RSPB Scotland-Mull - January 2004

Just before Christmas, I found them.
I couldn't quite believe it at first when I focussed the telescope and read the tags. Most sea eagle chicks which fledged in 2003 were fitted with delightful pink wing tags. The special Loch Frisa twins were tagged pink O and pink Z. Visitors to the public hide run by Forestry Commission Scotland, Mull & Iona Community Trust, RSPB Scotland and SNH came from all over the world and all wanted to know how these two chicks would fare in the months ahead. I had received occasional reports of pink Z but nothing of pink O and I feared the worst. On that frosty December day, there were five young sea eagles in one of their winter 'clubs'. They are sociable in the winter and immatures often spend time hanging out together. I read one tag. It was pink Z. Great to see him. Other birds were landing and taking off and the light was going. I saw blue V from 2002; pink X and V from 2003 and then the fifth sea eagle landed. Pink O! I couldn't believe the siblings were still together. For me, there could be no better Christmas present. By mid January, both had moved on. The search continues.