Well, Heather is turning out to be a quick learner. On Friday as we watched her in a field in front of the Hide, it was clear she had caught something and was feeding. It was very difficult to see what it was, but I was surprised how quickly she had managed to work out how to catch something. Today, she took another step forward in her journey towards independence. As we looked out of the Hide window, we saw a large bird hunting over the crag in the distance. From the profile, we could tell it was a sea eagle but on closer inspection with binoculars we were taken aback to see the dark brown profile of our Heather! She had her legs and head down, looking for prey - she wobbled slightly but eventually slipped from our view. Amazing at this early stage she has started hunting for herself. Skye and Frisa will still be bringing in food for a while yet but the fact she is hunting on her own means she has the instinct to go out and look for food herself. What a gal!
Breaking news tonight! If you check the Google Earth movements for Mara and Breagha, for the first time, neither birds are on Mull. Mara has been flying around Morvern and Breagha has been up to Loch Maree. These birds are now out on their own in the big wide world. Without the satellite tags, we would have no way of knowing their movements and would have to rely on sightings. Its great that we are able to keep an eye on their movements but at the same time, we know they have lots of dangers to encounter. Again, in the news, report of a buzzard found poisoned http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8166855.stm
Please encourage family and friends to support our campaign to protect Birds of Prey. Here is the link to sign our pledge Birds of Prey Pledge.
Tonight as both our youngsters, settled down for the night, let's hope and pray they stay safe. With most of the chicks now fledged on Mull, it brings home that these birds have an incredible journey in front of them - leaving the nest is only the beginning.
Let's hope Mara and Breagha stay safe.
I apologise for the quality of this photo but someone asked for a picture of Heather - this was taken last Friday in the rain from a long way away but at least gives you a glimpse of our beautiful bird!
Photo by Debby Thorne - Heather, our female chick
Debby Thorne, White Tailed Sea Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull
Oh well here goes, I think I now have two identitys after the problems I have had with logging in.
Love the photo of Heather Debbie even though it is distant she is very plain to see and wow arn't Mara and Breagha spreading their wings. It will be very interesting to see when they next come home to Mull if they will meet up for a chat about their adventures. I can't wait for the day they settle down to breed themselves and wonder where that will be.
Hi Mex so glad you still blogging I can continue my education from your blog but continue to forgive any mistakes I make,didn't know how to spell malarchy just guessing but Troll real easy as I am a giant living in a cave.Serious matter though birds getting poisoned horrific number of Sea Eagles been poisoned I believe from the releases they have made,sure that it makes all bird lovers really sad.Really great news about Heather and so nice that a name given to Bracken as in his short life as others have commented he gave lots of pleasure.Like others I am sure we would try each day to see if any updates gave us any news about him and Heather.
Found you and your little tease out, Sooty! A great wind-up - well done!! Excellently clever troll! I started to catch on when you used a word that I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue how to spell (malarchy, malarky, malarkey?? ). Kind regards also to Den&ann, from the seagles.
1) The buzzard was presumably poisoned by a neighbour of the estate named, to judge from the wording of the report. 2) Heather must look fantastic! 2) Breagha must have flown over 60 miles from Fort William to Loch Maree on the 26th and/or 27th 'as the crow/seagull flies.' 3) Sooty can spell malarchy. I wonder if he (?!) can spell Troll? I believe that is what these hilarious interruptions are called? But if he is simply a simple soul, we must be kind as perhaps he cannot read too well. I beleave English is detearierating? Well, our family calls sea eagles 'seagles' in textspeak, anyway. You try texting a student camping solo in the snow in the Arctic Circle under the aurora borealis amidst a horde (sic) of the white-tailed eagle or haliaeetus albicilla without using abbreviations or deviating for just a minute. Sorry, Sooty, no owls here just at the moment, but wot a hoot, huh?
Having a bit of trouble posting to the blog, hopefully this time it will work.
Great photo Debby, it's amazing young Heather is hunting already.
Good luck to Mara and Breagha out there on the mainland, it's a dangerous place. I've sent the birds of prey protection pledge to everyone I know asking them to sign it.
Reply: Well done Blog came through fine! thanks for passing round the Birds of Prey pledge - we must stop this killing of all birds of prey.
Everybody rides on the karma train.