Wish Me Luck as you wave me goodbye!

Well - I cant believe how quickly the time has flown this year.  It doesn't seem like 5 minutes that we were announcing Iona (our female) and Fingal (our male) were incubating and then the great news we had a hatching!  Over the last 11 weeks we have watched their two chicks develop from 2 little white fluff balls into a pair of very healthy, almost full grown white-tailed eagles.  And what stunning birds they are!

This week, they started taking those tentative steps to leaving the nest.  One of the chicks has been doing some incredible wing flapping and bouncing on the nest.  It's breathtaking to see them with the wings outstretched just itching to take off.  They have also been edging out to the branches leading out from the nest.  Fingal and Iona, in an effort to encourage them to leave, ease off on the food supply.  The chicks do not fly straight away but instead hop down the branches eventually landing on the ground.  From there they will start with small hops, skips and jumps building up their confidence before taking short flights to the sky, usually following an adult.

Peter Barden, who has been filming our family at Glen Seilisdeir for the Discovery Channel has very kindly sent us this wonderful clip.  This was taken on Thursday and shows one of the chick practising its wing flapping skills.  Then Iona, mum, appears with a fish which is promptly snatched and eaten.  Thank you Peter for sharing - cant wait to see the final programme!

Strict copyright Peter Barden

Dave is taking a well earned holiday at the moment but I will keep you posted on the chicks.  Dont forget you can follow us on Twitter @skyeandfrisa and also find us on Facebook at Mull Sea Eagles

To book a visit to Mull Eagle Watch, dont forget you need to book via our friends at the Craignure Visitor Information Centre, telephone 01680 812556

Until next time,

Debby Thorne

White-Tailed Eagle Information Officer

Isle of Mull