Sea eagles on Mull being mobbed by buzzards and crows - Images

29/06/2010 15:25:15 Mull Sea eagles bringing in £2 million per year for the island

June 2010. It's the split-second moment when a buzzard mobbing a white-tailed eagle on the Isle of Mull had serious second thoughts. Mull photographer Iain Erskine, who holds a special licence, captured the image while accompanying an RSPB Scotland team to a nest where eaglets were to be ringed.

Buzzard issues
As the adult birds soared overhead, they drew the attention of a pair of buzzards, which began to mob the eagles relentlessly, swooping down on them and even hitting them on their backs. Finally the eagle's patience ran out and it was time to teach the nuisance buzzards a lesson.

RSPB Scotland Mull Officer Dave Sexton said: "There are always some amazing flying routines from the sea eagles when we have to ring the chicks, and it shows just how agile and spectacular they can be. On this occasion, the adult eagle just flipped over and presented its impressive talons and beak, and Iain managed to get the picture. It's as though the eagles finally said to the buzzards 'enough is enough - try that again and you'll be sorry'!"

The buzzards took the hint and gave up, and the eagles returned to their chicks on the nest after ringing was completed. 

A white-tailed eagle turned on its back in flight and warning off a buzzard.  Copyright - Iain Erskine

Mull's famous Sea eagles lost their chicks in 2010
Mull's most famous sea eagles, at Loch Frisa, lost their chicks earlier this year in a spell of cold, wet weather, but the adult birds can still be seen regularly at the Forestry Commission Scotland hide.

£2 million per year revenue for Mull
Other pairs of eagles on Mull are in the midst of rearing their chicks, and the birds are helping to attract birdwatching visitors to the island, who spend some £2million a year in the local economy.

Visitors to the Mull Eagle Hide at Loch Frisa stand a good chance of seeing white-tailed eagles nearby on a ranger-led guided visit. Mull Eagle Watch is run by a partnership of Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Mull & Iona Community Trust, Strathclyde Police and the RSPB. 

More about how to visit the Mull Sea Eagle Hide 

Sea eagle and golden eagle fight in bulgaria

 Coincidentally, we have just been sent this amazing image from Bulgaria of a White-tailed eagle and a Golden eagle having a disagreement in Bulgaria. Click Bulgarian eagles and vultures to read more.