In the Air

An eagle, probably a golden eagle, soars over the ridge at the back of Ormsaigbeg. We've seen them several times following the same route recently, moving from east to west along the spine of the peninsula.

One of the most impressive things about watching eagles is their ability to travel huge distances, often very fast, without flapping their wings. We watched this particular one for several minutes, and the only movement his wings made were slight flexings, as if he was feeling the air, testing it so he could judge how best to use the power that was in it.

Eagle activity always seems to pick up with the onset of winter. Perhaps it is that young birds are looking for a territory; perhaps it's adults searching more widely for sources of food.

The skeins of geese continue to come over. This flock was flying almost due east, along the coast, flying very low, with a following wind hurrying them along. As they came over they were calling, as if encouraging each other on.

Meanwhile, closer to the ground, the small birds are settling in to the daily task of survival through the winter. Our population at the bird table and on the nut feeders has dwindled alarmingly in the last few weeks, probably largely as a result of sparrowhawk deprivations.

At the moment the range of species is limited. The goldfinches are still flocked together out in the fields, feeding off the thistle seeds. There's no sign of siskins or coal tits: hopefully, they'll return as the colder weather sets in.