Nature Features

Merlin is a very young bald eagle and when BBC Midlands Today's Joan Cummins went to meet him, he was only 14 days old.

He is the offspring of castle residents Archie and Sydney and until recently (when she started laying eggs) keepers thought Sydney was actually a male.

Before Merlin was born, they assumed that the eagles were both boys because Sydney is much larger than an average female bald eagle.

Feeding time for Merlin

Little eaglet Merlin is growing at a rate of half an inch a day according to castle falconer Chris O'Donnell.

He said: "He (Merlin) eats squirrel, woodpigeon, quail, rabbit and chicken so that’s his staple diet.

"When he’s an adult he’ll have a six-foot wing span and a three-foot long body."

Merlin also has a habit of letting everyone know when he is going to the toilet!

The bird has to aim high to get rid of his waste, so that it does not stay in the nest, and he is already well practiced despite still being indoors.

Merlin is too young to be seen by visitors to the castle, but keep a eagle eye out in the future!