courtesy of Peaches & Cream
Well - what a turn up for the books this week. After Dave's story of Haggis's return to a frosty welcome from his parents, I have been keeping a beady eye out at Loch Frisa.
We have have some lovely winter days here - really hard frosts, followed by crisp clear blue sky and sunshine. There has been snow on top of the hills which is helping us all get into the festive spirit.
Ben More overlooking Loch Scridain
Photo- Debby Thorne
This week at Loch Frisa has certainly been a hive of activity. If you have checked the movements of the chicks that were satellite tagged this year - Oran and Venus, you will notice they are both at Loch Frisa http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/tracking/mulleagles/
Then on Wednesday as we watched one of our adults basking in the sunshine, suddenly another eagle appeared and landed about 4 branches below! I literally held my breath - I thought my eyes were deceiving me - a youngster - chocolate brown all over and looking very much at home - our adult just looked down and didnt move a feather - if only I could read their thoughts! It was Heather! back home but what a different welcome she received compared to Haggis. I checked and checked again, not quite believing what I was seeing. its been about a month since I last saw her and really thought she had left home but there she was sat in the same tree as one of her parents - I couldnt tell whether it was Skye or Frisa but have a hunch it was Frisa. I have to say I had tears I was so pleased to see her and relieved she was fine. She looked in fantastic condition. On Friday I had to go up to the Hide and was met with the most wonderful sight. Frisa sat on one of her favourite rocks, Skye sat half way up a tree and in between them, Heather at the head of a burn waiting for a fish to appear. To see the family reunited was fantastic - it certainly gave me a warm glow on a chilly day. As to the whereabouts of Haggis, who can say whether he is even still on Mull - I will certainly keep an eye out for him and indeed our other chicks.
I'm glad you enjoyed Highland Haven on Thursday - it was a beautiful film set in a stunning location. We are fortunate to have black throated divers on Loch Frisa too amongst a whole host of other wildlife and of course our own resident white tailed eagles, Skye and Frisa. Dont forget, the hide is staying open. If you are coming to Mull, contact us to arrange a visit. Full details here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/mull/index.asp
Fallow Deer - Photo Debby Thorne
Debby Thorne
White Tailed Eagle Information Officer
Isle of Mull
Debby wonderful news and as always so well described the photographs are lovely too. Don't know about you feeling tearful but it brought tears to my eyes reading about Skye, Frisa and Heather it must have been a wonderful sight. I also enjoyed the wonderful programme what a beautiful place. Hope you get news of Haggis soon.
Thanks Debby. I'm a bit late in catching up but what a lovely sight to see. So different to poor Haggis!
What a great idea it was to keep the hide open all year:)
Wonderful to read that Debby! Clearly they recognized their daughter!!!
Hi Debby, great info and soooooooooo pleased Heather is well. Lucky you having a little snow, were fed up with the start of the 5th week with flash floods/hail/wind/more heavy rain ergh. Loved the BBC 2 programme and recorded it.
How is your decorating going and what else are u up to apart from working at the hide?
JILLIAN
Loved the Loch Maree programme, and now your blog is even more cheering. Lovely photos as always, and the snow *sigh* nothing but rain here I'm afraid.
But the good news is I have sent off the deposit to book for another visit to Mull next summer, this time for 2 weeks! We'll certainly be booking for the Eagle Hide too.