As I type this blog, the rain is falling hard and fast - our house sits on a slight incline, and the rain is running down the front path forming a small river, then turning into a mini waterfall at the front door step! It has rained everyday since last Tuesday - not just drizzle but heavy, persistent rain while a lot of the UK has been basking in sunshine and hot temperatures. To test the power of positive thought, please can our readers send some dry weather our way. Just relieved we dont have any chicks on nests.
As you can imagine, our birds have been hunkered down for most of the week. Heather came out and gave a spectacular flying display in between one of the showers - she has gained so much confidence in her flying - not so many wobbles as she glides and turns. Skye and Frisa are still staying close to her, keeping an eye on their youngster. Half Pint and his sister have being practising short flights too, with Mum and Dad not very far away.
Our young buzzards have been keeping us entertained at the hide this week - we have two families who have fledged and we are getting some great views of them practising hunting, diving and how to land in a tree.
As I returned from a short visit to Oban yesterday afternoon, I had some great views of diving gannets - they are really amazing to watch. As we were pulling into Craignure and I was pointing them out to my daughter, she said "never mind the gannets - what's that?" Two dark fins were protruding from the water "That my dear is a basking shark" I replied. We are very lucky to witness such wildlife on our shopping trips!
Gannet - Photo Debby Thorne
We will keep you updated on news but in the meantime, I am off to build an ark!
Debby Thorne
White Tailed Sea Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull
Wow! All this info - many thanks to you all. The probability is that I will do the trip in June/July - plenty of daylight for a long day out and then go over to Kilchoan to stay with friends for the night. I would get to Mull via the ferry from Lochaline as I am not that far from there.
Hi Liz - re your question about a webcam - we tried to put a camera up last year but the adults didn't like it so we had to take it down - obviously the birds welfare is paramount and we dont want to cause them any unnecessary stress. This year they began re-building an old nest but at the last minute decided to build a new one. We were unable to put up a webcam due to the location of the nest and also it was too late but we had a forward hide in place with a powerful telescope directed to the nest we were able to get great views. Skye and Frisa seem to like a change of scenery each year and unlike ospreys, do not tend to use the same nest, making it difficult for us to install a webcam. However, each year we review the situation depending on where they are nesting.
Liz LFW just in case you don't happen to get a answer,I feel sure web cam tried for Frisa and Skye in 2008 but they didn't accept it very well so in their interests it was quickly removed.We have visited Mull 3 times in May and it was really good each time,this year we are going in autumn but I think it is probably really good any time of year.We think it is essential to do some homework before going and there is amazing amount of information on the web and from information centre at Craignure,essential you have 2 weeks.Hope you get to Mull you will be amazed at all wildlife,scenery and people.Boat trips to see Puffins in spring.
Thanks for the updates and so sorry to read of the tragedy. Good as usual to hear all the good news. I have been away in Italy for 2 weeks in what was the warmest weather we had ever known. If I had known it was so wet up there would have ordered some of the sunshine for you. Good to hear that all is well with the eagle chicks and please God do not let anything happen to them. Surely with all the publicity about poisoning people will start to think long and hard before doing anything like this again. One can only hope. Breagha and Mara seem to be making their way into the world now and exploring further. Lets .hope it stops that way,
Sometime in July I asked whether the 2 Sea Eagles talked about on Autumn Watch (Itchy and Scratchy) in either 2007 or 2008 were still around (or even if their whereabouts were known). Unfortunately in amongst the other blogs it was overlooked and no answer was forthcoming - could you please confirm whether they are still on Mull or not?
Reply: Hi Liz, sorry for the delay! Itchy & Scratchy were the Springwatch chicks in 2005 and we searched for them last year in Autumnwatch as they would be bearing adulthood now. We got confirmed reports of Scratchy at Roy Bridge in Inverness-shire (eating fish by a river and a sheepdog scavenging bits of bones etc from him!) and we last saw Itchy on Mull earlier in 2008 but nothing very recently. One possible record of Scratchy at Loch Awe earlier this year but not confirmed to my knowledge. They will be experienced eagles by now and there's no reason (apart from direct persecution) why they shouldn't both still be out there somewhere. 2010 will be an exciting year as they will both be adult and may have paired up somewhere - our challenge (and yours!) will be to find them. Dave
Really great to see the numbers of fledglings this year - wonder where they are all going to nest in a few years time?! Maybe next year I'll get over there to see them for myself - when is the best time to visit? Are there any plans to set up a webcam at a nest site favoured by Frisa and Skye?