White-tailed Eagles

16th June 2011

The RSPB has announced that Sea Eagles are worth £5 million to the Mull economy every year. Figures for Skye are not available but with the Aros exhibition and boat trips from Portree Harbour it is increasingly important. The Portree birds currently have two young and there are 6 occupied nests on the island. All the chicks have recently been ringed (see Gallery)and despite the terrible weather in May there is every chance that the fledging rate will be good. (SB,JG)

THE BOOK

"A glorious little gem"

AMAZON

"A book such as this has to look backwards and the author does so succinctly, looking at the work of several of the pioneering naturalists before picking out the publications of JA Harvie-Brown and the Rev. Hugh Macpherson. I know this book fills a real gap in the information available for the Isle of Skye and it will surely sell well at local bookshops."

Andrew Currie Miscellany West Highland Free Press

"A total of 238 species have been recorded, with 14 of those 'red listed' as of high conservation concern ... another innovation has been the inclusion of Gaelic names for some birds. While this is not uncommon in a few other books, the addition of some regional Gaelic names is very unusual and very welcome."

Ray Collier Country Diary 'Up in the Skye' The Guardian

"Illustrated with beautiful photographs of current birdlife on the island, the publication also features sketches by Jean Thomas of The Little Gallery, Portnalong, stimulating the reader's interest further and allowing them to identify species they encounter on Skye."

The Hebridean