Why don't you stay - just a little bit longer?

Well, I can't believe I am writing this but Mull has been experiencing some real summer weather - it has been warm and sunny and many of the lochs have been like glass - hardly a breath of wind to cause even the tiniest ripple.   I have never seen so many dragonflies - the golden ringed variety and butterflies everywhere.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have not been able to run trips to Loch Frisa but instead have been taking our visitors to view a nest which I am delighted to say has 2 very healthy chicks.  We have been following this family through incubation and hatching and its been a delight to follow their progress.  Mum, known as Green T, and Dad, Blue 9 have been fantastic parents.  During the incredible gales we had a few weeks back, Mum managed to get both chicks underneath her, and hunkered down against the wind and refused to budge - I was amazed when I went down the following morning and found the nest still in tact with all occupants safe and sound.  A great credit to their nest building abilities too.

When the chicks first hatch, they are white and fluffy and would fit in the palm of my hand - at 9 weeks, they are pretty well full grown - with chocolate brown feathers and a dark beak.  There is a lot of wing flapping going on, jumping up and down and at one point today, one of the chicks was airborne for about 10 seconds.  I held my breath until it landed safely back on the nest.  The young eagles tend to fledge between 10 and 12 weeks of age.  Its quite a nail biting time as the young eagles dont take to the skies straight away but instead come down onto the lower branches and onto the ground.  The parents will continue to bring food into them but instead of delivering it to the chicks, they deliver it a distance away, to encourage the youngsters out, build up their confidence and eventually start hunting for themselves.  It seems such a short spell between hatching and fledging and today I realised that I will not have much longer of being able to enjoy watching these 2 youngsters on the nest - they are already itching to leave home!  Under my breath I whispered - just stay a wee bit longer but of course I know its countdown.  Our visitors have really enjoyed the experience of watching the antics on the nest too.  We will continue to visit this nest until the end of July, so if you plan to visit Mull and wish to join me for a trip, call me on 07920 817362.

Here is a short clip of our eagle family - Dad arrives with a fish - quickly snatched by one of the chicks who instantly mantles to protect his food - while the other chick looks on - he didn't have to wait long for his meal as mum arrived shortly after.

Trips to be Loch Frisa will be resumed in due course.  And of course, I am still keeping an eye on Skye and Frisa.  I saw them a couple of evenings ago.  They were sat side by side on a lochside tree basking in the evening sunshine.  The barn owl, at the last count, was sitting on 6 eggs and so we will be keeping a close eye on them as hatching date approaches.

To book a trip to Loch Frisa, please call the Visitor Information Centre at Craignure on 01680 812556.

Debby Thorne

White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Mull