Birds at their Best

No less than three sea eagles were wheeling in the skies over Ormsaigmore yesterday afternoon, watched by numerous people on the ground. Sea eagles are very much in evidence at the moment, as are the smaller golden eagles - one came over our house on Friday.

The sea eagles, one of which appeared to have a blue tag, might have stayed longer but were chased away by a very determined and aggressive buzzard.

Meanwhile, nearer the ground, it's very much nesting time. We think these are the eggs of a meadow pipit - but look at how beautifully built the nest is!

These are the parents' own eggs, but we have a very vocal cuckoo working the hill at the back of us looking for foster parents for its eggs.

It's also the time of year when the birds are singing both at their loudest and longest. The song thrush probably has the most varied and complex song, with each section repeated, if not exactly. Sitting in the garden on a sunny day, listening to one of these, is one of the joys of life.

The days are long. It's light here well before 4.00am, and the sun was still shining on the hills of Mull opposite us at 9.30 last night.

The small birds are at their most colourful at this time of year. This is most noticeable in species such as the chaffinch which are around all year, so one gets used to their slightly drab winter wear.

This chaffinch isn't in a cage: we put wide-mesh netting across the seed-feeding area to stop the pheasants and gulls from eating more than their fair share.

Many thanks to The Raptor for photos of sea eagle and thrush,

and to Kilchoan Early Bird for the pipit's nest.