks of 2008 first: female Breagha is on South Rona and her brother Mara has been on Coll, Mull and around Loch Sunart, his favourite place at the moment. This year's chicks from other sites on Mull have been very mobile recently: female Venus has headed south to Jura and the male Oran has gone from Kintyre to Northern Ireland and now back across to Islay where the thousands of wintering geese must be an attraction for him. Just to the north of Islay, a 2006 sub adult was watched recently tackling a greylag goose on the RSPB's Oronsay reserve. Winter is a challenging time for all wildlife. Whether the eagles are hunting for themselves or are fortunate to come across a tasty handout from a friendly stalker, this protracted icy blast will be hard on young eagles in their first winter. Time will tell who makes it through to spring - and who does not.

 

Here are some stunning photos of Oran on the Mull of Kintyre recently and we thank photographer, James MacDonald for letting us use them here. Compare them with the shot by Nick Purdy of Oran in his nest on the tracking page. He's certainly grown into a fine young sea eagle...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Watch with Gordon Buchanan, Kate Humble, Chris Packham and Simon King was on BBC Two on Wednesday 13 January 2010 at 8pm. Watch it now on BBC iPlayer (BBC Two).

 Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer