islandgun Posted March 31, 2020 Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 On the croft today I heard an unusual mewing sound, put me in mind of a Peregrine. A quick scan revealed what turned out to be an interesting repeat of last year, also early spring [pretty sure i put it on here] We counted 9 Golden Eagles gliding around and calling to each other. My thoughts are a gathering possibly looking for mates. perhaps an extended family !, there was one noticeably much bigger than the others.. A fantastic sight even if a long way away, this was the best picture ! Anyone have any theories ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 31, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 Just had a look, I posted in January and saw 7 Eagles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted March 31, 2020 Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 Fantastic, only ever seen one when up in Sutherland fishing Stalkers one of the Scourie Hotel lochs, miles from anywhere. It was being mobbed by a cormorant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted March 31, 2020 Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 WOW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 31, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 (edited) Just to clarify a bit, I usually might see an eagle once every couple of months, which makes this annual thing, quite something, just had a quick google, goldens usually mate for life, so my best guess is just a gathering ! Edited March 31, 2020 by islandgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted March 31, 2020 Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 44 minutes ago, Dave at kelton said: Fantastic, only ever seen one when up in Sutherland fishing Stalkers one of the Scourie Hotel lochs, miles from anywhere. It was being mobbed by a cormorant. Rare to find someone else who's been there! That area is where I saw the only mainland sea eagle I've ever seen, all the others have been out on the isles. What a sight that is. We don't get them down here, yet...although apparently one's been hanging out in Oxfordshire that's flown from the Isle of Wight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted March 31, 2020 Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 (edited) Could it be last years family and they are kicking the chicks out to go fend for themselves. Life gets cruel sometimes. I remember seeing a female black bear with two very large cubs in Newfoundland and my gide said in about two weeks time she would kick them out on their own when she gets in with a male bear to make a new family. The young tend to wander around like they are lost for a few weeks. I fished Drumbeg many moons ago and hoped to see eagles but never did. Edited March 31, 2020 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted March 31, 2020 Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 7 minutes ago, chrisjpainter said: Rare to find someone else who's been there! That area is where I saw the only mainland sea eagle I've ever seen, all the others have been out on the isles. What a sight that is. We don't get them down here, yet...although apparently one's been hanging out in Oxfordshire that's flown from the Isle of Wight. Wonderful place to be and would like to get back sometime but not cheap these days even though it’s half the distance from Oxford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 31, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 (edited) 25 minutes ago, Walker570 said: Could it be last years family and they are kicking the chicks out to go fend for themselves. Life gets cruel sometimes. I remember seeing a female black bear with two very large cubs in Newfoundland and my gide said in about two weeks time she would kick them out on their own when she gets in with a male bear to make a new family. The young tend to wander around like they are lost for a few weeks. You could be on to something ..👍, maybe a gathering of successive generations to push out this years youngsters, which would also explain the increase in numbers from last year, they were there for a couple of hours and dispersed gradually in different directions, just read eggs are laid in March ! Edited March 31, 2020 by islandgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 Are you sure that is not a white tailed sea eagle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted April 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 17 minutes ago, scolopax said: Are you sure that is not a white tailed sea eagle? Im not sure, the pics were taken with a long lens, there was one that appeared to be very much bigger than the others, although i dont know if its the one in the pic, the one in the photo does have a very pronounced V to the tail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 43 minutes ago, islandgun said: Im not sure, the pics were taken with a long lens, there was one that appeared to be very much bigger than the others, although i dont know if its the one in the pic, the one in the photo does have a very pronounced V to the tail It seems very much like a sea eagle, solid wide wings, and a wedge tail, which importantly appears to be white. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 Could have been a sea eagle being mobbed by goldens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 Could be the clue is in the sizes? 1 female with males in mating display flight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted April 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Walker570 said: Could have been a sea eagle being mobbed by goldens. Not mobbing they simply flew around making the mewing sound [which iv'e never heard before] , [there was a picture of a huge golden defending a road kill red deer in the next island down Uist] 2 hours ago, old man said: Could be the clue is in the sizes? 1 female with males in mating display flight? That was my first thought, but then reading it appears they are monogamous and they are supposed to have laid their eggs by now.. Given our position approx central to the two main holding areas N and S maybe they just get together before they dispersed back to their own or new territories...heres a picture from last year two plus raven Edited April 1, 2020 by islandgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 52 minutes ago, islandgun said: Not mobbing they simply flew around making the mewing sound [which iv'e never heard before] , [there was a picture of a huge golden defending a road kill red deer in the next island down Uist] That was my first thought, but then reading it appears they are monogamous and they are supposed to have laid their eggs by now.. Given our position approx central to the two main holding areas N and S maybe they just get together before they dispersed back to their own or new territories...heres a picture from last year two plus raven One thing for sure ig, we will never know for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 1 hour ago, islandgun said: Not mobbing they simply flew around making the mewing sound [which iv'e never heard before] , [there was a picture of a huge golden defending a road kill red deer in the next island down Uist] That was my first thought, but then reading it appears they are monogamous and they are supposed to have laid their eggs by now.. Given our position approx central to the two main holding areas N and S maybe they just get together before they dispersed back to their own or new territories...heres a picture from last year two plus raven lovely scale image. Ravens seem big until you put them next a sea eagle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenshank1 Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 Great pics Both pics are sea eagles . Sea eagles have wider wings than golden eagles and are chunkier and less agile. What you saw could have been a pair staking out a new territory, a pair driving away last years young or a pair driving away youngsters without a territory. If one of a pair dies or moves off you sometimes get juveniles on the edge of a territory moving in . It could also have been sea eagles competing with golden eagles for a territory as this is happening more and more especially in coastal areas. Whatever the reason was it's great to see and seeing eagles is something special. These are a couple of Eagle feathers I have found whilst out on the hill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeydredd Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 Probably juvenile/non-breeders who will hang around socially. Any breeding pairs should be down on eggs at this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted April 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2020 Thanks all, As said there were various sizes and its now looking like a mixing of sea and golden, Territory claiming could be the case although there was no mobbing or harassment [that i could tell] just a general mingling and calling, some sight anyway.. As old man said I will probably never know for sure....cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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