We had an incredible encounter on our Monday trip this week. We had a few visits from the pair at Fishnish (they really are such an amazing pair of birds there) and headed down the Sound of Mull.
We got to the second pair and weren’t having much luck, so headed across the Sound passing a pod of Harbour Porpoise and a few Common Dolphin on the way. A very close up one too! We got to our fishing spot and got the rods in the water (it’s always a case of waiting here). After not too long, a White tail made its way to us, but didn’t fish off the boat. It just waited on a rock on the hillside.
We had to start making our way back, but always stop for a few minutes with the seals. Unfortunately we had missed a seal pup birth by only a couple of minutes and watched the Mum being harassed by Hooded crows trying to pull the last of the after birth out.
Before long, the placenta was free and the Mum and Pup moved away. Almost immediately, the Eagle took off and made its way towards the seals.
It landed first and then hopped to the after birth, had a quick mouthful, picked it up and flew back to the chicks in the nest. White-tailed Eagles are opportunist predators and very happy taking carrion, what was amazing was that the Eagle was at least 6 or 700 Metres away and took off the second the Mother Seal shifted away. I don’t think this will happen often!!
